Research trip report from Mexico's Islas Marias

Steve Howell & Luke Seitz report from a brief research trip to Mexico’s Islas Marias, until 2019 a legendary, high-security prison but now a newly minted tourist destination! In the company of biologists Jonathan Vargas and Sinead Gomez Rosas, and with the gracious support of Biosphere Director Pablo Zamorano de Haro, of Mexico’s Commission of Protected Areas, Steve and Luke spent an intensive two days and managed to find all 24 (!) of the island’s currently recognized endemic bird taxa, some treated as full species (with several more that seem good species candidates), and some never encountered previously by birders! Almost all of the endemics vary from tame to absurdly tame, recalling the avifauna of the Galapagos Islands—Steve really should have had a zoom lens!

From left to right the team: Sinead, Jonathan, Luke, and Steve under a mural in the reception area attesting to the island’s dramatic change in status.

Probably the biggest ‘danger’ on the island is having your food eaten by the big and bright endemic Streak-backed Orioles, one potential split (a pity the name ‘Golden Oriole’ is already taken).

Very local and mostly extirpated on the mainland, Yellow-headed Amazons are conspicuous right in town (and treated as a full species by some authorities)

Mexican Parrotlets look and sound different from mainland birds, another reasonable split.

Often challenging to see on the mainland, Blue Mockingbird (Long-billed Mockingbird?) is quite common and decidedly confiding.

The same applies to Happy Wrens—and yes, they also look different and behave differently. Leaf-litter Wren might be a better name!

Ironically perhaps, although now universally split as a species, Lawrence’s (or Tres Marias) Hummingbird is one of the least different-looking endemics, plus not the only hummingbird endemic to the islands such that some Mexican biologists favor using the original English name, Lawrence’s.

Another striking-looking endemic (yes, this is an adult male!) is the francescae race of Red-breasted Chat (Francesca’s Chat, anyone?), also quite common and easily seen.

Once considered an island subspecies but no longer, Elegant Trogons are nonetheless stunning, plus absurdly tame!

Another non-endemic, but a nice bird to have around town is Elf Owl, this one spotted from our kitchen window!

It says Welcome (Bienvenidos) but sadly this was our last view of Isla Maria Madre as we left the dock.