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Fourth official Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Tikal (GMTK) 2009
organized by CAYAYA BIRDING

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Compilers: , CAYAYA BIRDING, January 2010

The fourth edition of the Christmas Bird Count in Tikal took place on 21 December 2009. A total of 36 observers in eight groups counted birds in the National Park. The weather was not favorable; it was raining in the night and in the morning.

CBC Tikal 2009.

A total of 2256 birds of 172 species were recorded. In addition, 14 more species were observed during the count week. The most abundant species with at least 40 detected individuals were Montezuma Oropendula with 400 individuals on a roost, followed by Magnolia Warbler, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Wood-Thrush, Brown Jay, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Keel-billed Toucan, and Ocellated Turkey. The most abundant Nearctic-Neotropical migratory birds were Magnolia Warbler, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, Gray Catbird, and Kentucky Warbler.

Noteworthy was a Crested Eagle which was seen in the western part of the Tikal National Park. This species is not often recorded in Tikal due to its concealing behavior. A single Mottled Owl was the only owl recorded during the count (because of the rain). Black-and-white Owl and Vermiculated Screech-Owl were observed in the count week.

The Tikal National Park is part of the Maya-Lacandon Important Bird Area (IBA GT001) and this Christmas Bird Count helps to monitor bird populations in this IBA.

It follows a list of species and numbers of individuals recorded during the fourth Christmas Bird Count in Tikal (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2009). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).

  1. Great Tinamou Tinamus major 7
  2. Thicket Tinamou Crypturellus cinnamomeus 2
  3. Slaty-breasted Tinamou Crypturellus boucardi 2
  4. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors (cw)
  5. Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula 15
  6. Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 25
  7. Great Curassow Crax rubra 9
  8. Ocellated Turkey Meleagris ocellata 40
  9. Bare-throated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum 1
  10. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 3
  11. Green Heron Butorides virescens 1
  12. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 9
  13. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 5
  14. King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa 3
  15. Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 1
  16. Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens 1
  17. Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 12
  18. Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 1
  19. Crested Eagle Morphnus guianensis 1
  20. Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
  21. Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus (cw)
  22. Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 4
  23. Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 1
  24. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 3
  25. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 1
  26. Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus 2
  27. Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber 3
  28. Gray-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajanea 8
  29. Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis 1
  30. Short-billed Pigeon Patagioenas nigrirostris 4
  31. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 3
  32. Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana 2
  33. Olive-throated Parakeet Aratinga nana 2
  34. Brown-hooded Parrot Pyrilia haematotis 16
  35. White-crowned Parrot Pionus senilis 35
  36. White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons 8
  37. Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis 35
  38. Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa 19
  39. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 19
  40. Pheasant Cuckoo Dromococcyx phasianellus 1
  41. Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 4
  42. Vermiculated Screech-Owl Megascops guatemalae (cw)
  43. Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 1
  44. Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata (cw)
  45. Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis (cw)
  46. Northern Potoo Nyctibius jamaicensis (cw)
  47. Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 34
  48. Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis 4
  49. Long-billed Hermit Phaethornis longirostris 1
  50. Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis 8
  51. Scaly-breasted Hummingbird Phaeochroa cuvierii 1
  52. Wedge-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus curvipennis 6
  53. Canivet's Emerald Chlorostilbon canivetii (cw)
  54. White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 5
  55. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl 18
  56. Buff-bellied Hummingbird Amazilia yucatanensis 1
  57. Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti 12
  58. Slaty-tailed Trogon Trogon massena 11
  59. Black-headed Trogon Trogon melanocephalus 16
  60. Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus 13
  61. Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 2
  62. Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 1
  63. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 5
  64. White-necked Puffbird Notharchus hyperrhynchus 3
  65. White-whiskered Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis 6
  66. Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda 10
  67. Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 2
  68. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 33
  69. Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus 46
  70. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 5
  71. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 1
  72. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus 8
  73. Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 3
  74. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Celeus castaneus 3
  75. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 12
  76. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 21
  77. Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 1
  78. Plain Xenops Xenops minutus 5
  79. Scaly-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus guatemalensis 2
  80. Tawny-winged Woodcreeper Dendrocincla anabatina 21
  81. Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 19
  82. Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus 20
  83. Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus 4
  84. Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus 2
  85. Northern Barred-Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae 8
  86. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 19
  87. Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 2
  88. Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis 1
  89. Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis 15
  90. Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius analis 8
  91. Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet Ornithion semiflavum 3
  92. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 1
  93. Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 4
  94. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus 2
  95. Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus 5
  96. Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 14
  97. Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus sylvia 1
  98. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 10
  99. Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 12
  100. Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus 59
  101. Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus coronatus 11
  102. Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus 7
  103. Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher Myiobius sulphureipygius 9
  104. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 12
  105. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 9
  106. Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus 12
  107. Rufous Mourner Rhytipterna holerythra 1
  108. Yucatan Flycatcher Myiarchus yucatanensis 3
  109. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 15
  110. Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus 5
  111. Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 7
  112. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 3
  113. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 2
  114. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 15
  115. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 1
  116. Couch's Kingbird Tyrannus couchii 1
  117. Thrush-like Schiffornis Schiffornis turdina 25
  118. Rufous Piha Lipaugus unirufus 3
  119. Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 3
  120. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 14
  121. Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor 1
  122. White-collared Manakin Manacus candei 1
  123. Red-capped Manakin Pipra mentalis 26
  124. White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 21
  125. Mangrove Vireo Vireo pallens 1
  126. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 9
  127. Tawny-crowned Greenlet Hylophilus ochraceiceps 15
  128. Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 34
  129. Brown Jay Cyanocorax morio 52
  130. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 11
  131. Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 31
  132. Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus (cw)
  133. White-bellied Wren Uropsila leucogastra 3
  134. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 11
  135. Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 9
  136. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 38
  137. Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea 3
  138. Swainson?s Thrush Catharus ustulatus 2
  139. Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina 53
  140. Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 4
  141. White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis (cw)
  142. Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 33
  143. Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus 5
  144. Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera (cw)
  145. Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina 5
  146. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 2
  147. Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica 8
  148. Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia 64
  149. Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 15
  150. Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica (cw)
  151. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 27
  152. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 37
  153. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 9
  154. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 14
  155. Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis 10
  156. Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla (cw)
  157. Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus 32
  158. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 2
  159. Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina 34
  160. Wilson?s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 3
  161. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 16
  162. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 1
  163. Gray-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillata 12
  164. Black-throated Shrike-Tanager Lanio aurantius 14
  165. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 3
  166. Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza 1
  167. Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 1
  168. Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 9
  169. White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 2
  170. Green-backed Sparrow Arremonops chloronotus 6
  171. Rose-throated Tanager Piranga roseogularis 2
  172. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 13
  173. Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica 37
  174. Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 51
  175. Gray-throated Chat Granatellus sallaei 2
  176. Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanocompsa cyanoides 1
  177. Blue Bunting Cyanocompsa parellina 14
  178. Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 1
  179. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 9
  180. Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus (cw)
  181. Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas 14
  182. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 2
  183. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus (cw)
  184. Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma 400
  185. Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 6
  186. Olive-backed Euphonia Euphonia gouldi 14

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.

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

CBC Tikal 2009
Team of the 2009 Christmas Bird Count in Tikal National Park. The final meeting was kindly hosted by Hotel Jaguar Inn.

Sponsors of the Christmas Bid Count in Tikal 2009

Participants of the Fourth Christmas Bird Count in Tikal, 2009.

List of participants (group leaders in bold-face): Eladio Arévalo García, Christian Artuso, Claudia Avendaño, Francisco Bedoya, Bianca Bosarreyes, Efraín Caal, Roberto Caal, John, Peter, Robert, Tara, Nathan, and Ruth Cahill, Oswaldo Chi Dubón, Carlos Contreras, Marcial Córdova, Knut Eisermann, Kyle Elliot, Aquiles Estuardo Hernández, Armando García Córdova, Melanie Guigueno, Julio Madrid, Miguel Marín, Brian McNab, Roan McNab, Jairo G. Méndez Fión, Rony A. Méndez Fión, Luis Oliveros, Maynor Ovando, Luke Daniel Penner, David Samuel Rodriguez, Andrés Rosales, Israel Segura, Pablo Alejandro Soto, Lemuel Valle, Rachel Susan Yoner. Compiler: Knut Eisermann. Secondary compiler: Claudia Avendaño, Roan McNab.

Photos from the fourth Christmas Bird Count in Tikal

Great Curassow
Male Great Curassow in the Tikal archaelogocial site.
Christmas Bird Count Tikal
Satellite image of northeastern Petén. The Christmas Bird Count Tikal (white circle) samples bird communities of the largest Neotropical forest north of the Amazon basin. The CBC circle includes tall broadleaf forest, scrub swamp forest, forest edge, open habitat, lagoons, and creeks.
Orange-breasted Falcon
Pair of Orange-breasted Falcon perched on a distant tree.

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