FUENTES GEORGINAS & LIST 
GUATEMALA

near QUETZALTENANGO (Compass)

Lat:00o00´S/00o00´W ha topography msl 
Protected/registered status 
Best Time for visit (22nd & 26th December, 2004)

 

Birding Site Guide

Fuentes Georginas (about 2,400m elevation) is a popular hot spring resort. It was reached by taking a 20 minute bus ride to the town of Zunil (about 2,100m) from Quetzaltenango (known locally as Xela) followed by another 20 ride 8km uphill in a pick-up. These could be easily hired (Q25) in Zunil. On 22nd I walked from the hot springs up a very steep trail heading to the summit of Volcan Zunil (about 3,400m). I didn't reach the summit but just to 3,270m. I saw my 1 of my target species, the Pink-headed Warbler, on this trail at 2,930m. The second day I walked a short trail from the hot springs around the valley at the same elevation. On both days I walked the first part of the road back down to Zunil which also has some good forest. I saw none of my other target species: the Resplendent Quetzal, Highland Guan and Horned Guan. The presence of the latter here is uncertain. I did however see many other highland species. I saw a total of 46 species including 4 lifers. 


Species seen 

  • Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
  • Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus
  • Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata
  • Maroon-chested Ground-Dove Claravis mondetoura
  • Green Violet-ear Colibri thalassinus
  • White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis
  • Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus
  • Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami
  • Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens
  • Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti
  • Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus
  • Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
  • Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
  • Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata
  • Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus
  • Band-backed Wren h Campylorhynchus zonatus
  • Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus
  • Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis
  • Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii
  • Black Robin Turdus infuscatus
  • Mountain Robin Turdus plebejus
  • Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques
  • Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus
  • Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo
  • Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina
  • Crescent-chested Warbler Parula superciliosa
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
  • Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi
  • Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
  • Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
  • Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
  • Pink-headed Warbler Ergaticus versicolor Vulnerable
  • Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus
  • Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli
  • Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
  • Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana
  • Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula
  • White-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes albinucha
  • Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Buarremon brunneinucha
  • Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
  • Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
  • Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
  • Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus Introduced


Other Fauna 
A total of -- species of mammals. 

There are -- recorded species of amphibians and reptiles. 

Flora 

Author: Charles Hesse

 

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