Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

🇲🇽 Mexico

🦭 Manatees Drift Through the Lagoons
🌍 #98 Global · 4.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #5 in North America #7 in Wetlands & Mangrove
Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico 822 spp. recorded

Sian Ka'an runs from Maya forest through mangrove and lagoon to the Caribbean reef, and most of it is seen from a boat. The lagoon system holds Antillean manatees and bottlenose dolphins, and green turtles feed in the bays year-round.

19.484° N   87.651° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

West Indian Manatee ★
VU

West Indian Manatee

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Trichechus manatus

20–30% · Possible
Green Turtle ★
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

30–40% · Possible
Bottlenose Dolphin ★
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

30–40% · Possible
Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
LC

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes aurifrons

70–80% · Very likely
Tropical Mockingbird
LC Endemic

Tropical Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus gilvus

70–80% · Very likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

60–70% · Likely
Melodious Blackbird
LC

Melodious Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dives dives

60–70% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
Yucatán Jay
LC

Yucatán Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocorax yucatanicus

50–60% · Likely
Brown Jay

Brown Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psilorhinus morio

50–60% · Likely
Olive-throated Parakeet
NT

Olive-throated Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aratinga nana

50–60% · Likely
Hooded Oriole
LC

Hooded Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus cucullatus

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

West Indian Manatee ★
VU

West Indian Manatee

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Trichechus manatus

20–30% · Possible
Bottlenose Dolphin ★
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

30–40% · Possible
Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible
Mexican Black Howler Monkey
EN

Mexican Black Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta pigra

20–30% · Possible
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

20–30% · Possible
Yucatán Squirrel
LC

Yucatán Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus yucatanensis

10–20% · With luck
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

10–20% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck
Big-eared Climbing Rat
LC

Big-eared Climbing Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ototylomys phyllotis

10–20% · With luck
Lesser Dog-like Bat
LC

Lesser Dog-like Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Peropteryx macrotis

10–20% · With luck
Deppe's Squirrel
LC

Deppe's Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus deppei

10–20% · With luck
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

Insufficient data
Tayra
LC

Tayra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eira barbara

Insufficient data
Hatt's Vesper Rat
LC

Hatt's Vesper Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Otonyctomys hatti

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
LC

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes aurifrons

70–80% · Very likely
Tropical Mockingbird
LC Endemic

Tropical Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus gilvus

70–80% · Very likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

60–70% · Likely
Melodious Blackbird
LC

Melodious Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dives dives

60–70% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
Yucatán Jay
LC

Yucatán Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocorax yucatanicus

50–60% · Likely
Brown Jay

Brown Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psilorhinus morio

50–60% · Likely
Olive-throated Parakeet
NT

Olive-throated Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aratinga nana

50–60% · Likely
Hooded Oriole
LC

Hooded Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus cucullatus

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Green Turtle ★
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

40–50% · Likely
American Crocodile
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

30–40% · Possible
Central American Boa
LC

Central American Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Boa imperator

20–30% · Possible
Ghost Anole
LC

Ghost Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis lemurinus

20–30% · Possible
Brown Anole
LC

Brown Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis sagrei

20–30% · Possible
Rodriguez's Anole
LC

Rodriguez's Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis rodriguezii

20–30% · Possible
Belize Crocodile
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

20–30% · Possible
Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard
LC

Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus chrysostictus

20–30% · Possible
Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

20–30% · Possible
Mexican Parrot Snake
LC

Mexican Parrot Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Leptophis mexicanus

20–30% · Possible
Rainbow Ameiva
LC Endemic

Rainbow Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus undulatus

20–30% · Possible
Fer-de-lance
LC

Fer-de-lance

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Bothrops asper

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

20–30% · Possible
Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

20–30% · Possible
Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frog
LC Endemic

Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Triprion petasatus

5–10% · With luck
Yucatán Salamander
LC Endemic

Yucatán Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Bolitoglossa yucatana

Insufficient data
Browns' Frog
LC Endemic

Browns' Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lithobates brownorum

Insufficient data
Veined Frog
LC

Veined Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Trachycephalus typhonius

Insufficient data
Yucatan rainfrog
NT Endemic

Yucatan rainfrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Craugastor yucatanensis

Insufficient data
Black Jungle-Frog
LC

Black Jungle-Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Leptodactylus melanonotus

Insufficient data
Sheep Frog
LC

Sheep Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Hypopachus variolosus

Insufficient data
Mexican Burrowing Toad
LC

Mexican Burrowing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinophrynus dorsalis

Insufficient data
Stauffer's Tree Frog
LC

Stauffer's Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax staufferi

Insufficient data
Painted Tree Frog
LC

Painted Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Tlalocohyla picta

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐢

Green Turtle Nesting

MayJunJulAugSep

Green turtles come ashore to nest on the reserve's beaches. CONANP records nesting in the Mexican Caribbean as starting in May.

Green Turtle
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

30–40% · Possible
🐋

Manatees in the Lagoons

FebMarAprMayJunJul

Antillean manatees feed in the shallow lagoon system, and bottlenose dolphins work the channels and bay mouths.

Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

30–40% · Possible
West Indian Manatee
VU

West Indian Manatee

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Trichechus manatus

20–30% · Possible
🐦

Boreal Migrants Arrive

SepOctNovDecJanFebMar

American redstarts and spotted sandpipers spread through the wetlands and mangrove.

Spotted Sandpiper
LC

Spotted Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis macularius

10–20% · With luck
American Redstart
LC

American Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga ruticilla

40–50% · Likely
Northern Waterthrush
LC

Northern Waterthrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parkesia noveboracensis

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
West Indian Manatee
20–30
30–40
30–40
<5
40–50
10–20
40–50
10–20
20–30
10–20
20–30
10–20
Green Turtle
20–30
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
20–30
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
Bottlenose Dolphin
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
10–20
20–30
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
Central American Spider Monkey
10–20
20–30
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
10–20
30–40
20–30
20–30
<5
Great-tailed Grackle
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
Tropical Mockingbird
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Social Flycatcher
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
Melodious Blackbird
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
Black Vulture
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
Turkey Vulture
50–60
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
Yucatán Jay
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
60–70
Brown Jay
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
30–40
20–30
10–20
50–60
50–60
60–70
Olive-throated Parakeet
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
Hooded Oriole
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
Great Kiskadee
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
Animal Events
🐦 Boreal Migrants Arrive
🐢 Green Turtle Nesting
🐋 Manatees in the Lagoons

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦭 Manatees Drift Through the Lagoons

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
521
🐒 Mammals
168
🦎 Reptiles
108
🐸 Amphibians
25
822 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
29 Threatened 89 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
61%
📊
Coverage (224 species at ≥5% of 822 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
27%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
46% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
153
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
16
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
25

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

The most likely sightings are Great-tailed Grackle (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Golden-fronted Woodpecker (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Tropical Mockingbird (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Social Flycatcher (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Melodious Blackbird (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 822 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve for wildlife?

May has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see West Indian Manatee in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 27% of wildlife watchers report a West Indian Manatee sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 32 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Green Turtle in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 35% of wildlife watchers report a Green Turtle sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 51 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Bottlenose Dolphin in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 38% of wildlife watchers report a Bottlenose Dolphin sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 58 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Central American Spider Monkey in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 22% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Spider Monkey sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 22 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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