Fifth official Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Tikal (GMTK) 2010
organized by CAYAYA BIRDING

Compilers: , CAYAYA BIRDING, January 2011

A total of 33 observers in 8 groups gathered for the fifth Christmas Bird Count in the Tikal National park, conducted on 22 December 2010. Weather was favorable, partly cloudy with no rain and little wind.

CBC Tikal 2010.

A total of 1807 birds of 172 species was recorded. In addition, five more species were observed during the count week. The most abundant species with at least 25 detected individuals were (in descending order of abundance): Montezuma Oropendula, Magnolia Warbler, Brown Jay, Wood Thrush, Lesser Greenlet, Kentucky Warbler, Thrush-like Schiffornis, Mealy Parrot, Spot-breasted Wren, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Ocellated Turkey, Black-faced Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Bentbill, and Black-throated Shrike-Tanager.

Noteworthy was a Swainson's Warbler and a Black Catbird, which are uncommon in Tikal. Orange-breasted Falcon, one of Tikal's flagship species, was observed feeding on fruit-eating bats (see video).

The Tikal National Park is part of the Maya-Lacandon Important Bird Area (IBA GT001) and this Christmas Bird Count helps to monitor bird populations in this IBA.

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

  1. Great Tinamou Tinamus major 3
  2. Thicket Tinamou Crypturellus cinnamomeus 4
  3. Slaty-breasted Tinamou Crypturellus boucardi 3
  4. Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula 13
  5. Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 12
  6. Great Curassow Crax rubra 1
  7. Ocellated Turkey Meleagris ocellata 30
  8. Wood Stork Mycteria americana 8
  9. Bare-throated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum 1
  10. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 1
  11. Green Heron Butorides virescens 1
  12. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 7
  13. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 1
  14. Double-toothed Kite Harpagus bidentatus 1
  15. White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis 3
  16. Great Black-Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga 1
  17. Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 10
  18. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 1
  19. Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 1
  20. Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 1
  21. Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 6
  22. Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 1
  23. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 1
  24. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 4
  25. Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus 2
  26. Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber 3
  27. Gray-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajanea 2
  28. Scaled Pigeon Patagioenas speciosa 3
  29. Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 1
  30. Short-billed Pigeon Patagioenas nigrirostris 3
  31. Blue Ground-Dove Claravis pretiosa 1
  32. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 3
  33. Gray-headed Dove Leptotila plumbeiceps 2
  34. Olive-throated Parakeet Aratinga nana 14
  35. Brown-hooded Parrot Pyrilia haematotis 15
  36. White-crowned Parrot Pionus senilis 10
  37. White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons 2
  38. Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis 15
  39. Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa 35
  40. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 20
  41. Vermiculated Screech-Owl Megascops guatemalae 4
  42. Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 12
  43. Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 4
  44. Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 2
  45. Yucatan Poorwill Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus 1
  46. Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 10
  47. Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis (cw)
  48. Long-billed Hermit Phaethornis longirostris (cw)
  49. Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis 8
  50. Wedge-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus curvipennis 5
  51. White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 2
  52. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl 1
  53. Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti 2
  54. Slaty-tailed Trogon Trogon massena 5
  55. Black-headed Trogon Trogon melanocephalus 14
  56. Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 3
  57. Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 3
  58. Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 3
  59. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 17
  60. Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana 1
  61. American Pygmy Kingfisher Chloroceryle aenea 1
  62. White-whiskered Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis 1
  63. Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda 12
  64. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 20
  65. Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus 4
  66. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 5
  67. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus 4
  68. Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 1
  69. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Celeus castaneus 14
  70. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 12
  71. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 23
  72. Scaly-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus guatemalensis 3
  73. Plain Xenops Xenops minutus 14
  74. Tawny-winged Woodcreeper Dendrocincla anabatina 18
  75. Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 21
  76. Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus 23
  77. Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus 3
  78. Northern Barred-Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae 10
  79. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 19
  80. Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 4
  81. Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis 1
  82. Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius analis 6
  83. Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet Ornithion semiflavum 5
  84. Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 6
  85. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus 10
  86. Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus 1
  87. Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 25
  88. Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus sylvia 1
  89. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 9
  90. Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 4
  91. Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus 31
  92. Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus coronatus 6
  93. Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus 2
  94. Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher Myiobius sulphureipygius 9
  95. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 4
  96. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 5
  97. Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus 5
  98. Yucatan Flycatcher Myiarchus yucatanensis 2
  99. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 22
  100. Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus 1
  101. Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 2
  102. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 2
  103. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 8
  104. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 5
  105. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 3
  106. Couch's Kingbird Tyrannus couchii (cw)
  107. Thrush-like Schiffornis Schiffornis turdina 38
  108. Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 2
  109. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 15
  110. Rufous Piha Lipaugus unirufus 1
  111. White-collared Manakin Manacus candei 2
  112. Red-capped Manakin Pipra mentalis 9
  113. White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 20
  114. Mangrove Vireo Vireo pallens 3
  115. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 4
  116. Tawny-crowned Greenlet Hylophilus ochraceiceps 21
  117. Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 49
  118. Brown Jay Psilorhinus morio 65
  119. Green Jay Cyanocorax yncas 1
  120. Yucatan Jay Cyanocorax yucatanicus 1
  121. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 10
  122. Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 33
  123. White-bellied Wren Uropsila leucogastra 7
  124. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 15
  125. Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 9
  126. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 6
  127. Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea 1
  128. Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 5
  129. Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina 55
  130. Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 16
  131. White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 2
  132. Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 29
  133. Black Catbird Melanoptila glabrirostris 1
  134. Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera 2
  135. Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera 4
  136. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 6
  137. Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica 4
  138. Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia 68
  139. Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata 2
  140. Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 6
  141. Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica 1
  142. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 28
  143. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 24
  144. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 5
  145. Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii 1
  146. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 4
  147. Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 5
  148. Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 2
  149. Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus 43
  150. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 8
  151. Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina 22
  152. Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 8
  153. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 17
  154. Gray-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillata 5
  155. Black-throated Shrike-Tanager Lanio aurantius 25
  156. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 2
  157. Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 7
  158. Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 2
  159. White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 5
  160. Green-backed Sparrow Arremonops chloronotus 2
  161. Rose-throated Tanager Piranga roseogularis 2
  162. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 14
  163. Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica 8
  164. Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 32
  165. Black-faced Grosbeak Caryothraustes poliogaster 30
  166. Gray-throated Chat Granatellus sallaei 2
  167. Blue Bunting Cyanocompsa parellina 3
  168. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea (cw)
  169. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 17
  170. Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas 12
  171. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 1
  172. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 2
  173. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 1
  174. Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma 198
  175. Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis (cw)
  176. Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 8
  177. Olive-backed Euphonia Euphonia gouldi 18

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 Tikal 2010
Team of the 2010 Christmas Bird Count in Tikal National Park.

Sponsors of the Christmas Bid Count in Tikal 2010


Participants of the Fifth Christmas Bird Count in Tikal, 2010.

List of participants (group leaders in bold-face): Claudia Avendaño, John, Peter, Rob, Tara, and Ruth Cahill, Ernesto Col, Juan José Col Caal, Marcial Córdova, Oscar de Leon, Tomás Dubón, Knut Eisermann, Mynor Antonio Escalera Burgos, Eric García, Armando García Córdova, Ana Lorena Lobos Morales, Carlos López, Carolyn Lukensmeyer, Julio Madrid, Miguel Marín, Brian McNab, Roan McNab, Jairo Méndez Fión, Marvin Morales, Maria Muller, Luis Oliveros, Mario Anonio Oliveros Nájera, Efraín Pop Chub, David Rodriguez, Andrés Rosales, Alejandro Sagone, Jody Telfair, Victor Xi Poou.


Images from the fifth Christmas Bird Count in Tikal

Christmas Bird Count Tikal
Satellite image of northeastern Petén. The Christmas Bird Count Tikal (white circle) samples bird communities of the largest Neotropical forest north of the Amazon basin. The CBC circle includes tall broadleaf forest, scrub swamp forest, forest edge, open habitat, lagoons, and creeks.
Crested Guan
Crested Guan
Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Common Pauraque
Common Pauraque
Rose-throated Tanager
Rose-throated Tanager

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