Arizona’s Sky Islands mark the northern extreme of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental, which stretches 1,000 miles southward before reaching Mexico’s central volcanic belt. At the southern end of these rugged mountains is a region of unassuming ecological diversity known as Cabo Corrientes. Just 60 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta’s bustling tourism scene—in the Mexican state of Jalisco—this dynamic region packs a lot of habitat into a small area. From the thorn forest and beaches on the Pacific shores to the pine-oak woodland at over 1,000 meters, the region is generally rugged and undeveloped, offering some of the best birding in Mexico. More than two dozen west Mexican endemics are scattered across the jungles of Cabo Corrientes. The Red-breasted Chat and Orange-breasted Bunting prefer the lower elevations, with the Flammulated Flycatcher and Citreoline Trogon most common in the upslope transition. Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Blue Mockingbird, and Yellow-winged Cacique come to the bird feeders at the idyllic Rancho Primavera, just outside the sleepy 16th-century pueblo of El Tuito. Gringo birding guide, Steve Shunk, moved to Rancho Primavera earlier this year with his partner, Lizzy Martinez, and the two now serve as resident naturalists on the property. Steve will take you on a virtual tour of the ranch and across Cabo Corrientes, sharing some of Western Mexico’s most iconic birds and habitats … and a birding experience that will have you booking your flight to Vallarta. Sponsored by Naturalist Journeys. (Limit of 60)
