An Update from Guatemala
There is one bird in Guatemala that truly holds mythical status—considered by some to be among the top ten birds in the world. A species that usually requires a long hike up a volcano above 8,000 feet. The Horned Guan—a true dinosaur. And today was the day.
We departed Sibinal well before sunrise to give ourselves the best possible chance. Arriving at the site at just the right time, we headed straight for an overlook facing a vast wall of pristine mountain forest. With a bit of luck, we hoped we might find our target without having to hike at all—a very appealing thought at nearly 9,000 feet elevation.
About 30 minutes into scanning, Vinicio suddenly signaled that he had something. We hurried over and got the scope on it—and there it was: the unmistakable tail of a Horned Guan. One by one, everyone got on the bird. Then, it stepped into full view and began feeding in the open. What a moment.
We spent over 40 minutes enjoying extended scope views when suddenly a second bird was spotted. And then another. And another. By the time the sun finally crested the mountain—revealing frost still clinging to the ground—we had tallied five Horned Guans. We stood there in disbelief, hardly able to process what we had just experienced. With an estimated population of only around 1,500 individuals, this evolutionary oddity truly is one of the great treasures of the bird world.
With plenty of extra time on our hands, we birded our way down toward Román’s house, and the quality of sightings hardly let up. Highlights included Yellow-backed Oriole, nesting Pink-headed Warblers, and what Sandra aptly described as a “Chestnut-sided Warbler on steroids”—the stunning Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo.
Reaching the lower part of the valley, we stopped for lunch at Román’s home, where his ever-smiling wife Estela prepared a wonderfully authentic meal for us. Just as we were getting back into the vehicles to return to Sibinal, a Buff-breasted Flycatcher appeared, perching photogenically on the tip of a tree—a perfect farewell from this remarkable place.
In the evening, we added great views of the regional endemic Black Thrush and, after dinner featuring local trout, heard the soft, eerie hoot of a Stygian Owl in the darkness.
It had been a truly spectacular day—one that exceeded even our highest expectations.
