


Top 20 Most Common Bird in Quetzaltenango
In the highlands of Quetzaltenango, biodiversity is rich, marked by a delightful array of bird species. Of these, 20 birds are particularly common, each bearing unique traits. From the vibrant plumage of the Resplendent Quetzal to the melodious songs of the Blue-and-white Mockingbird. Gaze at the agile flights of Rufous-collared Sparrows or admire the flamboyant dances of the Pink-headed Warbler. Behold these heart plants of Quetzaltenango, a testament to the region's vibrant ecosystem.

Most Common Bird

1. Rufous-collared Robin
The rufous-collared thrush (Turdus rufitorques) is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is endemic to highlands of Middle America, south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, occurring in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Chiapas state in Mexico. Its closest relative is the American robin, and like that species, it is found in varied habitats, from towns to forest. It is, however, restricted to highland areas with at least some trees. It is also known as the rufous-collared robin.


2. Steller's Jay
Steller's Jays are loud, large jays that live mostly in evergreen forests. Their "song" is a horrible screeching call, but they are also great mimics that can copy the sounds of other birds, dogs, cats, chickens, etc. Notorious nest-robbers, they are well-known for attacking and killing small adult birds, nestlings, and taking off with other birds' eggs.

3. Northern Flicker
In the search of its favorite food—ants—the northern Flicker often forages leaf litter and tree bark, which makes it the only ground forager in the woodpecker group. It's a migratory species, which is quite a rare behavior for woodpeckers, as well. The northern Flicker has an eastern (yellow-shafted) and a western (red-shafted) form. It lays a large number of eggs - the known record is 71 eggs in 73 days.

4. Rufous-collared Sparrow
The rufous-collared Sparrow is a small songbird known for its pleasant vocalization and numerous "dialects." The songs peak at dawn and some individuals can sing continuously for half an hour. Found in a wide range of habitats and comfortable around humans, this ground-feeding bird is easily approachable. On the other hand, it's aggressive towards other birds that enter its territory. Individuals have their favorite perching spot where they appear repeatedly.

5. White-eared Hummingbird
The white-eared hummingbird (Basilinna leucotis) is a small hummingbird. It is 9–10 cm long, and weighs approximately 3-4 g. Adults are colored predominantly green on their upperparts and breast. The undertail coverts are predominantly white. The tail is bronze green and straight. The most prominent feature is the white eyestripe found in both males and females. The bill of the male is straight and very slender. These hummers occur as far south as Cabo San Lucas in the Baja, Their bill is slightly decurved. It is red in coloration, and shows a black tip. His throat is a metallic turquoise green. His crown and face is violet and black. The female is less colorful than the male. The breeding habitat is in pine oak forests from southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas through the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental of northern Mexico and the Cordillera Neovolcanica of southern Mexico to southern Nicaragua. It is a common species over much of its range and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It is a rare but regular summer resident in the Madrean sky islands of southeastern Arizona, rarer and less regular in southwestern New Mexico and western Texas in the United States. These birds feed on nectar from flowers and flowering trees using a long extendable tongue and catch insects and other small invertebrates on the wing or by gleaning from bark, leaves, and other surfaces.


6. Spotted Towhee
The spotted Towhee is a large sparrow found in sunny, open forests and recognizable by its distinctive two-footed hop. A ground dweller, it scratches the ground in search of food. Regarded as an extremely vocal bird, its song varies according to geographical location. During the breeding season, the male spends more than 70% of its mornings singing, trying to attract the female.

7. Black Vulture
Although quite dapper in appearance, the black Vulture's name comes from the Latin vulturus meaning “tearer" and that is just what that hooked beak is for. These birds are highly social, with fierce family loyalty and will share food with relatives and with their young long after the babies have fledged. Because they lack a voice box, their calls are limited to grunts and hisses.

8. Blue-and-white Mockingbird
The blue-and-white mockingbird (Melanotis hypoleucus) is a species of bird in the family Mimidae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and south-eastern Mexico. Its natural habitats are dry scrubland, woodland, second growth and forest edges at 1000–3000 m above sea-level. It is about 25 cm long. It has blue-grey upperparts, white underparts, red eyes and a black mask. The song is high-pitched and rattling.


9. Brown-backed Solitaire
The brown-backed solitaire (Myadestes occidentalis) is considered a thrush and is placed in the family Turdidae. It is a medium-sized bird about 21 centimeters (8 inches) long. It is a mostly grayish bird with brown flight feathers (hence the "brown back" when it is perched), a white eye ring and white rectrices (tail) feathers.


10. Band-tailed Pigeon
The band-tailed Pigeon inhabits mixed coniferous forests as well as suburban backyards and parks. These birds travel in flocks searching for their favorite foods like nuts, seeds, and the occasional fruit; these flocks have been known to consist of several hundred birds at one time! The song of the band-tailed Pigeon is slow and resembles the call of an owl.

11. Wilson's Warbler
Wilson's warbler is a small passerine, ranging from 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in) in length, with a wingspan of 14–17 cm (5.5–6.7 in) and a mass of 5–10 g (0.18–0.35 oz). It has a plain green-brown back and yellow underparts. The male has a small black cap. Males of the western race C. p. chryseola are greener above and brighter than males of the eastern, nominate race. Individuals from Alaska and the west-central portion of the species' range average slightly larger than those found in eastern and Pacific coastal populations. Its song is a chattering series of loud descending notes. The call is a flat "chuff". The Wilson's warbler resembles the yellow warbler: the latter is readily distinguished by its different shape, yellow wing markings, and yellow tail spots.


12. Band-backed Wren
This large wren breeds in lowlands and foothills from sea level up to 1700 m altitude in thinned forest or open woodland, scrub, second growth and groves around houses. It mainly occurs on the Caribbean side of the Central American mountain ranges. Its large spherical nest has a wide side entrance and is constructed 2 – 30 m high in a tree or shrub, often hidden amidst bromeliads. The female alone incubates the three to five unmarked or lightly brown-spotted white eggs for about two weeks to hatching, and the young fledge in about the same length of time again. After breeding, families sleep together in dormitory nests like those used for breeding throughout the year. The adult band-backed wren is 16.5 cm long and weighs 29 g. It has a brown-grey crown, black nape, and the rest of the upperparts and tail are heavily barred with black, tawny and white. The breast and throat are white, heavily spotted with black, and the belly is cinnamon. Young birds have duller upperparts and off-white to buff underparts. This species has a short rasping zek call. The song is a mix of dry chatters, splutters and gurgles. The band-backed wren forages actively in family groups of 4-12 birds. It eats mainly insects, spiders and other invertebrates.


13. Townsend's Warbler
Townsend's warbler has a yellow face with a black stripe across its cheeks extending into an ear patch, a thin pointed bill, two white wing bars, olive upperparts with black streaks on their backs and flanks, and a white belly. Adult males have a black cap, black throat and yellow lower breast; females have a dark cap and a yellow throat. Immature birds are similar to females with a dark green cap and cheeks.


14. House Wren
Watch out for the small yet aggressive house Wrens; they are extremely territorial and think nothing of harassing other birds and their nestlings if they want to take their spot! They have been known to kill nestlings and even adult birds to get a nest hole they want. Once house Wrens lay eggs, the nest needs to stay below 100 degrees and above 65 degrees or the eggs will not survive—this could be the reason they are so particular about their nesting spots.

15. Mexican Violetear
The Mexican violetear is roughly medium-sized by hummingbird standards. It averages around 9.7 to 12 cm (3.8 to 4.7 in) in total length. Its bill is black and mostly straight with only a slight downward curve and measures from 1.8 to 2.5 cm (0.71 to 0.98 in). The body mass can vary from 4.8 to 5.6 g (0.17 to 0.20 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 5.8 to 6.8 cm (2.3 to 2.7 in) and the tail is 3.5 to 4.3 cm (1.4 to 1.7 in). The bird has a wingspan of 12 cm. It is shining green above with a glittering violet ear-patch on the sides of its neck. Its throat and chest are a glittering green with a shining green belly. The tail is a metallic blue-green with more bronzy central feathers and a prominent black subterminal band.


16. Rufous-browed Wren
The rufous-browed wren (Troglodytes rufociliatus) is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.


17. Grey Silky-flycatcher
The grey silky-flycatcher or grey silky (Ptiliogonys cinereus), is a species of bird in the family Ptiliogonatidae. It is usually found only in Guatemala and Mexico, but vagrants have turned up in the southern United States. It is found in montane forest and adjacent scrub, both mesic and xeric.


18. Eastern Bluebird
The tiny, distinctively-colored eastern Bluebird can often be seen in the countryside and other suburban, open areas. These small thrushes love nest boxes and so-called "bluebird trails" - a series of birdhouses put up especially for them along a certain route. These trails are part of conservation efforts that have helped to reverse their decline in population between the 1940s and the 1970s.

19. Slate-throated Redstart
The slate-throated whitestart is a long-tailed warbler measuring 12 cm (4.7 in) long. It has a deep rufous head, dark back, and contrasting bright yellow breast, belly and white vent and tail tips. The bill is black, and the legs are blackish-gray. While most of its plumage changes little throughout its large range, the underparts grade from yellow in most of its range, to red in the northernmost part.


20. Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer
The cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer (Diglossa baritula) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest. It is a species known to be a nectar robber, apparently taking nectar while not pollinating the plant.
