 Tikal is a reliable place to see the rare Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus), here a female perched on the scaffold at Temple IV. See also Tikal is part of the Maya-Lacandón Important Bird Area Report Christmas Bird Count Tikal 2009 Report Christmas Bird Count Tikal 2008 Report Christmas Bird Count Tikal 2007 Report Christmas Bird Count Tikal 2006 Trip report, May 2009 Trip report, May 2008 Trip report, March 2008 Trip report, December 2005 Trip report, February 2005 |
Birding in Tikal. Tikal was Guatemala's first Guatemalan National Park–declared in 1955–to preserve the Mayan ruins and the extensive broadleaf forest with its diverse wildlife. UNESCO then declared it a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site in 1979. Tikal National Park is part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, the largest Neotropical rainforest north of the Amazon basin.
Tikal is a great place for birding, because of the unique mixture of Mayan ruins and the rainforest which conquered this place after the collapse of the ancient Mayan culture. More than 400 bird species have been reported in northern Petén. The temple tops are excellent viewpoints to see canopy birds like Keel-billed Toucan, different parrots (Mealy, Red-lored, White-fronted, White-crowned, and Brown-hooded), and Neotropical raptors. Tikal is one of the best sites to see the rare Orange-breasted Falcon.
Ocellated Turkeys–endemic to the Yucatán peninsula–are quite tame at Tikal and easy to see. Army ant swarms are often accompanied by mixed foraging flock, with several species of woodcreepers (Northern Barred, Olivaceous, Ruddy, Tawny-winged, and Ivory-billed), Red-crowned and Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Gray-headed Tanager, and Tawny-crowned Greenlet.
Because hunting is forbidden within Tikal National Park, mammals wander freely between the primary forest and ruins. The most commonly observed animals are Coaties, Agouties, and Gray Fox walking around the park grounds, and Spider monkeys and Mexican Black Howler Monkeys in the forest canopy.
Accommodation: Tikal is easily accessible on paved roads from Flores. Several comfortable hotels are available in Tikal.
For independent travelers:
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When is the best time for birding Tikal? Any time of the year.
How do you support conservation and development in Tikal? With your entrance fee to the National Park you support the conservation of Tikal, which is part of the Maya-Lacandon Important Bird Area (IBA GT001).
