Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano 2012
Compilers: Knut Eisermann & Claudia Avendaño
The sixth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano was conducted on 15 December 2012. A total of 23 observers in 8 groups counted birds in Reserva Natural Privada Los Andes, Reserva Natural Privada Los Tarrales, Finca San Jerónimo Miramar, and in the bay of Santiago Atitlán of Lake Atitlán. Weather conditions were favorable, with a clear to partly cloudy sky.
A total of 5031 birds of 228 species was recorded. Three 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, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Tennessee Warbler, Black Vulture, Pacific Parakeet, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Green Violetear, and Baltimore Oriole.
Most of the endemics of northern Central American highlands were recorded on the count day, including Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Fulvous Owl, Azure-rumped Tanager, Pink-headed Warbler, Black-capped Siskin, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Rufous-browed Wren, Black-throated Jay, and Rufous-collared Thrush.
Noteworthy were 22 American Wigeon at Lake Atitlán. This duck is an uncommon winter visitor in Guatemala. 28 Great Blue Heron was the highest count of all CBC at 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 2012 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 sixth Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2012). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).
- Anatidae
- American Wigeon Anas americana 22
- Cracidae
- White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 9
- Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 10
- Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 24
- Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus 1
- Odontophoridae
- Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 3
- Pelecanidae
- Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 3
- Ardeidae
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 28
- Great Egret Ardea alba 31
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula 10
- Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 2
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 16
- Green Heron Butorides virescens 35
- Cathartidae
- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 72
- Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 20
- King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa cw
- Accipitridae
- Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 1
- Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus 2
- White Hawk Pseudastur albicollis 1
- Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris cw
- Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus 6
- Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 4
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 2
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
- Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 2
- Rallidae
- Sora Porzana carolina 1
- Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 8
- American Coot Fulica americana 2452
- Scolopacidae
- Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 8
- Columbidae
- Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 15
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 16
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 14
- Inca Dove Columbina inca 5
- Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 1
- White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 20
- White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies 13
- Cuculidae
- Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 6
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 29
- Strigidae
- Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma 1
- Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 4
- Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 9
- Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 3
- Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 5
- Caprimulgidae
- Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 30
- Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 9
- Apodidae
- Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila 15
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 1
- Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 6
- White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis 4
- Trochilidae
- Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus 63
- Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 3
- Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 2
- Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 2
- Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 8
- Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus 1
- Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Tilmatura dupontii 2
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 32
- Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti 1
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus 1
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 15
- Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 10
- Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 10
- White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 6
- Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 2
- Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 17
- Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 13
- Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 5
- Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 27
- White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 2
- Trogonidae
- Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 4
- Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 2
- Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 15
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 3
- Momotidae
- Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 1
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 4
- Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 13
- Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa 1
- Alcedinidae
- Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 3
- Ramphastidae
- Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 14
- Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 11
- Picidae
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 24
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 2
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker Picoides fumigatus 5
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 3
- Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 15
- Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 5
- Falconidae
- Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 2
- Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 1
- Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 2
- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 2
- American Kestrel Falco sparverius 1
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 4
- Psittacidae
- Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua 38
- Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 72
- Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 2
- Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 20
- Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 31
- Thamnophilidae
- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 5
- Furnariidae
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 1
- Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 1
- Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 4
- Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 1
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 1
- Scaly-throated Foliage-gleane Anabacerthia variegaticeps 4
- Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus 2
- Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 1
- Tyrannidae
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 2
- Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 4
- Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 1
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 24
- Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 8
- Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 1
- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 5
- Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 4
- Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 11
- Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 14
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 2
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 10
- Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 1
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 7
- Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 5
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 20
- Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 6
- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 8
- Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 24
- Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 30
- Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 12
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 6
- Tityridae
- Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 13
- Gray-collared Becard Pachyramphus major cw
- Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 3
- Pipridae
- Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 18
- Vireonidae
- Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 3
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 10
- Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 8
- Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 1
- Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus 2
- Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 1
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 3
- Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 1
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 9
- Corvidae
- Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 2
- White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 11
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 18
- Hirundinidae
- Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 40
- Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata 8
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 64
- Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva 20
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 12
- Troglodytidae
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon 5
- Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 2
- Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 2
- Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 16
- Spot-breasted Wren Pheugopedius maculipectus 24
- Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus 5
- Plain Wren Cantorchilus modestus 11
- White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 7
- Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 18
- Polioptilidae
- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 5
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 1
- Turdidae
- Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 3
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 26
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thr Catharus aurantiirostris 9
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thru Catharus frantzii 5
- Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 16
- Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 3
- Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 22
- White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 20
- Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques 4
- Mimidae
- Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 3
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 7
- Ptilogonatidae
- Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus 14
- Peucedramidae
- Olive Warbler Peucedramus taeniatus 2
- 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 13
- Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 77
- Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 5
- MacGillivray's Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei 1
- American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 2
- Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 8
- Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 1
- Townsend's Warbler Setophaga townsendi 13
- Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 2
- Fan-tailed Warbler Basileuterus lachrymosus 1
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 12
- Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 2
- Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 21
- Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla 43
- Pink-headed Warbler Cardellina versicolor 1
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 13
- Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 1
- Thraupidae
- Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 11
- Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 36
- Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 6
- Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 147
- Genus Incertae Sedis
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 7
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 10
- Emberizidae
- Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 2
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 4
- Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus 2
- Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha 6
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 30
- Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 3
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 2
- Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus 17
- Cardinalidae
- Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 16
- Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 21
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 2
- White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 17
- Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 2
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 24
- Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 7
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 5
- Icteridae
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 13
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 28
- Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus 10
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 2
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 38
- Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 4
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 2
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 59
- Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 3
- Fringillidae
- Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 6
- Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 10
- Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 17
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 5
- Black-capped Siskin Spinus atriceps 5
- Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 20
References
AOU (1998) The American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
AOU (2012) Fifty-third supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 129: 573-588.
To see results of all Christmas Bird Counts throughout the Americas visit http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count.
