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
www.birdingsiteguide.com