Fourth official Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano (GMAV) 2010
organized by CAYAYA BIRDING
in memoriam Federico J. Fahsen

Compiled by , CAYAYA BIRDING, January 2011

The fourth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano was conducted on 15 December 2010. A total of 29 observers in 10 groups counted birds in Reserva Natural Privada Los Andes, Reserva Natural Privada Los Tarrales, Finca San Jerónimo Miramar, Fincas Santo Tomás Perdido & Santa Teresa, and in the bays of Santiago Atitlán and San Lucas Tolimán of Lake Atitlán. Weather conditions were favorable. Clouds covered the areas below 2000 m in the morning, while it was clear on the top of the volcano cone.

CBC Atitlan Volcano 2010 in memorian Federico J. Fahsen.

A total of 5393 birds of 237 species was recorded. Five more species were observed during the count week. The most abundant species during this Christmas Bird Count with more than 50 detected individuals were (in descending order of abundance): American Coot, Great-tailed Grackle, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Barn Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Green Violetear, Cattle Egret, Tennessee Warbler, Black Vulture, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-capped Swallow, Band-tailed Pigeon, Yellow-winged Tanager, Wilson's Warbler, White-collared Swift, and Bushy-crested Jay.

The avian stars of Atitlán volcano, Horned Guan and Azure-rumped Tanager, were recorded again, as well as many other endemics of the northern Central American highlands, such as Pink-headed Warbler, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Highland Guan, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Rufous-browed Wren, and Rufous-collared Thrush.

Most noteworthy, however, was an Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, furnishing the first record of this little known owl for the volcano and a new site record for Guatemala. Ring-necked Duck occurs irregularly at Lake Atitlán, a group of nine birds in the bay of San Lucas Tolimán was noteworthy. Six Soras represent the first record for the CBC Atitlán Volcano.

Atitlán volcano is part of the Atitlán Important Bird Area (IBA GT015) and this Christmas Bird Count helps to monitor bird populations in this IBA. Among the species of conservation concern recorded during the 2010 count were two globally Endangered species (Horned Guan, Azure-rumped Tanager), and two Vulnerable species (Highland Guan, Pink-headed Warbler).

It follows a list of species and numbers of individuals recorded during the fourth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2010). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).

  1. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 4
  2. Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 9
  3. White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 14
  4. Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 42
  5. Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 5
  6. Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus 1
  7. Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys (cw)
  8. Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 3
  9. Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 11
  10. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 1
  11. Great Egret Ardea alba 25
  12. Snowy Egret Egretta thula 2
  13. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 3
  14. Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 1
  15. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 84
  16. Green Heron Butorides virescens 28
  17. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 76
  18. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 31
  19. King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa (cw)
  20. Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 1
  21. White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis 1
  22. Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 3
  23. Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 9
  24. Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 6
  25. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 2
  26. Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
  27. Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 1
  28. Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 3
  29. Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 3
  30. Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 2
  31. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 5
  32. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 3
  33. Sora Porzana carolina 6
  34. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 3
  35. American Coot Fulica americana 1093
  36. Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 2
  37. Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 19
  38. Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 60
  39. White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 3
  40. Inca Dove Columbina inca 8
  41. Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 5
  42. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 12
  43. White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies 3
  44. Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua 36
  45. Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 166
  46. Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 14
  47. Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 27
  48. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 8
  49. Barn Owl Tyto alba 1
  50. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 8
  51. Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 14
  52. Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 5
  53. Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 7
  54. Unspotted Saw-whet Owl Aegolius ridgwayi 1
  55. Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 17
  56. Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 12
  57. Mexican Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus arizonae 1
  58. White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 54
  59. Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 29
  60. Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 7
  61. Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 14
  62. Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus 88
  63. Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 1
  64. Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 16
  65. Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 15
  66. White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 12
  67. White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 7
  68. Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 1
  69. Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 10
  70. Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 20
  71. Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 12
  72. Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 4
  73. Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus 2
  74. Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami 1
  75. Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 1
  76. Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 3
  77. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 72
  78. Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti 1
  79. Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus 5
  80. Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 7
  81. Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 2
  82. Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 12
  83. Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 4
  84. Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 5
  85. Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 3
  86. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 28
  87. Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa 2
  88. Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana 1
  89. Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 18
  90. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 20
  91. Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 14
  92. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 18
  93. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 1
  94. Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 3
  95. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus 6
  96. Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 15
  97. Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 1
  98. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 5
  99. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 3
  100. Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 4
  101. Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 5
  102. Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 3
  103. Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus 8
  104. Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 1
  105. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 8
  106. Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 3
  107. Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 6
  108. Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 12
  109. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 7
  110. Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 7
  111. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus 1
  112. Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 30
  113. Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 1
  114. Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 8
  115. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 2
  116. Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 5
  117. Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 9
  118. Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 10
  119. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 7
  120. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 9
  121. Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 3
  122. Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 6
  123. Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 5
  124. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 17
  125. Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 5
  126. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 4
  127. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 14
  128. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 32
  129. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 20
  130. Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 12
  131. Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 10
  132. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 13
  133. Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 18
  134. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 6
  135. Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 6
  136. Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 5
  137. Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 1
  138. Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 5
  139. Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 3
  140. Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 7
  141. Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 18
  142. Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 3
  143. White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 22
  144. Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 52
  145. Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 2
  146. Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea 2
  147. Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 30
  148. Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata 60
  149. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 193
  150. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 242
  151. Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 12
  152. Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 23
  153. Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 31
  154. Rufous-and-white Wren Thryothorus rufalbus 6
  155. Plain Wren Thryothorus modestus 16
  156. House Wren Troglodytes aedon 4
  157. Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 7
  158. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 2
  159. Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 27
  160. Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 6
  161. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 3
  162. Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis (cw)
  163. Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 23
  164. Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 19
  165. Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 13
  166. Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 2
  167. Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 29
  168. Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina 1
  169. Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 5
  170. Mountain Thrush Turdus plebejus 2
  171. Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 37
  172. White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 19
  173. Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques 16
  174. Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 1
  175. Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 3
  176. Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 1
  177. Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus 46
  178. Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera 1
  179. Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 79
  180. Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 3
  181. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 5
  182. Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia 16
  183. Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 6
  184. Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi 37
  185. Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis 1
  186. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 18
  187. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 4
  188. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 3
  189. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 4
  190. Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 1
  191. Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 1
  192. Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus 1
  193. MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei 4
  194. Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala 1
  195. Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 56
  196. Pink-headed Warbler Ergaticus versicolor 2
  197. Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 18
  198. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 15
  199. Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 15
  200. Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 4
  201. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 3
  202. Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus 26
  203. Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 3
  204. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 59
  205. Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 9
  206. Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 357
  207. Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 7
  208. Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 28
  209. Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina (cw)
  210. White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 17
  211. Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 3
  212. Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha 4
  213. White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 9
  214. Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 8
  215. Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 6
  216. Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus 2
  217. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 21
  218. Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 19
  219. Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 5
  220. White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 21
  221. Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 6
  222. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 65
  223. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 8
  224. Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 6
  225. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 14
  226. Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 459
  227. Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus (cw)
  228. Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 2
  229. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 14
  230. Yellow-backed Oriole Icterus chrysater 1
  231. Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 4
  232. Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 4
  233. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 42
  234. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 9
  235. Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 12
  236. Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 17
  237. Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 14
  238. Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 11
  239. Black-capped Siskin Spinus atriceps 2
  240. Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus 3
  241. Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 18
  242. House Sparrow Passer domesticus 8

References

AOU (1998) The American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

AOU (2010) Fifty-first supplement to the AOU check-list of North American birds. Auk 127: 726-744.


To see results of all Christmas Bird Counts throughout the Americas visit http://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count.


CBC Atitlan Volcano 2010
Participants of the fourth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano. The meeting was kindly hosted by Los Tarrales Reserve.

Sponsors of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano 2010


Participants of the fourth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano, 2010.

List of participants (group leaders in bold-face): Claudia Avendaño, Everilda Buchán, Andy Burge, Claudia Burgos, John, Tara, Robert, and Peter Cahill, Juan José Chinchilla, Jeremy Dunels, Knut Eisermann, Hugo Haroldo Enríquez Toledo, Carlo Ghinatti, Gerardo López, Andrea Ovalle, Javier Ovalle, Maynor Ovando, José Ramón de Castro, Silvia Rosal, Raquel Sigüenza, Rogelio Sulugüi, Andy Thorstensen, Lemuel Valle, Jesús Lucas Yuxón, Gilberto de León, Josué de León Lux, Aaron de León Lux, Lester de León Lux, Edy de León Lux.
Compiler: Knut Eisermann. Secondary compiler: Claudia Avendaño.


Images from the fourth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano

Christmas Bird Count Atitlan Volcano
Satellite image of the area covered by the circle of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano. The area includes the volcanoes Atitlán and Tolimán, and the southern parts of Lake Atitlán, and ranges in altitude from 500 to 3500 m. Habitats are diverse and include humid and semihumid broadleaf forest, mixed forest, scrub, grassland, shade coffee plantation and other agricultural area, lava fields, the southern part of lake Atitlán, rivers, and urban area.
Barred Antshrike
Barred Antshrike
Mottled Owl
Mottled Owl
Pacific Parakeet
Pacific Parakeet
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Ornate Hawk-Eagle.
Tody Motmot
Tody Motmot
Yellow-billed Cacique
Yellow-billed Cacique
Collared Aracari
Collared Aracari
Laughing Falcon
Laughing Falcon.

Start planning your birding tour in Guatemala here:



Back to Top