Sites visited:
Tikal (Guatemala) - T
Felipe Carrillo Puerto (Quintana Roo) - FCP
Cobá (Quintana Roo) - Cb
Isla Cozumel (Quintana Roo) - Cz
Río Lagartos (Yucatán) - RL
common (usually several sites) - cm
Birds endemic to the region comprising Mexico, Guatemala and Belize are marked (e).
Birds:
(Thicket Tinamou - Crypturellus c. cinnamomeus - FCP, heard only)
1. Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus - Cb
2. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus p. podiceps - Cb
3. American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos - RL
4. Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis - cm
5. Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus - Cb
6. Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens - cm
7. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias - Cb, RL
8. Great Egret Egretta alba egretta - cm
9. Snowy Egret Egretta thula - cm
10. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea - RL
11. Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor - RL
12. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ibis - cm
13. Green Heron Butorides virescens - Cb, RL
14. Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax violaceus - RL
15. White Ibis Eudocimus albus - RL
16. Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja - RL
17. Wood Stork Mycteria americana - RL
18. American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber - RL
19. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors - RL
20. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus - cm
21. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura - cm
22. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes b. burrovianus - RL
23. Osprey Pandion haliaetus - RL
24. Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis - near Chetumal (Quintana Roo)
25. Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus hudsonius - RL
26. Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga ridgwayi - RL
27. Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus - RL
28. Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris - cm
29. White-tailed Hawk Buteo albicaudatus hypospodius - RL
30. Crested Caracara Caracara plancus - RL
31. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans - FCP, RL
32. American Kestrel Falco sparverius - Cz
33. Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula - RL
34. Crested Guan (e) Penelope p. purpurascens - T
35. Great Curassow (e) Crax rubra - T
36. Ocellated Turkey (e) Meleagris ocellata - FCP, T
37. Yucatan Bobwhite (e) Colinus nigrogularis - RL
38. Ruddy Crake (e) Laterallus ruber - Cb
39. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus cachinnans - Guatemala
40. American Coot Fulica a. americana - Guatemala
41. Limpkin Aramus guarauna dolosus - near Chetumal
42. Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola - RL
43. Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus - RL
44. Killdeer Charadrius v. vociferus - RL
45. Black-necked Stilt Himantopus m. mexicanus - RL
46. Northern Jacana Jacana s. spinosa - Guatemala
47. Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca - RL
48. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes - RL
49. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia - RL
50. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres - Playa del Carmen
51. Sanderling Calidris alba - Playa del Carmen
52. Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri - RL
53. Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla - RL
54. Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus - RL
55. Laughing Gull Larus atricilla - cm
56. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia - Cb, RL
57. White-crowned Pigeon (e) Columba leucocephala - Cz
58. Red-billed Pigeon Columba flavirostris - FCP
59. White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica - cm
60. Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina - RL
61. Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti - cm
62. Blue Ground-Dove Claravis pretiosa - FCP
63. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi - Cb
64. Gray-headed Dove Leptotila p. plumbeiceps - T
65. Aztec Parakeet Aratinga astec - cm
66. Yucatan Parrot (e) Amazona xantholora - Cz
67. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana - cm
68. Lesser Roadrunner (e) Geococcyx velox - RL
69. Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris - cm
70. Vermiculated Screech-Owl Otus guatemalae - FCP
71. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum - FCP
72. Black-and-white Owl Strix nigrolineata - T
73. Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis - RL
74. Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis - FCP, T, Cb
75. Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi gaumeri - cm
76. Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis - T
77. Wedge-tailed Sabrewing (e) Campylopterus curvipennis - FCP
78. Canivet's Emerald (e) Chlorostilbon canivetii - FCP, RL
79. Cozumel Emerald (e) Chlorostilbon forficatus - Cz
80. White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida - FCP, Cb
81. Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila - RL
82. Buff-bellied Hummingbird (e) Amazilia yucatanensis - FCP (photo, DK only)
83. Mexican Sheartail (e) Calothorax eliza - RL
84. Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus braccatus - FCP, Cb
85. Slaty-tailed Trogon Trogon m. massena - T
86. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota - T
87. Turquoise-browed Motmot (e) Eumomota superciliosa - Cb
88. Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon - Cb, Guatemala
89. White-necked Puffbird Notharchus macrorhynchos - T
90. White-whiskered Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis inornata - T
91. Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda melanogenia - T
92. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus - FCP
93. Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus - FCP, T
94. Yucatan Woodpecker (e) Centurus pygmaeus - Cb, RL, Cz
95. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Centurus aurifrons dubius - FCP, Cb
96. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius - FCP
97. Ladder-backed Woodpecker Picoides scalaris - FCP, RL
98. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus - T
99. Golden-olive Woodpecker Piculus rubiginosus - T
100. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus - T
101. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis - FCP, T
102. Plain Xenops Xenops minutus mexicanus - FCP, T
103. Scaly-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus guatemalensis - T
104. Tawny-winged Woodcreeper Dendrocincla anabatina - FCP, Cb, T
105. Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla h. homochroa - T
106. Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus - FCP, T
107. Barred Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes certhia - Cb, T
108. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster - FCP, T, Cb
109. Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis septentrionalis - T
110. Mexican Antthrush (e) Formicarius moniliger - T
111. Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet Ornithion semiflavum - T
112. Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata - FCP, T, Cz
113. Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster subpagana - FCP
114. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleaginus assimilis - T
115. Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus pileatus -T
116. Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare - FCP, T
117. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris - FCP, T
118. Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus - FCP, T
119. Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus coronatus mexicanus - T
120. Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus fulvigularis - T
121. Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher Myiobius s. sulphureipygius - T
122. Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus - FCP, Cb
123. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus - T, RL
124. Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus - RL
125. Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus - RL, FCP, T
126. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer lawrencei - RL
127. Yucatan Flycatcher (e) Myiarchus yucatanensis - RL
128. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulfuratus - RL
129. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarhynchus pitangua - FCP, Cb
130. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis - cm
131. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus - cm
132. Thrushlike Mourner Schiffornis turdinus veraepacis - T
133. Gray-collared Becard (e) Pachyramphus major - T
134. Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae - Cb, T, FCP
135. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata - cm
136. Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor fraserii - T
137. Red-capped Manakin Pipra m. mentalis - T
138. Mangrove Swallow Tachycineta a. albilinea - RL, Guatemala
139. Cave Swallow Hirundo fulva citata - FCP
140. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica erythrogaster - RL
141. Green Jay Cyanocorax incas - cm
142. Brown Jay Cyanocorax morio - FCP, T
143. Yucatan Jay (e) Cyanocorax yucatanensis - Cb, RL
144. Yucatan Wren (e) Campylorhynchus yucatanensis - RL
145. Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus - FCP, T
146. White-browed Wren (e) Thryothorus albinucha - FCP
147. White-bellied Wren (e) Uropsila leucogastra - T
148. Southern House Wren Troglodytes musculus - RL
149. Cozumel Wren (e) Troglodytes beani - Cz
150. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta - T
151. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea (incl. cozumelae) - cm
152. Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea brodkorbi - FCP
153. Wood Thrush Catharus mustelinus - T
154. Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi - cm
155. Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis - FCP
156. Black Catbird (e) Dumetella glabrirostris - FCP, Cz
157. Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus - cm
158. White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus - cm
159. Mangrove Vireo (e) Vireo pallens - FCP, T, RL
160. Cozumel Vireo (e) Vireo bairdi - Cz
161. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons - FCP, RL
162. Yucatan Vireo (e) Vireo m. magister - Cz
163. Tawny-crowned Greenlet Hylophilus o. ochraceiceps - FCP, T
164. Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus d. decurtatus - FCP, T
165. Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis (+insularis) -Cz, FCP, RL
166. Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus - T
167. Northern Parula Parula americana - FCP, RL
168. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia - T (aestiva), RL (bryanti)
169. Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica - T
170. Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia - cm
171. Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens - RL, FCP
172. Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica - Cancun
173. Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor - Cz
174. Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum - RL
175. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia - cm
176. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla - cm
177. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus - T
178. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus - RL, Cb
179. Northern Waterthrush Seiururs noveboracensis - RL, Cb
180. Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus - T
181. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas - cm
182. Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Chamaethlypis poliocephala - RL
183. Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina - T, RL, Cz, FCP
184. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus - FCP, T
185. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens - T
186. Gray-throated Chat (e) Granatellus sallaei - FCP
187. (Cozumel) Bananaquit (e) Coereba flaveola caboti - Cz
188. Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus carneiceps - FCP
189. Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis - Cb
190. Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea - FCP, T
191. Olive-backed Euphonia Euphonia g. gouldi - T
192. Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus cana - near Chetumal
193. Yellow-winged Tanager (e) Thraupis abbas - near Chetumal
194. Stripe-headed Tanager (e) Spindalis zena benedicti - Cz
195. Gray-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillata pallida - T, Cb
196. Black-throated Shrike-Tanager Lanio aurantius - T
197. Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica rubicoides - FCP, T
198. Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fascicauda - FCP, Cb
199. Rose-throated Tanager (e) Piranga roseogularis - FCP
200. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra - FCP, Cb
201. Grayish Saltator Saltator caerulescens - Cb
202. Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps - T, FCP, Cb
203. Black-faced Grosbeak Caryothraustes p. poliogaster - T
204. Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis - RL
205. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus - RL
206. Blue Bunting (e) Cyanocompsa parellina parellina - FCP
207. Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea - Cb
208. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea - RL
209. Painted Bunting Passerina ciris - Cz, RL
210. Green-backed Sparrow (e) Arremonops chloronotus - FCP, T
211. Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina spendens - cm
212. White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola morelleti - cm
213. Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivacea intermedia - Cz
214. Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna - RL
215. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives - FCP
216. Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus - cm
217. Black-cowled Oriole Icterus dominicensis prosthemelas - FCP
218. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurious - RL, near Chetumal
219. Hooded Oriole Icterus cucullatus - Cb, RL
220. Orange Oriole (e) Icterus auratus - RL
221. Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis - RL
222. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula - near Chetumal
223. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus h. holosericeus - Cb, FCP
224. Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma - T
225. Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria - Cz
Herps:
1. Bufo marinus - FCP
2. Bufo valliceps - FCP; T
3. Hyla loquax - FCP; T
4. Hyla microcephala - FCP; T
5. Hypopachus variolosus - T
6. Leptodactylus melanonotus - FCP; T
7. Rana berlandieri - T
8. Crocodylus moreletti - T
9. Ameiva undulata - FCP; Cb
10. Basiliscus vittatus - Cb
11. Cnemidophorus angusticeps - Cb
12. Cnemidophorus cozumelae - Cz
13. Ctenosaura similis - Cb; Cz
14. Hemidactylus frenatus - FCP
15. Norops lemurinus - FCP
16. Norops sagrei - Cz
17. Norops sericeus - FCP
18. Sceloporus lundelli - Cb
19. Sceloporus variabilis - T
20. Sphaerodactylus glaucus - T
21. Thecadactylus rapicauda - FCP; T
22. Bothrops asper - FCP
22. Elaphe flavivura - FCP
23. Leptodeira frenata - Cz
Literature Used:
Birds:
The single most useful site guide to the area and generally referred to as "Howell´s book" in this report:
Howell, S.N.G. 1999. A Bird-Finding Guide to Mexico. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.
Identification guides are relatively plentiful as compared with other regions in the Neotropics. We carried around two:
1.) Howell, S.N.G. and Webb, S. 1995. The Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
2.) Peterson, R.T. and Chalif, E.L. 1973. Mexican Birds. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, USA.
We found this to be a good combination: The Peterson guide - while outdated and insufficient for the more difficult groups (e.g. orioles) - was handy for quick reference in the field (a real "pocket guide"). The Howell guide, on the other hand, was carried along in the backpack and was consulted after sightings of difficult species.
In the winter, you will need a field guide on North American birds in addition, preferably the 3rd edition of the National Geographic or the new Sibley Guide (released in Oct 2000, excellent paintings but little text!).
Herps:
There are several good books on the herpetofauna of Central America but the most useful for the Yucatan Peninsula are the two following:
A very good (but heavy) book on the herpetofauna of the Yucatan Peninsula is:
Lee, J.C. (1996): The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Yucatan Peninsula. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 500S.
The advantage of this book is that it contains locality records in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala for every species.
The small version of this book (and therefore much easier to carry around in the field) is:
Lee, J.C. (2000): A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Maya World. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 402 S.
It contains for the most part the same color photographs as the big one (or better ones) but lacks the exact locality records.
end of report