Birdwatching in Guatemala

2009 Chistmas Bird Counts in Guatemala

2009-11-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

Birders are invited to join the 2009 Christmas Bird Counts in Antigua Guatemala (14 December 2009), at Atitlan Volcano (16 December), and in TIKAL National Park (21 December 2009). These counts are organized by CAYAYA BIRDING, sign up online at www.cayaya-birding.com

2008 Christmas Bird Count Tikal

2009-04-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

The third edition of the Christmas Bird Count in the Tikal National Park took place on 19 December 2008. Among the 42 participants were several birdwatching novices, showing that Christmas Bird Counts help the Guatemalan birding community to grow.

A total of 2700 birds of 193 species was recorded (22 species more than in 2007). In addition, 17 species more were recorded during the count week. Each group recorded between 87 and 97 species. Thirteen species were recorded by each of the eight birding groups: Keel-billed Toucan, Black-headed Trogon, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Bright-rumped Attila, Brown Jay, Spot-breasted Wren, Wood Thrush, Black-and-White Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Summer Tanager, Montezuma Oropendula, and Black-cowled Oriole. A total of 75 species was recorded by only one or two of the eight birding groups, indicating a high percentage of "rare" species in the bird community of the Tikal forest. An increasing number of observers during the Christmas Bird Counts will lead to an increased number of detected species.

The Tikal National Park is part of the Maya-Lacandon Important Bird Area (IBA GT001) and this Christmas Bird Count is a simple tool to monitor bird populations in this IBA. A total of 18 species of conservation concern were recorded during the 2008 count, including four Near Threatened species (Great Curassow, Ocellated Turkey, Black Catbird, and Golden-winged Warbler) and 16 species restricted to the Gulf Caribbean Slope.

A report with complete species list is available online at: www.cayaya-birding.com/cbc/tikal2008.htm

2008 Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano

2009-04-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

The second edition of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano took place on 14 December 2008, 48 observers participated. A total of 3590 birds of 229 species was recorded. Only three species were recorded by each of the nine birding groups: Black Vulture, Yellow-winged Tanager, and Baltimore Oriole. A total of 116 species was recorded by only one or two of the nine birding groups, indicating a high percentage of "rare" species in the bird communities within the count circle.

The most abundant species during this Christmas Bird Count were American Coot (449 individuals), Pacific Parakeet (189), Tennessee Warbler (151), Great-tailed Grackle (132), Red-legged Honeycreeper (117), White-collared Swift (112), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (77), Wilson's Warbler (74), White-throated Swift (70), Vaux's Swift (69), Orange-chinned Parakeet (64), and Yellow-winged Tanager (51). The most abundant Nearctic-Neotropical migratory species was Tennessee Warbler, followed by Wilson's and Townsend's Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, and Black-and-White Warbler.

Not surprisingly, several endemic birds of the North Central American Highlands were recorded, such as Highland and Horned Guan, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Bushy-crested Jay, Black-capped Swallow, Rufous-browed Wren, Rufous-collared Thrush, Pink-headed Warbler, and Azure-rumped Tanager.

Atitlán volcano is part of the Atitlán Important Bird Area (IBA GT015) and this Christmas Bird Count is a simple tool to monitor bird populations in this IBA. Among the species of conservation concern recorded during the 2008 count were two globally Endangered species (Horned Guan, Azure-rumped Tanager), and two Vulnerable species (Highland Guan, Pink-headed Warbler).

A report with a complete species list is available online at: www.cayaya-birding.com/cbc/atitlan2008.htm

IV Big Birding Tour of the Saxon Ornithologist's Association

2008-05-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

A total of 345 bird species was recorded during a 17-day birding tour of the Saxon Ornithologist's Association. Seventeen endemics of northern Central America were seen well, including Pink-headed Warbler and Azure-rumped Tanager. All of the six in Guatemala ocurring guans were seen: Plain and White-bellied Chachalaca, Crested Guan, Highland and Horned Guan, and Great Curassow.
A short report and numerous photographs are available online at:
www.cayaya-birding.com

2007 Christmas Bird Count Tikal

2008-02-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

Good weather conditions -no rain nor wind- promised good birding during the second Christmas Bird Count in Tikal on 18 December 2007, with the participation of 22 observers. A total of 171 species was recorded.

2007 Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano

2008-02-13T21:04:00.000-08:00

A total of 216 species was recorded during the First Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano on 14 December 2007. An additional 13 species were recorded during the count week. Read a report.

Observation tower at Patrocinio Reserve

2007-04-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

An observation tower was built recently at Patrocinio Reserve on the Guatemalan Pacific slope, which adds another plus to this birding hotspot spot. See our birding news.

New Birding Hotspot

2007-04-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

Los Andes Reserve on the southern slope of Atitlan volcano is a good spot to see Resplendent Quetzals and Azure-rumped Tanagers. See www.cayaya-birding.com/andes.htm

News from the Chelemhá birding hotspot

2007-03-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

Observations of endemics of the northern Central American highlands, Resplendent Quetzals, Howler Monkeys ...
News from Chelemhá

News from Birding Guatemala

2007-02-27T15:57:00.000-08:00

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Reports of bird observations in Guatemala

2005-09-21T12:23:00.001-07:00

Help enlarge the knowledge on bird distribution in Guatemala! The Ornithological Society of Guatemala offers an online form to report noteworthy bird observations:
Bird records in Guatemala

Birding tour Guatemalan highlands

2005-04-06T00:15:00.000-07:00

Horned Guan and Blue-throated Motmot were the target species for a British birder during a short visit to the Guatemalan highlands in March 2005. The Blue-throated Motmot is a species easily detected by its far-carrying voice. To see it is not easy, because it usually hides in the understory. In an oak-conifer forest near Guatemala City we heard at least 5 individuals singing. Along the road one motmot was seen for a short while.
In the Los Tarrales reserve on Atitlan volcano we were searching for the Horned Guan. After a strenuous hike of 4 hours uphill, one adult was seen.
Other endemic species seen during this 3-days trip include: Azure-rumped Tanager, Black-capped Swallow, Rufous-browed Wren, Rufous-collared Thrush, Bushy-crested Jay, Blue-and-White Mockingbird, Highland Guan (heard), and Fulvous Owl (heard).

Knut Eisermann
CAYAYA BIRDING
Birding Tours in Guatemala
http://www.cayaya-birding.com