Cancun is a popular tourist destination located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Known for its beautiful beaches, resorts, and nightlife, Cancun attracts over 5 million visitors per year. Many tourists flock to Cancun to relax on the beach, party, and enjoy water activities. But beyond the hotels and beaches, Cancun is also home to a diversity of animal and plant life. One question tourists often have is whether hummingbirds can be found in Cancun.
Hummingbirds in Mexico
Mexico is home to an impressive 57 species of hummingbirds, the second highest diversity of hummingbird species in the world after Colombia. These tiny, fast-flying birds are drawn to Mexico’s varied landscapes and abundance of flowering plants. Favorites among the hummingbird species in Mexico include:
– Green-breasted Mango
– Buff-bellied Hummingbird
– Violet-crowned Hummingbird
– White-eared Hummingbird
– Magnificent Hummingbird
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where Cancun is located, provides excellent habitat for 18 species of hummingbirds. The Yucatan’s climate is tropical and semiarid. Flowering trees like the Flamboyant provide nectar, and many flowering shrubs and vines grow in the coastal scrub habitat. Mangroves along the coast also offer protection and food sources.
Hummingbirds Found in Cancun
Although Cancun itself is dominated by resorts and hotels crowded along the coastline, several species of hummingbirds can be spotted right within the city limits. Some hummingbirds known to inhabit the Cancun area include:
Rufous Hummingbird
The Rufous Hummingbird is one of the most common hummingbirds seen along the Riviera Maya including Cancun. At just 3-3.5 inches long, these hummingbirds are pugnacious and aggressively chase off intruders from their feeding areas. The male Rufous Hummingbird has beautiful coppery orange plumage on his back and tail.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
One of the larger hummingbird species in Mexico, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird has bright green feathers on his head, back, and breast. His underside is a distinctive buff color. They have a straight black bill and a reddish-purple throat patch or gorget.
Yucatan Violetear
As the name suggests, the Yucatan Violetear is primarily found on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula including around Cancun. The male has a beautiful violet-blue patch along with white outer tail feathers making it distinctive.
White-eyed Vireo
While not technically a hummingbird, the White-eyed Vireo is sometimes mistaken for one due to its small size and habit of visiting flowers. This songbird is gray with white spectacles around its eyes.
Best Places to See Hummingbirds in Cancun
The best places within Cancun to spot hummingbirds include:
Parks
Cancun has several parks that attract various hummingbird species. Parque de las Palapas is a city park with trees, flowers, and a lagoon that hummingbirds feed around. Parque Fundadores is another green space where you may spot Buff-bellied or Rufous Hummingbirds.
Botanical Gardens
The Jardin Botanico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin is a large botanical garden with over 2,400 species of plants. The diversity of flowers draw many hummingbirds to feed.
Resort Gardens
Luxury resorts like Le Blanc Spa Resort and Hyatt Ziva Cancun have lush tropical gardens packed with flowers that attract hummingbirds. Sitting on your balcony or strolling the grounds, keep an eye out for these fast flyers.
Mayan Ruins
Near Cancun, sites like Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba contain ruins surrounded by native vegetation. Watch for hummingbirds feeding from the flowers.
Best Times of Year to See Hummingbirds
Cancun enjoys a tropical climate all year round, so hummingbirds can be spotted at any time. However, peak hummingbird watching is during the dry season from November to April when flowers are most abundant. Specific timing includes:
– November-February – Rufous Hummingbirds and other migratory species arrive for the winter from the USA and Canada.
– March-May – Resident Yucatan hummingbird species are most active as they build nests and breed during this spring season.
– July-September – Hummingbird populations are lower during the summer wet season. But tanks and feeders at hotels and parks reliably attract them.
– December-January – Some of the best months to see hummingbirds at hotels with feeders and flowering gardens.
Tips for Observing Hummingbirds in Cancun
Here are some tips for getting the best views of hummingbirds during your Cancun visit:
– Start your mornings early when the hummingbirds are most active feeding.
– Look for flowers and known hummingbird hot spots noted previously. Move slowly and quietly.
– Use binoculars for good views as hummingbirds are small, fast-moving birds.
– Sit patiently in one spot near a flower cluster and wait for the hummingbirds to come to you.
– To attract more hummingbirds, fill a feeder with sugar-water (one part sugar to four parts water) and hang where they can easily access it.
– Pay attention to hummingbird sounds like chirps and buzzing wing beats to detect their presence.
– Hire a local birding guide who knows the best hummingbird viewing spots in and around the city. This will maximize your chances of seeing different species.
Other Birds to Spot in Cancun
In addition to hummingbirds, Cancun hosts incredible bird diversity throughout the year. Some other beautiful tropical species to look for include:
Wood Stork
Large wading birds seen feeding in mangroves and lagoons.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Look overhead for these large black seabirds with huge wingspans.
Brown Pelican
Spot their huge beaks as they plunge dive for fish offshore.
American Flamingo
Seek these bright pink birds in coastal saltwater lagoons.
Turkey Vulture
Watch them circle the skies around hotels and beaches looking for carrion.
Boat-billed Heron
These chunky herons have thick, boat-shaped bills.
Conclusion
Although best known as a glittering coastal resort town, Cancun provides good opportunities for hummingbird watching within its gardens, parks, and mangroves. At least four species of hummingbirds inhabit the city year-round.
The prime months to see hummingbirds in Cancun run from November through May during the dry season when flowers are abundant. Having sugar water feeders, visiting flower-packed botanic gardens and ruins, and hiring a local guide will all help maximize your chances of observing these energetic little birds.
Beyond hummingbirds, Cancun is inhabited by diverse tropical bird species from pelicans to flamingos that birdwatchers will relish spotting. The vibrant colors of Yucatan birds nicely complement the bright turquoise waters and sugar-sand beaches of Cancun.
