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Guatemala was, until recently, a lost birdwatching destination. Birdlife, and natural history in general has suffered here from lack of scientific study due to a turbulent political past. The country and its birds are now open to the international birding community to be protected and enjoyed. Guatemala is a fantastic destination for birding. Lowland forest drapes both Atlantic and Pacific coasts, displaying unique floral and faunal assemblages with legacies of natural colonization from both North and South America. The interior is dominated by extensive chains of high mountains, some reaching over 12,000 feet. Sandwiched between mountains and coast are vast deserts, with fascinating flora and fauna, and extensive freshwater lakes and river systems, which harbor diverse and rare aquatic life including colorful freshwater fishes. The mountainous interior features biomes packed tightly together, due to topography, enabling visitors to experience several in a day. Isolation of populations of animals and plants among the mountains has created such interesting endemic species as the Azure-Rumped Tanager, Horned Guan, Pink-Headed Warbler, Blue-Tailed Hummingbird, and White-Breasted Hawk. A rich assemblage, but one that requires protection to be ensured a chance of survival. The Guatemalan Birding Research Center, in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, was founded with the purpose of promoting and facilitating birding and ecotourism in Guatemala, and to be a presence in research and conservation in the country. |
Jason Berry
Director - Guatemalan Birding Research Centre
(Quetzaltenango, Guatemala)
jgbrc@yahoo.com
Number of bird species: 745
National Bird: Resplendant Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno
National Bird: Resplendant Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno
Number of endemics: 1
Well there used to be one, the Atitlan Grebe Podilymbus gigas, which is now extinct.
Well there used to be one, the Atitlan Grebe Podilymbus gigas, which is now extinct.
A Birders Checklist of the Birds of Guatemala
by Dave Sargeant 22 pages, 720+ species. 1995ISBN: 82597
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A Field Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas
by Ernest Preston Edwards, Edward Murrell Butler (Illustrator) Hardcover - 288 pages (July 1998) University of Texas PressISBN: 0292720920
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Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Guatemala
by Knut Eisermann & Claudia Avendaño Lynx 2007ISBN: 849655340X
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Helm Identification Guides: Birds of the West Indies
Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, Janis Raffaele, Tracy Pedersen (Illustrator); Kristin Williams (Illustrator) Hardcover - 511 pages (29 May, 1998) Christopher HelmISBN: 0713649054
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The Birds of Tikal - An Annotated Checklist for Tikal National Park
R A Beavers 154 pages, 16 b/w photos, 3 maps. Texas A & M University Press 1992 ISBN: 0890965250ISBN: 0890965250
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Guatemala Birding Club
spacio dedicado a disfrutar de la observación de aves en Guatemala. Compartimos información, experiencias y el placer de ver aves...
Guatemalan Birding Resource Center
WebsiteOur mission at GBRC is to promote quality birding in Guatemala, making it as affordable, accessible, rewarding and fun as possible for both resident and visiting birdwatchers, while at the same time advancing environmental education and conservation efforts through workshops and donations...
Proeval Raxmu
WebsiteLong-term bird monitoring in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Local farmers were trained to conduct audio-visual point counts in a special course over several months. Counts are carried out monthly. The goals of this bird monitoring in different altitudinal zones are: (1) Contribute to the knowledge about the ecology of bird species and populations. (2) Documentation of the human impact on bird populations. Identification of critical areas for conservation. (3) Contribute to developing awareness towards nature and conservation among the local people...
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
InformationColectar, estudiar, preservar y exhibir muestras representativas de la biodiversidad y de otros recursos naturales de Guatemala...
Los Tarrales Reserve
WebsiteSatellite View
The spanish word tarral means amount of bamboo stands. Los Tarrales Reserve was named after the abundant bamboos, which occur in various species in this area. Los Tarrales was declared protected area by the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) in 2000...
Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve
InformationSatellite View
Protection of the Sierra is particularly important because it contains an estimated 60 percent of Guatemala`s remaining cloud forest habitat. Because of its geographic isolation, forbidding terrain, and wide range of elevation (from 15 feet to 10,050 feet above sea level); the Sierra is home to at least 885 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles--fully 70 percent of all the species from these groups that are known to exist in Guatemala and neighboring Belize...
Tikal National Park
WebsiteSatellite View
The avifauna comprises 333 species, representing 63 of the 74 families in Guatemala, and includes ocellated turkey Agriocharis ocellata, Sarcorhamphus papa, Crax rubra, Penelope purpurascens, red macaw Ara macao, jaribu stork Jaribu mycteria and many others, including crested eagle Spizaetus ornatus...
Wetlands of International Importance
WebsiteGuatemala presently has 4 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 502,707 hectares...
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2000 [December] - Daniel Kronauer & Frank E. Rheindt - Tikal
Trip ReportAround the big clearing where the hotels are, look for a huge flock of Montezuma Oropendolas at dusk/dawn. A Black-and-white Owl called and was easy to see in the hotel yard..
2000 [November] - Tony Clarke
Trip Report...Today I was up at dawn and walked along the road as far as the entrance to the small ruins to the south of the hotel and then back again for breakfast. I repeated this walk in the afternoon but this time I returned on the bus. The highlights of the day included my first Yucatan endemics, Black Catbird and Yucatan Vireo, and also Plain Chachalaca...
2005 [November] - James Lowther & Carol McKay
Trip ReportThis trip was not dedicated exclusively to birding, although we did visit some places where birds are the major draw (Cockscomb, Crooked Tree), and many of the other regional tourist highlights are excellent for wildlife also...
2006 [December] - Knut Eisermann - Tikal Bird Count
Trip ReportThe first Christmas Bird Count in Tikal was conducted on 14 December 2006, organized by Cayaya Birding, in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society Guatemala, Tikal National Park, and CONAP (National Council of Protected Areas), and supported by Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal, PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program, Ornithological Society of Guatemala, and independent birding guides...
2006 [March] - Dan Leach
Trip ReportIn November, 2005, myself and two friends, seasoned traveling companions Doug Allen and Steve Dunbar, committed to a long-awaited eleven-day birding trip to Belize. Steve and I had already made a couple of short trips to Yucatan, but Doug was our resident veteran; he’s made several visits to Mexico, the Yucatan and Belize, and it was at his urging that we added a couple of days to the itinerary, in order to visit fabled Tikal, in northeastern Guatemala’s Peten rainforest. In spite of a brief but severe illness during our stay, the three of us enjoyed a fantastic introduction to the creatures, environments, and people of this diverse area, as this trip report hopes to adequately describe...
2007 [May] - Alan Van Norman
Trip ReportIn 2005, my wife and I went to Guatemala on holiday for a week in November. During that trip, we arranged a 3 day birding trip with Cayaya Birding to look for the Horned Guan. We had a very successful (albeit very strenuous) hike up the side of Volcano Atitlan, the highlight of which was prolonged looks at two Horned Guans looking back at us...
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Adventuras Naturales
http://www.guatemalanbirds.comBirdwatching in Guatemala offers those who are getting introduced into this fascinating activity, and those who are experienced birders a very memorable Time. More than 700 species await to be spotted! Our Birdwatching programs are being operated on a private-departure basis; just you, your family and your friends together to enjoy all the birds our country has to offer...
Bird Watching Guatemala
Tour CompanyThere are more than 700 species in Guatemala, thirty five a regional endemics and 40 others only occur in Central America...
Birding Ecotours
Tour OperatorBelize is one of the most environmentally conscious countries in the Americas with over 60% land protected. This has allowed the birds and wildlife to continue to flourish. Over 600 bird species have been recorded within its borders and along its reef! The Mayan ruins of Tikal, on our optional extension, hold not only the magic of an ancient civilization, but also many species that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Birding Pal
WebsiteLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Birding Pal
WebsiteLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Cayaya Birding
Tour CompanyWe are active field researchers and conservationists who know all the best spots for birdwatching and taking in the diverse natural beauty of Guatemala...
Maya Expeditions
Tour CompanyPaul Scharf has been an avid birder for more than 36 years. He is a member of the American Birding Association (ABA) and since his retirement from the U.S. Armed Forces Paul has dedicated more time to his passion...
El Sombrero Ecolodge - Yaxhá Lagoon, Peten
Eco-LodgeThe rainforest around the lagoon will enable you to enjoy different types of vegetation and appreciate a wide variety of birds, butterflies and mammals...
Hacienda Tijax - Fronteras, Rio Dulce
HaciendaFlowers, ferns, orchids, bromeliads, butterflies and other insects are easy to see. We have over 70 species of trees and 330 documented bird species: falcons, kites, owls and hummingbirds being most common in our area...
Los Tarrales Reserve - Atitlán Volcano
Eco-LodgeBirdwatching on the Guatemalan Pacific slope and Atitlán volcano - Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Rufous Sabrewing, Long-tailed Manakin and much more. Los Tarrales can keep you busy for some days! In order to enjoy to the full the different activities in our reserve and to get to know Los Tarrales from the tropical lowland up to the top of Atitlan volcano, we invite you to stay in our eco-lodge or if you like it more adventurous there is our camping site. We also serve excellent nutricious meals prepared with ingredients from our own organic garden and of course Los Tarrales coffee.
Ni'tun Ecolodge
Eco-LodgeThe sounds of water... the songs of birds... and the choirs of nature by night give you an intimate sense of communion with yourself and the world around you...
Birding in Guatemala
BLOGBirding in Guatemala is a whole experience. More than 720 bird species in a small country is just the beginning. Ancient Maya cities declared World Heritage, live culture with 21 different languages, authentic nature marvels like Atitlan Lake, different ecosystems and a charmed people ready to help and make your visit unforgettable…
Birdwatching Guatemala
BLOGThis space is dedicated to share details of our field trips, pictures and personal notes about birding and wildlife observations. Contact us and live a unique experience in the most amazing birding hotspots in Central America...
Checklist - Birds of Guatemala
ChecklistGolden-cheeked Warbler Conservation
InformationThis Defensores de la Naturaleza project was designed after the First Symposium on the conservation of golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) in the subtropics, which designated Sierra de las Minas in Guatemala as a launching site for starting conservation projects, since this is the only protected area for the golden-cheeked warbler while it is a resident migrant...
Mayan Birding
WebsiteMesoamerica is a big destination for foreign birdwatchers. It forms the bridge between the largely temperate species of North America and the tropical species of South America. It is home to a large number of endemics, many of which are much sought after by the bird watching connoisseur, such as the Resplendent Quetzal and the Horned Guan. However, the majority of birders visiting Mesoamerica confine their birding to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and Panama, leaving Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua as relative birding backwaters. This is a terrible shame as there is some fantastic birding to be had. Throughout the 1980s three of these countries suffered from civil wars which put off many visitors, but now the countries have stabilized it is time for birders to return and find out what they have been missing...
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This site was last updated on Wednesday, 16th May 2012.
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