Birdwatching in Guatemala

How many birds there are in Guatemala?

Guatemala is home to over 749 species of birds, 24 of which are restricted to the northern Central America area.
The regional diversity of the country offers several opportunities for seeing rare and beautiful species of birds in
their natural habitat, while also enjoying the cultural and historical richness the country has to offer.

Where to go birding in Guatemala?

Most Guatemala birding tours focus on four main endemic areas of the country for birdwatching.

The highlands of northern Central America are home to the Horned Guan, the Pink-Headed Warbler, and the
Cabanis Tanager.

The north pacific slope is home to the Yellow-naped Parrot, the Pacific Parakeet, and the Long-tailed Manakin.

The northwestern tropical forests of Guatemala contains more than 500 species of birds and is one of the most
famous Guatemalan holiday destinations for birdwatchers. Home to birds such as the Wedge-tailed Sabrewing,
the Keel-billed Motmot, and the Gray-headed Piprites.

The lowlands of the Yucatan peninsula, including the northern Petén region of Guatemala, this region features
species such as Ocellated Turkey, the Grey-throated Chat, and the Rose-throated Tanager. Guatemala is home to
many rare species of birds, including the Orange-breasted Falcon and the Crested Eagle.

What can we experience in Guatemala besides birding?

Guatemala has such cultural, geographical, and historical richness, that even casual birdwatchers will have much to
see and do in addition to birdwatching, while birding enthusiasts will have plenty of areas to choose from and a
high probability of catching a glimpse of several rare bird species. Any Guatemala holiday can easily incorporate
birdwatching with hiking, volcano climbing, or other nature activities. Also, some of the areas that are best for
birdwatching are home to some of Guatemala’s most famous Mayan landmarks.

Is it possible to do birding and visit Mayan Sites?

The region of Tikal National Park is home to over 400 species of birds, but is also home to some of the most
impressive Mayan temples and ruins the country has to offer. Located in an environmentally protected area,
visitors can split their time between visiting the ancient Mayan ruins, birdwatching, or taking a trip out to some of
the surrounding areas to visit beautiful natural lakes, shop at a local market, or climb an active volcano.
Few other travel destinations offer such fascinating travel opportunities, from vibrant cities to Mayan culture and
markets, to jungle and mountain villages, all within the span of a few hours distance from each other at times.
Since the best time for observing many bird species is in the pre-dawn hours to early morning, visitors can see
rare birds up close in the morning, and then still have the rest of the day free to enjoy everything else Guatemala
has to offer.

When is the best bird watching season in Guatemala?

Guatemala is a subtropical country. There are three primary climatic seasons.

Rainy season:

From May to October, we have a rainy season. June could be the month with the higher average pluvial rain peaks.
July and August have each of them a dog-day week that are perfect times for traveling for the reason that rain
stops; however, the bird's biology and behavior remain in the wintertime.

Dry-cold season:

From November to February, weather conditions are dry and cold. These months hold the lower peaks of
temperature in January and low average ranges in pluvial rain.

Dry-warm season:

From March to April, the weather is hot and dry. The higher temperature peaks have been in April as well as, the
lower rainfall averages.

Two essential periods need considering according to your particular interest on birds:

Neotropical migratory season:

A Neotropical migratory bird breeds in North America and the United States throughout the northern
summertime and affordable birding tours in Guatemala stays the northern winter in Mexico, Center America,
South America, or the Caribbean islands.

Fundamentally the migratory season ranges from October to April. The weather is dry, fresh, and excellent for
trips. Most birds from the Nearctic region are heading towards warmer locations. The bio-diversity of birds has
their higher peaks, and also the activity of birds looking for food is a fantastic spectacle.

The composition of multi-specific flocks is different based on the location, and also, the feeding behaviors and
interactions are fascinating phenomena to observe. Perhaps the best months for exploring the country are
November (when all of the migrant birds already are in the country) and March (when the majority of the migrant
birds are moving through the neotropical region towards the north).

There are approximately 200 species of Neotropical migratory birds. Nearly all are songbirds (such as warblers,
thrushes, tanagers, and vireos), but additionally, there are many shorebirds (including sandpipers, plovers, and
terns), some raptors (like hawks, kites, and vultures), and some types of waterfowl (for example teal).

Local breeding season:

In June and July, the weather is wet and cold in the majority of the highlands. The migrant birds have left;
however, the resident birds are beginning the mating, so many of the birds can be observed in couples. Their nest,
eggs, reproductive conduct is accessible and is the better moment for excellent and also emotive photographs.