Ninth official Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano (GMAV) 2015
organized by CAYAYA BIRDING

Compiled by , CAYAYA BIRDING, January 2016

The 9th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano took place on 14 December 2015. A total of 23 observers in 6 groups counted birds in Reserva Natural Privada Los Tarrales, Finca San Jerónimo Miramar, in the municipal forest of Santiago Atitlán near Mirador Rey Tepepul, and in the bay of Santiago Atitlán of Lake Atitlán. Weather conditions were favorable, with clear sky in the morning (with the exception of Mirador Rey Tepepul, where the morning was cloudy with some rain), and partly cloudy sky in the afternoon.

CBC Atitlán Volcano 2015.

A total of 3087 birds of 235 species were recorded, 17 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, Tennessee Warbler, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Bushy-crested Jay, Green Violetear, Black Vulture, Pacific Parakeet, Band-tailed Pigeon, Yellow-naped Parrot, Clay-colored Thrush, Orange-fronted Parakeet, and Great-tailed Grackle.

Many of the endemics of northern Central American highlands were recorded during the count day, including Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Fulvous Owl, Azure-rumped Tanager, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Rufous-browed Wren, Black-capped Swallow, Black-throated Jay, and Rufous-collared Thrush.

Unspotted Saw-whet-Owl Aegolius ridgwayi
Unspotted Saw-whet-Owl Aegolius ridgwayi seen during the 9th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano.

The ninth edition of the Atitlán Volcano Christmas Bird Count started with an unusual mild and calm night. At an altitude of 2700 m (8860 ft) we measured 15ºC at at 06:00 in morning. Owl activity was high throughout the night, with an impressive ten species recorded, including the enigmatic Unspotted Saw-whet Owl and Stygian Owl.

Blue-crowned Chlorophonia
Blue-crowned Chlorophonia.

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 2015 count were two globally Endangered species (Horned Guan and Azure-rumped Tanager), and two Vulnerable species (Highland Guan and Pink-headed Warbler).

Pink-headed Warbler
Pink-headed Warbler on the upper slope of Atitlán Volcano, seen during the 9th Christmas Bird Count.

It follows a list of species and numbers of individuals recorded during the ninth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2015). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).

  1. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 44
  2. White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 35
  3. Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 8
  4. Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 22
  5. Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus 2
  6. Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys 1
  7. Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 5
  8. Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 3
  9. Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 2
  10. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 4
  11. Great Egret Ardea alba 42
  12. Snowy Egret Egretta thula 4
  13. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 3
  14. Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 5
  15. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 32
  16. Green Heron Butorides virescens 23
  17. Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius (cw)
  18. Glossy/White-faced Ibis Plegadis sp. (cw)
  19. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 61
  20. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 20
  21. King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa (cw)
  22. Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2
  23. White-breasted Hawk Accipiter striatus chionogaster 1
  24. White Hawk Pseudastur albicollis 1
  25. Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus 9
  26. Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 3
  27. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 2
  28. Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 1
  29. Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 2
  30. Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus 8
  31. Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 7
  32. American Coot Fulica americana 275
  33. Killdeer Charadrius vociferus (cw)
  34. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 3
  35. Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla (cw)
  36. Rock Pigeon Columba livia 4
  37. Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 15
  38. Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 58
  39. Inca Dove Columbina inca 5
  40. Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 4
  41. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 21
  42. White-faced Quail-Dove Zentrygon albifacies 7
  43. White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 20
  44. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 7
  45. Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris (cw)
  46. Barn Owl Tyto alba (cw)
  47. Whiskered Screech-Owl Megascops trichopsis 1
  48. Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata 1
  49. Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 4
  50. Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma 1
  51. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 5
  52. Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 16
  53. Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 5
  54. Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 7
  55. Stygian Owl Asio stygius 1
  56. Unspotted Saw-whet Owl Aegolius ridgwayi 1
  57. Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 13
  58. Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 7
  59. Mexican Whip-poor-will Antrostomus arizonae 4
  60. Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 30
  61. White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora (cw)
  62. Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus 63
  63. Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 7
  64. Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 3
  65. Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 5
  66. Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 7
  67. Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus 2
  68. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 42
  69. Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti 1
  70. Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus 1
  71. Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 32
  72. Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 8
  73. Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 12
  74. White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 6
  75. Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 4
  76. Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 6
  77. Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 10
  78. Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 7
  79. Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 14
  80. White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 4
  81. Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 4
  82. Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 6
  83. Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 9
  84. Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 4
  85. Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 3
  86. Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 11
  87. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 11
  88. Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 2
  89. Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana 2
  90. Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 19
  91. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 12
  92. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 32
  93. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 1
  94. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Picoides fumigatus 1
  95. Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 4
  96. Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 12
  97. Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 8
  98. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 7
  99. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis (cw)
  100. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 2
  101. Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 1
  102. Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 1
  103. American Kestrel Falco sparverius 3
  104. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 2
  105. Orange-fronted Parakeet Eupsittula canicularis 53
  106. Pacific Parakeet Psittacara strenuus 60
  107. Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 14
  108. Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 27
  109. Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 56
  110. Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 13
  111. Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 3
  112. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 2
  113. Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 1
  114. Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 4
  115. Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 5
  116. Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Clibanornis rubiginosus 2
  117. Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 2
  118. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 1
  119. Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 2
  120. Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 3
  121. Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 19
  122. Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 8
  123. Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 4
  124. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 1
  125. Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 3
  126. Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus (cw)
  127. Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 1
  128. Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 1
  129. Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 9
  130. Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 8
  131. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 2
  132. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 4
  133. Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 1
  134. Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 4
  135. Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 3
  136. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 12
  137. Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus (cw)
  138. Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 3
  139. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus (cw)
  140. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 7
  141. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 18
  142. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 12
  143. Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 23
  144. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus 12
  145. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 17
  146. Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 3
  147. Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 17
  148. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 4
  149. Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus (cw)
  150. Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 7
  151. Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 7
  152. Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys (cw)
  153. Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 6
  154. Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 1
  155. Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 5
  156. Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 5
  157. White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 20
  158. Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 75
  159. Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 4
  160. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 46
  161. Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva 10
  162. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 8
  163. House Wren Troglodytes aedon 9
  164. Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 9
  165. Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 4
  166. Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 19
  167. Spot-breasted Wren Pheugopedius maculipectus 17
  168. Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus 5
  169. Plain Wren Cantorchilus modestus 14
  170. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 4
  171. Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 17
  172. Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 1
  173. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 1
  174. Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 1
  175. Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 46
  176. Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 4
  177. Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 13
  178. Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 2
  179. Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 10
  180. Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 1
  181. Mountain Thrush Turdus plebejus 1
  182. Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 54
  183. White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 11
  184. Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques 6
  185. Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 7
  186. Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 8
  187. Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys cinereus 12
  188. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 3
  189. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 4
  190. Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 1
  191. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 13
  192. Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 109
  193. Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 4
  194. MacGillivray's Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei 5
  195. Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa (cw)
  196. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 3
  197. Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina (cw)
  198. Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 5
  199. Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 4
  200. Townsend's Warbler Setophaga townsendi 23
  201. Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 12
  202. Fan-tailed Warbler Basileuterus lachrymosus 1
  203. Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 13
  204. Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 5
  205. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 10
  206. Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla 35
  207. Pink-headed Warbler Cardellina versicolor 1
  208. Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 15
  209. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 3
  210. Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 4
  211. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 39
  212. Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 16
  213. Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 9
  214. Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 5
  215. Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 87
  216. White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 13
  217. Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 38
  218. Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 5
  219. Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha 8
  220. White-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes albinucha 1
  221. Rusty Sparrow Aimophila rufescens 1
  222. White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 9
  223. Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 9
  224. Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis (cw)
  225. Common Chlorospingus Chlorospingus flavopectus 27
  226. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 17
  227. Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 11
  228. Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 1
  229. White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 6
  230. Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 6
  231. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 5
  232. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 7
  233. Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 10
  234. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 48
  235. Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 53
  236. Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus 10
  237. Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 2
  238. Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 1
  239. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 42
  240. Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 5
  241. Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 2
  242. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 36
  243. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 2
  244. Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 4
  245. Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 11
  246. Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 20
  247. Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 35
  248. Black-capped Siskin Spinus atriceps 6
  249. Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus 5
  250. Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 13
  251. Hooded Grosbeak Coccothraustes abeillei 2
  252. House Sparrow Passer domesticus 15

References

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

AOU (2015) Fifty-sixth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 132: 748-764.


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


CBC Atitlan Volcano 2015
Participants of the ninth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano. The meeting was kindly hosted by Los Tarrales Reserve.

Sponsors of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano 2015


Participants of the ninth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano, 2015.

List of participants (group leaders in bold-face): Carlos Aguilar, Claudia Avendaño, Everilda Buchán, Andy Burge, Malon Calderón, Juan José Chinchilla, Juan Chocoy, José Ramón de Castro, Gilberto de León, Josué de León Lux, Léster de León Lux, Knut Eisermann, Diego González, Diego Herrera, Enrique Jacinto, Gerardo López, Maynor Ovando, Ana Paula Oxom, Nazario Pérez, Alfredo Tol, Rolando Tol, Andrés Tzunun, Héctor Xep.

Compiler: Knut Eisermann. Secondary compilers: Claudia Avendaño and Andy Burge.


Images from the ninth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano

Christmas Bird Count Atitlán Volcano
Satellite image of the area covered by the circle of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán 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.
Black Hawk-Eagle
A Black Hawk-Eagle soaring over the forest on the western slope of Atitlán Volcano.
Great Egret
Great Egret in Los Tarrales.
Spectacled Owl
Spectacled Owl in Los Tarrales.
Long-billed Starthroat
Long-billed Starthroat in Los Tarrales.
Common Yellowthroat
A male Common Yellowthroat on the shores of Lake Atitlán.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Los Tarrales.
Common Chlorospingus
A Common Chlorospingus in the cloud forest on the western slope of Atitlán Volcano.
Long-tailed Manakin
An adult male Long-tailed Manakin in Los Tarrales.
Tennessee Warbler
A Tennessee Warbler on the upper slope of Atitlán Volcano.
Squirrel Cuckoo
A Squirrel Cuckoo looking for something yummy in a dry Cecropia leaf.
Ruby-throated hummingbird
A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird with pollen-powdered forehead on the upper slope of Atitlán Volcano.
Lineated Woodpecker
A Lineated Woodpecker in the foothills of Los Tarrales Reserve.
Guatemalan Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma cobanense
A Northern (Guatemalan) Pygmy Owl on the upper slope of Atitlán Volcano.
Ovenbird
An Ovenbird working its way through leaflitter in the foothills of los Tarrales.
Green-throated Mountain-gem
A male Green-throated Mountain-gem in the cloud forest of Los Tarrales.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Ruddy Ground-Dove
High-wire act by Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Ruddy Ground-Dove.
Common Pauraque
A Common Pauraque blends into the surrounding leaf litter in the forest of Los Tarrales.
Pacific Parakeets
Preening Pacific Parakeets in Los Tarrales.
Horned Guan seen during Christmas Bird Count
Being observed by a Horned Guan in the cloud forest of Los Tarrales.
White-bellied Chachalaca
White-bellied Chachalaca with "huge egg": perched in a fruiting zapote tree Pouteria sapota.
Spot-breasted Oriole
A Spot-breasted Oriole in Los Tarrales.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Yellow-winged Tanager
Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Yellow-winged Tanager at the fruit feeding station at Los Tarrales Lodge.
Green-breasted Mango
A young male Green-breasted Mango in Los Tarrales.

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