“Pájaro Cenzontle,” by Son Rompe Pera (a Mexican fusion band formed in 2017) is a very interesting song. It was an instant add-to-liked-songs decision the first time I heard it, because I love the sound of the marimba throughout the song.

The song was originally written and released by Super Grupo Colombia in 1982, in a Mexican cumbia sonidero style. Since then, it’s been recorded by other musicians like Grupo Kual, Alberto Pedraza, and Chon Arauza y Su Furia Colombiana. But Son Rompe Pera’s 2018 version is my favorite. It feels authentic to the original, but it’s still completely unique with the marimba and the singers’ voices that sound like a chant.

Cenzontle is Nahuatl for mockingbird. Nahuatl was the language of Aztec and Toltec civilizations in Mexico in the 16th century. These small pájaros can mimic other birds, insects, frogs, barking dogs, squeaky hinges, and machinery.

My research for this post introduced me to two other birds: pava congona and corcovado.

• The lyrics of “Pájaro Cenzontle” are “canta en el monte la pava congona, se oye su lamento y se esparce en la ladera.” In English, pava congona is crested guan. Crested guans are found from central Mexico down through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. They feed on fruit, leaves, and insects.Their vocalizations are much more limited than a mockingbird’s, and they sound unlike other birds I’ve heard.
• Corcovados are quail (several different species of quail, like Corcovado Venezolano or Corcovado Pechirrufo). The song does not reference quail directly. But Son Rompe Pera draws a lot of inspiration in their music from Andrés Landero, a Colombian musician known as El Rey de la Cumbia. Andrés Landero has a song called . . . “Pava Congona” (it’s all connected!!) . . . which says “yo, una tarde en la montaña, oí cantar el corcova’o.” Corcovados are found in forests in Central and South America. They’re ground dwelling birds, and tend to be heard more than they’re seen. I think they’re also the best-looking of the three birds in this post (and pava congona are the coolest looking).

Mi Diccionario Entry: Ladera, which means hillside. Like when Son Rompe Pera sings that la pava congona’s song “se esparce en la ladera.”