Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano 2007
Compilers: Knut Eisermann & Claudia Avendaño
The circle of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano includes the volcanoes Atitlan and Toliman, and the southern parts of Lake Atitlan, 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, lakes and rivers, and urban area.
A total of 35 observers participated in the first Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano on 14 December 2007. Several groups counted birds in Reserva Natural Privada Los Tarrales, Reserva Natural Privada Los Andes, Reserva Natural Privada Pachuj, Fincas Santo Tomás Perdido & Santa Teresa Reserves, Finca San Jerónimo Miramar, and in the bay of Santiago Atitlan.
Noteworthy observations
A total of 3518 birds of 216 species was recorded during the First Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano on 14 December 2007. An additional 13 species were recorded during the count week.
Although none of the recorded birds were unusual for this site, several of regional endemic species have been recorded for the first time in a Audubon Christmas Bird Count, like Horned and Highland Guan, White-bellied Chachalaca, Fulvous Owl, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Slender Sheartail, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Black-capped Swallow, Rufous-collared Robin, Bushy-crested and Black-throated Jay, Azure-rumped Tanager, and Bar-winged Oriole.
Barred Forest-Falcon and White-necked Jacobin occur in Guatemala mainly on the Atlantic slope. Both species have been recorded several times in the surroundings of Atitlan volcano (Eisermann & Avendaño 2007, K. Eisermann & C. Avendaño in Jones & Komar 2007, J. de León Lux in Jones & Komar 2008), and they were also recorded during the Christmas Bird Count. A total of 82 Red-legged Honeycreepers is noteworthy. The species is wintering in the area and during these months abundant in the canopy of shade coffee plantations and forests. The most abundant species was American Coot. A total of 1189 was counted in the Santiago bay of Lake Atitlan.
It follows a list of species and numbers of individuals recorded during the First Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2007). Species recorded during count week are marked with (cw).
- CRACIDAE
- White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 15
- Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 5
- Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 15
- Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus 4
- ODONTOPHORIDAE
- Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 6
- Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 12
- ARDEIDAE
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 10
- Great Egret Ardea alba 17
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula 3
- Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea (cw)
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 48
- Green Heron Butorides virescens 7
- Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea 1
- CATHARTIDAE
- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 38
- Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 28
- ACCIPITRIDAE
- Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 1
- White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis 3
- Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 1
- Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 8
- Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 3
- Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus 2
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 1
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
- FALCONIDAE
- Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 1
- Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 3
- Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 1
- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans (cw)
- American Kestrel Falco sparverius 2
- Merlin Falco columbarius 1
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 1
- RALLIDAE
- American Coot Fulica americana 1189
- SCOLOPACIDAE
- Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 3
- LARIDAE
- Laughing Gull Larus atricilla 5
- COLUMBIDAE
- Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 10
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 67
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 17
- Inca Dove Columbina inca 4
- Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 2
- White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 14
- White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies 1
- PSITTACIDAE
- Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua 150
- Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 75
- Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 38
- Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 6
- CUCULIDAE
- Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 7
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 10
- STRIGIDAE
- Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 3
- Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 2
- Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 2
- Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 1
- CAPRIMULGIDAE
- Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 1
- Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 11
- Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus (cw)
- APODIDAE
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 47
- Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 100
- White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis 12
- TROCHILIDAE
- Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 11
- Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 6
- White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora 1
- Green Violet-ear Colibri thalassinus 19
- Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 1
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 12
- Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 3
- White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 2
- White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 6
- Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 4
- Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 9
- Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 5
- Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 6
- Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami 1
- Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 9
- Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 3
- Slender Sheartail Doricha enicura 1
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 12
- Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti 1
- TROGONIDAE
- Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus 1
- Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 4
- Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 5
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 6
- MOMOTIDAE
- Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 1
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 11
- Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 8
- Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa 1
- ALCEDINIDAE
- Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana (cw)
- RAMPHASTIDAE
- Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 14
- Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 5
- PICIDAE
- Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 2
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 22
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 1
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 2
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus 2
- Golden-olive Woodpecker Piculus rubiginosus 15
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 1
- Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 4
- Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 1
- FURNARIIDAE
- Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax (cw)
- Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 8
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 1
- Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 7
- Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 1
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 2
- THAMNOPHILIDAE
- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 6
- TYRANNIDAE
- Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 4
- Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus 3
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 7
- Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 3
- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 3
- Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 4
- Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 10
- Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 5
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 1
- Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii 2
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 7
- Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 3
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 3
- Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 2
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 11
- Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus 1
- Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 2
- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 3
- Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 5
- Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 25
- Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 19
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 7
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus 5
- Gray-collared Becard Pachyramphus major 1
- Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 6
- Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 8
- PIPRIDAE
- Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 8
- VIREONIDAE
- Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 1
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 8
- Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 7
- Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus (cw)
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 2
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 9
- CORVIDAE
- White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 7
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 27
- Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 6
- HIRUNDINIDAE
- Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea (cw)
- Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 2
- Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata 46
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 111
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 12
- TROGLODYTIDAE
- Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 11
- Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 8
- Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 2
- Rufous-and-white Wren Thryothorus rufalbus 2
- Plain Wren Thryothorus modestus 13
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon 5
- Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 4
- White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 2
- Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 13
- SYLVIIDAE
- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 1
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 2
- TURDIDAE
- Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 6
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 26
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 9
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 6
- Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 4
- Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 2
- Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina 1
- Black Robin Turdus infuscatus (cw)
- Mountain Robin Turdus plebejus 1
- Clay-colored Robin Turdus grayi 45
- White-throated Robin Turdus assimilis 20
- Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques 10
- MIMIDAE
- Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 1
- Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 1
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 2
- PTILOGONATIDAE
- Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus 13
- PEUCEDRAMIDAE
- Olive Warbler Peucedramus taeniatus 1
- PARULIDAE
- Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina 41
- Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla 1
- Crescent-chested Warbler Parula superciliosa 1
- Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 2
- Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia 3
- Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 5
- Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi 33
- Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 14
- American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 1
- Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum (cw)
- Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 4
- MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei 5
- Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 36
- Pink-headed Warbler Ergaticus versicolor (cw)
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 14
- Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 8
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 4
- Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 9
- Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 1
- THRAUPIDAE
- Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus 16
- Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 2
- Hepatic Tanager Piranga flava 1
- Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 17
- Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 5
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 1
- White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 14
- Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 6
- Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 29
- Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 27
- Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 82
- EMBERIZIDAE
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 8
- Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 4
- Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Buarremon brunneinucha 6
- Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 1
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 11
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 1
- Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus 2
- CARDINALIDAE
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 1
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 19
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 7
- Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea (cw)
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris (cw)
- ICTERIDAE
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 12
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 122
- Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus 8
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 1
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 1
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 13
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 1
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 23
- Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 3
- FRINGILLIDAE
- Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 4
- Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 5
- Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 2
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 8
- Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria 6
- Hooded Grosbeak Coccothraustes abeillei (cw)
- PASSERIDAE
- House Sparrow Passer domesticus 1
References
AOU (1998) The American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
AOU (2007) Forty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 124: 1109-1115.
Eisermann, K. & C. Avendaño (2007) Lista comentada de las aves de Guatemala - Annotated checklist of the birds of Guatemala. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
Jones, H. L. & O. Komar (2007) The spring migration, March through May 2007: Central America. North American Birds 61: 521-525.
Jones, H. L. & O. Komar (2008, in print) The nesting season, June through July 2007: Central America. North American Birds 61, No 4.
To see results of all Christmas Bird Counts throughout the Americas visit http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count.
