Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano 2011
Compilers: Knut Eisermann & Claudia Avendaño
The fifth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano was conducted on 20 December 2011. A total of 30 observers in 8 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 bay of Santiago Atitlán 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 5344 birds of 239 species was recorded. Four 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, Blue-throated Goldentail, Tennessee Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black Vulture, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Yellow-winged Tanager, Green Violetear, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Cattle Egret, Townsend's Warbler, Barred Parakeet, and Wilson's Warbler.
Horned Guan was recorded during the countweek. Most of the other endemics of northern Central American highlands were recorded on the countday, including Azure-rumped Tanager, Pink-headed Warbler, Black-capped Siskin, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Highland Guan, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Rufous-browed Wren, Black-throated Jay, Bar-winged Oriole, and Rufous-collared Thrush.
Noteworthy was an Olive-sided Flycatcher, which is a rare wintering bird in Guatemala, and two Redheads at Lake Atitlán.
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 2011 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 fifth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2011). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).
- Tinamidae
- Thicket Tinamou Crypturellus cinnamomeus 1
- Anatidae
- Redhead Aythya americana 2
- Cracidae
- White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 6
- Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 14
- Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 32
- Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus cw
- Odontophoridae
- Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys 10
- Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 11
- Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 20
- Ardeidae
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 8
- Great Egret Ardea alba 19
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula 3
- Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 4
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 61
- Green Heron Butorides virescens 42
- Cathartidae
- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 93
- Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 40
- King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa 1
- Pandionidae
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus 1
- Accipitridae
- Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 1
- White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis 1
- Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus 1
- Great Black-Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga 1
- Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 4
- Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 4
- Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 5
- Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus cw
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 3
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
- Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 1
- Falconidae
- Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 1
- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 2
- American Kestrel Falco sparverius 2
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 3
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1
- Rallidae
- Sora Porzana carolina 1
- Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 8
- American Coot Fulica americana 1952
- Jacanidae
- Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 2
- Scolopacidae
- Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 1
- Columbidae
- Rock Pigeon Columba livia 3
- Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 28
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 7
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 8
- Inca Dove Columbina inca 3
- White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 20
- White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies 2
- Psittacidae
- Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua 23
- Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 64
- Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 52
- Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 19
- Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 6
- Cuculidae
- Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 6
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 4
- Strigidae
- Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma 2
- Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 2
- Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 4
- Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 4
- Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 5
- Caprimulgidae
- Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 7
- Mexican Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus arizonae 7
- Nyctibiidae
- Northern Potoo Nyctibius jamaicensis 1
- Apodidae
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 10
- Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 39
- White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis 2
- Trochilidae
- Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 19
- Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 11
- White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora 1
- Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus 66
- Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 2
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 44
- Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 110
- White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 2
- White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 5
- Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 3
- Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 8
- Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 20
- Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 6
- Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 2
- Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus 5
- Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami 1
- Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 2
- Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 6
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 98
- Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti 1
- Trogonidae
- Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 4
- Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 7
- Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 15
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 2
- Momotidae
- Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 4
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 18
- Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 19
- Alcedinidae
- Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 1
- Ramphastidae
- Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 40
- Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 7
- Picidae
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 19
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 5
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus 4
- Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 11
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 1
- Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 8
- Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 2
- woodpecker sp 1
- Thamnophilidae
- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 5
- Furnariidae
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 2
- Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 6
- Scaly-throated Foliage-gleane Anabacerthia variegaticeps 7
- Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus 2
- Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 3
- Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 2
- woodcreeper sp 1
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 3
- Tyrannidae
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 4
- Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 6
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 18
- Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 3
- Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 8
- Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 1
- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 4
- Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 3
- Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 1
- Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 17
- Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 10
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 3
- Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii 1
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 10
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 3
- Empidonax sp. 3
- Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 7
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 26
- Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 3
- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus cw
- Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 23
- Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 33
- Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 10
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 19
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus 3
- Tityridae
- Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 10
- Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 9
- Pipridae
- Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 11
- Vireonidae
- White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus cw
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 17
- Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 11
- Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 1
- Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 7
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 2
- Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 6
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 5
- Corvidae
- Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 17
- White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 24
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 40
- Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 1
- Hirundinidae
- Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 1
- Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata 14
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 82
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 9
- Troglodytidae
- Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 14
- Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 18
- Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 15
- Rufous-and-white Wren Thryothorus rufalbus 6
- Plain Wren Thryothorus modestus 21
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon 10
- Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 6
- White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 10
- Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 35
- Polioptilidae
- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 6
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 3
- Turdidae
- Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 5
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 49
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 10
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 14
- Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 3
- Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 13
- Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 1
- Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 35
- White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 21
- Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques 6
- Mimidae
- Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 2
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 5
- Ptilogonatidae
- Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus 8
- Peucedramidae
- Olive Warbler Peucedramus taeniatus 4
- Parulidae
- Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 5
- Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 4
- Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 1
- Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera 1
- Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 15
- Crescent-chested Warbler Oreothlypis superciliosa 1
- Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 107
- Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 10
- Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala 1
- MacGillivray's Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei 9
- Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 2
- Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina 1
- American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 1
- Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 12
- Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 6
- Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata 1
- Townsend's Warbler Setophaga townsendi 56
- Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 14
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 12
- Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 9
- Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 17
- Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla 50
- Pink-headed Warbler Cardellina versicolor 2
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 29
- Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 4
- Thraupidae
- Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 13
- Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 68
- Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 24
- Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 155
- Genus Incertae Sedis
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 6
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 31
- Emberizidae
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 8
- Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus 1
- Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpierce Diglossa baritula 6
- Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha 6
- White-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes albinucha 1
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 17
- Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 8
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 2
- Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus 35
- Cardinalidae
- Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 18
- Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 20
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 2
- White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 16
- Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 7
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 43
- Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 18
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 5
- Icteridae
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 39
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 183
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 1
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 2
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 8
- Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 5
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 4
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 29
- Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 9
- Fringillidae
- Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 11
- Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 14
- Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 16
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 12
- Black-capped Siskin Spinus atriceps 2
- Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus 9
- Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 4
- Passeridae
- House Sparrow Passer domesticus 7
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.
