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Fourteenth official Audubon Christmas Bird Count at
Volcán Atitlán (GMAV) 2020/21
organized by CAYAYA BIRDING

Versión en español

Compiled by ,
CAYAYA BIRDING, February 2021

A Christmas Bird Count of Solitaires

Between 20 and 50 birdwatchers would usually participate in the Christmas Bird Count at Volcán Atitlán, since the first event in 2007. This season was different. Because of the COVID pandemic, we decided to run the count only with local birders who could access the count transects from their home, without the necessity of public or shared transport - following common sense and National Audubon's rules for COVID-safe CBCs. Unlike previous CBCs, no meeting in person for compiling data was held. There were no groups of bird counters, all of the six count parties (incl. feeder watcher) were solo-birders - solitaires if you want. Thus the Brown-backed Solitaire was our mascot of this season's count, with its charismatic song, so typical for the highlands of northern Central America and Mexico, and common at Atitlán Volcano. We hope that future CBCs at Atitlán Volcano can be organized with the usual groups of numerous birders and friends.

Christmas Bird Count of Solitaires
Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis during the 14th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán volcano, 5 January 2021.

The 14th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano took place on 5 January 2021. A total of 5 observers = 5 groups (plus 1 observer on stationary count) counted birds in Reserva Natural Privada Los Tarrales, in the municipal forest of Santiago Atitlán near Mirador Rey Tepepul, on Atitlán volcano, and in the bay of Santiago Atitlán at Lake Atitlán. Weather conditions were favorable, with clear to cloudy skies throughout the day, no to little wind, and no rain.

Blue Seedeater
A male Blue Seedeater Amaurospiza concolor recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.

Despite the low number of observers, a total of 2252 birds of 242 species were recorded, 11 more species were recorded during the count week. The most abundant species recorded with at least 25 individuals during the count day were (in descending order of abundance): Red-legged Honeycreeper, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Great-tailed Grackle, Tennessee Warbler, Bushy-crested Jay, Cattle Egret, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-winged Tanager, Vaux's Swift, White-bellied Chachalaca, White-throated Thrush, Blue-throated Goldentail, Wilson's Warbler, Clay-colored Thrush, American Coot, Violet-green Swallow, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Pacific Parakeet, Black-headed Saltator, Orange-chinned Parakeet, and Gray Silky-flycatcher.

Gray-headed Kite
An adult Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.

One species was recorded for the first time during the Christmas Bird Count, Great Curassow - although only during the count week - a rare Cracid on the Guatemalan Pacific slope. The highest numbers for the first 14 Christmas Bird Counts were recorded for Black-and-white Owl, White-bellied Emerald, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, Plumbeous Vireo (montanus group), White-breasted Wood-Wren, Mountain Thrush, White-throated Thrush, Northern Waterthrush, and Rusty Sparrow.

Green Shrike-Vireo
Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.

Many of the endemics of the northern Central American highlands were recorded during the count day, including Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Fulvous Owl, Northern (Guatemalan) Pygmy-Owl, Azure-rumped Tanager, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Rufous-browed Wren, Blue-and-white Mockingbrd, Black-capped Swallow, Black-throated Jay, and Bar-winged Oriole.

Yellow-billed Cacique
Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.

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 2020/21 count were the globally threatened Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Yellow-naped Parrot, and Azure-rumped Tanager.

Ornate Hawk-Eagle
An adult Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.

It follows a list of species and numbers of individuals recorded during the 14th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOS 2020). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).

  1. Thicket Tinamou Crypturellus cinnamomeus 1
  2. Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors 4
  3. White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 35
  4. Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 19
  5. Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 22
  6. Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus 3
  7. Great Curassow Crax rubra (cw)
  8. Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys 1
  9. Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 10
  10. Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 19
  11. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps 1
  12. Rock Pigeon Columba livia 2
  13. Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 21
  14. Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 15
  15. Inca Dove Columbina inca 2
  16. Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina 2
  17. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 17
  18. White-faced Quail-Dove Zentrygon albifacies 11
  19. White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 10
  20. Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 7
  21. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 8
  22. Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 1
  23. Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 14
  24. Mexican Whip-poor-will Antrostomus arizonae 2
  25. Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila 6
  26. White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 18
  27. Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 41
  28. Mexican Violetear Colibri thalassinus 8
  29. Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii (cw)
  30. Black-crested Coquette Lophornis helenae 2
  31. Rivoli's Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 5
  32. Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris (cw)
  33. Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 12
  34. Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis amethystinus 4
  35. Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Tilmatura dupontii 1
  36. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 46
  37. Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus 1
  38. Wine-throated Hummingbird Selasphorus ellioti 2
  39. White-eared Hummingbird Basilinna leucotis 4
  40. Rufous Sabrewing Pampa rufa 4
  41. Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 29
  42. Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 7
  43. Azure-crowned Hummingbird Saucerottia cyanocephala 1
  44. Berylline Hummingbird Saucerottia beryllina 7
  45. Blue-tailed Hummingbird Saucerottia cyanura 11
  46. Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 3
  47. White-bellied Emerald Chlorestes candida 12
  48. Blue-throated Goldentail Chlorestes eliciae 34
  49. Sora Porzana carolina 1
  50. Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 5
  51. American Coot Fulica americana 31
  52. Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus 2
  53. Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 2
  54. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 2
  55. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 5
  56. Great Egret Ardea alba 15
  57. Snowy Egret Egretta thula 1
  58. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 2
  59. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 49
  60. Green Heron Butorides virescens 14
  61. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea (cw)
  62. King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa 1
  63. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 24
  64. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 4
  65. Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2
  66. Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis 1
  67. Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
  68. Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 1
  69. Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga 1
  70. Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris (cw)
  71. White Hawk Pseudastur albicollis 1
  72. Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus 4
  73. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 3
  74. Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus (cw)
  75. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 2
  76. Whiskered Screech-Owl Megascops trichopsis 1
  77. Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata 1
  78. Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 2
  79. Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma 2
  80. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 7
  81. Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 11
  82. Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 7
  83. Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 4
  84. Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 2
  85. Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 3
  86. Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 4
  87. Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 2
  88. Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 3
  89. Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 16
  90. Lesson's Motmot Momotus lessonii 13
  91. Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa (cw)
  92. Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 2
  93. Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana (cw)
  94. Northern Emerald-Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 10
  95. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 6
  96. Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 1
  97. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 16
  98. Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates villosus 2
  99. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Dryobates fumigatus 3
  100. Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 13
  101. Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 4
  102. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 2
  103. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 1
  104. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 3
  105. Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis (cw)
  106. Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 1
  107. Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 3
  108. American Kestrel Falco sparverius (cw)
  109. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 2
  110. Orange-fronted Parakeet Eupsittula canicularis 17
  111. Pacific Parakeet Psittacara strenuus 29
  112. Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 6
  113. Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 25
  114. White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons 1
  115. Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 12
  116. Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 8
  117. Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 1
  118. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 5
  119. Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 2
  120. Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 6
  121. Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 4
  122. Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Clibanornis rubiginosus 10
  123. Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 1
  124. Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 21
  125. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 8
  126. Gray-collared Becard Pachyramphus major 2
  127. Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 5
  128. Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 4
  129. Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 2
  130. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 1
  131. Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 4
  132. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 5
  133. Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 6
  134. Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 3
  135. Mountain Elaenia Elaenia frantzii 1
  136. Guatemalan Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 10
  137. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 10
  138. Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 3
  139. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 1
  140. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 12
  141. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 21
  142. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 7
  143. Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 1
  144. Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 6
  145. Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 14
  146. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 5
  147. White-throated Flycatcher Empidonax albigularis 1
  148. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 10
  149. Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 7
  150. Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 2
  151. Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 6
  152. Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 1
  153. Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 7
  154. Lesser Greenlet Pachysylvia decurtata 9
  155. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 3
  156. Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 4
  157. Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus montanus 2
  158. Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 2
  159. Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 6
  160. Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 10
  161. White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 8
  162. Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 51
  163. Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 30
  164. Black-capped Swallow Atticora pileata 5
  165. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 61
  166. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 4
  167. Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus 13
  168. House Wren Troglodytes aedon 5
  169. Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 2
  170. Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 3
  171. Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 11
  172. Spot-breasted Wren Pheugopedius maculipectus 23
  173. Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus 5
  174. Cabanis's Wren Cantorchilus modestus 12
  175. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 12
  176. Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 3
  177. Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 6
  178. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 1
  179. Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 7
  180. Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 22
  181. Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 8
  182. Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 4
  183. Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 5
  184. Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 4
  185. Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 2
  186. Mountain Thrush Turdus plebejus 4
  187. Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 33
  188. White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 35
  189. Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 7
  190. Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 1
  191. Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys cinereus 25
  192. House Sparrow Passer domesticus 3
  193. Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 16
  194. Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 1
  195. Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 16
  196. Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 12
  197. Hooded Grosbeak Coccothraustes abeillei 5
  198. Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus 3
  199. Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 18
  200. Common Chlorospingus Chlorospingus flavopectus 8
  201. Chestnut-capped Brushfinch Arremon brunneinucha 3
  202. Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 2
  203. White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 16
  204. White-faced Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 7
  205. Rusty Sparrow Aimophila rufescens 6
  206. White-naped Brushfinch Atlapetes albinucha 2
  207. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 3
  208. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 5
  209. Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 3
  210. Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 5
  211. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 4
  212. Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 1
  213. Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 1
  214. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 17
  215. Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus 14
  216. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 22
  217. Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 57
  218. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 2
  219. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 1
  220. Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 1
  221. Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 3
  222. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 10
  223. Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina 56
  224. MacGillivray's Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei 2
  225. Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 2
  226. Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 4
  227. Townsend's Warbler Setophaga townsendi 23
  228. Hermit Warbler Setophaga occidentalis 1
  229. Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 11
  230. Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 11
  231. Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 4
  232. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 10
  233. Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla 34
  234. Pink-headed Warbler Cardellina versicolor 1
  235. Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 17
  236. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 11
  237. Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 4
  238. Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 4
  239. White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 10
  240. Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica 4
  241. Red-throated Ant-tanager Habia fuscicauda (cw)
  242. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 5
  243. Blue Seedeater Amaurospiza concolor 1
  244. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 5
  245. Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 3
  246. Azure-rumped Tanager Poecilostreptus cabanisi 21
  247. Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 5
  248. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 44
  249. Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 1
  250. Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 83
  251. Morelet's Seedeater Sporophila morelleti 13
  252. Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 28
  253. Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 2

References

AOU (1998) The American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

AOS (2020) Sixty-first supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s check-list of North American birds. Auk 137: DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukaa030.

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

Sponsors of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano 2020/21

Participants of the 14th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano, 2020/21.

List of participants (group leaders in bold-face): Claudia Avendaño, Andy Burge, Knut Eisermann, Gerardo López, Alfredo Tol, Rolando Tol.

Compilers: Knut Eisermann and Claudia Avendaño.

Images from the 14th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano

Christmas Bird Count Atitlán Volcano
Satellite image of the area covered by the circle (diameter: 15 miles, 24.1 km) of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán 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.
male Collared Trogon
A male Collared Trogon Trogon collaris recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
male Common Pauraque
A male Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
Mexican Whip-poor-will
A Mexican Whip-poor-will Antrostomus arizonae recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
White-bellied Emerald
This has been the CBC at Atitlán Volcano with the highest number of White-bellied Emeralds Chlorestes candida recorded so far.
Crested Caracara
Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
immature Black Hawk-Eagle
An immature Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
Northern Bentbill
Northern-Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird
A female Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Tilmatura dupontii recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
Azure-rumped Tanager
One of the Azure-rumped Tanagers Poecilostreptus cabanisi recorded during the 14th Volcán Atitlán Christmas Bird Count.
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