What to expect: Montane & subtropical humid forest. Important bird area, extensive green area, outdoor activities, great landscape, mountains, caves, dry rivers of lava, ascending trail, impressive scenic views to the volcanoes fuego, acatenango, pacaya, agua.
Finca el Amate is a private reserve since 1959 located at the montane forest with a transition within the subtropical forest the lowlands of the pacific slope. Located at south of National Park Volcano Pacaya, Aldea los Positos, Villa Canales, Guatemala city. (photo sendero el pinal)
It protects about (206) acres, it is a key site for the birding community the target birds here are: Crested bobwhite, Botteri´s Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Rock Wren, Lesser road runner & many other important resident & mirgratories birds species, some of them endemic to the highland region of Guatemala, as well Flora & Fauna, impressive landscape to the active volcano Pacaya at night is a great show of lights op top ot the active pacaya and nice place watching stars! El Amate farm ideal for research activities and scientific studies and sustainable economic development . Now since June 2019 open the door to the tourism and nature lovers, birdwatchers, photographers, camping, and others outdoor activities.Whiskered screech owl photo Mario Trejo
BIRDS OF EL AMATE
209 bird species many endemic reginal. And 258 birdchecklist. This area is a key migrational corridor for neotropical migratory birds as well as a refuge for resident endangered species such as the Burrowing Owl, Crested Bobwhite and the Rock Wren. Many migrants such as the hummingbirds, tanagers, and orioles are essentially tropical having originally evolved in the neotropics. melodious blackbird, band back wren,rufous naped wren, cabanisis wren, Botteri´s Sparrow, Chipping sparrow, Rufous collared sparrow, Savannah sparrow, whiskered screech owl, great horned owl, ferruginous pygmy owl, lesser road runner and meny others
NEW DISCOVER: finding of the Burrowing Owl was a big news in Central America these spcies was on the lave rock of the volcano Pacaya at farm El Amate. The first for and last register for Guatemala is recorded at birds of Guatemala book at the museum of Chicago Nautral History since 1907. Phto Pablo Ligorria. January 2020
These photo was taken in a stron windy day the Guatemalan Birders Juan Pablo, Carlos Echeverria and Pablo Chumil where more lucky than the other birders due the weather condition.
Recommended Trails: La Aurorita a short walk to see motmots, oriols, nice lookout point, good for owling (Whiskered Screech owl, photo Mario Trejo)
Sendero el Pinal the longest trail at the high part, home of the chipping sparrow and other migratories, with great views to the volcanoes you might get there by truck for a early birding.
Sendero Rock wren An asy short and flat trail, the Rock wren is the most abundant bird by the old river of lava and all over the area around the main house. Easily you can see and eard crested bobwhite and Boterri´s Sparrows.
Birdwatching Story at Finca el Amate Birding
The Guatemalan Bird Conservation team visit the farm on June 27 2019 set a new record for the farm including new bird species and has made the first record for Chipping Sparrow before these Mario Trejo from Salvador register the botteri´s sparrow wich is the first record at the south of Guatemala . Now the eBird hotspot for Finca el Amate alone boasts 135 birds species 74 checklist, and keep growing with resident and migratory birds, you will need a couple of days to walk all the trails. The farm el Amate also is good for meditation, camping, hiking, landscape, mountain biking you have to bring your bikes and tents for now they don’t have the service of rent might be in the future, and they can host four people maximum at the main house of the farm and serve meals.
Guides: Gilber is the manager and birder Guide who fell in love with the birds and he is very excited to promote the place for local and international birdwatchers and nature photographers, his assistance good birder guides too Wagner, Estuardo & Luis, they are very knowledgeable of the area and they know their birds and peaks only Spanish, but they can hire you a bilingual birding guide if you need one.
MAP OF THE FARM
How to get there?
Travel time from Guatemala city: One and half hour
Main access road Route CA9 South
From Guatemala city take the road to villa canales, keep going to santa Elena barillas, and take right from the Cedro tree junction pass the village of San Antonio windmill, toward to aldea los pocitos, from these village ask at the main square to doña Lety she will direct you or take right up look for sign to el Amate take right again into a off road up the hill, four wheel-drive or normal car is fine, Or ask to be meet at los pocitos village.
ACTIVITIES.
-Hikes-Birdwatching-Organic agriculture projects-Visit the old lava caves-Mountain biking –Tour of pineapple – Camping
TOUR OPTIONS
One day Birding: Birdwatching El Amate is a fabulous place for a birding tour all year around, our search will take you from the wide meadows, mountain forest and grassland , good for owling tour, special birds to see here are the Crested Bobwhite, B oteri´s Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Streak-backed Oriole and many others.
Half day birding is available
Owling Tour: Experience a night birding in search of the great horned owl, whiskered Screech owl, Common Pauraque and other birds
A day Pass Ticket
Recommendation: You must need to make a reservation prior to your visit to finca el amate birding, and must take a local guide for a better birding experience if you travel in your car a detailed map can be provided. There is also private transportation available from Antigua or Guatemala city to the farm.
What to bring: hiking shoes, long trousers, mosquito cream, hat, water, headlamp, rain gear (may to octuber)
Schedule to the public: Monday to Sunday from 7am to 5pm for birding special time.
Contact information:
NAME: El Amate Farm
Telephone: +(502) 53881324
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: Guatemalanbirdconservacion/Fincael amate
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fincaaelamate/
FLORA & FAUNA FINCA EL AMATE BIRDING
Gusanos de Calague Larvas de Arsenura armida
EL amate Guatemala sobre arbol
Grupo de orugas de dia duermen y de noche comen hojas, no son comidas por las aves porque guardan toxinas dentro de su cuerpo comúnmente . Bibliografia Flora y Fauna Finca el Amate (Guatemala Bird Conservation)
Green Spiny lizards
Sceloporus Malachiticus (Iguanidae)
La lagartija espinosa esmeralda, lagartija espinosa malaquita o lagarto espinoso esmeralda es una especie de iguanas que pertenece a la familia Phrynosomatidae. Es nativo de Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica y Panamá. Su rango altitudinal oscila entre 150 y 3800 msnm. Bibliografia Flora y Fauna Finca el Amate (Guatemala Bird Conservation)
Ardilla Orden Rodentia: Familia Sciuridae Ciurus Aureogaster (Grey Guatemalan Squirrel)
Los individuos adultos de esta especie son roedores esciuromorfos, pertenecientes a la familia Sciuridae. Estos mamíferos son considerados como ardillas de tamaño medio-grande, ya que el cuerpo mide entre 42 y 55 centímetros y poseen una cola de 20 a 30 centímetros de longitud. La ardilla gris guatemalteca está cubierta por un pelaje de color gris y blanco. existen aproximadamente 230 especies, de las que 28 son ardillas arborícolas.
Fabaceae Mimosoideae
Cornezuelo o Subin (Acacia Hindsii)
Arboles pequeños o arbustos decumbentes hasta 3 metros de alto, troncos y ramas con numerosas lenticelas espinas en pares, infladas y huecas, de 3 a 5 cms de largo en forma de V. E árbol adquiere hormigas picadoras que lo defienden de animales explotadores y las hormigas obtienen refugio néctar y comida florece en enero a septiembre y fructifica de noviembre a junio.
El Ficus (Amate)
Puede encontrarse distribuida en las regiones tropicales de America, Mexico hasta la Amazonía. Crece en climas variados y húmedos, en los que forma parte de las capas altas del bosque tropical. Produce un fruto similar al de la higuera (de la cual es familiar) que no es comestible por los seres humanos.
Pascua, Tropical Dogwood
Pink Mussaenda erythroaphylla, Pink Flag Bush
Nativa de los tropicos del Viejo Mundo, ampliamene plantada, arboles pequeños o arbustos 3 metros de alto, hojas opuestas elipticas, con cinco petalos amarillos, Fruto una baya pequeña rar vez vista. Florece durante todo el año.
Hamelia Patens, Firebush, Zorillo real Familia Rubiaceae
Atrae colibires y mariposas, y las aves comen sus frutas,
Florea todo el año, desde sur de Florida a Sur America, desde el nivel del mar hasta 1600m hay 7 especies de Hamelia en Centro America. Alcanzan hasta 7 metros de alto.
Pinus oocarpa (pinos de ocote)
Pinus oocarpa es un árbol nativo del Nuevo Mundo. Parece que fue la especie progenitora que sirvió de ancestro para algunas de las especies de pinos de México. Es el árbol nacional de Honduras. Los pinos son de gran importancia para el ambiente ya que desarrollan sistemas forestales, bridan refugio para especies de fauna y aves únicas de la región. Las otra variedades son Pinus Montezumae, pinus maximinoi
Cipres, Especie Cupressus lusitánica
Arboles con muchas ramas y escamas, que puede llegar a medir hasta 30 metros depende del clima, utilizada para madera y planta ornamental y hábitat de Buhos y otras aves migratorias.
Colocasia Esculenta
Quequesque, Xanthosoma (Familia Araceae)
Colocasia es un género de más de 25 especies de angiospermas de la familia Araceae.
Oreja de elefante esta familia esta conformada por plantas terrestres, epifitas o acuaticas flotantes, tienen tallo corto por lo que parece que las hojas salieran directamente del suelo, las flores son conocidas como cartuchos, a este grupo pertenece la Malanga
La Maizena o banano falso (Genero ensete)
Ensete es uno de los tres géneros de la familia Musaceae comprende siete especies de apariencia de banano.
Musa sp.
Famiila de Bromelias
Pie de Gallo
(Tillandsia guatemalensis)
Del bosque de montaña y las tierras altas del altiplano y bosque nuboso de Guatemala. Usado como adorno navideño
Magueys, Agaves
Familia asparagaceae. Subfamilia Agavoideae
Los magueyes (Agave) poseen hojas gruesas con espinas en la orilla y en la punta, mientras que otro genero (Furcraea) tienen hojas mas delgadas con dientes pequeños en la orilla de las mismas. Los magueyes en algunos países son utilizados para fabricar papel, hilos, y bebidas alcoholicas.
También los izotes (Yucca elepantipes) que posee un tallo largo con hojas en la punta, los izotes producen flores blancos las cuales son comestibles
Encinos, Robles
Familia Fagaceae
Esta Familia contiene arboles conocidos como encinos y robles existen varias especies, Quercus acatenangensis, Quercus crispifolia, Quercus lancifolia, Quercus peduncularis, Quercus pilicauilis, Quercus skinerii y Quercus tristis. Las distintas especies de Quercus poseen hojas con bordes enteros o dentados, sus flores masculinas están dispuestas en grupos alargados y las flores femeninas están agrupadas en amentos pequeños los frutos caracteristicos son comúnmente conocidos como bellotas.
Verbenas
Familia Verbenaceae
Esta familia contiene en su mayoría arboles y arbustos. Las flores son pequeñas agrupadas de distintas formas, inflorescencias cimosas, paniculadas, racimosas o espigadas. Entre ellos Lantana cámara, con flores dispuestas en cabezas de colores amarillo, anaranjado o rojo y verbena carolina con flores azul claro, lavanda o blancas.
eBird Field Checklist 19/04/2020
Finca El Amate 209 Bird 258 Birdlist
, Guatemala, GT
ebird.org/hotspot/L9387770
Grouse, Quail, and Allies
Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus
Pigeons and Doves
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris
Inca Dove Columbina inca
Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina
Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti
White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi
White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos
Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris
Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus
Lesser Roadrunner Geococcyx velox
Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars
Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis
Swifts
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
Hummingbirds
Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris
Plain-capped Starthroat Heliomaster constantii
Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Tilmatura dupontii
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Canivet’s Emerald Chlorostilbon canivetii
Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus
Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus
Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala
Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina
Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura
Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila
White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis
Herons, Ibis, and Allies
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Egret Ardea alba
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Vultures, Hawks, and Allies
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius
Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris
Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus
Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni
Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Owls
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Whiskered Screech-Owl Megascops trichopsis
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata
Trogons and Quetzals
Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus
Motmots
Lesson’s Motmot Momotus lessonii
Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa
Kingfishers
Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana
Woodpeckers
Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons
Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates villosus
Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis
Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus
Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Falcons and Caracaras
Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis
Parrots, Parakeets, and Allies
Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis
Orange-fronted Parakeet Eupsittula canicularis
Pacific Parakeet Psittacara strenuus
Antbirds
Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus
Woodcreepers
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis
Becards, Tityras, and Allies
Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata
Tyrant Flycatchers: Elaenias, Tyrannulets, and Allies
Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe
Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster
Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies
Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax
Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
Western/Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus/virens
Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill’s Flycatcher) Empidonax alnorum/traillii
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
Hammond’s Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii
Buff-breasted Flycatcher Empidonax fulvifrons
Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer
Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens
Nutting’s Flycatcher Myiarchus nuttingi
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
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus
Vireos
Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis
Lesser Greenlet Pachysylvia decurtata
Hutton’s Vireo Vireo huttoni
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
Yellow-green Vireo Vireo flavoviridis
Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens
White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa
Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
Martins and Swallows
Black-capped Swallow Atticora pileata
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva
Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
Wrens
Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus
Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus
This field checklist was generated using eBird (ebird.org)
Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha
Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus
Cabanis’s Wren Cantorchilus modestus
Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers
Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus
Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus
Thrushes
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris
Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi
Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus
Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques
Silky-flycatchers
Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys cinereus
Wagtails and Pipits
American Pipit Anthus rubescens
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis
Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus
Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria
New World Sparrows
Botteri’s Sparrow Peucaea botterii
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis
White-faced Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata
Rusty Sparrow Aimophila rufescens
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
Blackbirds
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus
Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri
Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
Yellow-backed Oriole Icterus chrysater
Streak-backed Oriole Icterus pustulatus
Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis
Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
Melodious Blackbird Dives dives
Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
Wood-Warblers
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Crescent-chested Warbler Oreothlypis superciliosa
Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina
Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala
MacGillivray’s Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei
Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica
Grace’s Warbler Setophaga graciae
Townsend’s Warbler Setophaga townsendi
Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
Fan-tailed Warbler Basileuterus lachrymosus
Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons
Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli
Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis
Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla
Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus
Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies
Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana
Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata
White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Painted Bunting Passerina ciris
Dickcissel Spiza americana
Tanagers and Allies
Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus
Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas
Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus
Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula
Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina
This field checklist was generated using eBird (ebird.org)
Morelet’s Seedeater Sporophila morelleti
Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus
Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps
Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens
This field checklist was generated using eBird (ebird.org)