Seventh official Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano (GMAV) 2013
organized by CAYAYA BIRDING
Compiled by Knut Eisermann and Claudia Avendaño, CAYAYA BIRDING, January 2014
The seventh Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano took place on 20 December 2013. A total of 33 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 and Santa Teresa, and in the bay of Santiago Atitlán of Lake Atitlán. Weather conditions were favorable, with a clear to partly cloudy sky.
A total of 4038 birds of 219 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): Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Great-tailed Grackle, Vaux's Swift, Tennessee Warbler, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Pacific Parakeet, Bronzed Cowbird, White-collared Swift, and Orchard Oriole.
Many of the endemics of northern Central American highlands were recorded on the count day, including Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Fulvous Owl, Azure-rumped Tanager, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Rufous-browed Wren, Black-throated Jay, and Rufous-collared Thrush. Noteworthy was the observation of four Horned Guans in Los Tarrales.
Three species, Purple Gallinule, Plumbeous Vireo, and Golden-cheeked Warbler, were recorded for the first time during a Christmas Bird Count 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 2013 count were three globally Endangered species (Horned Guan, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Azure-rumped Tanager), and a Vulnerable species (Highland Guan).
It follows a list of species and numbers of individuals recorded during the seventh Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2013). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).
- Anatidae
- Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 6
- Cracidae
- White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 30
- Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 18
- Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 13
- Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus 4
- Odontophoridae
- Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 3
- Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 3
- Pelecanidae
- Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 1
- Ardeidae
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 8
- Great Egret Ardea alba 19
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula 5
- Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 3
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 2
- Green Heron Butorides virescens 15
- Cathartidae
- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 97
- Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 138
- Accipitridae
- Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 1
- Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 1
- Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 2
- Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus 8
- Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 4
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 1
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
- Rallidae
- Sora Porzana carolina 2
- Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus 2
- Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 8
- American Coot Fulica americana 42
- Scolopacidae
- Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 2
- Columbidae
- Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 11
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 3
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 7
- Inca Dove Columbina inca 4
- Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 26
- White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 15
- White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies 1
- Cuculidae
- Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 7
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 1
- Tytonidae
- Barn Owl Tyto alba (cw)
- Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 1
- Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma 2
- Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 8
- Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 5
- Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 1
- Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 4
- Caprimulgidae
- Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 15
- Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 15
- Mexican Whip-poor-will Antrostomus arizonae 2
- Nyctibiidae
- Northern Potoo Nyctibius jamaicensis 1
- Apodidae
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 76
- Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 193
- Trochilidae
- White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora 12
- Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus 17
- Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 6
- Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 1
- Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 5
- Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 4
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 18
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 21
- Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 6
- Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 6
- White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 1
- Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 1
- Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 2
- Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 13
- Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 8
- Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 6
- White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 1
- Trogonidae
- Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 6
- Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 1
- Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 8
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 3
- Momotidae
- Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 3
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 7
- Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 8
- Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa 3
- Alcedinidae
- Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 1
- Ramphastidae
- Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 12
- Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 5
- Picidae
- Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 1
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 23
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 1
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker Picoides fumigatus 1
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 1
- Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 5
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 1
- Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 6
- Falconidae
- Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 12
- American Kestrel Falco sparverius 1
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 1
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1
- Psittacidae
- Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua 84
- Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 93
- Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 25
- Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 22
- Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 48
- Thamnophilidae
- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 6
- Furnariidae
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 2
- Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster (cw)
- Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 2
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 7
- Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 2
- Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus 4
- Tyrannidae
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 2
- Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 6
- Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 1
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 14
- Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 4
- Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 7
- Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 1
- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 3
- Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 1
- Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 9
- Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 6
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 1
- Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii 1
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 8
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 5
- Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 6
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 16
- Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 5
- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 9
- Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 23
- Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 12
- Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 35
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 10
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus 1
- Tyrannus sp. 3
- Tityridae
- Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 19
- Gray-collared Becard Pachyramphus major 4
- Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 2
- Pipridae
- Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 9
- Vireonidae
- Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 2
- Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus 1
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 4
- Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 9
- Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 3
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 2
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 5
- Corvidae
- Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 2
- White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 19
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 24
- Hirundinidae
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 1032
- Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva 8
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 4
- Troglodytidae
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon 9
- Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 4
- Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 8
- Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 10
- Spot-breasted Wren Pheugopedius maculipectus 18
- Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus 8
- Plain Wren Cantorchilus modestus 8
- White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 1
- Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 10
- Polioptilidae
- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 2
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 1
- Turdidae
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 29
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 7
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 4
- Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 2
- Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 16
- Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 3
- Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 33
- White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 7
- Mimidae
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 3
- Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 4
- Ptiliogonatidae
- Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys cinereus 18
- Parulidae
- Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 1
- Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 2
- Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla (cw)
- Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis (cw)
- Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 21
- Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 153
- Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 1
- Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala 1
- MacGillivray's Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei 1
- Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 1
- Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 11
- Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 12
- Townsend's Warbler Setophaga townsendi 18
- Golden-cheeked Warbler Setophaga chrysoparia 1
- Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 7
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 8
- Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 5
- Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 7
- Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla 16
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 7
- Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 2
- Thraupidae
- Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 10
- Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 39
- Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 8
- Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 142
- Incertae Sedis
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 4
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 20
- Emberizidae
- Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 35
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 29
- Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 1
- White-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes albinucha 2
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 6
- Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 5
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 4
- Cardinalidae
- Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 9
- Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 15
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 1
- White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 12
- Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 2
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 8
- Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 6
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 1
- Icteridae
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 25
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 206
- Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus 80
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 3
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 1
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 65
- Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 5
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 1
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 37
- Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 7
- Fringillidae
- Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 6
- Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 12
- Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 8
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 15
- Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 16
- Passeridae
- House Sparrow Passer domesticus 2
References
AOU (1998) The American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
AOU (2013) Fifty-fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 130: 558-571.
To see results of all Christmas Bird Counts throughout the Americas visit http://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count.
