Bird Conservation Region 56
Planicie
de la Península de Yucatán
This BCR covers most
of the Yucatan Peninsula, including parts of Campeche and Quintana Roo
and all of Yucatán. Calakmul is an IBA and biosphere reserve located
at the highest elevations of the Campeche Plains. There are no major watercourses
in the area, but rather surface pools, locally known as “aguadas,”
where water collects in natural depressions. Tropical semi-deciduous and
deciduous forests, tropical rainforest, and aquatic vegetation predominate.
This is the largest reserve in the Mexican tropics, sheltering an avifauna
that includes 118 protected species and nine that are endemic to the region.
Important among these are Harpy Eagle, King Vulture, Emerald Toucanet,
Wood Stork, Jabiru, Muscovy Duck, Masked Duck, and Spectacled Owl. Mesoamerican
endemics include Ocellated Turkey, Yellow-lored Parrot, Rose-throated
Tanager, Red-vented Woodpecker, Orange Oriole, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan
Jay, and Yucatan Poorwill. Sierra de Ticul–Punto Put is an IBA at
the point of convergence of the states of Campeche, Yucatán, and
Quintana Roo. It is adjacent to Calakmul and has similar vegetation. Additional
important species in this IBA include Common Black-Hawk, Great Curassow,
Crested Guan, Yellow-headed Vulture, Bat Falcon, Limpkin, and wintering
Hooded and Swainson’s Warblers. Sian Ka’an IBA is also a biosphere
reserve. It is located in coastal Quintana Roo and features a wide variety
of habitat types, including tropical rainforest sloping down to the sea,
flooded rainforests, freshwater and brackish swamps, coastal lagoons,
and keys. Additional important species here include Rose-throated Tanager
and Buff-bellied Hummingbird. This BCR also includes the Ría Lagartos
Biosphere Reserve, where nesting Greater Flamingos are found.
To view another BCR description, click on a number on the map below.
