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Third official Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano (GMAV) 2009
organized by CAYAYA BIRDING

Versión en español

Compiled by , CAYAYA BIRDING, January 2010

The third edition of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán volcano took place on 16 December 2009. A total of 34 observers in nine 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 Santiago and Tolimán bays of lake Atitlán. Weather conditions were favorable with a clear night and a sunny day. Soft rain was falling only in the southernmost part of the count circle in the afternoon.

CBC Atitlan Volcano 2009.

A total of 4872 birds of 233 species was recorded. In addition, five more species were observed during the count week. Four species were recorded by all groups, which are Ruby-throated Hummingbird, White-tipped Dove, Wilson's Warbler, and Baltimore Oriole.

The most abundant species during this Christmas Bird Count with more than 100 detected individuals were Vaux's Swift, American Coot, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Great-tailed Grackle, Tennessee Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, White-collared Swift, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and Pacific Parakeet. The most abundant Nearctic-Neotropical migratory landbirds with more than 25 detected individuals were Tennessee Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Western Kingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Townsend's Warbler.

Many of the endemics of the North Central American Highlands were again recorded, such as Highland Guan, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Blue-throated Motmot, Bushy-crested Jay, Black-throated Jay, Black-capped Swallow, Rufous-browed Wren, Rufous-collared Thrush, Pink-headed Warbler, and Azure-rumped Tanager. Horned Guan was observed in the count week.

Noteworthy was a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck which was moving among Blue-winged Teals and American Coots at Lake Atitlán. The whistling-duck occurs mainly in the lowlands. The observed bird may have been a straying individual from the Pacific lowlands, which are only 60 km away. But it cannot be ruled out that this individual was an escaped bird from one of the villages at Lake Atitlán. Also a single Willet at Lake Atitlán was noteworthy, as this shorebird is usually restricted to coastal areas. Olive-sided Flycatcher is mainly a transient bird in Guatemala and wintering birds are rare (Eisermann & Avendaño 2007). An photographed individual in Los Tarrales was therefore noteworthy.

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 2009 count (incl. count week) 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 third Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2009). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).

  1. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis 1
  2. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 6
  3. White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 4
  4. Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 25
  5. Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 44
  6. Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus (cw)
  7. Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys 2
  8. Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 11
  9. Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 6
  10. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 11
  11. Great Egret Ardea alba 23
  12. Snowy Egret Egretta thula 6
  13. Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 5
  14. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 19
  15. Green Heron Butorides virescens 18
  16. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 70
  17. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 22
  18. King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa 4
  19. Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 1
  20. Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 2
  21. Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 5
  22. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 1
  23. Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 5
  24. Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 5
  25. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 3
  26. Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
  27. Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 2
  28. Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis (cw)
  29. Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 2
  30. Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 1
  31. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 4
  32. American Kestrel Falco sparverius 6
  33. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 1
  34. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1
  35. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 2
  36. American Coot Fulica americana 298
  37. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 6
  38. Willet Tringa semipalmata 1
  39. Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla 4
  40. Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 54
  41. Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 3
  42. White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 5
  43. Inca Dove Columbina inca 5
  44. Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 6
  45. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 80
  46. White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies 11
  47. Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana 1
  48. Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua 111
  49. Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 4
  50. Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 19
  51. Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 9
  52. White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons 2
  53. Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 9
  54. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 9
  55. Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia (cw)
  56. Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 2
  57. Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata 1
  58. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 2
  59. Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 17
  60. Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 6
  61. Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 22
  62. Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 12
  63. Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus 1
  64. Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila 3
  65. White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 140
  66. Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 500
  67. Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 21
  68. Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 5
  69. Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus 10
  70. Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 26
  71. Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 47
  72. White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 3
  73. White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 7
  74. Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 9
  75. Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 8
  76. Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 38
  77. Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 7
  78. Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 11
  79. Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 12
  80. Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 2
  81. Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Tilmatura dupontii 1
  82. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 168
  83. Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti 1
  84. Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus 14
  85. Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 1
  86. Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 29
  87. Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 3
  88. Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 4
  89. Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 13
  90. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 24
  91. Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 1
  92. Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana 1
  93. Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 22
  94. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 18
  95. Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 2
  96. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 33
  97. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus 6
  98. Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 22
  99. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 2
  100. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 2
  101. Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 5
  102. Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 6
  103. Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus 4
  104. Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 2
  105. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 10
  106. Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 3
  107. Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 4
  108. Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 19
  109. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 11
  110. Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 8
  111. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus 3
  112. Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 28
  113. Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 18
  114. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 2
  115. Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 7
  116. Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus 2
  117. Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 3
  118. Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 1
  119. Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 19
  120. Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 20
  121. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 4
  122. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 15
  123. Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 1
  124. Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 3
  125. Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 2
  126. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 22
  127. Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 11
  128. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus (cw)
  129. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 24
  130. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 48
  131. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 30
  132. Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 58
  133. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus 4
  134. Gray-collared Becard Pachyramphus major 1
  135. Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 6
  136. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 19
  137. Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 33
  138. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 10
  139. Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 2
  140. Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 10
  141. Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 7
  142. Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 1
  143. Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 4
  144. Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 13
  145. White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 32
  146. Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 61
  147. Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 2
  148. Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea 27
  149. Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 1
  150. Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata 48
  151. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 129
  152. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 81
  153. Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 17
  154. Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 12
  155. Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 32
  156. Rufous-and-white Wren Thryothorus rufalbus 8
  157. Plain Wren Thryothorus modestus 25
  158. House Wren Troglodytes aedon 7
  159. Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 3
  160. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 6
  161. Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 9
  162. Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 11
  163. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 3
  164. Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 7
  165. Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 52
  166. Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 17
  167. Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 4
  168. Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 17
  169. Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus 1
  170. Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina 5
  171. Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 1
  172. Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 37
  173. White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 33
  174. Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques 1
  175. Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 2
  176. Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 2
  177. Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 1
  178. Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus 8
  179. Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus 1
  180. Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera (cw)
  181. Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina 179
  182. Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla 5
  183. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 5
  184. Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica 1
  185. Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia 12
  186. Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 10
  187. Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi 27
  188. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 22
  189. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 3
  190. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 1
  191. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 3
  192. MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei 2
  193. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 1
  194. Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 59
  195. Pink-headed Warbler Ergaticus versicolor 1
  196. Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 25
  197. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 20
  198. Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 13
  199. Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 6
  200. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 4
  201. Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus 19
  202. Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 6
  203. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 68
  204. Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 25
  205. Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 272
  206. Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 9
  207. Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 42
  208. Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 1
  209. White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 6
  210. Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha 4
  211. Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 6
  212. White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 13
  213. Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 1
  214. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 25
  215. Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 18
  216. Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 1
  217. White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 26
  218. Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica 2
  219. Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 4
  220. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 28
  221. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 9
  222. Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 3
  223. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 52
  224. Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 210
  225. Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus 8
  226. Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 2
  227. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 17
  228. Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 4
  229. Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 11
  230. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 45
  231. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 8
  232. Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 1
  233. Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 33
  234. Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 16
  235. Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 11
  236. Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria 14
  237. Hooded Grosbeak Coccothraustes abeillei 2
  238. 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 (2009) Fiftieth supplement to the AOU check-list of North American birds. Auk 126: 705-714.

Eisermann, K. & C. Avendaño (2007) Lista comentada de las aves de Guatemala - Annotated checklist of the birds of Guatemala. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

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

CBC Atitlan Volcano 2009
Participants of the third Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano. The meeting was kindly hosted by Los Tarrales Reserve.

Sponsors of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano 2009

Participants of the third Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano, 2009.

List of participants (group leaders in bold-face): Ian Allan, Claudia Avendaño, Everilda Buchán, Andy Burge, Mary Burge, Claudia Burgos, John, Peter, Robert, Tara, and Ruth Cahill, Juan José Chinchilla, Álvaro de Castro, José de Castro, Óscar Gabino, Gilberto de León, Edy de León Lux, Josué de León Lux, Lester de León Lux, Knut Eisermann, Hugo Enríquez, Ángel López Lanuza, Gerardo López, Jesús López, Sandra Molina, Javier Ovalle, Maynor Ovando, Juan José Pratdesaba, Juan Quiñonez, Raquel Sigüenza , Damaris Sous, Rogelio Sulugüi, Sotero Sului Culán, Lemuel Valle.
Compiler: Knut Eisermann. Secondary compiler: Claudia Avendaño.

Images from the third Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan Volcano

Christmas Bird Count Atitlan Volcano
Satellite image of the area covered by the circle of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlan 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.
Red-legged Honeycreeper
Male Red-legged Honeycreeper feeding on nectar of Inga blossoms.
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler was the most abundant migratory bird.
Baltimore Oriole
Baltimore Oriole on a banana inflorescence.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Azure-rumped Tanager
Azure-rumped Tanager feeding on Cecropia in the Los Tarrales Reserve.
young King Vulture
Young King Vulture soaring over the Los Tarrales Reserve.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
A Black-bellied Whistling-Duck among American Coots and Blue-winged Teals was a noteworthy sighting at Lake Atitlán. It was probably a straying individual from the Pacific lowlands, but it cannot be ruled out that it was an escaped individual from one of the villages at the lake.
Olive-sided Flycatcher
An Olive-sided Flycatcher in Los Tarrales was noteworthy, because this species is mainly a transient in Guatemala.
Collared Trogon
Collared Trogon.
Violaceos Trogon
Female Violaceous Trogon.

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