Birdwatching in Los Cabos

Situated at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos, surrounded by desert and thorn brush ecosystems, is a magnet for avian life. Mangrove estuaries, notably the San Jose del Cabo Estuary, serve as important migratory stopovers, teeming with shorebirds, herons, egrets, and wading birds during the winter months. The region’s diverse microclimates are home to more than 430 species of endemic, resident, and migrant birds, a staggering number.

Why watch birds? Because birdwatching equates to time spent outdoors in Nature. It’s a fun, healthy pastime that can increase life longevity and improve mental acuity. Scientists have found that hearing birdsong while hiking boosts well-being more than hiking in silence.

Spotting and identifying birds brings its own rewards. According to a recent North Carolina State University study, birdwatching improves one’s mood and reduces stress. Much like crossword puzzles, the mental challenge of identifying birds and cataloging them in a birder’s journal might even delay cognitive decline. Interaction with fellow birdwatchers can be a nice bonus.

As a protected State Ecological Reserve, the estuary in San Jose del Cabo, a major freshwater oasis for feathered wildlife, is a birding paradise that covers 40 kilometers. Readily accessible (the estuary is adjacent to the hotel zone in San Jose), the bird population here surges in the winter. In addition to large numbers of egrets, herons, and sandpipers, birders can see Gila woodpeckers as well as Belding yellowthroats, one of six bird species in Baja California Sur endemic to Mexico. 

On the cliffside holes at Quivira Golf Club, , located within Quivira Los Cabos, an exclusive residential development and lifestyle community, observant players can spot turkey vultures and the occasional red-tailed hawk riding the thermals in search of carrion or prey. Roadrunners, known for their beady eyes, bushy crest, and mottled brown feathers, like to trot across the fairways and cart paths on the interior holes. Cactus wrens occupy burrows in the trunks of the large cardon cacti that dot the course.

The Sierra de la Laguna biosphere, covering a huge swath of mountainous land, is a little harder to get to but is home to endemic species found only in Baja California Sur. Serious birders from around the world come to see rare birds such as the San Lucas robin, Baird’s junco, and the narrow-fronted acorn woodpecker. 

Here’s a few tips for novice birders:

• Explore Diverse Habitats: In addition to estuaries, combine desert, coastal, and mountain sites for the best variety.
• Binoculars: A good pair of high-quality binoculars is essential.
• Employ Local Guides: Essential for navigating private lands and locating hard-to-find endemic species.
• Use eBird: This app helps to track, identify, and explore a specific geographic region; this app is an indispensable tool for birders.
• Time of day: Birds are most active at sunrise and in the hour or two before sunset, which corresponds to their feeding times. However, it’s not uncommon to see birds throughout the day in Cabo.
• Time of year: Winter in Los Cabos is the ideal season for birdwatching because so many different bird species migrate here in the fall and leave in the spring.

For residents of Quivira Los Cabos, this close connection to nature is part of everyday life—an exceptional blend of exclusive residential living and a lifestyle community where outdoor experiences, biodiversity, and wellness are seamlessly intertwined.