Hiking Trails in Punta Mita and Sayulita Area

Are you ready to spot some outstanding tropical bird species on your jungle hikes in Punta Mita and Sayulita this year?

Spending time outdoors on your holiday with healthy activities such as hiking always fills the day with happiness and enthusiasm - for the whole family. Exploring local nature by hiking and bird watching is not only an amazing way to refresh your mind and perspective on the local area but is also a great way to positively impact your body and connect with mother nature all in one go! Win-win we say.

If you are curious about which tropical bird species you may discover during hikes in Sayulita and the surrounding area, oh boy are you in the right place!

What to expect and why to learn about the local birds for your hikes in Punta Mita

Reading this blog will help you gather the most interesting insights about local bird species that you may spot while Hiking in Punta Mita and surrounding areas. Already knowing the bird's names, qualities, and habits doubles up the excitement and your chance of spotting local wildlife during your hike.
A family/friends/couples hiking trip with lots of mesmerizing activities such as walking, sightseeing, visiting hidden beaches, exploring nature, picking fruit, spotting wildlife, and watching birds; is the most memorable, and for sure something you’ll never forget once you return home after your trip. Such an outstanding hiking experience is a must-have whilst vacationing in the Nayarit area, serving as an adventurous break from the hotel pool or bustling beach in the main town of Sayulita.
The beautiful chirping sounds of birds during your jungle hikes in Punta Mita, San Pancho, and Sayulita will be sure to boost your energy and excitement for hiking. It also creates a pleasant impact on a person’s mood while hiking and leaves a calm effect on your mood for days to come afterward.
So, what do you say? Let’s learn about the birds already and make your next hiking trip a memorable one? Let’s go!

Jay. Photo credit: https://ebird.org/species/btmjay

Magpie Jays are black-throated birds that are sleek and elegant to observe. They are unique in their appearance and are also loud with their chirp. While hiking Monkey Mountain in Punta Mita, you will probably hear or see a Magpie Jay, as they are most commonly spotted on this hike.
Magpie Jays have long tails that add more charm to their beauty. They live in small groups but are very noisy. Due to this, you can’t overlook them if there is a nearby Magpie Jay group on your hike.
Being omnivores, their favorite foods are small insects such as caterpillars/spiders and fruit.

Whilst hiking in open spaces in Sayulita and Punta Mita, you can easily spot a Yellow-winged Cacique, also amongst jungle hikes in both towns too! This species is a beautiful two-toned (yellow and black) bird that inhabits forests, plantations, villages, and towns.

You’ll often spot them in groups, as they are very sociable birds. They make loud noises and mostly feed on flowers and fruits. However, they do eat small insects and are well known for being good predators.

Unlike the two birds discussed above, the Elegant Trogon is a very quiet bird and therefore more difficult to spot while hiking in Punta Mita and surrounding areas. However, some lucky hikers have reported spotting the Elegant Trogon on local hikes. Keep reading until the bottom for top tips on how to spot this bird!

The beautiful rose-red, greyish, and metallic green colors of this bird make it arguably one of the most attractive birds for hikers to spot here in Nayarit. This species mainly lives in the tropical west coast forests, but some also live in North Mexico. They are omnivores and often inhabit nests in the trees made by woodpeckers.

The Woodpecker is such a fantastic bird that doesn’t only make the nests for itself but also for other birds too (as mentioned above). Making holes with their long beaks within light-colored wood trees is one of their favorite pastime activities, meaning locating them on your hike might be quite easy, if you’re looking in the right place!

These birds have black and white feathered bodies with a beautiful bright red crown on their heads. An average lifespan of a woodpecker ranges from 4 years to 11 years.

Lineated woodpeckers rely on a great variety of foods such as fruits and nectar, corn, flower seeds, and tree nuts.
made by woodpeckers.

The orange-crowned parrot is also famously known as the Orange-fronted Parakeet due to his orange forehead. When you go hiking in Monkey Mountain in Punta Mita or San Pancho, it’s not uncommon to spot this beautiful lush green-colored parrot as it is abundantly seen on mountain ranges in the forests of the Pacific side of Mexico.

Its favorite foods include lots of flowers, seeds such as sunflower seeds, and fruits such as guava. These orange-crowned parrots usually fly in the flock, especially during the Spring season, meaning if you spot one, you’re sure to spot the whole flock of them! Unfortunately, in recent years, this breed has reduced to a noticeable level due to people keeping them as pets.

Photo Credit: Here

A surprising fact about the Citreoline Trogon is that this cute and beautiful bird is seen only in west Mexico - giving even more reason to hike and spot the unique nature here whilst in Nayarit. Its beautiful yellow belly and white and black feathered body makes it without a doubt, visually appealing.

In contrast to some of the above-discussed birds, the Citreoline Trogron is hard to find while hiking monkey mountain in Punta Mita. Also, you won’t hear it making loud noises like the other birds because the Citreoline is actually a very quiet and calm bird.

However, If you pay close attention to your surroundings and know what you’re looking for, it is possible to spot this bird hanging around in the middle to upper treetops whilst hiking in Punta Mita. If you do spot one, don’t make any loud sounds or movements because the Citreoline is very easy to scare.

Fruits are their favorite food, but the Citreoline also eat insects.

And well, the most awaited bird that everyone wishes to spot during their Jungle Hikes in Punta Mita and Sayulita is the Military Macaw. This bird is greater in size than other parrots and has unique traits, such as a large curved beak that he uses to crush nuts and wood.

Military macaws live in large flocks and can live for about 50–60 years in the wild. They can often be heard long before they are seen as they are very noisy birds who often make a variety of loud cracking and shrieking sounds, including a loud kraa-aak.

A large part of their food consists of seeds, berries, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

Here are the 8 amazing bird watching tips that you must follow for the best chance of spotting local bird species!

• Avoid making noises and be as quiet as possible. If you make noise, the birds will fly away from you, meaning you won’t be able to get closer to them to observe.
• Similarly, don’t make sudden movements during Hiking Trails in Punta Mita and surrounding areas as this will also make the birds frightened and fly away from you.
• Whenever you hear a singing bird, follow the sound calmly and quietly as this will help you approach the flocks to see more birds.
•  If you are in search of a particular bird, follow the flocks. There is a greater chance to find a specific bird in flocks because different species often join together for safety.
•  Don’t rush after a bird but be patient. When you stay patient, there are greater chances that a bird would ultimately feel safe to come closer to you and trust you within their space.
• Try to move in a direction where the sun is at your back if possible. Otherwise, the striking sunlight can make it difficult for you to monitor a bird closely.
• Try to wear neutral-colored clothes that match the surroundings. Otherwise, the bright and striking colors may alert the birds. As a result, they may fly away from you.
• Take a seat or stand still and be conscious of your surroundings, focus slowly in all directions to spot birds all around.

There is nothing more adventurous and exciting than spotting the birds that you see in these pictures on our local hikes and adventures!

Our Jungle Hikes in Sayulita and Punta Mita offer you the chance to spot the tropical birds here for yourself. Please note that taking one of our guided tours will increase your chances of spotting wildlife and of course, you’ll receive plenty of detailed insights too, making sure you get the very most out of the experience hiking here in Nayarit.

So what are you waiting for? Reach out here for further details of our hiking plans, packages, and prices. Or read more about the hiking trails in Punta Mita and beyond with WildMex here. Let the adventure begin!

With love and peace,
WildMex