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close| Location | Guatemala, Huehuetenango |
| Central coordinates | 91o 54.17' West 15o 42.04' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2, A3 |
| Area | 127,773 ha |
| Altitude | 600 - 3,500m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Summary Cuilco is an important site for range-restricted birds of the North Central American Highlands and for biome-restricted species of the Madrean Highlands and Pacific Arid Slope. The site supports populations of two globally threatened species: Highland Guan and Pink-headed Warbler. Coffee and corn plantations cover about 30% of the IBA. The IBA is entirely unprotected.
Ornithological information Cuilco is important for species of the North Central American Highlands (8 species recorded), including populations of two threatened species, Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra) and Pink-headed Warbler (Ergaticus versicolor). The site supports biome-restricted species of the Madrean Highlands (25 species recorded) and the Pacific Arid Slope (5 species). Recent ornithological information is limited to two rapid assessments (Sandoval 2000, Pérez 2006).
Site description This IBA includes the Cuilco Mountains and the valley west of the city of Nenton, which is the southern limit of the central valley of Chiapas, Mexico.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Guan Penelopina nigra | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A1, A2, A3 | Vulnerable |
| Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula | resident | 2006 | - | poor | Least Concern | |
| Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Bearded Screech-owl Megascops barbarus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A1, A2, A3 | Vulnerable |
| White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Green-fronted Hummingbird Amazilia viridifrons | resident | 2000 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A2, A3 | Least Concern |
| Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A2, A3 | Least Concern |
| Russet-crowned Motmot Momotus mexicanus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo Vireolanius melitophrys | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| White-throated Magpie-jay Calocitta formosa | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Grey Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha | resident | 2006 | - | poor | Least Concern | |
| Banded Wren Thryothorus pleurostictus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A2, A3 | Least Concern |
| Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A2, A3 | Least Concern |
| Olive Warbler Peucedramus taeniatus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Crescent-chested Warbler Parula superciliosa | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Red-faced Warbler Cardellina rubrifrons | winter | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Pink-headed Warbler Ergaticus versicolor | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A1, A2, A3 | Vulnerable |
| Painted Redstart Myioborus pictus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Prevost's Ground-sparrow Melozone biarcuata | resident | 2006 | - | poor | Least Concern | |
| White-naped Brush-finch Atlapetes albinucha | resident | 2006 | - | poor | Least Concern | |
| Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Abandoned & fallow farmland, disturbed ground; Arable land; Improved pasture land; Other urban & industrial areas; Perennial crops, orchards & groves; Urban parks & gardens | 31% |
| Forest | Montane broadleaf evergreen; Pine-oak | 16% |
| Grassland | Second-growth & grazed | 16% |
| Shrubland | Arid lowland scrub; Second-growth & disturbed scrub | 37% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Freshwater lakes & pools; Freshwater marshes & swamps; Streams | 1% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 31% |
| forestry | minor |
| hunting | major |
| not utilised | minor |
| rangeland/pastureland | 16% |
| tourism/recreation | minor |
| urban/industrial/transport | 1% |
| Notes: 0.1% | |
| water management | minor |
Management considerations Natural habitat is threatened by an advancing agricultural border and forest fires.
Protection status No part of this IBA has a status of legal protection (CONAP 2007).
Acknowledgements Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas (CONAP) - Solola supported a workshop to identify IBAs in June 2006, hosted by Universidad del Valle (Altiplano) in Solola. Input of unpublished data and suggestions for the delimitation of the IBA was provided during this workshop by representatives of CONAP, Universidad del Valle - Altiplano, Fundación para el Ecodesarrollo y la Conservación (FUNDAECO) - Huehuetenango, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación de Guatemala (MAGA) - Solola, Cuerpo de Paz, Municipality of Tecpan, Autoridad para el Manejo Sustentable de la Cuenca del Lago Atitlán y su Entorno (AMSCLAE), and Los Tarrales Nature Reserve. This first assessment of IBAs in Guatemala was conducted by Sociedad Guatemalteca de Ornitologia and BirdLife International in the Americas.
References
CONAP. 2007. Lista de áreas protegidas inscritas en el SIGAP. Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (CONAP), Guatemala. (Database accessed in June 2007)
MAGA. 2006. Mapa de cobertura vegetal y uso de la tierra a escala 1:50,000 de la República de Guatemala, Año 2003 (Incluye 5 cultivos perennes actualizados al año 2005). Memoria técnica y descripción de resultados. Ministerio de Agricultura Ganadería y Alimentación –MAGA– / Unidad de Planificación Geográfica y Gestión de Riesgo –UPGGR–, Guatemala Ciudad, Guatemala.
Pérez, E. S. 2006. Propuesta de areas importantes para la conservación de aves en Huehuetenango. Fundación para el Ecodesarrollo y la Conservación FUNDAECO, Guatemala.
Sandoval, K. J. (ed.) 2000. Biodiversidad de Huehuetenango. Centro de Datos para la Conservación, Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas, Univ. San Carlos, Guatemala.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cuilco. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013
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