10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2016

So, if you are going to write a field guide on the birds of the countries south and east of Mexico–Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—it makes the utmost sense that you embrace the whole geographic area. Perusing this book makes me want to bird Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras (again) NOW.

El Salvador 232

El Salvador America Costa Rica Honduras 232

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2024

Work brings me regularly to Monterrey in Nuevo Leon, northern Mexico. Legend has it he can hear birds as far away as Guatemala. Monterrey is a big industrial city, with industrious people. It is a special city because the surrounding Parque Nacional Cumbres de Monterrey redeems the city’s many environmental sins.

Parrots 157

Parrots Woodpeckers Industry Fast Food 157

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2018

401-600 sp: Honduras, Guatemala, Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay; the Sahel countries (Africa), Namibia and Botswana; Central Asian countries and Cambodia. 1101-1200 sp: Mexico; Argentina; DR Congo (Kinshasa), Tanzania, Kenya; India. 7 Guatemala (764 sp. / 801-1000 sp. – 801-1000 sp. –

Equatorial Guinea 194

Equatorial Guinea Costa Rica Guyana Central African Republic 194

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2017

The Grey-silky Flycatcher Ptilogonys cincerus , the is nearly an endemic of central Mexico, but for a few vagrants who vacation down in Guatemala. They frequent the dry, hot desert areas, which includes Arizona, Nevada and central mainland Mexico.

Costa Rica 105

Costa Rica Panama Nevada Guatemala 105

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2011

If Mexico City itself was not high enough, the mountains to the south rise above 12,300 feet and I was there looking for a Sierra Madre Sparrow to confirm a sighting of this rare and local sparrow from 15 years ago. It is not strictly endemic as it also occurs in Guatemala and Honduras. Is nowhere safe?

Costa Rica 202

Costa Rica Mexico Taiwan Honduras 202

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2014

The Horned Guan is not just one of, if not THE standout birds of Mexico and Guatemala, but of the entire world. Endemic to mountaintop cloud forest patches in Chiapas and Guatemala, perhaps occurring at a maximum of six locations in Mexico and a handful more in Guatemala, the Horned Guan is restricted to a tiny, fragmented range.

Guatemala 163

Guatemala Mexico San Diego South America 163

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2014

There are four generally recognized groups within the complex, “ Myrtle ” ( coronata ) of eastern and northern North America, “ Audubon’s ” ( auduboni ) of the western United States and western Canada, “ Black-fronted ” ( nigrifrons ) of Mexico, and “ Goldman’s ” ( goldmani ) of Guatemala.

United States 233

United States 2011 Guatemala North America 233

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2013

Its members occur primarily north of the Tropic of Cancer , though in the Western Hemisphere, Ruby-crowned Kinglets winter into southern Mexico, and Golden-crowned Kinglets have isolated breeding populations in the mountains of southern Mexico and Guatemala.

Family 183

Family Guatemala Mexico Japan 183

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2015

Quetzal also lives in cloud forests in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. But wait, what about the Resplendent Quetzal ? Isn’t that a high elevation endemic too? Nope, in addition to Costa Rica and western Panama, the good old R. This one was showing its crazy colors at the La Georgina trails.

Costa Rica 150

Costa Rica Panama Nicaragua Honduras 150

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Its common name, however, is a bit of a misnomer, unless “Northern” refers to the landmass north of the equator; this species extends from some southern Canadian provinces through the entirety of the eastern United States into Mexico and down to Guatemala and Belize.

St. Louis 179

St. Louis United States Belize Guatemala 179

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Quetzal is THE beloved, sacred bird of Guatemala and they do live there (and in southern Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama) BUT are more accessible in Costa Rica. You see, Myriam’s is located in what might be the Resplendent Quetzal capital of the world, the valley of San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica. Yes, the R.

Costa Rica 150

Costa Rica Panama Nicaragua Honduras 150

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 16, 2012

The Evening Grosbeak’s closest relative is the Hooded Grosbeak of Mexico and Guatemala. Hooded Grosbeak ( Coccothraustes abeillei ) in Guatemala cc-by-sa Dominic Sherony The Hawfinch of Eurasia appears to be a fairly close relative of Evening and Hooded Grosbeaks.

Family 177

Family Guatemala Stray Groups 177

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2014

This video by Kathi Borgmann shows an army ant swarm in Mexico. One of our best was in the lowlands of Chiapas, Mexico. We also had a great ant swarm in Tikal in Guatemala where in one binocular view we saw Ruddy Woodcreeper , Tawny-winged Woodcreeper , and Northern-barred Woodcreeper. Tawny-winged Woodcreeper.

San Diego 186

San Diego South America Costa Rica America 186

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

One of these islands may have been the present day Northern Central American Highlands which includes Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and parts of extreme southern Mexico (Chiapas). Before finally connecting to the South American continent about three million years ago, Central America consisted of a series of volcanic islands.

Honduras 213

Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 213

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The original distribution of the Wild Turkey is not clearly known, but it existed from the Eastern Seaboard of the US nearly to the Rocky Mountains, avoided some of the more open plains in the north, and occurred in central Mexico. Archaeological, zooarchaeological, and ancient DNA evidence combine to confirm the identification and context.

Turkey 201

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 201

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2021

Thank goodness that the rest of the beats have been busily birding,that’s what they like to do… 9 of them submitted 114 checklists via eBird and amassed 525 species from 7 (China, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, UK, Serbia and USA) countries during November. 182 Middle American Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae.

Sparrows 202

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 202

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2014

Female Imperial Woodpecker in flight, Mexico, a still from recently found film made by William Rhein, p. There is the flightless Atitlán Giant Grebe of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, whose habitat was destroyed by a combination of human incursion and earthquake, but whose DNA lives on in hybrids that fly. And, they are fascinating.

Animal 267

Animal Mammals Hawaii Dolphins 267

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2021

I’m quite fond of the Black-headed Siskin , a tropical finch found from Mexico to Nicaragua. Rufous-capped Warblers are basically Mexican endemics, although they do spill over into Guatemala and, on occasion, the southwestern United States. The bird at the top, and in the second photo, is a scruffy-looking adolescent.

Nicaragua 236

Nicaragua Mexico Guatemala Nashville 236

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

It actually makes a lot of sense, the geographic features of the isthmus between North America (including Mexico, because Mexico is part of North America) and South America cut across political lines, as do birds. Gwynne (PUP, 1992); and A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America by Steve N. by Robert S.

America 213

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 213

10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2020

Because of our age, Mexico’s rising COVID-19 numbers, and my wife’s anxiety about infectious diseases in general, we have been in total lockdown at the Lewis home. The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is a mostly solitary vulture, found from Uruguay to Mexico. TOTAL lockdown. Milady locked herself down back in March.)

Turkey 243

Turkey Mexico Uruguay Guatemala 243

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2022

8 of them sent 153 lists, noting 645 species of bird across 7 countries (Mexico, UK, USA, Serbia, Australia, Costa Rica, Colombia). It has not resulted in extraordinary numbers of sightings personally, but the beats have been busy on their respective patches and have sent me their lists to collate. The year list finishes at 1628.

Sparrows 230

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 230

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2016

La Paz, Mexico has a beautiful well maintained sidewalk along its waterfront called a malecón. Distribution is obviously concentrated in Mexico, but the gulls have been found as far north as British Columbia, Canada, and as far south as Guatemala. My personal bird count for walking the malecón is now at 67 species.

Guatemala 101

Guatemala Mexico Canada Research 101

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2011

As his passion for birding grew he decided to travel Latin America; he has spent time in Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela and a great deal of time in Brazil. One of his most memorable birding experiences was the six months spent in Northeast Brazil performing research on a new species of bird called the Araripe Manakin.

Brazil 160

Brazil Venezuela Iowa Guatemala 160

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2018

The range maps are from Howell and Dunn’s Gulls of the Americas and cover all of North America, including Mexico and Central America. Range Maps. I had the pleasure of talking to Nate Swick of the American Birding Association once again about the best birding books of the year.

North America 199

North America America El Salvador Nicaragua 199

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2012

It is the only species in the genus Dumetella and most likely the only catbird most birders will ever see; the Black Catbird Melanoptila glabrirostris , also of a monotypic genus, is found only in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, and is the only other species of catbird in the New World.

Papua New Guinea 182

Papua New Guinea Ethiopia Guinea Cats 182

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2017

I had blown my chance, and now the bird was heading for Guatemala, or Costa Rica, at least some place very far away from where I was. Then, it completely surprised me by circling back, and continuing to circle, each rotation getting higher and higher, until even Carl Zeiss could not help me keep track of the bird.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica Guatemala Bears Hunting 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. Middle American Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species.

2019 119

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 119

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 9, 2022

But there are apparently almost a million Americans that have settled here in Mexico, far beyond any other country’s total. Those who retire here usually did so because their retirement money will go so much further in Mexico. Every lifer is, of course, a new experience, and Mexico offers a lot of them! Good choice!).

Mexico 215

Mexico Birds Costa Rica Alabama 215

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

2012 has certainly been a bumper year for me with an estimated year list of around 3,000 species after extensive travels to South Africa, Ethiopia, South Korea, Indonesia, the Russian Far East, United Kingdom, Peru, Guatemala and Panama. Adam Riley chose a bird that is near and dear to Mike Bergin’s heart.

2012 147

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 147

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

The year has started well with 10 new birds from India, China, Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica. 12 beats birded 10 countries (Costa Rica, USA, Brazil, China, India, Serbia, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico), submitting 187 lists and spotting 902 birds. Middle American Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. 17 Jan 2020.

2020 158

2020 Wildlife Reserve Tigers Wildlife 158

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2019

These are the numbers acheived by 10 (we have a new contributor, Paul, from Mexico) beats during May; We visited 8 countries (Costa Rica, USA, UK, Australia, Serbia, Greece, Kuwait and Mexico) and noted 776 birds from 160 checklists. Middle American Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. Here they are; Alphabetic Taxonomic.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Middle American Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. 8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species. Alphabetic Taxonomic. Volcán Toliman. 12 Apr 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2016

During last month, beat lists have been shared from Mexico, Australia, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Russia, UK, Canada and USA. La Paz, Mexico. Vermiculated Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. La Paz, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. Western Australia. 19 Jan 2016. 02 Jan 2016.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Contributions this month have come from; Costa Rica, USA, Australia, Mexico, Serbia, South Africa, UK, Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. Vermiculated Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. La Paz, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. Western Australia.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2016

Submissions from July were shared from Serbia, UK, Brazil, Mexico, USA and Saudi Arabia, bring the total as at July 31st to 1858. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. Vermiculated Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. La Paz, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. Western Australia. 19 Jan 2016. 02 Jan 2016.

2016 100

2016 Sanctuary Ghana Australia 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. Middle American Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. Violet-crowned Hummingbird – Amazilia violiceps. Paton Center for Hummingbirds (Patons’ Yard). 12 Oct 2018. Curve-billed Thrasher – Toxostoma curvirostre. 09 Oct 2018. 08 Oct 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Middle American Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. Whiskered Screech-Owl – Megascops trichopsis. Volcán Toliman. 12 Apr 2018. Tropical Screech-Owl – Megascops choliba. 10,06, -84,139). 05 May 2018. Saladero Lodge. 23 Mar 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113