Volcano Complex National Park
Birding hot spots in El Salvador
Birding in El Salvador
El Salvador is home to various birding spots with diverse ecosystems, ranging from tropical forests to wetlands. Here’s a comprehensive list of the best-known birdwatching locations in El Salvador, including their habitat descriptions, distances from San Salvador, entrance fees, guide requirements, transportation, and notable bird species.
El Salvador, despite being the smallest country in Central America, boasts an impressive diversity of bird species due to its variety of ecosystems, including forests, mountains, wetlands, mangroves, and coastal areas. The bird population includes a mix of resident and migratory species, making it a fascinating destination for birdwatching. Below is a comprehensive list of bird species found in El Salvador, organized by their families. I’ve also included both common and less common species to give you a broad overview.
Divideing up El Salvador, habitats cconsidering proximity to San Salvador
Being the smallest country in Central America while still boasting a bird species list of nearly 600, make El Salvador the ideal country for pickin up many of the Central American Endimics as well as migratory species from East, West and Central North America.
So each birder, bird guide or birding tour company might take different views of how best to plan a birding trip to El Salvador. I have found that breaking the country up looking at several different habitas and there general proximity to San Salvador and/or our International airport out on the coast.
Birding in and around San Salvador
Knowing when and where to go and having a local guides aid it is common to get in 80-100 species in a full day or two just in San Salvador, so spending your first night or two in the city might be the right option if you have an afternoon or evening arriving flight. Below are just some of the more common options around the city.
Balboa Park
Location: 14 km (20 minutes) from San Salvador, located in the municipality of Panchimalco
Habitat: Semi-urban park with patches of secondary forest, open grassy areas, and ornamental gardens. The park sits on the slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains and has a mix of natural and landscaped vegetation.
Entrance Fee: free entrance car pay $1 for parking
Open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
Local Guide: Not necessary, though local birding enthusiasts may offer informal tours.
Transportation: Easily accessible by car or bus from San Salvador.
Notable Birds:
Blue-crowned Motmot
Turquoise Browed Motmot
White-throated Magpie-Jay
White-collared Seedeater
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Cinnamon Hummingbird
Beryline Hummingbird
Black-headed Saltator
Great Kiskadee
General Info: Balboa Park is a popular recreational area with playgrounds, walking trails, and picnic areas, but it also has pockets of green space that attract various bird species. Early morning birding is best to avoid crowds. Despite its proximity to the city, the park is home to an interesting mix of urban-adapted birds and some forest-edge species.
Cuscatlán Park
Location: Within San Salvador, 5 km from the city center
Habitat: Urban park with large trees, grassy areas, and some patches of ornamental and native plants. It’s a popular location for locals but still attracts some bird species due to its greenery.
Entrance Fee: Free
Closed on Mondays open Thursday through Sunday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
Local Guide: Not necessary; informal birdwatching can be done independently.
Transportation: Easily accessible by car or public transportation.
Notable Birds:
Great-tailed Grackle
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Blue-gray Tanager
Yellow-winged Tanager
Yellow-throated Euphonia
White-winged Dove
Tropical Kingbird
General Info: Cuscatlán Park is one of the most important green spaces in the heart of San Salvador. While it’s primarily a recreational park, it has a surprising number of bird species, especially those that thrive in urban environments. Birding here is best in the early morning or late afternoon when bird activity is higher, and park crowds are thinner.
Eco Parque El Espino
Location: 12 km from San Salvador
Habitat: Montane forest on the slopes of the San Salvador Volcano
Entrance Fee: $3
Local Guide: Optional
Open from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm
Transportation: Easily accessible by car or public transport
Notable Birds
Lessons Motmot
White-bellied Emerald
Red-legged Honeycreeper
El Boquerón National Park
Location: 23 km from San Salvador
Habitat: Montane forest at the top of the San Salvador Volcano
Entrance Fee: $1 for locals, $2 for foreigners
Local Guide: Optional
Transportation: Accessible by car
Notable Birds:
Lessons Motmot
Green-throated Mountain-gem
White-winged Tanager
American Pygmy Kingfisher
La Laguna Botanical Garden
Location: Within San Salvador
Habitat: Urban park with botanical collections
Entrance Fee: $1 for locals, $3 for foreigners
Local Guide: Not necessary
Transportation: Easily accessible by car or bus
Notable Birds:
Green Kingfisher
Yellow-throated Euphonia
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