NEARCTIC
Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands
Mexico

The cooler Pine-Oak forests and woodlands of Mexico's inland mountains offers a nice change from the lowland deciduous jungles of the coast and the arid scrub of the valleys. Even though this habitat is physically not too far from Neotropical rainforest and Neotropical tropical woodland, I have placed it into the Nearctic biogeographical region due to the taxonomic affinities of it's plant and animal species. Some of the species and many of these families extend up into North America and will look familiar to folks that live in the USA.

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There are many striking (New World) Warblers moving back and forth seasonally from the Nearctic to the Neotropics, so Mexico is obviously a thoroughfare for these colourful migrants. Below is the 'Crescent-chested Warbler', a species that enjoys Oaks.

The Yellow-eyed Junco is one of the more common birds of these Oak forests.

The Dusky-capped Flycatcher is widespread throughout much of the Neotropics, but prefers Oak forest and woodland.

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Exploring the Pine-Oak woodlands of Mexico

You can explore this habitat along the many roads that go up and over the inland mountains of Mexico. There doesn't seem to be any birding lodges in the classic definition within this habitat (or indeed, over much of Mexico, to be honest). The easiest (and safest) forest seemed to be around the city of Oaxaca. I stayed at a small airbnb at Le Cumbre, north of Oaxaca, but I found the best place for exploring this habitat was south of the city at "Refugio Terraza de la Tierra". It is set up more as a relaxation retreat, but it has trails, and was productive for wildlife.

The author in front of a giant Yucca on the forest floor of Oak woodlands, Mexico.

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