The Horned Guan Quest...

Visitor Center at San Pedro Volcano Ecological Park
Photo by Maynor Ovando

Guatemala’s most wanted bird to see bird is definitely Horned Guan. One of the most threatened bird in the world, confined to some deciduous forest above 6000 ft. In field this means volcanoes and the easiest access place to look for it is San Pedro Volcano.
A wonderful groups of birding friends looking for the mythic Horned Guan...
Front: Maynor Ovando, Eduardo Galicia, Barbara Dowell, Bryan Bland, Alexis Cerezo
Back: Lemuel Valle, Jeff Gordon, Dave DeSante, Chandler Robbins
March 2007
Photo by Byron Gonzalez


This is me walking in the trails.
Photo by Benedicto Grijalva

The hike takes 4 hours at a birding pace because the site is full of birds; my bird list has more than 150 bird species including Unicolored Jay, Blue-throated Motmot, Bushy-crested Jay, Mountain Trogon, Prevost’s Ground-sparrow, Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo, Yellow-eyed Junco, Gray-breasted Wood-wren, Slate-throated Redstart and many Neartic migrants…
Slate-throated Redstart
Photo by Benedicto Grijalva

Even though the physical effort is high and the trail has steps most of the path, but the amazing views of Atitlan Lake, the great birds on the way, the chance to observe this cracid and the adrenaline rushing in your blood makes the trip worth it.

Steps along the trail...
Photo by Maynor Ovando

Views of Atitlan Lake

Photo by Maynor Ovando

After 4 hours hiking this is a "good sign"...
Photo by Maynor Ovando

A priceless reward after hard hiking...
Photo by Lemuel Valle


Posted by Maynor Ovando

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