Two months in the past, I wrote about seeing certainly one of Mexico’s in point of fact particular endemic birds: the Aztec Thrush. This chicken good looks is rather delicate. However it’s uncommon, well-camouflaged, no longer site-loyal, and virtually at all times silent. It might most effective be discovered, as of this writing, in 594 eBird lists, which might position it top on maximum birders’ want record. I reside throughout the center of its quite restricted vary, however till this 12 months, had most effective noticed this species 3 times. I urged that any of our readers who consult with Morelia NOT inquire from me to turn them Aztec Thrushes, as I had no thought tips on how to produce additional sightings on call for.
As I discussed in that early February put up, I had simply long gone to a wooded area that used to be seriously burnt the former spring. I knew I’d see a number of Grey Silky-Flycatchers there, as they love burnt-over forests. What I didn’t be expecting used to be an equivalent building up within the prevalence of American Robins. And that the ones Robins can be accompanied through a couple of Aztec Thrushes, which gave me some gorgeous pictures.
So this week, I went again to the similar burnt wooded area, to peer whether or not I may have in spite of everything discovered a habitat that might inspire the ones Aztec Thrushes to calm down for some time.
One alternate had passed off since my first consult with. Two months additional clear of our “wet” season (which wasn’t very wet in any respect, this 12 months), the burnt space’s large bloom of Salvias had ended, and lots of the super-abundant hummingbirds noticed in that first consult with had moved on. However the Robins and Silky-Flycatchers for sure hadn’t. I couldn’t perhaps have counted them correctly as they wheeled overhead, however I for sure noticed many dozens of every.
The Silky-Flycatchers have been extra colourful than I had ever noticed. Taking into consideration the month, I believe it’s a intercourse factor.
However have been there any Aztec Thrushes? Smartly, I will’t be offering any nice pictures. However the numbers talk for themselves. This is Aztec Thrush #1:
#2:
#3:
And #4:
If you wish to see excellent pictures of Aztec Thrushes, you’ll be able to see a number of in my February put up.
Those birds have been all noticed rather a long way from one any other. So I will say with some self assurance that if I hadn’t noticed all of them, I’d for sure have noticed some. Actually, I don’t doubt that I ignored a number of.
So, it seems that perhaps you CAN ask for an Aztec. All you wish to have is a big swath of severely burnt wooded area. Sadly.
The wooded area, through the best way, is already appearing many indicators of recent existence. The pines’ survival technique appears to be to die within the hearth, after which have an astonishing crop of recent seedlings the next 12 months. Different bushes, particularly oaks, live on through sprouting from their burnt trunks, or within the worst state of affairs, from the roots. I will be able to you’ll want to observe this wooded area’s restoration over the following couple of years.
I had long gone to this web site in particular in search of my 5th come upon with Aztec Thrushes. However I for sure didn’t be expecting to additionally see a small flock of Cedar Waxwings, an advanced species right here in Mexico. I noticed them as soon as within the spring of 2018, fifteen instances within the irruption spring of 2021, and final spring gave me any other 3 sightings. However this used to be my first actual sighting this spring. Most likely Waxwings are any other fire-loving species?
I’ll end with a couple of Black-headed Grosbeaks, female and male. No longer the most productive pictures, however for sure pretty birds.
