Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano 2010
Compilers: Knut Eisermann & Claudia Avendaño
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.
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).
- Anatidae
- Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 4
- Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 9
- Cracidae
- White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 14
- Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 42
- Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 5
- Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus 1
- Odontophoridae
- Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys (cw)
- Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 3
- Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 11
- Ardeidae
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 1
- Great Egret Ardea alba 25
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula 2
- Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 3
- Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 1
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 84
- Green Heron Butorides virescens 28
- Cathartidae
- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 76
- Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 31
- King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa (cw)
- Accipitridae
- Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 1
- White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis 1
- Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 3
- Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 9
- Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 6
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 2
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
- Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 1
- Falconidae
- Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 3
- Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 3
- Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 2
- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 5
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 3
- Rallidae
- Sora Porzana carolina 6
- Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 3
- American Coot Fulica americana 1093
- Jacanidae
- Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 2
- Columbidae
- Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 19
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 60
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 3
- Inca Dove Columbina inca 8
- Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 5
- White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 12
- White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies 3
- Psittacidae
- Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua 36
- Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 166
- Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 14
- Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 27
- Cuculidae
- Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 8
- Tytonidae
- Barn Owl Tyto alba 1
- Strigidae
- Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 8
- Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 14
- Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 5
- Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 7
- Unspotted Saw-whet Owl Aegolius ridgwayi 1
- Caprimulgidae
- Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 17
- Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 12
- Mexican Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus arizonae 1
- Apodidae
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 54
- Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 29
- Trochilidae
- Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 7
- Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 14
- Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus 88
- Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 1
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 16
- Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 15
- White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 12
- White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 7
- Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 1
- Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 10
- Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 20
- Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 12
- Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 4
- Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus 2
- Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami 1
- Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 1
- Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 3
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 72
- Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti 1
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus 5
- Trogonidae
- Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 7
- Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 2
- Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 12
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 4
- Momotidae
- Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 5
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 3
- Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 28
- Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa 2
- Alcedinidae
- Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana 1
- Ramphastidae
- Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 18
- Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 20
- Picidae
- Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 14
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 18
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 1
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 3
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus 6
- Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 15
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 1
- Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 5
- Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 3
- Furnariidae
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 4
- Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 5
- Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 3
- Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus 8
- Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 1
- Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 8
- Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 3
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 6
- Thamnophilidae
- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 12
- Tyrannidae
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 7
- Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 7
- Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus 1
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 30
- Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 1
- Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 8
- Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 2
- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 5
- Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 9
- Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 10
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 7
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 9
- Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 3
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 6
- Empidonax sp. 1
- Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 5
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 17
- Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 5
- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 4
- Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 14
- Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 32
- Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 20
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 12
- Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 10
- Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 13
- Pipridae
- Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 18
- Vireonidae
- Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 6
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 6
- Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 5
- Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 1
- Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 5
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 3
- Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 7
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 18
- Corvidae
- Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 3
- White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 22
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 52
- Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 2
- Hirundinidae
- Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea 2
- Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 30
- Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata 60
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 193
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 242
- Troglodytidae
- Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 12
- Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 23
- Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 31
- Rufous-and-white Wren Thryothorus rufalbus 6
- Plain Wren Thryothorus modestus 16
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon 4
- Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 7
- White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 2
- Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 27
- Polioptilidae
- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 6
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 3
- Turdidae
- Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis (cw)
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 23
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 19
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 13
- Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 2
- Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 29
- Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina 1
- Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 5
- Mountain Thrush Turdus plebejus 2
- Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 37
- White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 19
- Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques 16
- Mimidae
- Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 1
- Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 3
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 1
- Ptilogonatidae
- Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus 46
- Parulidae
- Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera 1
- Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 79
- Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 3
- Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 5
- Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia 16
- Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 6
- Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi 37
- Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis 1
- Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 18
- American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 4
- Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 3
- Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 4
- Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 1
- Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 1
- Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus 1
- MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei 4
- Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala 1
- Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 56
- Pink-headed Warbler Ergaticus versicolor 2
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 18
- Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 15
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 15
- Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 4
- Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 3
- Thraupidae
- Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus 26
- Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 3
- Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 59
- Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 9
- Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 357
- Genus Incertae Sedis (Saltator)
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 7
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 28
- Emberizidae
- Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina (cw)
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 17
- Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 3
- Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha 4
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 9
- Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 8
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 6
- Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus 2
- Cardinalidae
- Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 21
- Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 19
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 5
- White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 21
- Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 6
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 65
- Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 8
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 6
- Icteridae
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 14
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 459
- Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus (cw)
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 2
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 14
- Yellow-backed Oriole Icterus chrysater 1
- Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 4
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 4
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 42
- Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 9
- Fringillidae
- Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 12
- Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 17
- Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 14
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 11
- Black-capped Siskin Spinus atriceps 2
- Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus 3
- Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 18
- Passeridae
- 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://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count.
