Birding
Some photographs of birds seen from the observation balcony of the Chelemhá Lodge:

Bushy-crested Jay

Brown-backed Solitaire

Blue-and-White Mockingbird

Blue-throated Motmot
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At the CHELEMHA LODGE you can see highland endemics from the balcony while enjoying your coffee!
The Chelemhá Lodge is surrounded by secondary forest which supports much of the cloud forest avifauna, including several of the bird species endemic to the Northern Central American Highlands.
From the balcony we have seen the following endemics:
- Blue-throated Motmot (daily seen in July 2006)
- Bushy-crested Jay (daily seen in July 2006)
- Black-capped Swallow (daily seen in July 2006)
- Rufous-collared Robin (daily seen in July 2006)
- Blue-and-White Mockingbird (daily seen in July 2006)

A high quality spotting scope is available and can be rented at the Chelemhá Lodge.
See the list of bird species seen from the balcony.
More endemics can be seen during walks through the cloud forest:
- Highland Guan
- Fulvous Owl
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird
- Green-throated Mountain-gem
- Black-throated Jay
- Rufous-browed Wren
- Pink-headed Warbler
Three Q’eqchi’ farmers from the neighboring community are currently trained as bird census takers (PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program). They learn to identify all calls and songs. Two of them have also received basic guide training and would gladly show you the birds of Chelemhá.
For English speaking guides (trainers of the PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program) you may contact CAYAYA BIRDING
A checklist of the birds of Chelemhá is available upon request from the PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program
Birds seen at the Chelemhá Lodge
It follows a list of birds seen from the balcony of the Chelemhá Lodge (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, taken into acount until AOU 2005). This list was provided by the PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program and Cayaya Birding.
- Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris
- White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis
- Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus
- Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami
- Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
- Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis
- Mountain Elaenia Elaenia frantzii
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens
- Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
- Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata
- Plain Wren Thryothorus modestus
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii
- Black Robin Turdus infuscatus
- Clay-colored Robin Turdus grayi
- Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus
- Townsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendi
- Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca
- Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons
- Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola
- Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus
- Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula
- White-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes albinucha
- Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Buarremon brunneinucha
- Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis