Christmas Bird Count: Tikal 2011

A total of 17 observers in 5 groups gathered for the sixth Christmas Bird Count in the Tikal National park, conducted on 14 December 2011. Weather was favorable, with cloud cover 0-100% with short soft rain showers and little or no wind.

A total of 1935 birds of 171 species was recorded. In addition, four 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 Oropendola, Magnolia Warbler, Brown Jay, White-crowned Parrot, Lesser Greenlet, Keel-billed Toucan, Red-lored Parrot, Wood Thrush, Mealy Parrot, American Redstart, Gray Catbird, Northern Bentbill, Thrush-like Schiffornis, Melodious Blackbird, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Masked Tityra, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Collared Aracari, Spot-breasted Wren, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Social Flycatcher, and Black-and-white Warbler.

Noteworthy was a Crested Eagle which was seen near the center of the archeological site, two Swainson's Warblers, two Lovely Cotingas, and a Gray-headed Kite. Two Orange-breasted Falcons were seen in Tikal's center.

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 sixth Christmas Bird Count in Tikal (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2011). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).

Tinamidae

1. Great Tinamou Tinamus major 2
2. Slaty-breasted Tinamou Crypturellus boucardi 1

Cracidae

3. Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula 19
4. Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 16

Phasianidae

5. Ocellated Turkey Meleagris ocellata 14

Ardeidae

6. Bare-throated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum 1
7. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 2
8. Green Heron Butorides virescens 5
9. Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius 5

Cathartidae

10. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 6
11. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 8
12. King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa 4

Accipitridae

13. Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis 1
14. White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis 1
15. Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 10
16. Crested Eagle Morphnus guianensis 1
17. Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 1

Falconidae

18. Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 2
19. Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 2
20. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 2
21. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 6
22. Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus 2

Rallidae

23. Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber 4
24. Gray-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajanea 1
25. Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica 1

Jacanidae

26. Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 2

Columbidae

27. Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis 1
28. Short-billed Pigeon Patagioenas nigrirostris 7
29. Blue Ground-Dove Claravis pretiosa 1
30. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 1
31. Gray-headed Dove Leptotila plumbeiceps 2
32. Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana 1

Psittacidae

33. Olive-throated Parakeet Aratinga nana 2
34. Brown-hooded Parrot Pyrilia haematotis 17
35. White-crowned Parrot Pionus senilis 50
36. White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons 9
37. Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis 44
38. Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa 38

Cuculidae

39. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 22
40. Pheasant Cuckoo Dromococcyx phasianellus 1

Strigidae

41. Vermiculated Screech-Owl Megascops guatemalae 1
42. Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 9

Caprimulgidae

43. Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 3

Apodidae

44. White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 3
45. Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 1
46. Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis 4

Trochilidae

47. Long-billed Hermit Phaethornis longirostris 1
48. Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis 10
49. Wedge-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus curvipennis 1
50. Canivet's Emerald Chlorostilbon canivetii cw
51. White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 5
52. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl 11
53. Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti 16
54. hummingbird 1

Trogonidae

55. Slaty-tailed Trogon Trogon massena 8
56. Black-headed Trogon Trogon melanocephalus 17
57. Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 5
58. Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 2

Momotidae

59. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 11

Alcedinidae

60. Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata 1
61. Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 1

Galbulidae

62. Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda 10

Ramphastidae

63. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 26
64. Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus 48

Picidae

65. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 6
66. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus 3
67. Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 6
68. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Celeus castaneus 9
69. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 7
70. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 29

Thamnophilidae

71. Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus cw
72. Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis 6
73. Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis 2

Formicariidae

74. Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius analis 10

Furnariidae

75. Scaly-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus guatemalensis 4
76. Plain Xenops Xenops minutus 7
77. Tawny-winged Woodcreeper Dendrocincla anabatina 13
78. Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 10
79. Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus 25
80. Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus 1
81. Northern Barred-Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae 4
82. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 14

Tyrannidae

83. Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet Ornithion semiflavum 1
84. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 4
85. Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 5
86. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus 3
87. Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus 1
88. Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 33
89. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 16
90. Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 12
91. Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus 19
92. Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus coronatus 6
93. Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus 2
94. Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher Myiobius sulphureipygius 7
95. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 8
96. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 4
97. Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus 14
98. Yucatan Flycatcher Myiarchus yucatanensis cw
99. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 18
100. Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus 9
101. Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 7
102. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 1
103. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 14
104. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 25
105. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 6
106. Couch's Kingbird Tyrannus couchii 1

Tityridae

107. Thrush-like Schiffornis Schiffornis turdina 32
108. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 29
109. Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor 1

Cotingidae

110. Lovely Cotinga Cotinga amabilis 2

Pipridae

111. White-collared Manakin Manacus candei 1
112. Red-capped Manakin Pipra mentalis 18

Vireonidae

113. White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 23
114. Mangrove Vireo Vireo pallens 1
115. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 13
116. Tawny-crowned Greenlet Hylophilus ochraceiceps 8
117. Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 49

Corvidae

118. Brown Jay Psilorhinus morio 61
119. Green Jay Cyanocorax yncas 1

Hirundinidae

120. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 17

Troglodytidae

121. Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 26
122. Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus 2
123. White-bellied Wren Uropsila leucogastra 4
124. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 13

Polioptilidae

125. Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 13
126. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 8
127. Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea 2

Turdidae

128. Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 1
129. Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina 42
130. Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 1
131. White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 1

Mimidae

132. Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 35

Parulidae

133. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 5
134. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 10
135. Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 3
136. Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 6
137. waterthrush Parkesia sp. 2
138. Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera 1
139. Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera 5
140. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 25
141. Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii 2
142. Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 1
143. Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa 18
144. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 3
145. Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina 22
146. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 36
147. Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 63
148. Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 1
149. Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica 6
150. Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata 1
151. Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica 1
152. Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 13
153. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 6
154. Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla 6
155. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 6

Thraupidae

156. Gray-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillata 2
157. Black-throated Shrike-Tanager Lanio aurantius 15
158. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 6

Genus Incertae Sedis

159. Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 2

Emberizidae

160. White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 5
161. Green-backed Sparrow Arremonops chloronotus 2

Cardinalidae

162. Rose-throated Tanager Piranga roseogularis 2
163. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 13
164. Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica 15
165. Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 23
166. Gray-throated Chat Granatellus sallaei cw
167. Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanocompsa cyanoides 1
168. Blue Bunting Cyanocompsa parellina 3
169. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 1

Icteridae

170. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 30
171. Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas 10
172. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 4
173. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 2
174. Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma 228

Fringillidae

175. Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 2
176. Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 28
177. Olive-backed Euphonia Euphonia gouldi 13

References

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

AOU (2011) Fifty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 128: 600-613.

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

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