Alternative English names: None
Alternative scientific names: None
Spanish names: Pavo de Cacha (G); Pavon Cornudo (G); Faisan
de Cuerno (G)
This rare species has an entire world distribution that is
confined to Southern Guatemala and the state of Chiapas in
neighbouring Mexico. Jason Berry, who until recently ran the
Guatemalan Birding Resource Center in Quetzaltenango, did
many surveys in the area looking for Horned Guans. One of
the problems that Jason mentioned is that the species is still
eaten at certain religious ceremonies in the Mayan calendar
and he has personally come across the feathers from a bird
killed by hunters. Their rarity has meant that hunters are
able obtain good money for carcass. The birds I saw at Volcan
Atitlan were very approachable and at one point sat just a
few feet above my head, making them an easy bird to hunt.
The small numbers that are still to be found at a few locations
are in desperate need of protection if the species is going
to survive.
The best known site to see this species is El Triunfo in Chiapas.
Fernando González-García has made a big study
of the Horned Guans at El Triunfo. He found the first nests
and has also taken some chicks into captivity to start a captive
breeding program. He has made some very important publications
of his research. Information on visiting El Triunfo is in
'Where to Watch Birds in Mexico' by Steve Howell.
El Triunfo is quite difficult to access, which is why it is
good to know that Volcan Atitlan offers a relatively easy
way to see the birds in Guatemala. The advantage is that it
can be done as a daytrip from the tourist sites around Lake
Atitlan, or from the other side of the Volcano from the ecolodge
at Tarrales. A well known site to see the Horned Guans in
Guatemala is Fuentes Georginas. At times in the past there
have been groups of birds that have hung around the area and
were seen by visiting birders. However, according to Jason,
they have not been seen there for many years. He has seen
them elsewhere along the Sierra Panimaquin, such as at Aguas
Amargas, but they are uncommon everywhere around here and
in most areas they are unprotected and still hunted.
This is one species that I have deliberately not covered
in full detail as it is covered so much better on other websites.
ARKive has some information, great photos and some video footage
www.arkive.org
Montereybay has another great web page for this species by
Don Roberson, which has great photos, lots of good information
and a list of all the main scientific publications www.montereybay.com
BirdLife has a page that gives a lot of information on conservation
www.birdlife.net
This site has an article by Fernando González-García
www.csew.com
Biblioteca de Sonidas Aves de Mexico has two recordings of
this species. I believe the biblioteca is organized by Fernando
González-García, who is the leading expert on
the Horned Guan www.ecologia.edu.
Known sites
Guatemala
I have seen them at Volcan Atitlan. They are also known from
Fuentes Georginas, Aguas Amargas, Volcan Toliman and Sierra
de los Minas.
Honduras
There are no known sites in Honduras. It is found nearby in
the Sierra de las Minas in Guatemala, so it is not impossible,
though unlikely, that there are still some to be discovered.
El Salvador
There are no records for El Salvador and it is unlikely, though
perhaps not impossible, that a wandering bird could ever be
seen here.
References
The following book (with a horned Guan on the cover) contains
a chapter on this species. It is mostly reminiscences by the
late author of his observations in the late 1930s in Guatemala
and a summary of some of the findings of Fernando González-Garcia
in his longer study of the species.
Skutch, A. F. (1999) Trogons, Laughing Falcons, and Other
Neotropical Birds. Texas A. and M.
González-Garcia, F (1995) Reproductive biology and
vocalizations of the Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus in Mexico,
Condor 97:415-426.
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