Bird-watching in Guatemala

With more than 750 species of birds and widely varied habitats in a tight geographic area, Guatemala is an outstanding bird watching destination. See few of the sites where we can bring you. Guatemala is a bird watcher's paradise.

Highlands and Cloud Forest

Advanced birders will be looking for regional specialties in Guatemala's highlands, such as the Azure-rumped (Cabanis') Tanager (Tangara cabanisi), Pink-headed Warbler (Ergaticus versicolor) and Horned Guam (Oreophasis derbianus), one of the world's rarest birds.

One place to find Horned Guans relatively easily is near the summit of Tolimán Volcano, especially if birders don't mind a four-hour hike up the volcano's steep slope and camping out for a night as the same on the Atitlan Volcano.

Birders of all levels of expertise will be thrilled by other highlands birds, like Emerald Toucanets (Aulacorhynchus prasinus), Mountain Trogons (Trogon mexicanus) and, of course, Guatemala's national bird, the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus m. mocinno).

Pacific Coast

The most popular birding destination along the Pacific Coast is Monterrico, a natural reserve with habitats that include shore, swamp mangroves, lakes and dry tropical forest. Interesting birds here include Boat-billed Herons (Cochlearius cochlearius) and Lesser Yellow-headed (Savanna) vultures (Cathertes b. burrovianus).

To the west, Abaj Takalik offers great birding among Maya ruins, while the private Manchon Guamuchal reserve features impressive concentrations of herons, ibises and spoonbills.

Mario Dary Reserve

Also called The Quetzal reserve, one of the several places where is locate the National Bird of Guatemala, the resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus m. mocinno). In the misty fog, the Quetzal makes their distinctive two notes call. One trail is 4 kilometers long and the short trail is only a 2 kilometers hike also while walking through the cloud forest, we can expect to see Highland Guans (Black penelopina) (Penelopina nigra), various species of hummingbirds, and jays and other species. Rare birds we will specifically search for: Blue-crowned Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia occipitalis), Spotted Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus dryas).

Caribbean

The tropical rainforest in the department of Izabal offer Guatemala's most productive birding. Two noteworthy destinations are the Cerro San Gil and Bocas del Polo chic wildlife refuges. So far, 356 species have been identified in 7 years at Cerro San Gil.

Peten

The most famous birding site in the Peten is Tikal National Park, where tropical humid forest shelters more than 300 species, including Ocellated Turkeys. The forested, lakeside ruins of Yaxha (where a Jabiru sighting is possible) and the riverside ruins of Ceibal are also popular birding sites. Birders looking for the endangered Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) head to El Peru Lake in the Maya Biosphere.

Guidebooks for Guatemala

The preferred book for field use in Guatemala is A Field Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas by Ernest Preston Edwards. Although the taxonomy is slightly dated and the book has no range maps, it is lightweight and includes color plates of all Guatemalan's birds, including migrants. The heftier Guide of the birds of Mexico and Northern Central America by Steve Howell and Sophie Webb does not have color plates of all birds but does provide range maps and is a handy book to consult at the end of the day.