Birdwatching Guatemala

14/08/2025

🌿✨ Where Birds and Culture Meet — A Quiet Moment in the Maya Lowlands
📍 Guatemala | 🐦 Yellow-throated Euphonia | 🍈 Anona Fruit

While exploring the Maya lowlands of Guatemala, I had one of those moments that stops you in your tracks. A vibrant Yellow-throated Euphonia perched on an anona tree, delicately pecking at the sweet pulp of the fruit — a fruit that has fed both people and wildlife here for generations.

The anona (yes, the same family as cherimoya and soursop!) has grown in Maya home gardens for centuries. It's more than a fruit — it’s tradition, nutrition, and even celebration. The birds know this too. It’s beautiful how something so simple can connect culture and biodiversity so effortlessly.

📸 I’m grateful to capture these stories — not just the species, but the relationships that define a place.

08/08/2025

🐦 Have You Seen One of the Most Beautiful Birds in Guatemala?

Meet the Turquoise-browed Motmot—a stunning bird that’s impossible to miss with its glowing turquoise feathers, electric blue “eyebrow,” and fancy racket-shaped tail! ✨

These gorgeous birds aren’t hiding in the rainforest—they’re all over Guatemala! You might spot one chilling on a wire, fence post, or tree branch, just watching the world go by. 😍

💡 Fun fact: Those fancy tails? Males use them to impress the ladies, and both males & females wag them at predators as if to say, “Yeah... we see you.” 🧐

📍 Where to Find Them:
Forest edges, open fields, scrubland
From dry valleys to lush riverbanks
Nest in sandy burrows—sometimes hundreds together!

💚 Whether you’re a bird lover, nature photographer, or just love Guatemala’s natural beauty, this bird is one to watch.

📸 Seen one lately? Share your motmot moment or tag someone who needs to see this beauty!

🔗 Wanna learn more about birdwatching in Guatemala?
👉 birdwatchingguatemala.com

06/08/2025

🕊️✨ The only birds capable of truly flying backward? Hummingbirds.

Captured here in the gardens of Antigua Guatemala, this White-eared Hummingbird (Basilinna leucotis) is doing something almost no other bird on Earth can: sustained backward flight.

Unlike other birds—like warblers or herons—that can only flutter backwards briefly in defense, hummingbirds have a specialized ball-and-socket joint at the shoulder. This lets them rotate their wings in a figure-eight pattern, giving them unmatched control to hover, fly sideways, reverse, and even fly upside down.

💡 Fun Fact: What may look like "backward flying" in other birds during strong winds is usually just displacement—not true controlled flight like the hummingbird masters.

🌿 With over 700 bird species, Guatemala is a living classroom for rare bird behavior. Whether you're a passionate birder or just starting to explore, few places offer this much avian magic.

🧭 Join our expert-led birdwatching tours to witness it in the wild.

01/08/2025

✨ A glimpse of magic from the Maya lowlands!
Meet the Purple-crowned Fairy (Heliothryx barroti), recently spotted in the lush forests of Petén, Guatemala by the team. 💚💜

Known for its emerald back and dazzling violet crown (on males), this stunning hummingbird thrives in humid lowland forests—right where ancient ruins and wild biodiversity meet.

🌿 Petén is a true birding paradise: over 500 species, Maya heritage sites, and unforgettable rainforest experiences await.

📍 Add this beauty to your life list on a guided birdwatching adventure in Guatemala.

31/07/2025

💙 A flash of indigo in the jungle…
Spotted in the Maya lowlands of Petén: the male Blue Bunting (Cyanocompsa parellina), shimmering against the lush green of northern Guatemala. ✨

While this species is relatively common here, each sighting feels rare—and that's the magic of birding in Guatemala.

With over 560 bird species recorded in Petén alone, every trail reveals something wild, vibrant, and unforgettable.

🦜 Come for the birds. Stay for the connection.
📍 Petén, Guatemala
📸 Photo: Birdwatching Guatemala

30/07/2025

A single morning on Guatemala's Pacific slope can deliver what field guides barely capture: magic in motion.

As the mist lifted over the lush forest canopy, our group stood still. Then—a flash of turquoise and red pierced the air. A Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis) danced on a branch just meters away, its plumage glowing in the morning light.

These are the moments that move us—not just sightings, but stories. At www.birdwatchingguatemala.com, every tour is guided by local experts who open doors to hidden forest trails and rare encounters. Whether you're chasing lifers or simply chasing wonder, we'll help you see nature through new eyes.

Join us on the Pacific slope—where each adventure is written in feathers and song.

29/07/2025

🚨 Bird Spotlight: The Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 🚨

Did you know the Least Sandpiper is the smallest shorebird in the world—just 5-6in (13–15cm) long and weighing around 1oz (19–30g)? Despite their tiny size, these remarkable travelers embark on epic migrations each year, flying thousands of kilometers between their Arctic breeding grounds and wintering sites in Central and South America.

🟡 Key Facts:
Distinctive yellow-green legs and a short, thin, slightly curved bill.
Found on muddy edges of ponds and marshes, preferring higher, drier ground than their “peep” relatives.
Flock in dozens, not thousands, making each sighting feel special.
Main diet: tiny crustaceans, insects, and snails, with a unique way of using water’s surface tension to help feed.
Breeding adults are brown-streaked above with a white belly; in winter, their plumage turns grayer.

📍 Spotted on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala
This particular individual was observed during one of our birdwatching tours in Guatemala, along the Pacific coastline—a hotspot for migratory shorebirds during the season.

🌎 Conservation Note:
Although still widespread and common, the Least Sandpiper’s numbers are declining. Habitat loss along migration routes and climate change pose ongoing threats.

24/07/2025

🦜 Birdwatching Tours in Guatemala: Field Highlights from the Highlands

While exploring the Guatemalan highlands, our group encountered this species: the Tufted Flycatcher (Mitrephanes phaeocercus phaeocercus), one of four known subspecies.

📍 This subspecies ranges from the mountains of eastern and central Mexico down to northeastern Nicaragua, and sightings in Guatemala help fill important data gaps in its distribution.

With its varied elevations and habitats, Guatemala offers a unique advantage for spotting regional specialties and migratory species alike, making it a must-visit destination for birders, photographers, and researchers.

🧭 Whether you're organizing fieldwork, planning a photography expedition, or developing nature-based travel experiences, Guatemala delivers on both biodiversity and accessibility.

📸

22/07/2025

🧭 A Migratory Pause on the Slopes of Volcán de Agua

Spotted on a birding walk near Antigua Guatemala, this Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) perched gracefully on a branch—one of many neotropical migrants passing through Guatemala on their journey south.

As a seasonal visitor, the Orchard Oriole is a reminder of how vital Guatemala’s diverse habitats are in supporting migratory species across the Americas.

🌿 At Birdwatching Guatemala, we specialize in immersive birding and photography experiences—from focused target trips to full multi-day birding tour packages across cloud forests, volcano slopes, and tropical lowlands.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or a nature photographer looking for your next highlight, Guatemala offers extraordinary sightings in every season.

📍 Guided day tours | Custom routes | Expert naturalist guides

10/07/2025

Birding by Locals

🌿 Birding Expeditions at Global Birdfair 2025 🐦
📅 11–13 July 2025
📍 Lyndon Top, Rutland, UK
🎪 Stand No. 28 – Marquee Nightingale

We’re excited to join the international birding community at Global Birdfair 2025, a key event for nature travel professionals and conservation enthusiasts.

As locals based in Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico, we operate directly across the region, offering authentic birding experiences that blend spectacular biodiversity with the deep cultural heritage of the Mayan World. Our expertly guided birdwatching tours in Guatemala and the Mayan World, including world heritage destinations like Tikal, the Belize Barrier Reef, and Oaxaca, Mexico, are designed for travelers who value meaningful connections with both nature and culture.

🦜 What Makes Our Tours Unique:
• Prime birding destinations where nature and Mayan culture thrive together
• Expert-led itineraries from Tikal and Atitlán to Oaxaca and the Yucatán Peninsula
• Community-based travel that supports local guides and conservation efforts
Whether you’re looking to partner, explore, or share the love of birds—meet us!

📩 Visit us at Stand No. 28 – Marquee Nightingale or message us in advance.

03/07/2025

🐦 Meet the Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon): The Watchful Sentinel of Riverbanks

A Flash of Blue, A Rattle in the Air
Perched motionless above a stream or patrolling a shoreline with a rapid wingbeat, the Belted Kingfisher is unmistakable. With its shaggy crest, striking slate-blue plumage, and rattling call, this species is one of North America's most iconic aquatic birds—and a fascinating encounter for birdwatchers across Guatemala during migration season.

🔍 Key Species Insights
Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon
Family: Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
Habitat: Rivers, lakes, mangroves, and coastal shorelines
Diet: Primarily fish, caught by dramatic plunge-diving
Range: Breeds across Canada and the U.S.; winters from the southern U.S. to Central America, including Guatemala

🌎 Why It Matters for Ecotourism & Conservation
The Belted Kingfisher is a top indicator species for healthy freshwater ecosystems. Its presence along Guatemala's riverbanks—especially during the boreal winter—signals clean water and a balanced aquatic food chain. As a seasonal visitor, this neotropical migrant connects conservation efforts across borders.
📍Where to See It in Guatemala
From the Rio Dulce wetlands to the tranquil shorelines of Lake Petén Itzá and mangrove estuaries along the Pacific coast, the Belted Kingfisher is a highlight for keen birders and nature photographers.

🛡️ Conservation Status:
✅ Least Concern – but vulnerable to habitat degradation and water pollution.

📸 Planning Your Birdwatching Experience?
Join our expert-led birding tours in Guatemala to spot Megaceryle alcyon and over 700 other species in stunning natural habitats.
🔗 www.birdwatchingguatemala.com
📅 Peak Observation: October – March
📍 Regions: Petén, Izabal, Pacific Coast

30/06/2025

I Birdwatching Guatemala | Emerald-chinned Hummingbird in Action
During a recent birding tour in Guatemala, our Birdwatching Guatemala team had the privilege of capturing a graceful moment: an Emerald-chinned Hummingbird (Abeillia abeillei) stretching on a liane, deep in the cloud forests of the highlands.
This small, iridescent jewel is a true highlight for birders exploring the region. Often elusive and found in subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, the Emerald-chinned Hummingbird is admired for its vibrant green plumage and subtle charm. Its presence reflects the incredible biodiversity that makes birdwatching in Guatemala such a rewarding experience.
Join us in discovering more endemic species and hidden avian gems throughout Guatemala’s pristine ecosystems.
📍 Location: Highland cloud forest, Guatemala
📸 Credit: Birdwatching Guatemala Team
🗺️ Tour Info: www.birdwatchingguatemala.com