The Atlas Obscura Podcast The Hummingbirds of Mexico City
Mar 18, 2026
Katia Latouf Villarida, a Mexico City hummingbird rescuer who runs a home sanctuary nursing injured and baby hummingbirds. She tells how dozens of hummingbirds live and fly inside her apartment. She shares her first rescue, how caregiving helped her through illness, the sanctuary’s layout and care routines. She also discusses threats to hummingbirds and the emotional process of preparing them for release.
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Apartment Sanctuary Receives Daily Hummingbird Calls
- Katia currently houses dozens of hummingbirds inside her Mexico City apartment, sometimes receiving callers who bring injured birds daily.
- She moved to the apartment after losing her husband and transitioned from garden rescues to an indoor sanctuary.
Gucci The Hummingbird Gave Her Purpose
- Katia rescued her first hummingbird, Gucci, in 2012 and named him after her glasses case.
- Gucci lived nine months with Katia during her cancer diagnosis and she credits the bird with giving her emotional strength and new purpose.
Viral Video Turned Her Into An Educator
- A viral video of Katia feeding a baby hummingbird brought her unexpected fame and led to interviews and conference invitations.
- She initially resisted publicity but accepted it to raise awareness and educate on hummingbirds.