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close| Location | Guatemala, Quiché |
| Central coordinates | 90o 44.89' West 15o 31.10' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A3 |
| Area | 45,173 ha |
| Altitude | 300 - 2,600m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Summary Cerro El Amay is an important site for biome-restricted birds of the Madrean Highlands. The site supports populations of two globally threatened species: Highland and Horned Guan. Cardamom and corn plantations, and secondary growth scrub cover 42% of the IBA. About 10% of the IBA are legally protected.
Ornithological information Cerro Amay supports populations of two globally threatened species, Highland and Horned Guan (Penelopina nigra and Oreophasis derbinaus) (Eisermann et al. 2006, Tenez 2006; D. Unger, pers. comm.). The site is important to 17 biome-restricted species of the Madrean Highlands. It is expected to be important for a large number of species restricted to the Central American Highlands, but because of data deficiency the site does currently not apply under criterion A2. Recent ornithological information is limited to an ecological rapid assessments (Valle et al. 2005, Tenez 2006).
Site description Cerro El Amay is located in the Atlantic slope mountain range of Guatemala. The site includes large fragments of cloud forest and ranges in elevation from 300 to 2600 m.
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, A3 | Vulnerable |
| Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula | resident | 2006 | - | poor | Least Concern | |
| Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus | unknown | 2006 | unknown [units unknown] | - | A1, A3 | Endangered |
| White-faced Quail-dove Geotrygon albifacies | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Buff-breasted Flycatcher Empidonax fulvifrons | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Grey Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus | winter | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Slate-coloured Solitaire Myadestes unicolor | resident | 2006 | - | poor | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus | 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 | |
| Crimson-collared Tanager Ramphocelus sanguinolentus | resident | 2006 | - | poor | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finca Chimel | Private Nature Reserve | 2,000 | protected area contained by site | 0 | |
| Finca La Gloria | Private Nature Reserve | 202 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Forestry & agro-industrial plantations; Other urban & industrial areas; Perennial crops, orchards & groves | 32% |
| Forest | Montane broadleaf evergreen; Pine-oak | 57% |
| Shrubland | Second-growth & disturbed scrub | 10% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers | 1% |
Land ownership Private and communal.
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 42% |
| forestry | minor |
| hunting | major |
| nature conservation and research | 10% |
| Notes: Coverage of protected areas within the IBA. | |
| tourism/recreation | minor |
| urban/industrial/transport | 1% |
| Notes: 0.1% | |
| water management | minor |
Management considerations Slash-and-burn agriculture is common in the area, threatening the forest by fires and conversion to agricultural land (Maas 2000, Valle et al. 2005).
Protection status Currently, two private nature reserves protect 10% of this IBA (CONAP 2007).
Acknowledgements Input of unpublished data and suggestions for the delimitation of the IBA was provided during a workshop in Cobán, in August 2006, by representatives of Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas (CONAP) - Las Verapaces, Asociación de Proyectos Evaluados Raxmu (PROEVAL RAXMU), Peace Corps, Cooperativa Sanimtaca, Cooperativa Samac, and Comité Central Menotita. This first assessment of IBAs in Guatemala was conducted by Sociedad Guatemalteca de Ornitología 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)
Eisermann, K., N. Herrera & O. Komar. 2006. Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra). Pp. 90-95. In D. M. Brooks (Ed.) Conserving Cracids: the most threatened family of birds in the Americas. Miscellaneous Publications of the Houston Museum of Natural Science 6.
Maas, R. E. 2000. Diagnostico ambiental en tres municipios de Quiché(Cunén, Uspantán y Chicamán).
Movimondo Molisv, Cooperazione Internazionale, Guatemala. (Unpublished report)
Tenez, D. 2006. Observaciones de aves en Cerro El Amay, Quiché. Pato-Poc 3: 18-25.
Valle, L., D. Tenés, E. Cano, A. López, J. Andrade, M. Acevedo, A. Gordillo, C. González, C. Monzón, R. Calderón & R. Roma. 2005. Estudio Técnico del Cerro "El Amay", Municipio de Chicamán, Quiché, Guatemala. Documento Técnico No. 26 (06-2005), CONAP, Guatemala.
Vanegas, A. 2001. Informe de validación y socialización preliminar sobre la Problemática Ambiental en las Microregiones del municipio de Chicaman, Cunen y Uspantan en el departamento del Quiché, Guatemala. Movimondo, Guatemala. (Unpublished report)
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cerro El Amay. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
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