GUATEMALA & HONDURAS TOUR REPORT 2024

11 - 24 / 27 February 2024

by Leonardo Garrigues

Northern Central America hosts some of the finest birds of the region and a good variety of habitats which makes Guatemala & Honduras very attractive. Also, a good number of specialties that just occur in northern Central America and southern Mexico have easier access from Guatemala, which is another good reason to consider this area as a great birding destination.

During the tour we got to see some of these major specialties. The impressive Horned Guan, the striking Ocellated Quail, the rare and local Orange-breasted Falcon, the very restricted Goldman’s Warbler, and the endemic Honduran Emerald were some of the main highlights.
Several near-endemic species or specialties that we saw during this tour included the Ocellated Turkey, White-bellied Chachalaca, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated and Green-breasted Mountaingems, Blue-tailed Hummingbird, Slender Sheartail, Wine-throated Hummingbird, White-breasted Hawk, Yucatan Poorwill, Blue-throated Motmot, Emerald Toucanet, Red-throated and Pacific Parakeets, Mayan Antthrush, Guatemalan Tyrannulet, Belted Flycatcher, Yucatan Flycatcher, Black-throated and Bushy-crested Jay, Black-capped Swallow, Rufous-browed and White-bellied Wrens, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Rufous-collared Thrush, Pine Siskin (the local subspecies perplexus), Green-backed Sparrow, Prevost’s Ground Sparrow, Bar-winged Oriole, Pink-headed Warbler, Grey-throated Chat, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager and Azure-rumped Tanager, just to mention some examples.
Besides all these specialties mentioned, the North American winter migrants kept us very entertained specially with the warblers where we managed to record 26 species of North American Warblers, which included some of the finest ones like Golden-cheeked Warbler in the Honduras post-extension, or the Swainson’s Warbler at Tikal area. Other Warblers of interest included Worm-eating, Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Nashville, Hooded, Magnolia, Myrtle, Audubon’s, Townsend’s and Hermit Warblers, also Northern Parula, Ovenbird, both Waterthrushes (Louisiana & Northern), Painted Redstart and Common Yellowthroat. Not bad at all, and if we add the 8 resident warblers that we saw like Crescent-chested, Goldman’s, Grace’s, Chestnut-capped, Golden-browed and Pink-headed Warblers, this tour is a Warbler’s heaven.
Several other interesting NA migrants that we saw in the tour, including the Honduras post-extension, included the Yellow-breasted Chat (that now has its own family: Icteriidae), Ruddy Duck, Sora, Wilson’s Snipe, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Least and Hammond’s Flycatchers, Western Kingbird, Philadelphia, Warbling, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos, Tree Swallow, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Grey Catbird, Hermit Thrush, Grasshopper, Savannah and Lincoln’s Sparrows, and the Scott’s Oriole (a very special species for Central America). A very good year for migrants.
We did well with the nocturnal birding where we saw on different occasions the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, Whiskered Screech Owl, and Mottled and Black-and-white Owls were some of the owls that we saw in nocturnal sessions. Other species we managed to see in daylight, such as the Guatemalan Pygmy Owl, Fulvous Owl (with terrific looks at Atitlan) and a pair of Great Horned Owls who flew above us at Finca El Pilar at dusk. Yucatan Poorwill, Mexican Whip-poor-will and Northern Potoo were other nocturnal birds that we managed to see during the tour.
Many other goodies were observed including Plain Chachalaca, Highland Guan, Great Curassow, Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge, Singing Quail, Ocellated Turkey, Chestnut-collared, White-throated and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swifts, Purple-crowned Fairy, Rivoli’s, Garnet-throated, Broad-tailed, Emerald-chinned, Azure-crowned, Beryline, and Cinnamon Hummingbirds, Amethyst-throated Mountaingem, Canivet’s and White-bellied Emeralds, Violet Sabrewing, Pheasant Cuckoo, Lesser Ground Cuckoo, Lesser Roadrunner, Grey-headed Dove, Russet-naped Wood Rail, King Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Elegant, Mountain and Collared [puella] Trogons, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Tody and Lesson’s Motmots, Keel-billed Toucan, Velasquez’s and Chestnut-colored Woodpeckers, Collared Forest Falcon, Mealy Amazon, Olive-throated Parakeet, Tawny-winged, Strong-billed and Ivory-billed Woodcreepers, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner (for some), Stub-tailed Spadebill, Greater Pewee, Pine, Buff-breasted, and Vermilion Flycatcher, Couch’s Kingbird, Rufous Mourner, Red-capped Manakin, Northern Schiffornis, Grey-collared Becard, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Green Jay, Grey Silky-flycatcher, American Bushtit, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spot-breasted Wren, Brown-backed and Slate-colored Solitaire, Black Thrush, Olive Warbler, Hooded Grosbeak, Elegant Euphonia, Yellow-eyed Junco, Rusty Sparrow, White-napped Brushfinch, Yellow-backed, Altamira, Spot-breasted, Streak-backed, Black-vented and Black-cowled Orioles (9 different Oriole species on both countries), Black-headed Saltator, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer and Yellow-winged Tanager.
The combination of the Guatemala and post-extension days in Honduras produced 389 bird species recorded, and we managed to record 11 species of mammals which included some interesting ones like Northern Tamandua, Central American Black Howler, Central American Spider Monkey, Mexican Hairy Porcupine and Red-bellied Squirrel, Yucatan and Deppe’s Squirrels.

Our tour started in Guatemala City with an early flight to the Flores city, Petén. Once we arrived at Flores after a quick pre-breakfast at the airport, we went to the Santa Ana area. An area with different vegetation than Tikal with drier scrubby vegetation and savanna type areas. Our first birding session of the tour produced mostly common species, but with certain species that would be our only opportunity to see on the tour. The best birds of the morning were the resident subspecies of Botteri’s Sparrow [petenica] which we saw several individuals in the area, also a Grasshopper Sparrow was another surprise. Other species that we saw were the Green-breasted Mango, several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Groove-billed Ani, Red-billed Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Velasquez’s Woodpecker, White-fronted Amazon, Greenish and Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Vermilion Flycatcher, Tropical and Couch’s Kingbirds, Mangrove Vireo, Brown Jay, Grey-breasted Martin, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Grey Catbird, Tropical Mockingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Scrub Euphonia, Grey-crowned Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Cinnamon-bellied Saltator, Yellow-faced Grassquit and Morelet’s Seedeater.
Later, during our second breakfast with a view to the Peten Itza Lake we add other species in the little village. The best was the Yellow-winged Tanager coming to fruit feeders of the restaurant, accompanied by Baltimore Orioles, and Red-legged Honeycreepers. Some other birds around the village included Pied Billed Grebe, Northern Jacana, Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little-blue Heron and Snail Kite, Olive-throated Parakeets and Black-headed Saltators.
We continued our short drive to Tikal traversing a long stretch of very mature forest on both sides of the road. Once at our accommodations in Tikal, we prepared for our afternoon session in the Tikal Mayan Temples area. In this area we had a nice combination of birding in very mature tropical humid forest with the archeologic Mayan wonders. The best bird of the afternoon was the Orange-breasted Falcon in one of the temples from very close distance, and not a classic scope view. Other birds seen during this afternoon session included Vaux’s and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, White-bellied Emerald, Russet-naped Wood Rail, Lesson’s Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Keel-billed Toucan, Smoky-brown and Pale-billed Woodpeckers, Red-lored Amazon, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Spot-breasted Wren, Trilling Gnatwren, Wood and Swainson’s Thrushes, Montezuma Oropendola, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky, Magnolia and Black-throated Green Warblers and Blue-grey Tanagers.
We did our first nocturnal session where we got to see the Yucatan Poorwill. We were close to seeing the Middle American Screech Owl, but the dense foliage didn’t allow us to locate it. Scanning with the thermal camera for the Screech Owl, a male Canivet’s Emerald was found, too.

Here in Tikal, we stayed for four nights, enough time to work the area well, as there is a combination of different habitats with different specialties. Also, the area hosts the highest diversity of bird species of the localities that we visited during the tour.
Another main target in the area was the Ocellated Turkey, which wasn’t difficult to locate in the area. We tried to look for most of the targets, but not all the Yucatan specialties are reliable in the area, and it’s so much to see that even our last morning in the area we added species to our list. During our next visits to the Tikal Mayan Temple the highlights were to see the Pheasant Cuckoo, excellent and prolonged views of the Mayan Antthrush in the open, good views of the Black-throated Shrike Tanager on several occasions, the always-wanted Tropical Royal Flycatcher, and Stub-tailed Spadebill, which is locally common in the area. Another bird of interest was the local subspecies of Northern Rough-winged Swallow [stuarti], which some authorities suggested as Ridgway’s Rough-winged Swallow, which nests in the Tikal Temple. Other species seen at Tikal Temple trails and ruins were the King Vulture, Northern Potoo, Purple-crowned Fairy, Double-toothed Kite, Slaty-tailed, Black-headed, Gartered and Collared Trogons, Emerald Toucanet, Collared Aracari, Chestnut-collared Woodpecker, Red-lored and Mealy Amazon, Tawny-winged, Northern Barred, Strong-billed and Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Dot-winged Antwren, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Northern Bentbill, Least Flycatcher, Rufous Mourner, Northern Schiffornis, White-bellied Wren, Olive-backed Euphonia, Worm-eating and Golden-winged Warbler, Red-throated and Red-crowned Ant-Tanagers and Grey-headed Tanager.

The old airstrip road was another area that we visited on several days and was quite productive and with good activity most of the time. Here we got specialties like the Yucatan Flycatcher and the Grey-throated Chat with great views of both of them. The area is a very old second growth, with some lagoons and swampy areas around, also is a bit drier than the mature forest of Tikal ruins. One of the best birds that we recorded in this area was the Swainson’s Warbler but sadly not everyone of the group got to see it. Other species included Grey-headed Dove, Russet-napped Wood-Rail, Least Grebe, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Boat-billed Heron, White-crowned Parrot, Northern Schiffornis, Grey-collared Becard, Yellow-throated, Mangrove and White-eyed Vireos, White-bellied Wren, Grey Catbird, Ovenbird, and Worm-eating, Blue-winged, Hooded, Magnolia and Chestnut-sided Warblers.
Around the hotel areas we saw other species like Plain Chachalaca, Great Curassow, White-crowned Parrot, Black-crowned Tityra, Black-cowled Oriole and the Green-backed Sparrow.
One of the afternoons we visited again the area of Santa Ana, but we didn’t add much. We were focused to look for Black Catbird and Yucatan Bobwhite (which we didn’t see), and we didn’t see many different birds than our previous visit in the morning, other than Green-backed Sparrow and Blue Grosbeak.
Regarding the mammals in Tikal area, we saw the Northern Tamandua, White-nosed Coati, Central American Black Howler, Central American Spider Monkey, Central American Agouti, and Deppe’s Squirrel.
After our visit to Tikal, we returned by plane to Guatemala City, where we continued to the colonial city of Antigua, which would be our base for the next day.

The following morning, we met our local guide Pablo, who joined us the rest of Guatemala tour. We left early in the morning with box breakfast to Finca El Pilar, a private reserve with an interesting selection of highland birds with a transition pine forest to deciduous broadleaf forest in the lower elevations. We started in the higher areas and almost all the birds were new for the tour. Some of the best birds that we saw included the Singing Quail, Blue-throated Motmot, Guatemalan Tyrannulet, Blue-and-white Mockingbird and Black-vented Oriole. Our visit to Finca El Pilar was very entertaining and we watched some volcanic eruptions of the Volcan de Fuego in the distance. Some other species that we saw included the White-throated Swift, Red-tailed Hawk, Collared Trogon, Emerald Toucanet, Acorn and Hairy Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker [mexicanoides], Northern Tufted, Hammond’s and Buff-breasted Flycatchers, Rose-throated Becard, Hutton’s Vireo, Bushy-crested and Steller’s Jays, Grey Silky-flycatcher, American Bushtit, Band-backed Wren, Brown-backed Solitaire, Rufous-collared Thrush, Black-headed Siskin, Crescent-chested, Nashville and Townsend’s Warblers and Western Tanager. We also saw the Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow in some coffee field areas near Antigua, one of the future targets of the trip in the bag.
We did two sessions at the hummingbird feeders of Finca El Pilar where we saw the near-endemic Rufous Sabrewing, Rivoli’s, White-eared, Azure-crowned and Berylline Hummingbirds. The Green-throated Mountaingem, which is a main specialty, gave us a bit of complications, and was until our last session in the late afternoon that we managed to see it. After our late afternoon hummingbird feeder session, we did an owling session where we managed to see the Great Horned Owl who flew over our group with some daylight. We heard a couple of Fulvous Owls who didn’t cooperate, as well we heard Mottled Owl in the distance. Back in Antigua we enjoyed a nice dinner in our colonial style hotel.

The next day we left Antigua early to do our morning session at Caleras de Chichavac, a highland pine woodland where we would have our first opportunities to see the highly desired Pink-headed Warbler, which we managed to see in two different opportunities. Some other birds of interest were the Blue-headed Vireo, Brown Creeper, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-backed Oriole, Hermit Warbler and Slate-throated Whitestart. After a nice typical Guatemalan breakfast, we continued our drive to Sibinal. We got there in time to do some birding in the afternoon at Union Reforma where we got the company of Vinicio, the local expert in the area. We hiked a trail with chances for the Horned Guan, but despite the abundance of fruits in the area we didn’t notice the presence of the Guan. The activity was quiet, but some birds appeared while we were waiting for Horned Guans, such as the Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, and Townsend’s and Pink-headed Warblers. We did an owling session where we got brief views of Unspotted Saw-whet Owl. Later, we got very good views of the Whiskered Screech Owl, and our first Mexican Whip-poor will, to finish our day.

The following day we did a daytrip to the slopes of Volcan Tacaná, with the main focus on seeing the Horned Guan. Once in the area, our patience paid off when we got to see the Horned Guan moving back and forth along a ravine, with prolonged views with the scope, a cracking bird! Other highlights of the morning included excellent views of Guatemalan Pygmy Owl, views of the Wine-throated Hummingbird female for the whole group, and some lucky ones saw a nice male. The birds who complemented our morning were the Mexican Violetear (for some), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Greater Pewee, Hutton’s Vireo, Black-capped Swallows (the best views of the tour), Rufous-browed Wren, Black-headed Siskin and Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer. During the afternoon we went again to Union Reforma where chances for Highland Guan and Black-capped Siskin could be higher, but we didn’t see either of them. We saw other species like Amethyst-throated Mountaingem, Band-tailed Pigeon, American Bushtit, Black Thrush and Chestnut-capped Brushfinch. At dusk, we tried again for Mexican Whip-poor-will and we improved our views of the previous night.

The next day was a traveling day, but we did a morning birding session before continuing to Huehuetenango. The best birds of the morning were the Black-throated Jay and the Golden-browed Warbler who was very cooperative. The Ruddy Foliage-gleaner was another good bird in the area, but only a few persons managed to get brief views of this professional skulker. Other species included Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pine Flycatcher, Grey Silky-flycatcher, Brown Creeper, Yellow-eyed Junco [alticola], Yellow-backed Oriole, and Crescent-chested and Pink-headed Warblers. Not much birding on route to Huehuetenango, just a group of swifts with White-collared and Chestnut-collared Swifts.
After a nice lunch stop at Huehuetenango, we continued to Chiabal, a town on a mountain plateau, where we did our afternoon session. Here we met our talented local guide Esteban, who took us to a potential area to try for Ocellated Quail, one of the difficult targets of the region. We heard one quail singing so we approached slowly to where it was calling. Initially we didn’t see it but scanning the area Esteban spotted one sitting on a rock. It gave spectacular views to our group, definitely one of the best highlights of the tour (voted the bird of the tour, actually)! Other birds that we saw during our afternoon session were the Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee and Eastern Meadowlark. After succeeding with our main mission, we moved to a different area to try for Unspotted Saw-whet Owl. Esteban knew very well the territories in the area and didn’t take long to find the owl, who did cooperate well and everyone in the group got to see it. It was time to go to our accommodations after a long but very successful day.

We had full day in the Sierra de Los Chuchumatanes, visiting areas with different habitats. First, we were focused on the restricted Goldman’s Warbler, in the area of Chiabal, where we got good views of it, as well other interesting species as Northern Harrier, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Pine and Buff-breasted Flycatchers, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin [perplexus], Black-vented Orioles and Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer. An interesting species during the first part of the morning was the Scott’s Oriole, which is a migratory species that didn’t reach as far south to Guatemala. Happens that about 5 years ago it was noticed its presence in the area of Chiabal, and since them sems that these Orioles have been a regular visitor in the area, which is the only locality known for these species in Central America. Later on, we visited some rocky plains where we saw the Rock Wren and Savannah Sparrow which has a resident population in the region. The rest of the morning we focused on the Black-capped Siskin but the one we thought was one of them it was a grey morph of the local subspecies of Pine Siskin [perplexus]. The afternoon we visited a temperate cloud forest at Puerta del Cielo which has a transition from pine woodland in the higher areas, with broad leaves forest at lower elevations. Some of the highlights where to see the Highland Guan, Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Olive Warbler (which belongs to the monotypic family Peucedramidae). Some species who complemented the afternoon session were the Steller’s Jay, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Elegant Euphonia, Common Chlorospingus, Lincoln’s Sparrow, White-naped Brushfinch, Audubon’s and Pink-headed Warblers and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We did an owling session hopping for Flammulated Owl, but we just heard the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl.

Our last morning in the area of Huehuetenango we did a pre-breakfast birding in the grounds of our hotel, we didn’t see any new birds but we improve our views of the Olive Warbler, and saw other species like Rivoli’s Hummingbird, Yellow-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, Audubon’s and Hermit Warblers and Western Tanager. On the way out, we did some brief stops in some lagoons and reed beds marshes where we add the Sora, Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe and Common Yellowthroat. On our way to Atitlan, we stopped at Chuiraxamoló Nature Park, where we did some general birding in their trails. Not much new birds besides a group of Tree Swallows and Short-tailed Hawk, and better views of the Rufous-browed Wren for the ones who wanted better views of it. We continued our scenic drive to the Atitlan lake area. We spent the last section of the afternoon birding in coffee fields areas near Paquisis, where we saw several groups of Bushy-crested Jays, Band-backed Wren, Cabanis’s Wren and White-winged Tanager. We were aiming to find a Belted Flycatcher but we didn’t succeed with it. After that we continued to the city of Santiago de Atitlan, where our driver had to make special manoeuvres driving to narrow roads in a not very well-organized colonial city, to finally reach our hotel.

The following day we left Santiago city before dawn, in order to don’t face another vial chaos driving true the city, also to be early in the areas of Rey Tepepul. Our first target of the morning was the Azure-rumped Tanager, which is a very restricted endemic in the Pacific foothills of Guatemala and Chiapas (Mexico). Pablo took us to a site with a mixture of coffee fields in the hills with patches of montane forest. We waited for a while in the area without signs of the Tanager, but we managed to see good species like the Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge and a pair of Hooded Grosbeaks. Some of us spotted the Tanager in the distance, but initially it didn’t cooperate to us. Just when we were going to leave the area our local guide Javier came to tell us that he spotted the Tanager. We ran out of the bus and got to see 3 individuals of this localized near-endemic.
The rest of the morning we spent in forest trails where Javier took us to a site to look the Fulvous Owl, who gave us amazing views to our group. Other species that we saw in the area were another sight of Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge, Rufous Sabrewing, Emerald-chinned and Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Scaled Pigeon, Blue-throated Motmot, Pacific Parakeets, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Mountain Elaenia, Yellowish Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Cabanis’s Wren, Brown-backed Solitaire, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch and Flame-colored Tanager. On the way to Santiago in the dry forest areas we saw again the Prevost’s Ground Sparrow, but also some new species for the tour like the Rusty Sparrow, Warbling Vireo, Painted Bunting and Yellow-breasted Chat (another species with monotypic family, Icteriidae).
A nice lunch at the Atitlan Lake produced some interesting birds like the Blue-tailed Hummingbird, or Altamira Orioles visiting garden flowers. After lunch we visited a local Reserve, where could be chances to see the Slender Sheartail, also in the margins of Atitlan Lake. After waiting like more than 30 minutes some other birders spotted a female who visited some flowers and then took off. So, we waited in the area hoping that another Sheartail would come back in the area. There were other moments that the female came to the flowers but it was a bit shy and not everyone managed to see it. Some other birds seen in the afternoon were the Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Ruby-throated and Azure-crowned Hummingbirds, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Least Grebe, Laughing Gull, Velasquez’s Woodpecker, Lesser Goldfinch, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Orchard Oriole and Red-legged Honeycreeper. After our try for Slender Sheartail we continued to Los Tarrales Lodge, where we stayed for two nights.

Next day we divided the group during the morning, were part of the group stayed in Tarrales Lodge with Pablo, while the others went with Javier and me to look for Belted Flycatcher and other species. The hike wasn’t so bad, it took to us about 1 hour to get to the Belted Flycatcher area, but it was steep at some sections. Once in the area we managed nice views of a pair of Belted Flycatchers. The Lesser Roadrunner did show really well, and other species like Greater Pewee, Least and Hammond’s Flycatchers, Warbling Vireo, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Prevost’s Ground Sparrow and Indigo Bunting. We also went to a different locality to try for Bar-winged Oriole where some of the group got to see it.
The group who stayed in the morning at Tarrales got some different species that weren’t seen during the afternoon session with the rest of the group, such as the Violet Sabrewing, Green Heron, Common Black Hawk, Green Kingfisher, Lesson’s Motmot, Barred Antshrike, Trilling Gnatwren, Yellow-throated Euphonia and Altamira Oriole.
During the afternoon with the whole group together, we tried to catch up with the White-bellied Chachalaca and the Pacific Parakeets, two of the main specialties in Tarrales which we saw in the grounds of the hotel. Other species seen during the afternoon included Long-billed Starthroat, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Red-billed Pigeon, Lineated Woodpecker, White-fronted and Yellow-naped Amazons, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Rose-throated Becard, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Rufous-backed and Spot-breasted Wren, White-breasted Wood Wren, Yellow-breasted Chat, Chestnut-capped Warbler and Yellow-winged Tanager. We did an owling session where we saw the Black-and-white Owl and a Mexican Hairy Porcupine. After a nice pizza dinner session, we worked on our final list of our main tour.

Next day we said by to Pablo, our great local guide in the main section of the tour and continued to the Guatemala airport where the main tour ended, and most of the group joined the Honduras Extension. Many thanks to Pablo and Amilkar (our driver) for all their hard work during the tour, as well to our local guides Miguel, Vinicio, Esteban and Javier.

HONDURAS EXTENSION

Our group arrived early in the afternoon to Tegucigalpa Honduras, where Olbin and our driver Omar were waiting for us, to take us to the mountains of La Tigra National Park. We managed to cross Tegucigalpa in relatively good time which allowed to us to do some birding during our first afternoon. During this short but productive birding session we managed to find one of our main targets, the Green-breasted Mountaingem where we saw at least 4 individuals feeding on flowers on the edge of the road. Another bird of interest was the Slate-colored Solitaire that we saw it on the last section of the afternoon singing his melodious song. Other species seen included Rivoli’s and White-eared Hummingbirds, Hairy Woodpecker, Mountain Elaenia, Bushy-crested Jay, Common Chlorospingus, Crescent-chested Warbler and Slate-throated Whitestart. After our afternoon session we came back to our hotel for dinner and work on our list.

Our target of the morning was the Red-throated Parakeet, where we visited areas outside La Tigra NP where the Parakeets were hanging around on previous days. While we waited for the Parakeets, we saw more Green-breasted Mountaingems, also Rusty Sparrow and White-napped Brushfinch. After a while Olbin went to check other spot, and minutes later he came back letting us know the Parrakeets were feeding on some flowering trees by the road. After the whole group got good views of the Parakeets, we went to visit La Tigra National Park trails. La Tigra National Park was the first national park of Honduras established in 1980, where protects a very important cloud forest area that provides good amount of the water of the Honduras capital, Tegucigalpa.

We spent the rest of the morning at the trails of La Tigra NP, where the best bird was the Wine-throated Hummingbird, who gave us amazing views to our group. But the rarest bird was to see the White-breasted Hawk at fairly close distance. Another big bonus of our morning was to see a full male Golden-cheeked Warbler, one of the best north American Warblers and highly appreciated for all of us. Our morning was complemented by Amethyst-throated Mountaingem, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Black Hawk-Eagle (distant views but identify by photos), Mountain and Collared Trogons, Emerald Toucanet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Yellowish Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Jay, Slate-colored Solitaire, Wood Thrush, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush and Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer.
The afternoon session we visited El Picacho Park, an area with a transitional pine woodland with dry forest, where we might see different species. Some of the best birds were the Turquoise Browed Motmot, Streak-backed Oriole, Grace’s Warbler and Painted Whitestart. Other species seen during our afternoon session were the Acorn and Velasquez’s Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Bushy-crested Jay, Eastern Bluebird and Black-headed Saltator. Back to our hotel to enjoy some Salvadidas (the local Honduran beer) and a nice dinner.

As we succeeded with the targets of the area, we continued to different localities, but first we had to deal with the traffic of Tegucigalpa, where we had a closer insight of the country. Once we crossed Tegucigalpa, our first birding locality was the area of Comayagua, where we looked for some dry forest species. It was an entertaining session where we managed to see Cinnamon Hummingbird, Inca and Common Ground Doves, Western Kingbird, Nutting’s Flycatcher, Banded Wren, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Altamira and Spot-breasted Orioles, and Grasshopper Sparrow.
After our session in Comayagua, we continued to Santa Cruz de Yojoa, an intermontane valley with dry forest in the Caribbean side of the country. Here we were going to search for Honduras Emerald, the only country endemic. Luckily on this occasion it wasn’t difficult to find the bird, and we all got good views of it. Our early success with the Emerald allowed to do have extra time birding in Luna del Puente Reserve, which is located in a different valley which is more humid and host different bird species.
At Luna del Puente Reserve we visited a different variety of habitats. The forest trails were a combination of lowland wet forest with pines, where the Tody Motmot was fairly common at those trails. Other species seen in the forest areas of the reserve were the Lesson’s Motmot, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Green Jay and Chestnut-headed Oropendola. In the open areas we complemented with different species like Plain Chachalaca, Pale-vented Pigeon, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Willow and White-throated Flycatchers, Rufous-backed Wren, Grey Catbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orchard Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, Northern Parula, Indigo and Painted Bunting, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Morelet’s Seedeater and Thick-billed Seed Finch. At dusk we saw a pair of Collared Forest Falcons, just before our owling session that didn’t produce anything.

Our last day of the tour we visited a transitional dry-humid forest area known as El Cajón, where our main target was the Elegant Trogon [elegans], who was quite active during the morning. It was good activity of birds where we managed to find Cinnamon Hummingbird, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Lesson’s and Turquoise-browed Motmots, Velasquez’s and Lineated Woodpecker, Dusky Antbird, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Rose-throated Becard, Spot-breasted and Cabanis’s Wrens, Scrub and Yellow-throated Euphonias, Yellow-billed Cacique, Montezuma Oropendola, Hooded, Magnolia and Black-throated Green Warblers, Red-throated Ant Tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper and Black-headed Saltator.
We continued our journey to San Pedro Sula, where we did our last birding stop before going to the airport. This last birding stops of the tour ended up quite productive, with excellent views of Lesser Ground Cuckoo, and few other birds like Green-breasted Mango, Roadside Hawk, Willow and Brown-crested Flycatchers, White-eyed Vireo, Tree Swallow, Rufous-backed Wren, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orchard Oriole, Bronzed Cowbird, Grey-crowned and Common Yellowthroats, Blue-black Grassquit and Morelet’s Seedeater.

It was time to go to the airport and say bye to Ólbin and Omar, who did a great job. Many thanks to all our group members too!

BIRDS OF THE MAIN TOUR

1^st Ocellated Quail

2^nd Horned Guan

3^rd Fulvous Owl

4^th Unspotted Saw-whet Owl

5^th Pink-headed Warbler

6^th Orange-breasted Falcon

7^th Wine-throated Hummingbird

8^th Azure-rumped Tanager

9^th Lesser Roadrunner

10^th Ocellated Turkey

BIRDS OF THE HONDURAS EXTENSION

1^st Golden-cheeked Warbler

2^nd Wine-throated Hummingbird

3^rd White-breasted Hawk

4^th Honduran Emerald

5^th Tody Motmot

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows Gill, F., Donsker, D., & Rasmussen, P.(Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v14.1).

Where the subspecies seen is/are known, these are often given in parentheses at the end of the species comment.

BIRDS

Great Tinamou Tinamus major (H) Heard only at Tikal area.

Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui(H) Heard only at Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Thicket Tinamou ◊ Crypturellus cinnamomeus(H) Heard only at Tikal and Los Tarrales.

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinisA few individuals at Atitlan Lake.

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensisOne individual seen from the edge of Atitlan Lake.

Plain Chachalaca ◊ Ortalis vetulaCommon species at Tikal area.

White-bellied Chachalaca ◊ Ortalis leucogastraGood views at Los Tarrales.

Highland Guan ◊ Penelopina nigraOne bird seen at Todos Los Santos NP and heard only at Rey Tetepul area.

Horned Guan ◊ Oreophasis derbianusWhat a bird! We enjoyed two individuals at Tacana Volcano area.

Great Curassow Crax rubraSeen by some walking along the areas of the Hotels at Tikal.

Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge ◊ Dendrortyx leucophrys Seen at Rey Tetepul, heard only at Todos Los Santos NP, as well at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Singing Quail ◊ Dactylortyx thoracicus Seen by the whole group at Finca El Pilar.

Ocellated Quail ◊ Cyrtonyx ocellatus Fantastic views at Chiabal, Huehuetenango.

Ocellated Turkey ◊ Meleagris ocellata Easily seen in the area of Tikal.

Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Seen at Los Tarrales, one individual flew above us at dusk.

Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis Seen at Tikal and Los Tarrales.

Yucatan Poorwill ◊ Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus Seen at Tikal.

Mexican Whip-poor-will ◊ Antrostomus arizonae Good views at Sibinal.

Northern Potoo ◊ Nyctibius jamaicensis Excellent views in its day roost perch at Tikal.

Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutile Seen with a group of White-collared Swifts, in route from Sibinal to Huehuetenango.

White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris

Vaux’s Swift Chaetura vauxi Seen at different localities as Tikal, Finca El Pilar and Mirador Tetepul.

White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis Seen at Finca El Pilar.

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis Seen at Tikal.

Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis (H) Heard only at Tikal.

Long-billed Hermit Phaethornis longirostris (H) Heard only and fly by views at Tikal.

Mexican Violetear ◊ Colibri thalassinus Seen at Volcan Tacaná, not everyone got to see it.

Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti Excellent views at Tikal.

Green-breasted Mango ◊ Anthracothorax prevostii Seen at Santa Ana, Peten. Also seen at San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Rivoli’s Hummingbird ◊ Eugenes fulgens Seen at different localities in the highland of Guatemala, also at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris Seen at Los Tarrales.

Amethyst-throated Mountaingem ◊ Lampornis amethystinus Seen at Union Reforma in Guatemala, another sight at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Green-throated Mountaingem ◊ Lampornis viridipallens Seen at Finca El Pilar, another sight at Chichavac.

Green-breasted Mountaingem ◊ (H) Lampornis sybillae Good views at La Tigra NP, Honduras.

Garnet-throated Hummingbird ◊ Lamprolaima rhami Seen at Todos Los Santos NP.

Slender Sheartail ◊ Doricha enicura One female was seen by some, at Atitlan Lake area.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris Seen at different localities like Santa Ana, Finca El Pilar and Atitlan area.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus Good views in the highlands around Chiabal.

Wine-throated Hummingbird ◊ Selasphorus ellioti Seen at Tacaná Volcano area, excellent views at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Canivet’s Emerald ◊ Cynanthus canivetii Seen at Tikal area.

White-eared Hummingbird ◊ Basilinna leucotis Common in the highlands (Guatemala & Honduras).

Rufous Sabrewing ◊ Pampa rufa Seen at Finca El Pilar and Chumil trails.

Emerald-chinned Hummingbird ◊ Abeillia abeillei Seen in lek territories at Chumil trails.

Violet Sabrewing ◊ Campylopterus hemileucurus Seen by some at Los Tarrales.

Azure-crowned Hummingbird ◊ Saucerottia cyanocephala Seen at Finca El Pilar and Atitlan area.

Berylline Hummingbird ◊ Saucerottia beryllina Seen at Finca El Pilar and Atitlan area.

Blue-tailed Hummingbird ◊ Saucerottia cyanura Seen at Atitlan area

Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila Seen at Los Tarrales, also at the dry forest areas in Honduras.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird ◊ Amazilia yucatanensis Seen at Santa Ana, Peten.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Honduran Emerald ◊ (H) Amazilia luciae Good views of this endemic species at Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Honduras.

White-bellied Emerald ◊ Chlorestes candida Common species at Tikal area.

Blue-throated Sapphire ◊ (B-t Goldentail) Chlorestes eliciae (H) Heard only at Tikal.

Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris It was common at Santa Ana area, also in different localities in Honduras.

Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia (H) Heard only near Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Pheasant Cuckoo Dromococcyx phasianellus Good views at Tikal.

Lesser Ground Cuckoo (H) Morococcyx erythropygus Excellent views just before to end up the post-tour extension, at San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Lesser Roadrunner ◊ Geococcyx velox Excellent views at Atitlan.

Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana

Rock Dove Columba livia Seen in urban areas of both countries. Introduced species.

Scaled Pigeon Patagioenas speciosa Seen at Santa Ana Peten, also at Rey Tepepul.

Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata A regular bird in the highlands of both countries.

Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris Seen at Santa Ana Peten, and Los Tarrales.

Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto It was common at Santa Ana Peten, also seen at Los Tarrales.

Inca Dove Columbina inca First seen at Antigua, also at Tarrales and dry areas in Honduras.

Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina Seen at Comayagua, Honduras.

Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti Common at Santa Ana, Peten. Also seen at different localities in Honduras.

White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi A widespread species in both countries.

Grey-headed Dove Leptotila plumbeiceps Good views of a pair along the old airstrip road, Tikal.

White-faced Quail-Dove ◊ Zentrygon albifacies (H) Heard only at Rey Tepepul.

White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica

Russet-naped Wood Rail ◊ Aramides albiventris Seen on different opportunities at Tikal.

Sora Porzana carolina One individual seen on the edge of some lagoons near Huehuetenango.

Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata Seen near Huehuetenango and Atitlan Lake.

American Coot Fulica americana Around 30 individuals at Atitlan Lake.

Ruddy Crake ◊ Laterallus ruber (H) Heard only near Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Limpkin Aramus guarauna (H) Heard only inside the tall grass, in the lagoon near the entrance to Tikal Temple.

Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus Seen at Tikal, Atitlan Lake and Los Tarrales.

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Seen at Petén Itzá Lake.

Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus Seen on the edge of the road in one of the drives from Santa Ana to Tikal.

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Seen in a small lagoon in the highlands of Huehuetenango.

Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa Seen on the edges of Lake Petén Itzá.

Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata One individual in the highlands of Huehuetenango.

Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla Seen at Petén Itzá Lake, also from the airport of Flores and at Atitlan Lake.

Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus Seen at Petén Itzá Lake.

Wood Stork Mycteria americana Seen on the drives from Flores to Tikal.

Bare-throated Tiger Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum One bird seen at Tikal.

Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius A small breeding colony in a lagoon at Tikal.

Green Heron Butorides virescens One individual seen at Tikal another at Los Tarrales.

Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Seen at Petén Itzá Lake.

Great Egret (American G E) Ardea [alba] egretta

Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Seen at Petén Itzá Lake.

Snowy Egret Egretta thula One individual at Atitlan Lake.

King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa Seen on two different days at Tikal.

Black Vulture Coragyps atratus

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus Nice views with excellent light near Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus Seen at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Double-toothed Kite Harpagus bidentatus Three individuals soaring above us at Tikal.

Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus One individual at Tacana Volcano area.

White-breasted Hawk ◊ Accipiter chionogaster Good views of two individuals at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius One individual in the plateau highlands of Chiabal.

Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis Seen at Petén Itzá Lake.

Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus Seen by part of the group at Los Tarrales.

Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris

Grey Hawk Buteo plagiatus (H) Heard only during our afternoon at Los Tarrales.

Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus First seen at Mirador Chuiraxamolo, also at Rey Tepepul. Another sight in Honduras at Luna del Puente Reserve.

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Seen on different occasions in both countries (mainly in the highlands).

Unspotted Saw-whet Owl ◊ Aegolius ridgwayi We recorded at 3 different localities during the main tour, with the best views at Todos Los Santos Cuchumatán area.

Guatemalan Pygmy Owl ◊ Glaucidium cobanense Great views at Tacaná Volcano area, we heard it in another three different localities in Guatemala and La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Glaucidium brasilianum Finally we saw one on the very last day in Honduras.

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Two individuals flew above us at Finca Pilar at dusk.

Whiskered Screech Owl ◊ Megascops trichopsis Very good views at Union Reforma.

Middle American Screech Owl ◊ Megascops guatemalae (H) Heard only at Tikal. Tricky owl to find in the very dense tangle vegetation.

Fulvous Owl ◊ Strix fulvescens Heard at Finca El Pilar, but we got excellent views in daytime at Atitlan area.

Mottled Owl Strix virgata Good views at Tikal.

Black-and-white Owl Strix nigrolineata One individual seen at Los Tarrales.

Slaty-tailed Trogon Trogon massena One individual seen at Tikal.

Black-headed Trogon ◊ Trogon melanocephalus Seen at Tikal.

Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus Seen on different opportunities at Tikal.

Elegant Trogon ◊ (H) Trogon elegans Seen at El Cajón, Honduras.

Mountain Trogon ◊ Trogon mexicanus Seen at La Tigra NP (Honduras), heard only in Guatemala.

Collared Trogon Trogon collaris A sub species of interest (T. collaris puella), which is a potential split. We saw it at Tikal and Finca El Pilar, and La Tigra NP (Honduras).

American Pygmy Kingfisher Chloroceryle aenea Good views at Tikal.

Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana Just seen by the members who stayed with Pablo the morning at Los Tarrales.

Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata Seen at El Cajón, Honduras.

Tody Motmot ◊ Hylomanes momotula Seemed to be quite easy to find at Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Blue-throated Motmot ◊ Aspatha gularis Good views at Finca El Pilar and Tepepul area in Atitlan.

Lesson’s Motmot ◊ Momotus lessonii Seen at Tikal.

Turquoise-browed Motmot ◊ Eumomota superciliosa Excellent views during the Honduras post-extension at Picacho Park and El Cajón.

Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda Seen at Tikal.

Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus Good views in Tikal and Finca El Pilar. Also seen at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus Seen at Tikal.

Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus Seen at Tikal, heard only at El Cajón (Honduras).

Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Seen at Finca El Pilar and Chichavac, also at Picacho Park (Honduras).

Velasquez’s Woodpecker ◊ Melanerpes santacruzi Common species on both countries.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius Seen at Finca El Pilar and Union Reforma. Good views at Picacho Reserve (Honduras).

Smoky-brown Woodpecker Leuconotopicus fumigatus Several sights at Tikal.

Hairy Woodpecker Leuconotopicus villosus Seen on different occasions in the highlands of both countries.

Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus Seen by part of the group who visited the second time Tepepul area. Also seen at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Northern Flicker ◊ (Guatemalan F) Colaptes [auratus] mexicanoides Common in the mountains of Guatemala.

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Celeus castaneus Good views at Tikal.

Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus Seen at Los Tarrales and El Cajon (Honduras).

Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis Good views at Tikal.

Crested Caracara (Northern C C) Caracara [plancus] cheriway Seen at Los Tarrales, and couple sights in Honduras at random sites along the drives.

Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans (H) Heard only at Tikal, also at El Cajón (Honduras).

Barred Forest Falcon Micrastur ruficollis (H) Heard only at Tikal.

Collared Forest Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus  Seen in Honduras at Luna del Puente Reserve, heard only at La Tigra NP.

American Kestrel Falco sparverius Seen at Chiabal (Todos Los Santos area).

Orange-breasted Falcon ◊ Falco deiroleucus Good views of one of the individuals who hangs around the Tikal Temples.

Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis Seen at Los Tarrales.

Brown-hooded Parrot ◊ Pyrilia haematotis (H) Heard only and seen by leader flying by at Tikal.

White-crowned Parrot ◊ Pionus senilis Good views of 1 individual at Tikal, but we heard it several times too.

White-fronted Amazon ◊ Amazona albifrons Good numbers in the area of Santa Ana Peten, also at Los Tarrales, and Picacho Park (Honduras).

Red-lored Amazon Amazona autumnalis Several sights at Tikal.

Yellow-naped Amazon ◊ Amazona auropalliata Seen at Los Tarrales.

Mealy Amazon ◊ (Northern M A) Amazona [farinosa] guatemalae Good views at Tikal.

Olive-throated Parakeet ◊ Eupsittula nana Common at Tikal, also seen at Santa Cruz de Yojoa (Honduras).

Red-throated Parakeet ◊ (H) Psittacara rubritorquis One of the main targets of the extension in Honduras, finally we managed to see several groups feeding on flowering trees at La Tigra.

Pacific Parakeet ◊ Psittacara strenuus Good views at Los Tarrales and Tepepul.

Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus Common at Tikal, also seen at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa (H) Heard only at Tikal.

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper ◊ Dendrocincla anabatina Good views at Tikal.

Northern Barred Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae Seen at Tikal and Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus A couple was seen at dawn at Tikal.

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster Regular at Tikal, also seen at Los Tarrales.

Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis Good views at Tepepul, also at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Plain Xenops Xenops genibarbis A regular species in the mixed species flocks at Tikal.

Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Clibanornis rubiginosus Very skulking bird, just leader and one or two clients managed to see it at Union Reforma.

Rufous-breasted Spinetail ◊ Synallaxis erythrothorax Seen by some at Los Tarrales. The ones who tried in the afternoon at Los Tarrales just heard it.

Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis Good views at Tikal.

Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus Seen by some at Los Tarrales, heard it on different localities in both countries.

Dusky Antbird Cercomacroides tyrannina Seen at El Cajón, Honduras.

Mayan Antthrush ◊ Formicarius moniliger Amazing prolonged views at Tikal.

Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis (LO) Seen by leader at Finca El Pilar.

Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata Seen on different occasions at Tikal

Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve, El Cajón and San Pedro Sula in Honduras. In Guatemala just at Santa Ana, Petén.

Mountain Elaenia Elaenia frantzii Seen at Tepepul, also at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe Heard only at Tikal, seen at El Cajón (Honduras).

Guatemalan Tyrannulet ◊ Zimmerius vilissimus Good views at Finca El Pilar.

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus Seen at Tikal and Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus Good views of a pair building at nest at Tikal.

Northern Bentbill ◊ Oncostoma cinereigulare Seen at Tikal.

Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum Several sights in Honduras like El Cajón and San Pedro Sula.

Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris Seen at Tikal.

Yellow-olive Flatbill Tolmomyias sulphurescens Heard and leader only from Tikal. Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve and El Cajón (Honduras).

Stub-tailed Spadebill ◊ Platyrinchus cancrominus Finally everyone got good views at Tikal. Fairly common in the area.

Belted Flycatcher ◊ Xenotriccus callizonus Excellent views of a pair near Atitlan.

Northern Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus Seen in the highlands of Guatemala like Tacaná Volcano and Chuiraxamolo.

Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax Good views at Tacaná Volcano, also seen by part of the group at Tepepul.

Eastern Wood Pewee Contopus virens Seen by some near Atitlan.

Northern Tropical Pewee Contopus bogotensis Seen at Los Tarrales.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii Seen near Luna del Puente Reserve and San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

White-throated Flycatcher Empidonax albigularis Seen near Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus Good views at Tikal.

Hammond’s Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii First seen at El Pilar, also other localities in Guatemalan mountains.

Pine Flycatcher ◊ Empidonax affinis First seen at Union Reforma, also at Chiabal.

Yellowish Flycatcher ◊ Empidonax flavescens Seen at Rey Tepepul, also at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Buff-breasted Flycatcher ◊ Empidonax fulvifrons Best views at Chiabal, also seen by some at Finca El Pilar.

Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus obscurus Seen at Santa Ana, Peten.

Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis

Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus

Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua Seen at Tikal and Finca El Pilar, also at different sites in Honduras.

Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus

Couch’s Kingbird ◊ Tyrannus couchii Seen at Santa Ana, Peten.

Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis Seen in the dry regions of Comayagua, Honduras.

Rufous Mourner Rhytipterna holerythra Seen in the primary forest of Tikal.

Yucatan Flycatcher ◊ Myiarchus yucatanensis Good views at Tikal.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer Seen at Tikal and near Atitlan. In Honduras at Luna del Puente and El Cajón.

Nutting’s Flycatcher Myiarchus nuttingi Seen in the dry regions of Comayagua, Honduras.

Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus Seen at Tikal, also at Santa Cruz de Yojoa (Honduras).

Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus Seen the last day at San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus Seen at Tikal, also heard it at El Cajón (Honduras).

White-collared Manakin Manacus candei (H) Heard only at Tikal, and Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Red-capped Manakin Ceratopipra mentalis Seen at Tikal.

Northern Royal Flycatcher ◊ Onychorhynchus mexicanus Good views at Tikal.

Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor Just one sight at Tikal.

Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata Common and widespread species (both countries).

Northern Schiffornis ◊ Schiffornis veraepacis Good views at Tikal.

Grey-collared Becard ◊ Pachyramphus major Seen on two different days at Tikal.

Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae Seen at Finca El Pilar and Los Tarrales, also in Honduras.

Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis (H) Heard only in both countries.

Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo ◊ Vireolanius melitophrys Excellent views at Rey Tepepul.

Tawny-crowned Greenlet Tunchiornis ochraceiceps Seen at Tikal.

Lesser Greenlet Pachysylvia decurtata Seen at Tikal, also in Luna del Puente Reserve and Cajon (Honduras).

Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus Seen at Tikal.

Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus Seen on two different days in the area of Atitlan.

Hutton’s Vireo ◊ Vireo huttoni Regular bird in the mountains of Guatemala.

Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons Seen at different localities on both countries.

Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius Seen on different localities on the mountains of Guatemala, also at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Mangrove Vireo ◊ Vireo pallens Seen in three different days in Tikal.

White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus Seen on several occasion at Tikal.

Black-throated Jay ◊ Cyanolyca pumilo Seen at Union Reforma, also seen at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Bushy-crested Jay ◊ Cyanocorax melanocyaneus Several sights in the mountains of both countries.

Green Jay Cyanocorax luxuosus Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Brown Jay ◊ Psilorhinus morio Common species at Tikal, also seen in Honduras.

White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa Seen at Los Tarrales.

Steller’s Jay Cyanocitta stelleri Common in the highlands of Guatemala.

Grey Silky-flycatcher ◊ Ptiliogonys cinereus Regular bird in the mountains of Guatemala.

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Seen at Chuiraxomolo, Atitlan Lake and San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Mangrove Swallow Tachycineta albilinea Seen during the drive from Tikal to Flores Airport.

Black-capped Swallow ◊ Atticora pileata Excellent views at Volcán Tacaná, also near Atitlan.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis We saw it at different localities in both countries. But we got a subspecies of interest S. serripennis ridwayi (Ridgway’s), who breeds in the Tikal Mayan temples, and other localities in Mexico and Belize.

Grey-breasted Martin Progne chalybea Seen at Tikal.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Seen at Comayagua and San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

American Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus Seen in the highlands of Guatemala.

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa Only seen in the high elevation Pine woodland of Todos Los Santos NP.

Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus First seen at Finca El Pilar, also good views in the area of Atitlan.

Rufous-backed Wren ◊ Campylorhynchus capistratus Seen at Los Tarrales, also at Luna del Puente Reserve and San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Spot-breasted Wren ◊ Pheugopedius maculipectus Common at Tikal, also seen at Los Tarrales. In Honduras at El Cajon and Luna del Puente Reserve.

Banded Wren ◊ Thryophilus peurostictus Good views at Comayagua, Honduras.

Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus (H) Heard only near Atitlan area.

Cabanis’s Wren ◊ Cantorchilus modestus Seen in the Atitlan area.

Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus (H) Heard only in Santa Ana, Peten.

House Wren Troglodytes aedon Seen on both countries.

Rufous-browed Wren ◊ Troglodytes rufociliatus Seen at Tacaná Volcano and Chuiraxomolo.

White-bellied Wren ◊ Uropsila leucogastra Seen at Tikal. Common but tricky to see sometimes.

White-breasted Wood Wren Henicorhina leucosticta Seen by some at Los Tarrales.

Grey-breasted Wood Wren Henicorhina leucophrys Seen at Finca El Pilar and Todos Los Santos NP.

Trilling Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus Seen at Tikal and Los Tarrales.

White-browed Gnatcatcher Polioptila bilineata Seen at Santa Cruz de Yojoa (Honduras).

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea Seen at Tikal.

White-lored Gnatcatcher Poliotila albiloris Excellent views in the dry areas of Comayagua, Honduras.

Brown Creeper Certhia americana First seen at Chichavac, also at Union Reforma and Chiabal.

Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Seen on different days at Tikal, also at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus Seen at different localities in both countries.

Blue-and-white Mockingbird ◊ Melanotis hypoleucus First seen at Finca El Pilar, we tried for it several localities until everyone got a proper look. Heard only at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis Several sights in the Guatemala highlands, also at Picacho Park (Honduras).

Brown-backed Solitaire ◊ Myadestes occidentalis Good views from Finca El Pilar and Atitlan area.

Slate-colored Solitaire ◊ (H) Myadestes unicolor Good views from La Tigra NP, Honduras.

Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina Very common at Tikal in this time of the year.

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris (H) Heard only at different localities in Guatemala.

Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus Seen at Tikal and Rey Tepepul.

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus One sight of one individual in the highlands at Chichavac.

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii Heard only at Tacaná Volcano, seen at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Black Thrush ◊ Turdus infuscatus Seen at Union Reforma.

Rufous-collared Thrush ◊ Turdus rufitorques Common in the highlands of Guatemala.

Mountain Thrush ◊ Turdus plebejus (H) Seen by leader and heard only at Union Reforma.

Clay-colored Thrush ◊ Turdus greyi Common species in both countries.

Olive Warbler ◊ Peucedramus taeniatus Seen at Todos Los Santos NP and Unicornio Azul grounds.

Hooded Grosbeak ◊ Hesperiphona abeillei Good views of a pair at Tepepul.

Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria First seen at Santa Ana, also seen at Atitlan and Los Tarrales.

Pine Siskin Spinus pinus Seen at Chiabal. We thought that we saw the Black-capped Siskin but analysing photos what we saw was the grey morph of Pine Siskin. The taxonomy of this subspecies of Pine Siskin, from Chiapas (S Mexico) and W Guatemala, is not very clear so could be a subspecies of interest in the future.

Black-headed Siskin ◊ Spinus notatus Seen at Finca El Pilar and Union Reforma.

Elegant Euphonia Chlorophonia elegantissima Seen at Todos Los Santos NP and Rey Tepepul.

Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis Seen at Santa Ana, also seen at Santa Cruz de Yojoa and El Cajón (Honduras).

Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea Seen at Los Tarrales, also seen at Santa Cruz de Yojoa and El Cajón (Honduras).

Olive-backed Euphonia Euphonia gouldi Seen at Tikal.

Common Chlorospingus (C Bush-Tanager) Chlorospingus flavopectus Seen once at Todos Los Santos NP, quite common at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Botteri’s Sparrow ◊ Peucaea botterii Seen at Santa Ana, Petén.

Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum Good views at Santa Ana, nice views also at Comayagua (Honduras).

Green-backed Sparrow ◊ Arremonops chloronotus Seen at the grounds of our hotel at Tikal.

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch Arremon brunneinucha Seen at Union Reforma and Rey Tepepul.

Yellow-eyed Junco ◊ (Guatemalan) Junco [phaeonotus] alticola Seen at Union Reforma also seen at Todos Los Santo NP.

Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Seen at Chiabal.

Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii Seen at Todos Los Santos NP.

White-eared Ground Sparrow ◊ (Grey-crowned G S) Melozone [leucotis] occipitalis (H) Heard and leader only at Rey Tepepul. Certainly, this subspecies is much trickier to see than the ones in Costa Rica, a very different behaviour.

Prevost’s Ground Sparrow ◊ (White-faced G S) Melozone biarcuata First seen at Antigua, also seen at Atitlan area on different sites.

Rusty Sparrow ◊ Aimophila rufescens Seen at Atitlan area, also at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus Seen in the Guatemala highlands.

White-naped Brushfinch Atlapetes albinucha Seen at Todos Los Santos NP, also seen at La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens Seen at Atitlan area and Los Tarrales, also seen near Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna Seen at the plateau highlands of Chiabal.

Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus Brief views for some at Los Tarrales, also seen at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Chestnut-headed Oropendola (H) Psarocolius wagleri Good views at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Montezuma Oropendola ◊ Psarocolius montezuma Common at Tikal, also seen at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Scott’s Oriole Icterus parisorum Five years ago (according to our local guide Esteban) this species started showing up in the area of Chiabal. The only location known for Central America of this species, where more than one individual tends to show up in the area. Our group got to see one subadult male, during our morning in Chiabal.

Yellow-backed Oriole Icterus chrysater Seen at Chichavac and Union Reforma.

Altamira Oriole ◊ Icterus gularis Seen at Atitlan Lake, also seen at Comayagua (Honduras).

Streak-backed Oriole Icterus pustulatus A familiar group was seen at Picacho Park, Honduras.

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula Several sights in both countries.

Spot-breasted Oriole ◊ Icterus pectoralis Seen at Los Tarrales, also at Comayagua (Honduras).

Bar-winged Oriole ◊ Icterus maculialatus Seen by part of the group at Rey Tepepul.

Black-vented Oriole ◊ Icterus wagleri Seen at Finca El Pilar, Chichavac and Union Reforma.

Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas Seen at Tikal.

Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius Seen at Atitlan, also seen in Honduras at 3 different localities.

Giant Cowbird Molothrus oryzivorus Seen at Tikal.

Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus Different sights in both countries.

Melodious Blackbird Dives dives Common species in both countries.

Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla Several sights at Tikal.

Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum Seen at Tikal on 3 different days.

Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla Seen during our first afternoon at Tikal.

Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis Seen at Tikal.

Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera Seen at Tikal.

Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera Seen once at Tikal.

Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia Several sights on both countries.

Swainson’s Warbler ◊ Limnothlypis swainsonii A very good species for Central America, it was joining a mix species flock, where appear briefly in the open, sadly not everyone managed to see it.

Crescent-chested Warbler ◊ Oreothlypis superciliosa A regular species in the highlands of both countries.

Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina Several sights in both countries.

Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla Good views at Finca El Pilar, also seen near Atitlan.

Grey-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala Seen at Santa Ana, also at San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

MacGillivray’s Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei Only one sight in coffee fields at Antigua.

Mourning Warbler Geothlypis philadelphia (LO) Leader only at Tikal.

Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa Common at Tikal.

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Seen on route from Huehuetenango to Atitlan, in reed beds and marshes.

Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina Good views at Tikal, also at Luna del Puente Reserve and El Cajón (Honduras).

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla Common at Tikal, also seen at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Northern Parula Setophaga americana Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia Common at Tikal, also seen at other localities in both countries.

American Yellow Warbler Setophaga aestiva Several sights in Tikal, Los Tarrales and Honduras.

Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica Seen on 2 occasions at Tikal, also seen in Honduras.

Myrtle Warbler Setophaga coronata Majority of the sights in the areas of Huehuetenango (mainly Chiabal), but other localities too.

Audubon’s Warbler Setophaga auduboni Seen at Chiabal.

Goldman’s Warbler ◊ Setophaga goldmani Great views at Chiabal.

Grace’s Warbler Setophaga graciae Only one sight at Picacho Park, Honduras.

Townsend’s Warbler Setophaga townsendi Very common in the mountains of Guatemala.

Hermit Warbler Setophaga occidentalis First seen at Chichavac, also at Chiabal and Rey Tepepul.

Golden-cheeked Warbler ◊ (H) Setophaga chrysoparia Good views at La Tigra NP, Honduras.

Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens Seen at different localities (highlands and lowlands) in both countries.

Chestnut-capped Warbler Basileuterus delattrii Only one sight at Los Tarrales.

Golden-browed Warbler ◊ Basileuterus belli Seen at Union Reforma.

Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla Several sights in the mountains of both countries.

Pink-headed Warbler ◊ Cardellina versicolor First seen at Chichavac, also seen at Union Reforma, Tacaná Volcano and Todos Los Santos NP.

Painted Whitestart (H) (P Redstart) Myioborus pictus Seen at Picacho Park, Honduras.

Slate-throated Whitestart (S-t Redstart) Myioborus miniatus Seen at Chichavac, Union Reforma, Rey Tepepul, and La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata Seen at Rey Tepepul.

Summer Tanager Piranga rubra A few sights in Guatemala (Tikal, Atitlan and Los Tarrales), also seen in Honduras.

Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana First seen at Finca El Pilar, Tacaná Volcano, Union Reforma and Tepepul.

White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera Only one sight on route to Atitlan.

Red-crowned Ant Tanager Habia rubica Several sights at Tikal.

Red-throated Ant Tanager Habia fuscicauda Seen at Tikal, also at El Cajón (Honduras).

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus Several sights in both countries.

Grey-throated Chat ◊ Granatellus sallaei One individual seen at the old airstrip road in Tikal.

Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanoloxia cyanoides Seen at El Cajon, Honduras.

Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea Several individuals were seen at Santa Ana, Petén.

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea Seen at Santa Ana, Finca El Pilar and Atitlan. Also seen near Luna del Puente Reserve and San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Painted Bunting Passerina ciris Seen near Atitlan. Also seen near Luna del Puente Reserve and San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus Scattered sights in both countries.

Cinnamon-bellied Saltator Saltator grandis Seen at Santa Ana, Rey Tepepul and Los Tarrales. Also seen near Luna del Puente Reserve and San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus  Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Black-headed Saltator ◊ Saltator atriceps Seen at Petén and Los Tarrales. Also seen near Luna del Puente Reserve and San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus Seen at Santa Ana, also at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina Seen at Santa Ana, also at Luna del Puente Reserve and San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

Grey-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillata Seen at Tikal.

Black-throated Shrike-Tanager ◊ Lanio aurantius Excellent views at Tikal.

Scarlet-rumped Tanager (Passerini’s T) Ramphocelus [passerinii] passerinii (LO) Just one male seen by leader at Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

Morelet’s Seedeater Sporophila morelleti A few sights in both countries.

Thick-billed Seed Finch Sporophila funerea One individual seen at Luna del Puente Reserve.

Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer ◊ Diglossa baritula Seen at Tacaná Volcano, Todos Los Santos NP and Rey Tepepul.

Azure-rumped Tanager Poecilostreptus cabanisi Three individuals were seen at Rey Tepepul.

Blue-grey Tanager Thraupis episcopus A few sights in Tikal, Atitlan and Los Tarrales. Also, at Luna del Puente Reserve (Honduras).

Yellow-winged Tanager ◊ Thraupis abbas Seen at Petén, Rey Tepepul and Los Tarrales.

Golden-hooded Tanager Stilpnia larvata Seen at Luna del Puente Reserve, Honduras.

MAMMALS

Northern Tamandua Tamandua mexicana Seen at Tikal.

White-nosed Coati Nasua narica Big familiar groups were seen at Tikal.

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Seen at Rey Tepepul and Los Tarrales.

Central American Black Howler Alouatta pigra Finaly we managed to see a group at Tikal.

Central American Spider Monkey Ateles geoffroyi Several groups were seen at Tikal.

Central American Agouti Dasyprocta punctata Seen at Tikal and Los Tarrales.

Mexican Hairy Porcupine Seen at Los Tarrales.

Red-bellied Squirrel Sciurus aureogaster Seen in the Guatemala highlands, first at Finca El Pilar, also at Chichavac and Union Reforma.

Deppe’s Squirrel Sciurus deppei Widespread species in northern Central America. We saw one at Tikal, on both days in Rey Tepepul, and La Tigra NP (Honduras).

Variegated Squirrel Sciurus variegatoides Seen along the road to La Tigra NP.

Yucatan Squirrel Sciurus yucatanensis Seen at Tikal.