Lagunas de Montebello National Park

National Park · Mexico

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Photo © Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia

Photo © Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where turquoise lagoons pierce the limestone plateau of southeastern Chiapas, the Lagunas de Montebello National Park unfolds across roughly 174 square kilometers of spectral water and surrounding forest. This protected landscape straddles the Guatemala border at an elevation where pine and oak woodland mingles with subtropical deciduous forest, creating a mosaic of riparian corridors, limestone wetlands, and rocky outcrops. The lagoons themselves—a succession of interconnected karst lakes fed by underground springs—range from emerald shallows to sapphire depths, their color shifts governed by mineral content and suspended sediment. This patchwork of aquatic and terrestrial habitats supports migratory waterbirds and wading species drawn to the seasonal availability of open water and marginal wetlands, while woodland birds and small forest mammals inhabit the surrounding canopy and undergrowth. Reptiles, amphibians, and freshwater fish thrive in this hydrologically dynamic system, adapted to the park's cool upland springs and seasonal fluctuations. The combination of elevation, moisture, and geographic position makes this one of Chiapas's most biodiverse protected areas, a refuge where highland and lowland fauna overlap.

For wildlife observers and travel photographers, Lagunas de Montebello demands patience and early mornings. The clarity of the lagoon water—often exceptional in the dry season from November through April—renders submerged geology and riparian vegetation with startling definition, while soft early light flatters both landscape and fauna. Waterbirds congregate on shorelines and open banks; woodland songbirds and raptors respond to dawn chorus conditions in the surrounding forest. The park's accessibility via a network of maintained trails and scenic overlooks allows photographers to work multiple lagoons and forest edges in a single day, each offering different light angles and wildlife activity patterns. Visiting during the drier months optimizes both photographic conditions and the concentration of animals at remaining water sources, though the lush green of the rainy season brings its own richness to the forest understory. The combination of dramatic water color, intact forest habitat, and the park's status as a national protected area makes it essential for anyone serious about documenting the highland forests and lacustrine systems of southern Mexico.

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Aphelocoma unicolor

Morelet's Seedeater

Sporophila morelleti

Yellow-backed Oriole

Icterus chrysater

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Azure-crowned Hummingbird

Saucerottia cyanocephala

Common Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavopectus

Pandion haliaetus

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Slate-colored Solitaire

Myadestes unicolor

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Slate-throated Whitestart

Myioborus miniatus

Fulica americana

Green-throated Mountaingem

Lampornis viridipallens

Strong-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Azure-hooded Jay

Cyanolyca cucullata

Northern Emerald Toucanet

Aulacorhynchus prasinus

Eastern Bluebird

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Coragyps atratus

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Melanerpes aurifrons

Clay-colored Thrush

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

Yellow-winged Tanager

Dumetella carolinensis

Brown-backed Solitaire

Myadestes occidentalis

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Rufous-capped Warbler

Basileuterus rufifrons

Mycteria americana

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Hairy Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus villosus

Falco rufigularis

White-throated Thrush

Turdus assimilis

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Mountain Trogon

Trogon mexicanus

Guatemalan Flicker

Colaptes mexicanoides

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus guatemalensis

Band-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus zonatus

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

Cairina moschata

White-eared Hummingbird

Basilinna leucotis

Tachybaptus dominicus

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Blue-throated Motmot

Aspatha gularis

Spotted Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus erythropygius

Brown-capped Vireo

Vireo leucophrys

Tropical Mockingbird

Black-headed Siskin

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Anas platyrhynchos

Plain Chachalaca

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Butorides virescens

Pelecanus occidentalis

Mountain Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium gnoma

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Colaptes rubiginosus

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Spot-crowned Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes affinis

Northern Bentbill

Oncostoma cinereigulare

Rose-throated Becard

Pachyramphus aglaiae

Blue-and-white Mockingbird

Melanotis hypoleucus

Passer domesticus

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

White-naped Brushfinch

Atlapetes albinucha

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Grey-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis poliocephala

Crimson-collared Tanager

Ramphocelus sanguinolentus

Melodious Blackbird

Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitarius

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus

Spot-breasted Wren

Pheugopedius maculipectus

Grey-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Cantorchilus modestus

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

Thryophilus pleurostictus

Eastern Warbling Vireo

Aimophila rufescens

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Hylocichla mustelina

Setophaga occidentalis

Golden-cheeked Warbler

Setophaga chrysoparia

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

White-throated Flycatcher

Empidonax albigularis

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus mexicanus

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Setophaga coronata

Grace's Warbler

Setophaga graciae

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Flame-colored Tanager

Piranga bidentata

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Charadrius vociferus

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Penelopina nigra

White-faced Quail-Dove

Zentrygon albifacies

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Black-banded Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes picumnus

Mayan Antthrush

Formicarius moniliger

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Hammond's Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii

Yellowish Flycatcher

Empidonax flavescens

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Grey Silky-flycatcher

Ptiliogonys cinereus

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus aurantiirostris

Seiurus aurocapilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Golden-browed Warbler

Basileuterus belli

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

Crypturellus soui

Thicket Tinamou

Crypturellus cinnamomeus

Slaty-breasted Tinamou

Crypturellus boucardi

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge

Dendrortyx leucophrys

Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

Spotted Wood Quail

Odontophorus guttatus

Dactylortyx thoracicus

Ocellated Quail

Cyrtonyx ocellatus

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Nyctidromus albicollis

Mexican Whip-poor-will

Antrostomus arizonae

American Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

Chaetura pelagica

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Great Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila sanctihieronymi

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila cayennensis

Stripe-throated Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

Long-billed Hermit

Phaethornis longirostris

Mexican Violetear

Colibri thalassinus

Green-breasted Mango

Anthracothorax prevostii

Rivoli's Hummingbird

Eugenes fulgens

Long-billed Starthroat

Heliomaster longirostris

Amethyst-throated Mountaingem

Lampornis amethystinus

Garnet-throated Hummingbird

Lamprolaima rhami

Sparkling-tailed Woodstar

Tilmatura dupontii

Slender Sheartail

Doricha enicura

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus platycercus

Wine-throated Hummingbird

Selasphorus ellioti

Canivet's Emerald

Cynanthus canivetii

Emerald-chinned Hummingbird

Abeillia abeillei

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

Stripe-tailed Hummingbird

Eupherusa eximia

Green-fronted Hummingbird

Ramosomyia viridifrons

Berylline Hummingbird

Saucerottia beryllina

White-bellied Emerald

Chlorestes candida

Blue-throated Sapphire

Chlorestes eliciae

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Pheasant Cuckoo

Dromococcyx phasianellus

Lesser Roadrunner

Geococcyx velox

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Zenaida macroura

Rallus limicola

Porzana carolina

Laterallus ruber

Aramus guarauna

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Northern Jacana

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Sarcoramphus papa

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Rupornis magnirostris

Pseudastur albicollis

Buteo plagiatus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Middle American Screech Owl

Megascops guatemalae

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Lesson's Motmot

Momotus lessonii

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Dryobates scalaris

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Falco columbarius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Barred Parakeet

Bolborhynchus lineola

Brown-hooded Parrot

Pyrilia haematotis

White-crowned Parrot

White-fronted Amazon

Amazona albifrons

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Tawny-throated Leaftosser

Sclerurus mexicanus

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus flavigaster

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Ruddy Foliage-gleaner

Clibanornis rubiginosus

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Scaled Antpitta

Grallaria guatimalensis

Greenish Elaenia

Myiopagis viridicata

Mountain Elaenia

Elaenia frantzii

Guatemalan Tyrannulet

Zimmerius vilissimus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Eye-ringed Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus brevirostris

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Stub-tailed Spadebill

Platyrinchus cancrominus

Sayornis nigricans

Northern Tufted Flycatcher

Mitrephanes phaeocercus

Contopus pertinax

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Pine Flycatcher

Empidonax affinis

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Pitangus sulphuratus

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Couch's Kingbird

Tyrannus couchii

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Tityra semifasciata

Grey-collared Becard

Pachyramphus major

Green Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius pulchellus

Vireo olivaceus

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Plumbeous Vireo

White-eyed Vireo

Black-throated Jay

Cyanolyca pumilo

Cyanocorax morio

Cyanocorax yncas

Cyanocitta stelleri

Bombycilla cedrorum

Tachycineta bicolor

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Black-capped Swallow

Atticora pileata

Hirundo rustica

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Petrochelidon fulva

American Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Salpinctes obsoletus

Cistothorus platensis

Rufous-browed Wren

Troglodytes rufociliatus

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Certhia americana

Yellow-throated Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus guttatus

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus frantzii

Turdus infuscatus

Rufous-collared Thrush

Turdus rufitorques

Peucedramus taeniatus

Elegant Euphonia

Chlorophonia elegantissima

Blue-crowned Chlorophonia

Chlorophonia occipitalis

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Euphonia hirundinacea

Botteri's Sparrow

Peucaea botterii

Arremonops rufivirgatus

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch

Arremon brunneinucha

Prevost's Ground Sparrow

Melozone biarcuata

Yellow-breasted Chat

Yellow-billed Cacique

Amblycercus holosericeus

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

Bar-winged Oriole

Icterus maculialatus

Black-vented Oriole

Icterus wagleri

Icterus spurius

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera

Crescent-chested Warbler

Oreothlypis superciliosa

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

MacGillivray's Warbler

Geothlypis tolmiei

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Setophaga citrina

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Cape May Warbler

Setophaga tigrina

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Cardellina canadensis

Painted Whitestart

Myioborus pictus

White-winged Tanager

Piranga leucoptera

Red-crowned Ant Tanager

Yellow Grosbeak

Pheucticus chrysopeplus

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Passerina cyanea

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Cinnamon-bellied Saltator

Saltator grandis

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Black-headed Saltator

Saltator atriceps

Coereba flaveola

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer

Diglossa baritula

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Russet-naped Wood Rail

Aramides albiventris

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Pinnated Bittern

Botaurus pinnatus

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

American Barn Owl

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Corthylio calendula

Yellow-eyed Junco

Junco phaeonotus

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Black-faced Grosbeak

Caryothraustes poliogaster

Passerina caerulea

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus passerinii

White-nosed Coati

Aztec Fruit-eating Bat

Dermanura azteca

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