An update on the inventory, distribution and residency status of bird species in Guatemala

Bird Diversity Patterns in the Nuclear Central American Highlands: A Conservation Priority in the Northern Neotropics

“…The montane systems of the region, known as the Nuclear Central American Highlands (NCAH), are often considered a biogeographical unit given the general distribution of several components of its fauna (e.g., Halffter, 1978; Morrone, 2001; Olson et al., 2001; Savage, 1966). Previous works have documented the species richness and overall distribution of birds in selected areas of the region, most of them supported by specimen records in scientific collections worldwide, like those for Chiapas (Álvarez del Toro, 1964, 1971; González-García, 1993), Guatemala (Eisermann & Avendaño, 2018; Jolón-Morales, 2005; Land, 1962, 1970), Honduras (Stone, 1932), El Salvador (Dickey & van Rossem, 1938; Komar, 1998), Nicaragua (T. R. Howell, 2010), northern Central America (Peterson, Escalona-Segura, & Griffith, 1998), and Central America as a whole (T. R. Howell, 1969; Salvin & Godman, 1879–1904). However, there is an information gap in occurrence records (specimens and observations) during the last three decades of the 20th century that has been largely attributed to regional sociopolitical conflicts that prevented field expeditions from traveling to these sites (e.g., local wars, Peterson et al., 1998).…”

Insights for protection of high species richness areas for the conservation of Mesoamerican endemic birds

“…In this study, we focus on endemic bird species as indicators of overall diversity patterns across the region because Mesoamerica has high levels of endemism for birds (Eissermann & Avendaño, 2018; García‐Moreno, Cortés, García‐Deras, & Hernández‐Baños, 2006; Navarro‐Sigüenza & Sánchez‐González, 2003; Peterson, Escalona‐Segura, & Griffith, 1998; Peterson et al., 2003; Prieto‐Torres et al., 2019; Sánchez‐González, Morrone, & Navarro‐Sigüenza, 2008; Sánchez‐Ramos et al., 2018). Therefore, considering that endemic species reflect a unique history of the Earth and its biota, failure to protect them would result in major losses of unique species diversity for this highly threatened region and its ecosystems.…”

Full Issue

“…This is especially evident on the Caribbean slope of Mexico where the species has clearly benefitted from removal and thinning of tropical deciduous and evergreen forests (Keddy- Hector et al 2014Hector et al , 2017. Deforestation may also account for its increasing presence in Guatemala (Eisermann & Avendaño 2018) and perhaps other parts of Central America.…”

“…2). The species has also been observed and is probably resident in El Salvador (Jones & Komar 2006), Guatemala (Eisermann & Avendaño 2018) and Honduras (Marcus 1983). Aplomado Falcons were first Bull reported from Costa Rica in 1980, and there have been more recent sight records, mostly of subadults suggesting these are either vagrants or the product of local resident pairs (Koford et al 1980, Jones & Komar 2011, eBird 2018.…”