Los Tarrales reserve ranges from the lowlands at 750 m elevation to the top of the volcano at 3500 m, providing different bird habitats. More than 330 bird species have been recorded in Los Tarrales. The preserve is part of the Atitlán Important Bird Area (IBA GT015), designated by BirdLife International.
The whole altitudinal range is accessible on trails of different difficulty, from easy to walk to very tough hikes. Los Tarrales lodge is located at 750 m and surrounded by the small village, the coffee processing plant, coffee and ornamental flower plantations, and secondary growth. Several Cinnamon Hummingbird defend their territories around the lodge and flocks of Pacific, Orange-fronted, and Orange-chinned Parakeet do often rest in nearby trees. White-bellied Chachalacas are often seen in secondary scrub.
La Rinconada trail is a 1200 m long loop through shade coffee plantation at about 800 m elevation. This is our most productive birding trail; skilled birders can observe more than 100 bird species on good days. The trail offers views over the canopy of Inga trees, which are visited by foraging tanagers (White-winged, Western, Yellow-winged), and several nectar feeding birds like Baltimore Orioles, Red-legged Honeycreeper, and several hummingbirds like Blue-tailed and Ruby-throated Hummingbird*, White-bellied Emerald and Blue-throated Goldentail. Dense patches of secondary growth scrub are the habitat of White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Rufous-(Chestnut)-capped Warbler, and Plain Wren. Long-tailed Manakins can be seen year-round.
To access the cloud forest on the upper volcano slope you may reserve a hike with the reserve's own 4-wheel-drive vehicle, which will bring you to an elevation of 1400 m (4260 ft), where the Azure-rumped Tanager can be seen. From there you will ascend with your guide the steep slope of the volcano to search for Horned Guans, Green-throated Mountain-gems, Black-throated Jays, and other cloud forest birds. This is a very tough hike for which it is recommended to stay in the Tarrales Eco-lodge the night before, to be able to start early in the morning. Reservation in advance is required to access the cloud forest, since the number of visitors is limited. Please note the table indicating availability of our cloud forest tour in the upcoming months.
Josué de León Lux, Everilda Buchán, and other local birding guides at Los Tarrales have been taught by Cayaya Birding and the PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program. Josué and Everilda are keen birders and have reported several species for the first time at Los Tarrales, many of them with proof photograph and reported in the journal North American Birds. Josué founded a young-birder club at Los Tarrales, involving local youngsters into birding.
It follows an updated list of bird species reported in Los Tarrales. We thank all observers who have contributed their records (see end of this page). Nomenclature of this list according to AOU (1998): Check list of the North American birds. Seventh Edition, American Ornithologists’ Union, Lawrence, KA. and supplements, published in "The Auk" (www.aou.org). A printed checklist of the birds of Los Tarrales with information on habitat and status is available in Los Tarrales.
TINAMIDAE
- Thicket Tinamou Crypturellus cinnamomeus
ANATIDAE
- Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
CRACIDAE
- White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra
- Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens
- Highland Guan Penelopina nigra
- Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus
- Great Curassow Crax rubra
ODONTOPHORIDAE
- Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys
- Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus
- Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus
ARDEIDAE
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
- Great Egret Ardea alba
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula
- Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
- Green Heron Butorides virescens
- Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
- Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
CATHARTIDAE
- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
- Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
- King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa
ACCIPITRIDAE
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus
- Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis
- Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus
- Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississipiensis
- Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea
- Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
- Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii
- White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis
- Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus
- Great Black-Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga
- Solitary Eagle Harpyhaliaetus solitarius
- Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris
- Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
- Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus
- Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus
- Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni
- White-tailed Hawk Buteo albicaudatus
- Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus
- Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus
FALCONIDAE
- Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis
- Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus
- Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway
- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans
- American Kestrel Falco sparverius
- Merlin Falco columbarius
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
HELIORNITHIDAE
- Sungrebe Heliornis fulica
SCOLOPACIDAE
- Solitary Sandpiper Actitis macularius
- Spotted Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
LARIDAE
- Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan
COLUMBIDAE
- Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica
- Inca Dove Columbina inca
- Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti
- White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi
- White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies
- Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana
PSITTACIDAE
- Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua
- Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis
- Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola
- Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis
- White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons
- Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata
CUCULIDAE
- Black-billed Cuckoo Piaya cayana
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
- Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
- Squirrel Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
- Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia
- Lesser Roadrunner Geococcyx velox
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris
STRIGIDAE
- Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata
- Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
- Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma
- Central American Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium griseiceps
- Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum
- Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata
- Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata
- Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens
CAPRIMULGIDAE
- Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis
- Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
- Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis
- Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus
NYCTIBIIDAE
- Northern Potoo Nyctibius jamaicensis
APODIDAE
- Black Swift Cypseloides niger
- Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris
- Vaux’s Swift Chaetura vauxi
- White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis
- Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis
TROCHILIDAE
- Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus
- Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus
- White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora
- Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus
- Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei
- Black-crested Coquette Lophornis helenae
- Canivet's Emerald Chlorostilbon canivetii
- Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae
- White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis
- White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida
- Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala
- Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina
- Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura
- Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila
- Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens
- Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus
- Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami
- Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens
- Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris
- Slender Sheartail Doricha enicura
- Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Tilmatura dupontii
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
- Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus
TROGONIDAE
- Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus
- Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus
- Collared Trogon Trogon collaris
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno
MOMOTIDAE
- Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis
- Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota
- Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa
ALCEDINIDAE
- Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana
RAMPHASTIDAE
- Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus
- Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus
PICIDAE
- Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus
- Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
- Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus
- Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis
FURNARIIDAE
- Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax
- Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps
- Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus
- Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa
- Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster
- Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis
THAMNOPHILIDAE
- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus
GRALLARIIDAE
- Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis
TYRANNIDAE
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe
- Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata
- Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster
- Mountain Elaenia Elaenia frantzii
- Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus
- Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare
- Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum
- Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris
- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens
- Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus
- Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus coronatus
- Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus
- Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
- Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax
- Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus
- Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
- Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris
- Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
- Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
- Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens
- Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer
- Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens
- Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus
- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus
- Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua
- Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis
- Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Myiodynastes luteiventris
- Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
- Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus
- Gray-collared Becard Pachyramphus major
- Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae
- Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata
PIPRIDAE
- Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis
VIREONIDAE
- Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
- Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
- Hutton’s Vireo Vireo huttoni
- Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
- Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys
- Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus
- Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
- Yellow-green Vireo Vireo flavoviridis
- Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys
- Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis
CORVIDAE
- White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
- Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo
HIRUNDINIDAE
- Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
- Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
- Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
- Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
CERTHIIDAE
- Brown Creeper Certhia americana
TROGLODYTIDAE
- Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus
- Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha
- Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus
- Rufous-and-white Wren Thryothorus rufalbus
- Plain Wren Thryothorus modestus
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon
- Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus
- White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta
- Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys
SYLVIIDAE
- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
TURDIDAE
- Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis
- Slate-colored Solitaire Myadestes unicolor
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii
- Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas
- Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus
- Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
- Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
- Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus
- Mountain Thrush Turdus plebejus
- Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi
- White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis
- Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques
MIMIDAE
- Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus
BOMBYCILLIDAE
- Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
PTILOGONATIDAE
- Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus
PEUCEDRAMIDAE
- Olive Warbler Peucedramus taeniatus
PARULIDAE
- Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
- Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus
- Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina
- Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla
- Crescent-chested Warbler Parula superciliosa
- Northern Parula Parula americana
- Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia
- Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica
- Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia
- Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina
- Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
- Golden-cheeked Warbler Dendroica chrysoparia
- Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens
- Townsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendi
- Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis
- Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca
- Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica
- Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
- American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
- Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
- Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum
- Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
- Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis
- Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla
- Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus
- Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia
- MacGillivray’s Warbler Oporornis tolmiei
- Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
- Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala
- Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
- Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis
- Pink-headed Warbler Ergaticus versicolor
- Painted Redstart Myioborus pictus
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus
- Fan-tailed Warbler Euthlypis lachrymosa
- Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons
- Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli
- Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
THRAUPIDAE
- Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
- Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus
- Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas
- Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi
- Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus
Genus Incertae Sedis
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps
EMBERIZIDAE
- Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola
- Ruddy-breasted Seedeater Sporophila minuta
- Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus
- Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula
- White-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes albinucha
- Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha
- Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis
- Rusty Sparrow Aimophila rufescens
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
- Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus
CARDINALIDAE
- Hepatic Tanager Piranga flava
- Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
- Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata
- White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera
- Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica
- Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
- Blue Seedeater Amaurospiza concolor
- Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris
ICTERIDAE
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
- Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
- Yellow-backed Oriole Icterus chrysater
- Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
- Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus
FRINGILLIDAE
- Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis
- Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea
- Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis
- Black-capped Siskin Spinus atriceps
- Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus
- Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria
- Hooded Grosbeak Coccothraustes abeillei
PASSERIDAE
- House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Checklist compiler: Knut Eisermann, PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program
Contributing observers: Knut Eisermann, Claudia Avendaño, Josué de León Lux, Everilda Buchán, Gerardo López, Ismael Mateo, Edward Lammer, Andy Burge, Jean-Michel Fenerole, Tom Jenner, David Arsenault, Alejandro Sagone, Jeff Gordon, Alexis Cerezo, Tim Barksdale, Hugo Enríquez, Jeff Gordon, Alexis Cerezo, Alvaro Jaramillo, Peter Burke, Chris Benesh, Jesse Fagan; Rob, Tara and Nathan Cahill; Abel Anzueto, Aaron de León Lux, Lester de León Lux, Chris Wood, Olivier Barden, and Peter Colasanti.
