Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas is a state in Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state covers over 80,000 km2 (nearly 31,000 square miles) and houses approaching four million people. It is divided into 43 municipalities. In addition to the capital city, Ciudad Victoria with a population of around 440,000 people, the state’s largest cities include Reynosa; the largest with almost one million inhabitants, Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Tampico, and Mante. It is located in northeast Mexico and is bordered by the states of Nuevo León to the west, San Luis Potosí to the southwest, and Veracruz to the southeast. To the north, it has a 370 km (230 mile) border with Texas, USA. To the east it is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico.

The Tropic of Cancer crosses the southern part of the municipality of Victoria. The coastal plains along the Gulf have a large presence in the state, whereas inland the landscape is adorned by cactus species and pasture. In the western part of the state, the Sierra Madre Oriental has warm valleys and high sierras with peaks reaching over 10,000 feet in the Pedragoso Sierra, the Borregos Sierra; La Gloria Sierra; Cerro el Nacimiento; and just a little less in the Sierra el Pinal. The Sierra de Tamaulipas and the Sierra de San Carlos are isolated mountain ranges in eastern Tamaulipas.

Sierra Peña Navada – ©William L Farr CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Bravo, Purificacion, and Guayalejo Rivers flow into the Gulf of Mexico after crossing the state from in land in the west. On their way, much of their water is destined for agricultural use. The Rio Grande, known to Mexicans as the Río Bravo, makes the northern frontier shared with the United States. One of its tributaries, the San Juan River, feeds the Marte R. Gómez Dam. Agricultural and cattle-raising activities are served by 14 other dams across the state.

About 58% of the state has a hot humid subtropical climate. In the centre, north, and towards the southwest, an arid and semi-arid climate predominate (together about 38% of the state). A temperate subtropical climate is found in the extreme southwest of the state while in the extreme southeast, such as Tampico, there is a tropical savanna climate. Mean annual temperature in the state is around 23.5 °C while mean annual precipitation is 31 inches, mostly concentrated between June and September.

Mammals in the region include cougar, long-tailed weasel, ocelot, American badger and North American beaver. There are nearly 600 bird species.

Birding Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas is a birder’s and a butterfly watcher’s paradise. (Often said but having been there I agree – Fatbirder) The junction of two biogeographic regions – the Nearctic and the Neotropical – accounts in part for its rich biodiversity. The other part is explained by the presence of three great land areas – the Great North American Plains, the Coastal Gulf Plains and the Sierra Madre Oriental. All of these things, plus the local guides and friendliness of its people, make Tamaulipas an ideal place for nature watchers coming to find neo-tropical bird and butterfly species not found further north.

Sierra Madre Oriental near Ciudad Victoria – ©ゴスロリ, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ciudad Victoria is the capital of the State of Tamaulipas. A town with good hotels and restaurants, medical services and all the commodities of a city yet it is still very close to wonderful birding and butterfly watching areas. For this reason it has been known for years as the state’s ‘Birding Capital’. Most interesting routes around Ciudad Victoria include:

• Rio Corona, located only 40 km (65 miles) north of Ciudad Victoria, is the northernmost Neotropical River. Taking the road that borders this river on its way to the town of Santa Engracia you will most probably find Blue-crowned Motmot, Elegant Trogon, Red-crowned Parrot and Brown Jay. If you visit the park named Salto del Tigre you will add Ringed, Belted and Green Kingfishers.
• Cañon El Novillo, Troncones and La libertad are excellent birding spots around Cidudad Victoria. Here you might find Common Back-Hawk, Elegant Motomot, Yellow-headed Parrot, Red-lored Parrot, Magnificent Hummingbird, Blue-throated Hummingbird and Social Flycatcher. If you like butterflies this is a good place to find Creamy Stripestreak, Carousing Metalmark, Superb Cycadian, Variable Swallowtail and Hermit Skipper
• The town of Jaumave, located only 40 minutes form the capital of the state is a must, especially from October through January when the Military Macaws fly over this picturesque town and feed on the pecan trees on its three plazas. If you come back to Ciudad Victoria using the Old road you can visit Balcon de Montezuma, an archaeological site surrounded by interesting endemics bird species like the Bronze-winged Woodpecker and Tamaulipas Pygmy Owl.
• Lake Guerrero Dam will add aquatic species like Muscovy Duck as well as Lineated Woodpecker, Thicket Tinamou and Green Jay to your list of birds. If you want to visit Balneario La Florida, follow the signs to this place. La Florida is usually a less visited place, especially on weekends during the summer or Mexican holidays; you might want to try this instead of Bocatoma. If you like butterflies in this area you can find Ruddy Daggerwing, Montezuma Cattleheart, Silver Emperor, Pavon Emperor, Shining Blue-skipper, Starred Skipper, Dark Mylon, Black Hairstreak, Damo Hairstreak, Intense-blue Hairstreak, Tropical Greenstreak, Ardys Crescent, Huastecan Crescent and Pointer Sister
• Gomez Farias is a neat little town which is one of the entrance doors to the reserve. Some comfortable lodging options can be found there that are a good option in the winter since they don’t have air conditioning. Birding in the garden of Hostal Casa de Piedra can be a delight; some species include Squirrel Cuckoo, Azure-crowned Hummingbird and Melodius Balckbird.
• Going up the mountain to Alta Cima requires a high clearance vehicle. If you don’t have one you can hire 4×4 transportation service at the Plaza in Gomez Farias. The trip to Alta Cima is about 1 hour non-stop, but if you stop every now and then to bird on the road you can find spectacular species like Bat Falcon, Ornate Hawk-Ealge and Solitary Eagle. Once in Alta Cima you will be delighted by Blue Mockingbird, Crimson-Collared Grosbeak, Mountain Trogon, Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush and Spot-breasted Wren. While there you can have lunch at La Fe Restaurant and buy T-shirts embroidered by hand with your favourite bird. Make sure you hire a local birding guide. They are the ones that can help you locate the highlights of the moment. Nests for Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Stygian Owl have been located in the area.
• Ocampo Road Going past Ocampo and towards Tula can pay off. As you are coming south toward Ciudad Mante on highway 85, take a road to the right that goes to Ocampo. This road takes you to the higher elevations, on a paved road! You need to be careful parking on the side of the road; heavy trucks drive on it constantly. There is a Dirt road going up to the right, about 30 minutes after you pass Ocampo. This road is a wonderful birding area. Here you will find Rufous-capped Warbler, Elegant Euphonia, Black-headed Nightingale-thrush and Brown-backed Solitaire. If you are a butterfly lover this road will yield some of the higher elevation species like Callidryas Leafwing, Stained Greenstreak, Mountain Greenstreak, Narrow-banded Dartwhite, Giant White, Arcius Swordtail and Eight-spotted Longtail to name a few species.