Mexico's last pajareros fight to keep a fading tradition alive

For 32 years, Cruz Monroy's cages brimmed with cardinals and parakeets—now, his family's legacy teeters on the edge. What's silencing Mexico's pajareros?

, and Administrator

2026 March 30 . 5:01 AM

1 min read

The image shows a small bird with a tag attached to it, which is identified as a tangara mexicana... — The image shows a small bird with a tag attached to it, which is identified as a tangara mexicana vieilloti. The tag has text written on it, likely providing information about the bird.

Mexico's last pajareros fight to keep a fading tradition alive

Cruz Monroy has spent 32 years selling birds on the streets of Mexico. His trade, once common, is now fading as stricter rules and harassment push vendors away. The colourful cages he stacks high with red cardinals, green parakeets and multicoloured finches are becoming a rare sight. Monroy's routine follows a long-standing tradition. On Palm Sunday, he and other pajareros decorate their cages and walk to Mexico City's basilica. Many vendors, like him, breed and care for their own birds.

Yet the number of street bird sellers has dropped sharply. Fewer than 10% remain compared to past decades, especially in Mexico City, Veracruz and Yucatán. Authorities have tightened laws since the 2010s, citing animal abuse and illegal wildlife trade. These restrictions have made it harder for vendors to work. Monroy now hopes his sons will find steadier jobs. The challenges of street vending—from harassment to shrinking demand—have made the family's tradition unsustainable.

Mexico still has around 1.5 million street vendors, but bird sellers are disappearing. The trade's decline reflects broader changes in laws and public attitudes. For Monroy and others, the future lies beyond the cages they once stacked with care.