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CONSERVATION PRIORITY-SETTING IN GUATEMALA THROUGH
THE IDENTIFICATION OF IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS
KNUT EISERMANN1 AND CLAUDIA AVENDAÑO
Abstract. The designation of Important Bird Areas (IBAs), a prioritization scheme developed by
BirdLife International, is based on four quantitative ornithological criteria: 1) globally threatened spe-
cies, 2) restricted-range species, 3) biome-restricted species, and/or (4) fl ocking species. A total of 21
areas in Guatemala fulfi ll international IBA criteria. All IBAs were delimited based on spatial habitat
requirements of key species and cover about 48% of the country. Guatemalan IBAs are crucial for the
conservation of bird species endemic to the northern Central American highlands. The Guatemalan
IBA network covers habitat for eight globally threatened species and 25 restricted-range species. Two
sites support >1% of the biogeographic population of waterbird species. Guatemalan IBAs are rather
large, ranging from 44 to 21 000 km2, and include not only intact habitat (61% of the area of all IBAs),
but also areas where efforts should be invested to restore habitat (38%). Long-term habitat conser-
vation in the half of the country is challenging. Guatemala’s human population is growing rapidly,
increasing the pressure on natural habitat. All parts of the Guatemalan society are addressed by the
designation of large IBAs, which is an opportunity to enhance conservation efforts among the private
and communal sectors.
Key words: bird conservation, Endemic Bird Areas (EBA), globally threatened species, Guatemala, Important
Bird Areas (IBA), restricted-range species
PRIORIZACIÓN PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN EN GUATEMALA POR MEDIO
DE LA IDENTIFICACIÓN DE IBAS
Resumen. La designación de IBAs, un esquema para priorizar sitios de conservación desarrollado por
BirdLife International, tiene como base cuatro criterios ornitológicos cuantitativos: (1) especies glo-
balmente amenazadas, (2) especies de distribución restringida, (3) especies restringidas a un bioma
y (4) especies congregatorias. Un total de 21 áreas en Guatemala cumplen con los requisitos interna-
cionales de IBAs. Todas las IBAs fueron delimitadas con base en requerimientos espaciales de hábitat
de especies clave y cubren alrededor de 48% del país. Las IBAs de Guatemala son cruciales para la
conservación de especies de aves endémicas de las tierras altas del norte de Centro América. La red de
IBAs de Guatemala cubre hábitat para ocho especies globalmente amenazadas y para 25 especies de
distribución restringida. Dos sitios sostienen >1% de la población biogeográfi ca de especies de aves
acuáticas. Las IBAs de Guatemala son particularmente extensas, entre 44 a 21 000 km², e incluyen no
solamente hábitat primario (61% del área de todas las IBAs) sino también áreas donde deben inver-
tirse esfuerzos para restaurar el hábitat (38%). La conservación de hábitat a largo plazo en la mitad
del país es un reto. La población humana de Guatemala está creciendo rápidamente, aumentando la
presión sobre el hábitat natural. Todos los sectores de la sociedad guatemalteca están involucrados
por la designación de IBAs extensas, lo cual es una oportunidad para aumentar los esfuerzos de con-
servación entre los sectores privados y comunitarios.
Proceedings of the Fourth International
Partners in Flight Conference: Tundra to Tropics
315–327
INTRODUCTION
The main threat to biodiversity on a global
scale is the loss of natural habitat due to human
activity. Worldwide, birds are the best researched
and most popular animals (BirdLife International
2004a), their wild populations are relatively easy
to study, and they are useful indicators to iden-
tify important sites for conservation. Saving
areas critical for the conservation of birds also
benefi ts many other plant and animal species of
conservation concern (Bibby et al. 1992).
Extensive data on the distribution and ecol-
ogy of birds led BirdLife International in the
Sociedad Guatemalteca de Ornitología, Ofi cinas del Centro de Acción Legal Ambiental y Social (CALAS),
Avenida Mariscal 13-59, Zona 11, Guatemala Ciudad, Guatemala
1Present address: Apartado Postal 98 Periférico, Guatemala Ciudad, Guatemala.
E-mail: knut.eisermann@avesdeguatemala.org
Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference
316
1980s to develop the Important Bird Area (IBA)
program, a worldwide initiative to identify
and protect critical areas for bird conservation
(Boyla and Estrada 2005). The identifi cation of
IBAs is based on quantitative ornithological cri-
teria, using the most recent data on the distribu-
tion and population size of key species. More
than 8500 IBAs have been identifi ed worldwide
so far (García-Moreno et al. 2007), including
those in several countries in the Neotropics;
for example, Mexico (Arizmendi and Márquez-
Valdelamar 2000), the tropical Andean region
(Boyla and Estrada 2005), and Argentina (Di
Giacomo et al. 2007). The fi rst IBA account for
a Central American country was provided by
Angehr (2003) for Panama.
Important regions for bird conservation on
a continental scale were identified based on
the distribution of restricted-range and glob-
ally threatened species (Wege and Long 1995,
Stattersfield et al. 1998). To prioritize the most
important sites for bird conservation within
these regions, in 2005 BirdLife International
began to identify IBAs in all Central American
countries, in collaboration with national part-
ner organizations. The objective of this paper
is to assess the global conservation importance
of land areas in Guatemala based on avian data
applying Bird Life International’s IBA crite-
ria, and to present the first list of Guatemalan
IBAs.
METHODS
IBA CRITERIA
Important Bird Areas are identifi ed world-
wide using the same standard quantitative
ornithological criteria, based on the presence
of globally threatened species (Criterion A1),
restricted-range species (Criterion A2), biome-
restricted species (Criterion A3), and fl ocking
species (Criterion A4). A site in Guatemala
qualifi ed as IBA when at least one of the foll ow-
ing criteria was fulfi lled.
Criterion A1
At least one globally threatened spe-
cies (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically
Endangered) according to IUCN Red List cri-
teria (IUCN 2001, 2007) occurs regularly at
the site (at least one individual of a Critically
Endangered or Endangered species, at least 10
pairs of a Vulnerable species). Species classifi ed
as Extinct, Near Threatened, or Data Defi cient
in the IUCN Red List, and species not regularly
occurring in Guatemala were excluded from
the analysis.
Criterion A2
At least 33% of the species restricted to
an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) and recorded
in Guatemala occur regularly at the site.
Restricted-range species have a distribution
range of <50 000 km2. The list of restricted-
range species was derived from decisions of the
Central American IBA Technical Committee,
based on up-to-date knowledge on the species
distribution and an initial species set (Howell
and Webb 1995, Stattersfi eld et al. 1998). Only
two species restricted to EBA17 (Northern
Central American Pacifi c Slope) are recorded
in Guatemala. In this case both species must
occur on a site to qualify as IBA. Stattersfi eld et
al. (1998) included also the Guatemalan Atlantic
coast in EBA19 (Central American Caribbean
Slope). Two species restricted to this EBA occur
in Guatemala—Gray-headed Piprites (Piprites
griseiceps) and Snowy Cotinga (Carpodectes niti-
dus)—but they do not regularly (Eisermann and
Avendaño 2007). Thus, they were not used to
identify IBAs.
Criterion A3
At least 33% of the species restricted to a
biome and recorded in Guatemala occur regu-
larly at the site. The classifi cation of Neotropical
zoogeographic regions by Stotz et al. (1996) was
used for this criterion. The list of biome-restricted
species was derived from decisions of the Central
American IBA Technical Committee, based on
up-to-date knowledge on the species distribution
and an initial list of Stotz et al. (1996).
Criterion A4i-ii
The site supports at least 1% of the biogeo-
graphic population of fl ocking water and sea-
birds, according to continental estimates by
Wetlands International (2006) and Morrison et
al. (2006), for seabirds del Hoyo et al. (1992) and
BirdLife International (2004b), and recent site
estimates (Eisermann 2006, Sigüenza 2007). For
populations of >2 000 000 individuals, a thresh-
old value of 20 000 individuals was used.
Criterion A4iv
The site supports at least 1% of the biogeo-
graphic population at “bottleneck” sites during
migration, according to continental estimates
by Rich et al. (2004).
Criterion A4iii (sites supports at least 20 000
waterbirds; see Boyla and Estrada 2005) was
not applied to identify globally Important Bird
Areas in Guatemala, because this criterion will
Important Bird Areas in Guatemala—Eisermann and Avendaño 317
be used for the identifi cation of regional impor-
tant sites.
Species nomenclature follows AOU (1998) and
supplements, AOU (2008) being the last supple-
ment reviewed. In the case of Aratinga holochlora
rubritorquis we indicate the subspecies in order
to refer non-ambiguously to the taxon Aratinga
rubritorquis, used by BirdLife International in the
World Bird Data Base, an online data storage on
bird populations in IBAs, accessible at <http://
www.birdlife.org/datazone/>.
IBA BOUNDARIES
In general, IBA boundaries should comply
with conservation requirements of key species
and be practical targets for conservation man-
agement (Boyla and Estrada 2005). The total
area of all IBAs should provide suffi cient habi-
tat for all key species.
In Guatemala, large IBAs were bounded
in cases of close proximity between sites with
avian data, based on known or assumed large
qualitative and spatial habitat requirements
of key species. Borders were defi ned with the
participation of local specialists along reserve
limits, rivers, roads, contours, straight lines
between villages, or habitat borders.
DATA SOURCE AND ANALYSIS
We used recent bird records from 1990 to
2007 for the identifi cation of IBAs, based on a
compilation of recent records and a comprehen-
sive bibliography of publications and unpub-
lished reports (Eisermann and Avendaño 2006,
2007). Additional unpublished information was
compiled during fi ve national IBA workshops
with local specialists.
A recent vegetation mapping on a scale of
1:50 000 (MAGA 2006), based on aerial photo-
graphs from 2003, and the most recent human
population census data (INE 2002) were used
for spatial analyses. Software ArcView 3.2 was
used for all analyses.
To classify the urgency of conservation
action among IBAs, four indicators were used:
1) presence of globally threatened species , 2)
coverage of protected areas, 3) ratio between
unaltered and human-altered habitat within
the IBAs, and 4) expected considerable decrease
of the coverage of unaltered habitat in the near
future. We classifi ed conservation priority in
three categories:
Urgent
Site supports at least one globally Criticall y
Endangered or Endangered bird species, has
<50% unaltered habitat, and <10% coverage of
protected areas.
High
Site supports at least one globally threatened
(EN or VU) bird species, has <50% unaltered
habitat or <10% coverage of protected areas,
or coverage of unaltered habitat is assessed to
decrease considerably in the near future.
Medium
Coverage of protected areas is >10%, but site
has <50% of unaltered habitat independent of
the presence of globally threatened species, or
site has <10% protected area.
RESULTS
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Of the 725 bird species recorded in
Guatemala (Eisermann and Avendaño 2007),
92 species qualifi ed under one or several of the
IBA criteria A1, A2, and A3. This assemblage
includes four globally Endangered and four
Vulnerable species, two restricted-range species
of EBA17 and 23 species of EBA18, 12 biome-
restricted species of the Pacifi c Arid Slope, 49
species of the Madrean Highlands, and 27 spe-
cies of the Gulf Caribbean Slope (Appendix).
According to the 33% threshold, a site qualifi ed
as IBA when it supports populations of 8 spe-
cies of EBA18, 4 species of Pacifi c Arid Slope, 16
species of Madrean Highlands, or 9 species of
Gulf Caribbean Slope. Under criteria A4i-ii, 146
water and seabird species were considered, and
under criterion A4iv, 212 migratory bird species
which occur regularly in Guatemala.
A total of 21 IBAs were identifi ed in
Guatemala, of which 16 support popula-
tions of globally threatened species, 9 support
restricted-range species, and 18 support biome-
restricted species (Fig. 1, Appendix). Only two
IBAs support more than 1% of the biogeograph-
ical population of a waterbird species, which
are Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus), Bare-
throated Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum),
and Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) in the
IBA Maya-Lacandon (GT001), and American
White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in the
IBA Manchon-Guamuchal (GT020). Because of
a lack of data on the abundance of migratory
landbirds, no site qualifi ed under criterion A4iv.
The network of IBAs includes populations of all
but one of the key species of criteria A1, A2, and
A3. Black-throated Bobwhite (Colinus nigrogula-
ris) has been recorded historically in northern
Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference
318
Guatemala (van Tyne 1935, Taibel 1955), but has
not been reported recently.
The IBA network covers 51 884 km2 (48% of
Guatemala). The IBA size ranges from 4360 to 2
095 087 ha (Table 1). Of the total IBA area, 61.2%
(31 770 km2) is covered with unaltered habitat
(mainly old growth forest, natural scrub, and
wetlands), 38.3% (19 885 km2) is covered with
human-altered habitat (mainly agricultural
area and secondary growth scrub), and 0.5%
(229 km2) with urban area. Habitat distribution
within each IBA is presented in Table 1.
The Guatemalan system of protected
areas covers 32% (34 587 km2) of the country
(CONAP 2007). Of the 51 884 km2 identified as
IBA, 60% (31 000 km2) are located within pro-
tected areas. Consequently, 40% (22 884 km2)
are unprotected. The coverage of protected
areas in individual IBAs ranges from 0% to
100% (Table 1).
All Guatemalan IBAs have human settle-
ments. The population density within the IBAs
ranges from 3 to 295 persons per km2 (Table 1).
Population density is highest in the highlands
with favorable conditions for agriculture (fertile
soils and favorable climate). The northern Petén
belongs to the largest Neotropical forest area
north of the Amazon, with few people living in
the area.
In addition to the 21 IBAs identifi ed, seven
more sites are considered potential IBAs,
including one in pelagic waters off the Pacifi c
coast where two globally threatened seabird
species (Parkinson’s Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni
and Pink-footed Shearwater Puffi nus creato-
pus, both VU) occur apparently regularly (Jehl
1974, P. Velásquez and V. Dávila in Jones and
Komar 2008). More fi eld data are required to
assess the magnitude in which these species use
Guatemalan Pacifi c waters and to identify the
most important locations. More data are also
required for the designation of potential ter-
restrial sites, which are Xutilha (center point:
16.24ºN, 89.70ºW), Sierra de Chama (15.73ºN,
91.06ºW), Visis Caba (15.58ºN, 91.00ºW),
Tecuamburro Volcano (14.18ºN, 90.46ºW),
Suchitan Volcano (14.40ºN, 89.77ºW), and
Sipacate-Naranjo (13.92ºN, 91.10ºW) (Fig. 1).
PRIORITY-SETTING AMONG AND WITHIN IBAS
Because the area covered by IBAs in
Guatemala is extensive, we applied a further
prioritization among and within IBAs. Based
FIGURE 1. Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Guatemala. Criteria under which the site applied as IBA are given in
parenthesis: A1 (globally threatened species), A2 (restricted-range species), A3 (biome-restricted species), A4i
(at least 1% of the biogeographic population of a waterbird species).
Important Bird Areas in Guatemala—Eisermann and Avendaño 319
TABLE 1. CONSERVATION PRIORITIES IN GUATEMALAN IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS (IBAS).
Size of IBA (ha)
and % of legally
protected area
Unaltered habitat
(priority for protection)2
Altered habitat
(priority for
restoration) 2 Urban area (priority
for education) 2 Human popula-
tion density Priority for
conservation
IBA within IBA1(ha) (%) (ha) (%) (ha) (%) (persons per km2) 3 action4
GT001 Maya-Lacandon 2 095 087 (99%) 1 743 345 83 350 161 17 1581 0 3 high
GT002 Rio La Pasion 185 206 (100%) 88 633 48 95 863 52 710 0 16 medium
GT003 Chiquibul 145 036 (100%) 74 859 52 68 977 48 1200 1 20 medium
GT004 Cuilco 127 773 (0%) 20 241 16 107 408 84 125 0 105 medium
GT005 Cuchumatanes 303 813 (2.4%) 148 013 49 155 511 51 289 0 77 urgent
GT006 Cerro El Amay 45 173 (10%) 26 075 58 19 062 42 36 0 39 high
GT007 Sacranix 71 429 (0.3%) 32 417 45 38 949 55 63 0 75 medium
GT008 Lachua-Ikbolay 211 746 (7.3%) 97 407 46 114 138 54 202 0 31 medium
GT009 Candelaria-Campur 186 987 (0%) 62 926 34 123 740 66 320 0 53 medium
GT010 Yalijux 163 393 (1.9%) 33 677 21 129 398 79 317 0 92 high
GT011 Guatemalan Caribbean Slope 465 945 (35%) 286 127 61 175 900 38 3917 1 35 medium
GT012 Sierra de las Minas-Motagua 426 957(57%) 296 729 70 127 110 30 3118 1 51 medium
GT013 Tacana-Tajumulco 148 499 (12%) 35 209 24 112 227 76 1062 1 240 medium
GT014 Santiaguito Volcano 121 461 (21%) 34 811 29 85 314 70 1337 1 258 medium
GT015 Atitlan 276 869 (51%) 125 096 45 150 042 54 1731 1 265 medium
GT016 Antigua Guatemala 137 862 (30%) 35 092 26 96 372 70 6398 5 295 medium
GT017 Cerro Miramundo 5 564 (0%) 3 171 57 2 375 43 19 0 40 high
GT018 Montecristo 22 114 (98%) 8 588 39 13 235 60 292 1 60 medium
GT019 Lago de Güija 4 360 (0%) 1 780 41 2 580 59 0 0 12 medium
GT020 Manchon-Guamuchal 20 659 (6.1%) 11 918 58 8 698 42 44 0 28 medium
GT021 Monterrico-Rio La Paz 22 494 (11%) 10 919 49 11 468 51 107 162 medium
1 Based on the national registry of protected areas (CONAP 2007).
2 Based on a vegetation mapping on a scale of 1:50 000 (MAGA 2006).
3 Based on the most recent national population census (INE 2002).
4 Urgent–Site supports at least one globally Endangered bird species, has <50% unaltered habitat, and <10% coverage of protected areas., High–Site supports at least one globally threatened (EN or VU) bird species, has
<50% unaltered habitat or <10% coverage of protected areas, or ratio between unaltered vs. altered habitat is assessed to change considerably in the near future. Medium–Coverage of protected areas is >10%, but site has
less than 50% of unaltered habitat independent of the presence of globally threatened species, or site has <10% protected area.
Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference
320
on the presence of globally threatened spe-
cies, low coverage of protected areas, and high
percentage of altered habitat, or an expected
considerable decrease in the coverage of unal-
tered habitat in the near future, the IBAs
Cuchumatanes, Maya-Lacandon, Cerro El
Amay, Yalijux, and Cerro Miramundo have the
highest priority for conservation efforts (Table
1). The IBA Maya-Lacandon, despite being
almost entirely protected as Maya Biosphere
Reserve and several national parks, has a high
priority for conservation because a loss of 183
000 ha of forest (10% of this IBA) is expected if
all of the recently proposed road constructions
are carried out (Ramos et al. 2007).
In most IBAs, land ownership is a mixture
of state (e.g., national parks), communal (e.g.,
municipal parks and forest reserves of indig-
enous communities), and private property.
Unaltered habitat is fragmented throughout
Guatemala, covering in each IBA between 16%
and 83% (Table 1). The total area of unaltered
habitat within IBAs amounts to 31 770 km2 (29%
of the country), which has protection priority.
In areas within IBAs currently covered with
altered habitat (19 885 km2; 18% of the coun-
try), habitat restoration should be the pursued.
Urban area covers between 0% and 4.6% of each
IBA. The IBA Antigua Guatemala, for example,
includes the town of Antigua which is sur-
rounded by important highland forests. Towns
and rural settlements within IBAs have priority
for environmental education and the develop-
ment of alternative economic income in order to
lower the pressure on natural habitat.
DISCUSSION
This fi rst assessment of IBAs in Guatemala
is mainly based on distributional data of glob-
ally threatened, restricted-range, and biome-
restricted bird species. Only two IBAs qualifi ed
under the A4-criterion, supporting at least 1%
of the biogeographical population of waterbirds
or migratory landbirds. Because of a lack of
quantitative data, none of the IBAs qualifi ed as
bottleneck site for migrating landbirds.
Guatemalan IBAs are crucial for bird con-
servation in Central America because most
sites support populations of globally threat-
ened species. Populations of restricted-range
species, the second most critical assemblage
for conservation, are exclusively supported
by highland IBAs. Approximately 37 500 km2
(35%) of Guatemala belong to the high-
lands above 900 m, which is about 25% of
the Endemic Bird Area (EBA) North Central
American Highlands (Stattersfield et al.
1998). Some of the species restricted to this
EBA have a range restricted to the highlands
of Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico (Horned
Guan, Bearded Screech-Owl, Pink-headed
Warbler, Azure-rumped Tanager, and Black-
capped Siskin; scientific names are listed in
the Appendix), which highlights the responsi-
bility of Guatemala and the international com-
munity for the survival of these species.
Compared with other countries, IBA iden-
tifi cation in Guatemala resulted in a rather
high coverage of almost half of the country. In
Ecuador, for example, IBAs cover about 36% of
the country (Boyla and Estrada 2005). To focus
conservation efforts in Guatemalan IBAs exclu-
sively on remaining unaltered habitat – which
equals 61% of the IBA area or 29% of the coun-
try – is very likely insuffi cient for the long-term
survival of all 97 key species of criteria A1, A2,
and A3. The habitat of several species (e.g.,
Highland Guan and Azure-rumped Tanager)
has been considerably reduced by human activ-
ity. Until reasonable population viability assess-
ments indicate the contrary, we must assume
that habitat restoration is necessary for the sur-
vival of these populations. This is challenging in
an agricultural country with a rapidly growing
human population. The Guatemalan population
has increased 35% from 1994 to 2002 (INE 2002),
and it is expected to double from 2010 to 2050 to
a total of 27.9 million (CEPAL 2007).
We believe that the designation of large
IBAs, including those in or with altered habitat,
has advantages for conservation in Guatemala.
Because of the mixed land ownership in the
IBAs, all parts of the Guatemalan society are
involved in this conservation effort. BirdLife
International’s designation of IBAs carries no
legal status. It is rather a certifi cation of globally
important sites that can encourage more private
landowners to take pride and protect habitat.
The high number of recently declared private
nature reserves in Guatemala (79 of 94 new
protected areas established from 2001 to 2006,
CONAP 2007), indicates that the private sector
is sensitive to conservation concerns. The affi lia-
tion of a property within an IBA can be useful to
promote alternative land uses, for example low
impact tourism (e.g., birdwatching) or conser-
vation science research.
The principal conservation goals in
Guatemalan IBAs are to 1) lower the rate of
loss of unaltered habitat, and 2) increase the
coverage of restored habitat. National veg-
etation cover mappings like MAGA (2006)
and future updates may serve as monitoring
tools, together with local bird monitoring pro-
grams. Some areas are currently in the focus of
regional conservation funding, e.g., the volcanic
belt, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Sierra de las
Important Bird Areas in Guatemala—Eisermann and Avendaño 321
Minas, and Maya Biosphere Reserve, supported
by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and
Tropical Forest Conservation Act. Other areas
have been ignored so far, like the highlands of
the provinces Quiché and Alta Verapaz (IBAs
Cerro El Amay, Lachua-Ikbolay, Candelaria-
Campur, Sacranix, and Yalijux).
No general recipe can be given to achieve
the conservation goals, because local conditions
vary widely among the Guatemalan IBAs (e.g.,
human population density, cultural traditions,
landownership, local economies, and habitat dis-
tribution). To fi nd common denominators among
local interests requires the involvement of all
local stakeholders—local government agencies,
community councils, non-governmental organi-
zations, enterprises, and academic institutions.
A basic requirement for IBA conservation is
to raise the education level of the Guatemalan
society. Currently, 28% of the Guatemalan
population aged 15 years and older are illiter-
ate, which is the second highest rate in Latin
America and the Caribbean (CEPAL 2007). An
increased education level will most likely lead
to a smaller rate of population increase, elevate
the environmental awareness, and consequently
lower the pressure on natural habitat.
Some IBAs require urgent action in the short
term to be saved. Governance needs to be re-
established in the northwest of the IBA Maya-
Lacandon (ParksWatch 2005), and reserve
management needs to be initiated or improved
in several protected areas. Agricultural diver-
sifi cation with high value crops may lead to a
more effi cient land use, decreasing the pressure
on natural areas. The cultivation of bio-fuel
crops needs to be regulated, otherwise exten-
sive forest areas are threatened to be converted
into bio-fuel fi elds.
Tourism may contribute to conservation if
conducted in a responsible manner. Recently,
birding tourism is becoming more popular in
Guatemala. Involved people need to be edu-
cated about how to avoid negative impacts
(Sekercioglu 2002), especially on threatened
species. To increase funds for conservation, the
value of biodiversity needs to be further pro-
moted on the political level, both nationally and
internationally.
Research focused on population dynam-
ics may provide deeper insight in species’
requirements for their long-term survival. It is a
responsibility of scientists to provide this infor-
mation, not just within scientifi c circles, but also
among the general public and the state’s execu-
tive power. Birdwatchers can contribute to the
study of Guatemalan birds by submitting bird
records to eBird Guatemala, an online data stor-
age developed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
and National Audubon Society (http://ebird.
org/content/guatemala/).
We hope that the IBAs will be useful as
a guideline to focus conservation efforts in
Guatemala, be it on the national level, for
instance by focusing incentives for primary for-
est conservation and reforestation paid by the
National Forest Institute, or on the international
level by providing funding for conservation
action.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The identifi cation of Guatemalan IBAs
was possible through information provided
by all authors and their supporting institu-
tions publishing about Guatemalan birds. We
appreciate the input of unpublished informa-
tion by participants of the IBA workshops in
Guatemala, critical discussions by the partici-
pants of the Symposium “Import ant areas for
conservation (IBA–Important Bird Areas and
KBA–Key Biodiversity Areas) in Mesoamerica”
(X Congress of the Sociedad Mesoamericana
para la Biología y la Conservación, Antigua
Guatemala, 1-2 November 2006), comments
on a preliminary report provided by Jaime
García-Moreno, Jason Berry, Matt Foster, and
Ruth Jiménez of Conservation International,
Washington D.C.; Estuardo Secaira of The
Nature Conservancy-Guatemala, Raquel
Sigüenza of San Carlos University, Guatemala
City; and Mario Jolón. Regional adaptations
of the methodology were facilitated by the
Central American IBA Technical Committee
(Belize–Bruce Miller, Costa Rica–Juan Criado
and Julio Sánchez, El Salvador–Oliver Komar,
Guatemala–Knut Eisermann, Panama–George
Angehr). We thank Rob Clay and David Díaz of
BirdLife International for guiding the IBA iden-
tifi cation in Central America, and Rob Clay for
presenting this paper at the IV International PIF
Conference in McAllen, TX. The identifi cation of
IBAs in Guatemala was funded by U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Critical Ecosystem Partnership
Fund, BirdLife International, Conservation
International, Wildlife Conservation Society-
Guatemala, PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring
Program, IUCN Mesoamerica, Partners in Flight
(PIF) Mesoamerica, Sociedad Guatemalteca
de Ornitología, Audubon Panama, Ramsar
Regional Center for Training and Research on
Wetlands in the Western Hemisphere (CREHO),
International Cooperation Department of the
Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS),
and Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas
(CONAP), Guatemala. We appreciate the
review of the manuscript by Terrell D. Rich and
the improvements in English usage made by
Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference
322
Chandler Robbins through the Association of
Field Ornithologists’ program of editorial assis-
tance.
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Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference
324
APPENDIX. CONTINUED.
Species1
Globally threatened
(A1)/Restricted-
range (A2)/Biome-
restricted (A3)2
Number of
IBAs where
the species
occurs
regularly IBAs where the species
occurs regularly3
Plain Chachalaca
Ortalis vetula
–/–/GCS 12 GT001, GT002, GT003, GT004, GT005,
GT006, GT007, GT008, GT009, GT010,
GT011, GT012
White-bellied Chachalaca
Ortalis leucogastra
–/EBA17/PAS 6 GT014, GT015, GT018, GT019, GT020,
GT021
Highland Guan
Penelopina nigra
VU/EBA18/MAH 12 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT011,
GT010, GT012, GT013, GT014, GT015,
GT016, GT018
Horned Guan
Oreophasis derbianus
EN/EBA18/MAH 7 GT005, GT006, GT012, GT013, GT014,
GT015, GT016
Ocellated Turkey
Meleagris ocellata
–/–/GCS 1 GT001
Black-throated Bobwhite
Colinus nigrogularis
–/–/GCS 0 –
Ocellated Quail
Cyrtonyx ocellatus
–/EBA18/MAH 3 GT010, GT013, GT015
White-faced Quail-Dove
Geotrygon albifacies
–/–/MAH 9 GT006, GT007, GT011, GT010, GT012,
GT014, GT015, GT017, GT018
Red-throated Parakeet
Aratinga holochlora rubritorquis
–/EBA18/MAH 1 GT0012
Orange-fronted Parakeet
Aratinga canicularis
–/–/PAS 6 GT004, GT012, GT014, GT015, GT019,
GT021
Yellow-lored Parrot
Amazona xantholora
–/–/GCS 1 GT001
Yellow-headed Parrot
Amazona oratrix
EN/–/– 1 GT011
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo
Morococcyx erythropygus
–/–/PAS 1 GT012
Pacifi c Screech-Owl
Megascops cooperi
–/–/PAS 2 GT020, GT021
Whiskered Screech-Owl
Megascops trichopsis
–/–/MAH 2 GT015, GT018
Bearded Screech-Owl
Megascops barbarus
–/EBA18/MAH 2 GT004, GT010
Fulvous Owl
Strix fulvescens
–/EBA18/MAH 5 GT010, GT012, GT014, GT015, GT018
Yucatan Poorwill
Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus
–/–/GCS 1 GT001
Yucatan Nightjar
Caprimulgus badius
–/–/GCS 1 GT011
Great Swallow-tailed Swift
Panyptila sanctihieronymi
–/–/MAH 1 GT016
Wedge-tailed Sabrewing
Campylopterus curvipennis
–/–/GCS 4 GT001, GT008, GT009, GT011
Rufous Sabrewing
Campylopterus rufus
–/EBA18/MAH 3 GT013, GT015, GT016
Emerald-chinned Hummingbird
Abeillia abeillei
–/–/MAH 7 GT007, GT010, GT012, GT014, GT015,
GT016, GT017
White-eared Hummingbird
Hylocharis leucotis
–/–/MAH 11 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT010,
GT012, GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017,
GT018
Blue-tailed Hummingbird
Amazilia cyanura
–/EBA17/PAS 3 GT014, GT015, GT016
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Amazilia yucatanensis
–/–/GCS 1 GT001
Green-fronted Hummingbird
Amazilia viridifrons
–/–/PAS 2GT004, GT005
APPENDIX. GLOBALLY THREATENED, RESTRICTED-RANGE, AND BIOME-RESTRICTED SPECIES CRITICAL FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF
IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS IN GUATEMALA.
Important Bird Areas in Guatemala—Eisermann and Avendaño 325
APPENDIX. CONTINUED.
Species1
Globally threatened
(A1)/Restricted-
range (A2)/Biome-
restricted (A3)2
Number of
IBAs where
the species
occurs
regularly IBAs where the species
occurs regularly3
Green-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis viridipallens
–/EBA18/MAH 13 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT011,
GT010, GT012, GT013, GT014, GT015,
GT016, GT017, GT018
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird
Lampornis amethystinus
–/–/MAH 10 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT010,
GT012, GT014, GT015, GT016, GT018
Garnet-throated Hummingbird
Lamprolaima rhami
–/–/MAH 10 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT010,
GT012, GT014, GT015, GT016, GT018
Slender Sheartail
Doricha enicura
–/EBA18/MAH 4 GT007, GT010, GT016, GT018
Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird
Tilmatura dupontii
–/–/MAH 5 GT007, GT011, GT010, GT014, GT015
Wine-throated Hummingbird
Atthis ellioti
–/EBA18/MAH 6 GT007, GT010, GT012, GT014, GT015,
GT018
Mountain Trogon
Trogon mexicanus
–/–/MAH 9 GT004, GT005, GT007, GT010, GT012,
GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017
Blue-throated Motmot
Aspatha gularis
–/EBA18/MAH 10 GT004, GT006, GT007, GT010, GT012,
GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017, GT018
Russet-crowned Motmot
Momotus mexicanus
–/–/PAS 2 GT004, GT012
Keel-billed Motmot
Electron carinatum
VU/–/GCS 5 GT001, GT003, GT008, GT011, GT012
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
Celeus castaneus
–/–/GCS 6 GT001, GT002, GT003, GT007, GT008,
GT011
Tawny-winged Woodcreeper
Dendrocincla anabatina
–/–/GCS 7 GT001, GT002, GT003, GT005, GT007,
GT008, GT011
Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet
Ornithion semifl avum
–/–/GCS 7 GT001, GT002, GT003, GT007, GT008,
GT009, GT011
Belted Flycatcher
Xenotriccus callizonus
–/EBA18/MAH 2 GT005, GT015
Greater Pewee
Contopus pertinax
–/–/MAH 9 GT004, GT005, GT011, GT010, GT012,
GT014, GT015, GT016, GT018
Pine Flycatcher
Empidonax affi nis
–/–/MAH 3 GT005, GT010, GT015
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Empidonax fulvifrons
–/–/MAH 7 GT005, GT006, GT010, GT012, GT015,
GT016, GT018
Yucatan Flycatcher
Myiarchus yucatanensis
–/–/GCS 1 GT001
Nutting’s Flycatcher
Myiarchus nuttingi
–/–/PAS 3 GT012, GT019, GT021
Couch’s Kingbird
Tyrannus couchii
–/–/GCS 4 GT001, GT007, GT008, GT009
Lovely Cotinga
Cotinga amabilis
–/–/GCS 5 GT001, GT007, GT008, GT009, GT011
White-collared Manakin
Manacus candei
–/–/GCS 8 GT001, GT002, GT005, GT007, GT008,
GT009, GT011, GT010
Long-tailed Manakin
Chiroxiphia linearis
–/–/PAS 2 GT014, GT015
Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo
Vireolanius melitophrys
–/–/MAH 6 GT004, GT010, GT014, GT015, GT016,
GT018
White-throated Magpie-Jay
Calocitta formosa
–/–/PAS 7 GT004, GT012, GT013, GT014, GT015,
GT019, GT021
Bushy-crested Jay
Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
–/EBA18/MAH 9 GT006, GT007, GT010, GT012, GT013,
GT014, GT015, GT016, GT018
Yucatan Jay
Cyanocorax yucatanicus
–/–/GCS 1 GT001
Black-throated Jay
Cyanolyca pumilo
–/EBA18/MAH 9GT004, GT005, GT007, GT010, GT012,
GT014, GT015, GT017, GT018
Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference
326
APPENDIX. CONTINUED.
Species1
Globally threatened
(A1)/Restricted-
range (A2)/Biome-
restricted (A3)2
Number of
IBAs where
the species
occurs
regularly IBAs where the species
occurs regularly3
Unicolored Jay
Aphelocoma unicolor
–/–/MAH 5 GT005, GT012, GT014, GT015, GT018
Black-capped Swallow
Notiochelidon pileata
–/EBA18/MAH 10 GT005, GT006, GT007, GT010, GT012,
GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017, GT018
Banded Wren
Thryothorus pleurostictus
–/–/PAS 3 GT004, GT012, GT014
Rufous-browed Wren
Troglodytes rufociliatus
–/EBA18/MAH 11 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT010,
GT012, GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017,
GT018
Nightingale Wren
Microcerculus philomela
–/–/GCS 5 GT005, GT007, GT008, GT009, GT011
Brown-backed Solitaire
Myadestes occidentalis
–/–/MAH 11 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT010,
GT012, GT013, GT014, GT015, GT016,
GT017
Slate-colored Solitaire
Myadestes unicolor
–/–/MAH 10 GT005, GT006, GT007, GT008, GT011,
GT010, GT012, GT014, GT015, GT018
Black Thrush
Turdus infuscatus
–/–/MAH 10 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT010,
GT012, GT014, GT015, GT016, GT018
Rufous-collared Thrush
Turdus rufi torques
–/EBA18/MAH 10 GT004, GT005, GT007, GT010, GT012,
GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017, GT018
Blue-and-white Mockingbird
Melanotis hypoleucus
–/EBA18/MAH 7 GT007, GT010, GT012, GT014, GT015,
GT016, GT018
Gray Silky-fl ycatcher
Ptilogonys cinereus
–/–/MAH 10 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT010,
GT012, GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017
Olive Warbler
Peucedramus taeniatus
–/–/MAH 7 GT004, GT007, GT010, GT012, GT014,
GT015, GT016
Crescent-chested Warbler
Parula superciliosa
–/–/MAH 10 GT004, GT005, GT010, GT012, GT013,
GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017, GT018
Golden-cheeked Warbler
Dendroica chrysoparia
EN/–/– 1 GT012
Cerulean Warbler
Dendroica cerulea
VU/–/– 2 GT001, GT011
Red-faced Warbler
Cardellina rubrifrons
–/–/MAH 5 GT004, GT010, GT015, GT016, GT018
Pink-headed Warbler
Ergaticus versicolor
VU/EBA18/MAH 8 GT004, GT005, GT010, GT012, GT014,
GT015, GT016, GT017
Painted Redstart
Myioborus pictus
–/–/MAH 6 GT004, GT005, GT012, GT015, GT016,
GT018
Golden-browed Warbler
Basileuterus belli
–/–/MAH 11 GT004, GT005, GT007, GT010, GT012,
GT013, GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017,
GT018
Gray-throated Chat
Granatellus sallaei
–/–/GCS 3 GT001, GT002, GT008
Black-throated Shrike-Tanager
Lanio aurantius
–/–/GCS 6 GT001, GT002, GT007, GT008, GT009,
GT011
Rose-throated Tanager
Piranga roseogularis
–/–/GCS 1 GT001
Crimson-collared Tanager
Ramphocelus sanguinolentus
–/–/GCS 8 GT001, GT005, GT006, GT007, GT008,
GT009, GT011, GT010
Passerini’s Tanager
Ramphocelus passerinii
–/–/GCS 8 GT001, GT002, GT003, GT005, GT007,
GT008, GT009, GT011
Azure-rumped Tanager
Tangara cabanisi
EN/EBA18/MAH 3 GT013, GT014, GT015
Cinnamon-bellied Flower-piercer
Diglossa baritula
–/–/MAH 10 GT004, GT005, GT007, GT010, GT012,
GT014, GT015, GT016, GT017, GT018
Green-backed Sparrow
Arremonops chloronotus
–/–/GCS 7
GT001, GT002, GT003, GT007, GT008,
GT009, GT011
Important Bird Areas in Guatemala—Eisermann and Avendaño 327
APPENDIX. CONTINUED.
Species1
Globally threatened
(A1)/Restricted-
range (A2)/Biome-
restricted (A3)2
Number of
IBAs where
the species
occurs
regularly IBAs where the species
occurs regularly3
White-eared Ground-Sparrow
Melozone leucotis
–/EBA18/– 3 GT014, GT015, GT016
Black-vented Oriole
Icterus wagleri
–/–/MAH 6 GT004, GT005, GT006, GT015, GT016,
GT018
Bar-winged Oriole
Icterus maculialatus
–/EBA18/MAH 3 GT015, GT016, GT018
Black-cowled Oriole
Icterus prosthemelas
–/–/GCS 7 GT001, GT002, GT007, GT008, GT009,
GT011, GT012
Yellow-winged Cacique
Cacicus melanicterus
–/–/PAS 2 GT020, GT021
Montezuma Oropendola
Psarocolius montezuma
–/–/GCS 7 GT001, GT002, GT003, GT007, GT008,
GT009, GT011
Olive-backed Euphonia
Euphonia gouldi
–/–/GCS 6 GT001, GT002, GT007, GT008, GT009,
GT011
Blue-crowned Chlorophonia
Chlorophonia occipitalis
–/–/MAH 10 GT005, GT007, GT011, GT010, GT012,
GT013, GT014, GT015, GT016, GT018
Black-capped Siskin
Carduelis atriceps
–/EBA18/MAH 5 GT005, GT010, GT014, GT015, GT016
Hooded Grosbeak
Coccothraustes abeillei
–/–/MAH 8 GT005, GT007, GT010, GT014, GT015,
GT016, GT017, GT018
1Nomenclature according to AOU (1998) and supplements, AOU (2008) being the last supplement reviewed.
2Globally threatened species according to IUCN (2007): VU–Vulnerable, EN–Endangered; Restricted-range species according to Stattersfi eld et
al. (1998), and decisions of the Central American IBA Technical Committee: EBA17–North Central American Pacifi c Slope; EBA18–North Central
American Highland; r-r–restricted range outside of Endemic Bird Areas; Biome-restricted species according to a classifi cation by Stotz et al. (1996)
and a revision of the Central American IBA Technical Committee: GCS–Gulf Caribbean Slope; PAS–Pacifi c Arid Slope; MAH–Madrean Highland.
3IBA code according to Table 1.
