Bird Guides of the World: Pamela Garcia, Mexico

What is your favorite bird species?

That’s the hardest question ever! But I love Red Warblers, I think they look whimsical and cute, when I see Red Warblers, the forest feels like home.

What is your name, and where do you live?

My name is Pamela García, born and raised in fabulous Mexico City

What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?

Since I’m based in Mexico City, I like to share the birds in our urban green spaces but near the city we have so many good spots, in the center of Mexico we have two main areas of endemism, the temperate forest of the Transvolcanic Belt and the tropical deciduous forest in the lowlands of the Balsas Basin (Morelos).

How long have you been a bird guide?

I’ve been guiding for almost 2 years now! It’s been an amazing experience.

How did you get into bird guiding?

I’ve been leading birding groups as an activity to activate the birding community in México City for the past 7 years, so a friend (who’s also a birding guide) started to train me as a professional guide! It was really cool cause I got to discover skills I didn’t know I had and finally I started guiding on my own.

I think it was important for me to take this leap because I feel like there’s a gender bias in the bird guide community, we need more women guiding! One of my main motivations was to create and lead tours exclusively for women, and it has been amazing to be a part of changing the way we travel and enjoy birds.

What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?

I love meeting people from all over the world through birds and their connection with nature. I also enjoy the cultural exchange and having the chance to share the best tacos in the city with my fellow birder guests.

I dislike it when birds are not super active! I wish we could see all of them all the time, but I think that’s one of the things that makes birding a magic activity.

What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that you think are the most interesting for visiting birders?

1. Sierra Madre Sparrow
2. Red Warbler
3. Strickland’s Woodpecker
4. Green-striped Brushfinch
5. Rufous-capped Brushfinch
6. Black-chested Sparrow
7. Gray-Breasted Woodpecker
8. Russet-crowned Motmot
9. Golden-crowned Emerald
10. Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow

Russet-crowned Motmot

Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip

A full day of birding in the center of México starts in the highlands of México city. In particular, you’ll get to know our montane grassland and shrubland and our forests where we can find special endemics, such as Sierra Madre Sparrow, Red Warbler, Strickland’s Woodpecker, and Green-striped Brushfinch. After a morning full of amazing birds and landscapes we go to the local market to get some typical Mexican food for breakfast.

Sierra Madre Sparrow

Our next stop is the tropical deciduous forest in the lowlands of the Balsas Basin (Morelos), where we can find endemics such as Golden Vireo, Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Russet-crowned Motmot, and endemics restricted to the center of Mexico like the Banded Quail among others.

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

I like to add another dimension to our birding experience, so I offer the option to enjoy a birding session in the morning and then we have an easygoing bird embroidery workshop! Where we can embroider one of the highlights of our birding morning, maybe your new favorite Mexican bird can be part of your cool birding jacket or a nice piece of textile art for you to décor your space.

Also, if we stay in the city or have some extra time, we can come to my bird-themed coffee shop, Tirano Café, where you can find bird-themed drinks, cookies, and souvenirs.

If you like multiday trips our possibilities are infinite!

What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?

Think about practical outfits that could work for low and high temperatures, sun protection, and shoes you feel comfortable and safe in. If you’re interested in getting a high number of species, November to May offer the best chances to see migrants and rare birds, but for the rest of the year, our resident birds are more active, singing and displaying interesting reproductive behavior and of course, plumages!

If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?

You can contact me through my email pamgarmor@gmail.com, my website https://www.tiranosbirding.com/en, and you can find me on Instagram as @paambirder and my project account @tiranosurbanos

Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds?

The center of Mexico and Mexico City have a lot to offer when it comes to birding and tacos.

Special thanks to Miguel Aguilar for letting me use his bird pics.