BIOTOPO DEL QUETZAL & LIST 
GUATEMALA

near COBAN (Compass)

Lat:00o00´S/00o00´W ha topography msl 
Protected/registered status 
Best Time for visit (18-20th December, 2004)

 

Birding Site Guide

Reserva Mario Dary (or Biotopo del Quetzal as it is more commonly referred to) was reached in just over an hour from Coban by bus. I stayed 2 nights at a cheap (Q30) hostel called Hospedaje Ranchito just 200m from the entrance to the reserve. I only spent 1 morning in the Biotopo itself but I also walked a trail at the back of the hostel 2 afternoons. The trail led for just 500m but had excellent cloud forest and this is where I saw my 2 target species, the Resplendent Quetzal and Highland Guan. The reserve also had good cloud forest but the slopes were steep it was not easy to see the birds. I saw a total of 29 species including 11 lifers. 


Species seen

  • Highland Guan Penelopina nigra Near-threatened
  • Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus
  • Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens
  • Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami
  • Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno Near-threatened
  • Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus
  • Golden-olive Woodpecker ? Piculus rubiginosus
  • Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps
  • Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
  • Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens
  • House Wren Troglodytes aedon
  • Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys
  • Slate-colored Solitaire Myadestes unicolor
  • Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus mexicanus
  • Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
  • Mountain Robin Turdus plebejus
  • Black-throated Jay h Cyanolyca pumilo
  • Unicolored Jay Aphelocoma unicolor
  • Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni
  • Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens
  • Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
  • Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla
  • Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
  • Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus
  • Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus
  • Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli
  • Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
  • Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata
  • Red-legged Honeycreeper ? Cyanerpes cyaneus


Other Fauna 
A total of -- species of mammals. 

There are -- recorded species of amphibians and reptiles. 

Flora 

Author: Charles Hesse

www.birdingsiteguide.com