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© Manuel Grosselet

Monte Albán

17.04918 , -96.76357

Mexico

Monte Alban is one of the most famous protected archeological sites only 15 minutes away from downtown Oaxaca city, in the midst of arid scrub habitat, with blooming trees during the winter. It is in the middle of the three valleys (Etla, Tlacolula and Zimatlan) in Central Oaxaca. It has two main birding sites. One along the uphill ecological trail and the other, surrounding the ruins starting in the parking lot. The main target species are: Mexican endemic: White-throated Towhee, Slaty, Golden and Dwarf Vireos, Ocellated Thrashers, Pileated Flycatcher, Dusky, Beautiful Hummingbirds, Boucard's Wren, West Mexican Chachalaca, Gray-breasted Woodpeckers. It is a good place for Lesser Roadrunner, Elegant Euphonia, Curve-billed Thrasher, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Rufous-capped Warbler, and many raptors as White-tailed, Zone-tailed, Red-tailed, short-tailed Hawks and White-tailed Kite. It's a place where anything is possible.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : 17.0492/-96.7636 (2021-01-29 18:32:02 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Monte Albán" (2021-01-29 18:32:02 )

Edited by Manuel Grosselet on 2021-08-05 01:48:38
Monte Alban is one of the most famous protected archeological sites only 15 minutes away from downtown Oaxaca city, in the midst of arid scrub habitat, with blooming trees during the winter.winter. It is in the middle of the three valleys (Etla, Tlacolula and Zimatlan) in Central Oaxaca. It has two main birding sites. One along the uphill ecological trail and the other, surrounding the ruins starting in the parking lot. The main target species are: Mexican endemic: White-throated Towhee, Elegant Euphonia, Slaty, Golden and Dwarf Vireos, Ocellated and Curve-billed Thrashers, Pileated Flycathcer, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Rufous-capped Warbler, Thrashers, Pileated Flycatcher, Dusky, Berylline, Rufous, Beautiful Hummingbirds, Boucard's Wren, West Mexican Chachalaca, Gray-breasted and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. It is a good place for Lesser Roadrunner, Elegant Euphonia, Curve-billed Thrasher, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Rufous-capped Warbler, and many raptors as White-tailed, Zone-tailed, Red-tailed, short-tailed Hawks and White-tailed Kite. It's a place where anything is possible.
Edited by Manuel Grosselet on 2021-08-05 01:27:27
Monte Alban is only 15 minutes away from downtown Oaxaca city, in the midst of arid scrub habitat, with blooming trees during the winter. It has two main birding sites. One along the ecological trail and the other, surrounding the ruins starting in the parking lot. The main target species are: White-throated Towhee, Elegant Euphonia, Slaty, Golden and Dwarf Vireos, Ocellated and Curve-billed Thrashers, Pileated Flycathcer, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Rufous-capped Warbler, Dusky, Berylline, Rufous, Beautiful Hummingbirds, Boucard's Wren, West Mexican Chachalaca, Gray-breasted and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. It is a good place for White-tailed, Zone-tailed, Red-tailed, short-tailed Hawks and White-tailed Kite. It's a place where anything is possible.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Pileated Flycatcher (Xenotriccus mexicanus)
Golden Vireo (Vireo hypochryseus)
Slaty Vireo (Vireo brevipennis)
Boucard's Wren (Campylorhynchus jocosus)
Ocellated Thrasher (Toxostoma ocellatum)
White-throated Towhee (Melozone albicollis)
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps)

White-throated Towhee (Melozone albicollis) was added by Manuel Grosselet (2021-08-05 02:16:26)

Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps) was added by Manuel Grosselet (2021-08-05 02:16:06)

Golden Vireo (Vireo hypochryseus) was added by Manuel Grosselet (2021-08-05 02:15:26)

Pileated Flycatcher (Xenotriccus mexicanus) was added by Manuel Grosselet (2021-08-05 02:15:12)

Boucard's Wren (Campylorhynchus jocosus) was added by Manuel Grosselet (2021-08-05 02:14:55)

Ocellated Thrasher (Toxostoma ocellatum) was added by Manuel Grosselet (2021-08-05 02:14:36)

Slaty Vireo (Vireo brevipennis) was added by Manuel Grosselet (2021-08-05 02:13:05)

  • Timing and strategy

The best season is between October and April. As the climate is warm during the day, I recommend to birding at daybreak and until 10 am. On this first trail, you can easily spend two hours. and two hours more around the ruins. If you leave your car near the trail entrance, you will have to come back by foot, by the road or by the same trail, downhill.

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Manuel Grosselet on 2021-08-05 02:22
The best season is between October and April. As the climate is warm during the day, I recommend to birding at daybreak and until 10 am. On this first trail, you can easily spend two hours.hours. and two hours more around the ruins. If you leave your car near the trail entrance, you will have to come back by foot, by the road or by the same trail, downhill.
Edited by Manuel Grosselet on 2021-08-05 02:02
The best season is between October and April. As the climate is warm during the day, I recommend to birding at daybreak and until 10 am. On this trail, you can easily spend two hours. If you leave your car near the trail entrance, you will have to come back by foot, by the road or by the same trail, downhill.
  • How to get there

If you have a car it's easy, just follow Monte Alban's directions and when you arrive in front of the entrance gate, park your car under the ficus trees, if possible. The trail entrance will be on your left. If you take a cab from the city center, make sure it comes for you later and negotiate the price.

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Manuel Grosselet on 2021-08-05 02:05
If you have a car it's easy, just follow Monte Alban's directions and when you arrive in front of the entrance gate, park your car under the ficus trees, if possible. The trail entrance will be on your left. If you take a cab from the city center, make sure it comes for you later and negotiate the price.

there is no entrance fee. You can go at any time you want.

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Manuel Grosselet on 2021-08-05 02:06
there is no entrance fee. You can go at any time you want.
  • Other attractions

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Not available yet

There are no toilets on this path, however when you arrive at the ruins you will have access to a toilet.

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Manuel Grosselet on 2021-08-05 02:07
There are no toilets on this path, however when you arrive at the ruins you will have access to a toilet.

Avoid going alone, there are reports of theft.  I recommend that you stay on the path, because there is also the possibility of snake. If you want to get some bird song recordings, this is not the best place because of the noise of the valleys that go up to the site.

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Manuel Grosselet on 2021-08-05 02:10
Avoid going alone, there are reports of theft.  I recommend that you stay on the path, because there is also the possibility of snake. If you want to get some bird song recordings, this is not the best place because of the noise of the valleys that go up to the site.
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Monte Albán - Orniverse
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