The World Birding Website

Central America - Guatemala

Guatemala is fast becoming a popular birding destination. With more than 720 species, birders can enjoy not just the vibrant Mayan culture and ancient temples but also the country’s diverse avifauna. The greatest concentration of range- and biome-specific species is found in the highlands where some ten per cent of the breeding species are endemic to the northern Central American highlands. Birds such as Horned Guan, Pink-headed Warbler, Azure-rumped Tanager and Black-capped Siskin are range restricted to the mountains of Guatemala and Mexico. However, for the greatest diversity head to the Atlantic lowlands where more than 500 species have been recorded. A total of twenty-one Important Bird Areas have been designated in Guatemala. But long-term habitat conservation remains challenging. The country’s population grew by more than a third in the last decade putting yet more pressure on the natural environment. Protected areas cover a third of the country but many reserves exist only on paper. A number of excellent private reserves include Los Tarrales reserve (www.tarrales.com) on the southern slope of Atitlan volcano and the Chelemha reserve (www.chelemha.org) in the Yalijux Mountains. These reserves support a number of regional endemics and globally threatened species. As with many parts of Central America, birders should exercise caution at all times. Text adapted from Knut Eisermann’s article in Winging It – Sept/Oct 2007

Horned Guan, Guatemala, Los Tarrales (Volcan Atitlan) 2006 © Steve Huggins. The hike to see this amaxing bird is described as tough! I'd say very tough - my legs are still aching a week later but it is was well worth it!

Trip Reports Guatemala - August - October 1997, author Martin Birch (added September 10, 2004) Yucatan Peninsula, including Tikal, Guatemala, December 2000, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 10, 2004) Eastern Pacific Cruise - October 29th - November 22nd 2009, author Gail Mackiernan (link created October 1, 2010) (California, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Chile, Yellow-footed Gull, Galapagos, De Fillipe's and Juan Fernandez Petrels, Hornby's Stormpetrel, Chestnut-throated Huet-huet) First Birdwatching International Encounter - Izabal, Guatemala - April 8th-14th, 2005, author Bill Clark (added June 23, 2005) (Great week visiting 3 main sites all having good birds.  The access to the Horned Guan and Azure-rumped Tanager will be a main drawing card) Guatemala, Feb 2005, by Kirsten Geertz-Hansen, author Knut Eisermann (link created January 12, 2008) Guatemala Pacific slope - Dec 2007- Jan 2008, by Robert Orenstein, author Knut Eisermann (link created January 12, 2008) (Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, Blue-and-White Mockingbird, Pink-headed Warbler, Azure-rumped Tanager) Guatemala Atlantic slope mountains, May 2007, by Alan van Norman, author Knut Eisermann (link created January 12, 2008) (Resplendent Quetzal, Highland Guan, Wine-throated Hummingbird) Guatemala, March 2007, by Jeff Peters, author Knut Eisermann (link created January 12, 2008) (Pacific and Atlantic slope mountains and Tikal) Guatemala, Christmas Bird Count, Tikal 2006, author Knut Eisermann (link created January 12, 2008) (Tikal) Guatemala, Dec 2005, by Juliet Petrencs, author Knut Eisermann (link created January 12, 2008) (Pacific slope and Tikal) Guatemala, Christmas Bird Count, Tikal 2007, author Knut Eisermann (link created February 25, 2008) (Tikal) Guatemala, Atitlan Volcano, Christmas Bird Count 2007, author Knut Eisermann (link created February 25, 2008) (Atitlan volcano, Los Tarrales, Cayaya Birding) Showing the 12 Most Recent Trip Reports Posted BACK TO TRIP REPORTS HOME PAGE POST A TRIP REPORT EDIT YOUR TRIP REPORTS

Recent Sightings Tikal, Guatemala, Orange-breasted author Christopher Lovell (added March 22, 2007) Showing the 1 Latest Recent Sightings Posted ADD SOME RECENT SIGHTINGS

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