Celestún Biosphere Reserve

🇲🇽 Mexico

🐊 Flamingo and Crocodile Estuary
🌍 #168 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #16 in North America #8 in Wetlands & Mangrove
Yucatán, Mexico 685 spp. recorded

Celestún is an estuary where fresh water meets the Gulf under a roof of mangrove, and the whole visit happens from a boat. Caribbean flamingos feed in the shallows on about half of all trips, and Morelet's crocodiles are seen on nearly eight in ten.

20.623° N   90.416° 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

American Flamingo ★
LC

American Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus ruber

60–70% · Likely
Magnificent Frigatebird ★
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

70–80% · Very likely
Belize Crocodile ★
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

40–50% · Likely
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana ★
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

70–80% · Very likely
Laughing Gull
LC

Laughing Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucophaeus atricilla

60–70% · Likely
Tropical Mockingbird
LC Endemic

Tropical Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus gilvus

60–70% · Likely
Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax auritus

60–70% · Likely
Brown Pelican
LC

Brown Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus occidentalis

60–70% · Likely
Yellow Warbler
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

50–60% · Likely
Mangrove Vireo
LC

Mangrove Vireo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vireo pallens

50–60% · Likely
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

50–60% · Likely
Snowy Egret
LC

Snowy Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta thula

50–60% · Likely
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

50–60% · Likely
Olive-throated Parakeet
NT

Olive-throated Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aratinga nana

50–60% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

70–80% · Very likely
Greater Sac-winged Bat
LC

Greater Sac-winged Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saccopteryx bilineata

10–20% · With luck
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

Insufficient data
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Insufficient data
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

Insufficient data
Mexican Black Howler Monkey
EN

Mexican Black Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta pigra

Insufficient data
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

Insufficient data
Central American Spider Monkey
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

Insufficient data
Ocelot
LC

Ocelot

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leopardus pardalis

Insufficient data
Margay
NT

Margay

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leopardus wiedii

Insufficient data
Greater Bulldog Bat
LC

Greater Bulldog Bat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Noctilio leporinus

Insufficient data
Mexican Greater Funnel-eared Bat
LC

Mexican Greater Funnel-eared Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Natalus mexicanus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

American Flamingo ★
LC

American Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus ruber

60–70% · Likely
Magnificent Frigatebird ★
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Laughing Gull
LC

Laughing Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucophaeus atricilla

60–70% · Likely
Tropical Mockingbird
LC Endemic

Tropical Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus gilvus

60–70% · Likely
Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax auritus

60–70% · Likely
Brown Pelican
LC

Brown Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus occidentalis

60–70% · Likely
Yellow Warbler
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

50–60% · Likely
Mangrove Vireo
LC

Mangrove Vireo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vireo pallens

50–60% · Likely
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

50–60% · Likely
Snowy Egret
LC

Snowy Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta thula

50–60% · Likely
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

50–60% · Likely
Olive-throated Parakeet
NT

Olive-throated Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aratinga nana

50–60% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely
White Ibis
LC

White Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eudocimus albus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Belize Crocodile ★
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

40–50% · Likely
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana ★
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Central American Boa
LC

Central American Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Boa imperator

20–30% · With luck
Cozumel Spiny Lizard
LC Endemic

Cozumel Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus cozumelae

10–20% · With luck
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

10–20% · With luck
Brown Anole
LC

Brown Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis sagrei

10–20% · With luck
Yucatán Whiptail
LC

Yucatán Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis angusticeps

10–20% · With luck
Gulf Coast Vine Snake

Gulf Coast Vine Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Oxybelis potosiensis

Insufficient data
Rainforest Cat-eyed Snake
LC

Rainforest Cat-eyed Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Leptodeira frenata

Insufficient data
Mexican Parrot Snake
LC

Mexican Parrot Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Leptophis mexicanus

Insufficient data
Rodriguez's Anole
LC

Rodriguez's Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis rodriguezii

Insufficient data
Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard
LC

Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus chrysostictus

Insufficient data
Road Guarder
LC

Road Guarder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Conophis lineatus

Insufficient data
Speckled Racer
LC

Speckled Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Drymobius margaritiferus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

Insufficient data
Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

Insufficient data
Black Jungle-Frog
LC

Black Jungle-Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Leptodactylus melanonotus

Insufficient data
Browns' Frog
LC Endemic

Browns' Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lithobates brownorum

Insufficient data
Sheep Frog
LC

Sheep Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Hypopachus variolosus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦩

Flamingo Congregations

OctNovFeb

Thousands of American flamingos gather to feed in the shallow pink-tinged lagoon of the ría.

American Flamingo
LC

American Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus ruber

60–70% · Likely
🐢

Hawksbill Turtle Nesting

JunJulAug

Hawksbill turtles come ashore at night to nest on the reserve's Gulf beaches.

Hawksbill
CR

Hawksbill

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eretmochelys imbricata

Insufficient data
🦆

Waterbird Migration

JanFebMar

White pelicans and blue-winged teal crowd the ría alongside the flamingos during the northern winter.

Blue-winged Teal
LC

Blue-winged Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula discors

20–30% · Possible
American White Pelican
LC

American White Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

20–30% · 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
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
American Flamingo
80–90
70–80
60–70
30–40
40–50
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
Magnificent Frigatebird
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
Belize Crocodile
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
10–20
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
50–60
20–30
30–40
Common Raccoon
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
Laughing Gull
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
Tropical Mockingbird
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
Double-crested Cormorant
80–90
60–70
70–80
30–40
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
Brown Pelican
80–90
70–80
70–80
40–50
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Yellow Warbler
60–70
40–50
40–50
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
Mangrove Vireo
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
Great Egret
70–80
60–70
50–60
20–30
30–40
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
Snowy Egret
60–70
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
Great-tailed Grackle
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
Olive-throated Parakeet
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
30–40
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
20–30
Tropical Kingbird
60–70
40–50
30–40
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
Animal Events
🦩 Flamingo Congregations
🦆 Waterbird Migration
🐢 Hawksbill Turtle Nesting

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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐊 Flamingo and Crocodile Estuary

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
456
🐒 Mammals
125
🦎 Reptiles
90
🐸 Amphibians
14
685 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
24 Threatened 75 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
64%
📊
Coverage (178 species at ≥5% of 685 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
26%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
137
🌟
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
6
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
33

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Celestún Biosphere Reserve?

The most likely sightings are Magnificent Frigatebird (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Raccoon (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), American Flamingo (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Laughing Gull (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Tropical Mockingbird (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 685 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Celestún Biosphere Reserve for wildlife?

January 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 American Flamingo in Celestún Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 69% of wildlife watchers report a American Flamingo sighting in Celestún Biosphere Reserve, based on 1,051 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Magnificent Frigatebird in Celestún Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 72% of wildlife watchers report a Magnificent Frigatebird sighting in Celestún Biosphere Reserve, based on 1,092 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Belize Crocodile in Celestún Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 49% of wildlife watchers report a Belize Crocodile sighting in Celestún Biosphere Reserve, based on 51 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Black Spiny-tailed Iguana in Celestún Biosphere Reserve?

Yes — about 53% of wildlife watchers report a Black Spiny-tailed Iguana sighting in Celestún Biosphere Reserve, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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