Habitats in Honduras
This section aims to exemplify the varied habitats and some of the microhabitats found
around Honduras. We are lucky to have such a wide array of habitats that vary from
humid, lowland rain forest to arid scrub forest to mangrove-lined lagoons. In some
places a number of these habitats are in close proximity to each other. For example, the
Nombre de Dios range behind La Ceiba has cloud forest that spills all the way down the
mountain to the north to humid, lowland rain forest then on to mangrove-line lagoons at
Cuero y Salado W.R., and on the south it rolls into pine/oak woods then into the arid
thorn-scrub forest in the Aguan Valley. Although this area centered around the Nombre
de Dios range has not been inventoried well it is believed that it is one of the richest
species’ pockets in Honduras, likely containing well over 500 species.
La Mosquitia Pine Savanna
Riparian
Wetlands and LakesBrackish Water Lagoons, Mangroves and adjacent Flood Forest
Pine/Oak Forest
Broadleaf Rainforest
Arid Scrub Forest
Disturbed Areas, Gardens, Scrub, etc.
Coastline
Pelagic and Bay Islands
La Mosquitia Pine SavannaThis special habitat is found almost entirely in the Dept. of Gracias A Dios in eastern
Honduras. The vegetation typical of this area consists of Caribbean Pine (Pinus
caribaea), “Nance” (Byrsonima crassifolia), grasses and marshy hammocks with palms
and other broadleaf trees.
Photo (have)-Typical Mosquitia savanna habitat-Wampusirpe
Birds found almost exclusively is this habitat include: Aplomado Falcon, Black-throated
Bobwhite, Grasshopper Sparrow, Botteri’s Sparrow, Grassland Yellow-Finch, Stygian
Owl and the Vermillion Flycatcher. Other species typically found here include: Northern
Harrier, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Palm Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Grace’s
Warbler, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Yellow-naped Amazon, Common Nighthawk, Acorn
Woodpecker and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture.
RiparianThis habitat exists all over Honduras where there is vegetation alongside streams and
rivers. It can consist of scrubby overgrowth typical around farmed areas or even large
trees. Although only three species of birds specialize in riparian habitat it may serve as
a refuge and breeding site for many. The American Dipper, Buff-rumped Warbler and
the Sunbittern are found almost exclusively in riparian areas.
Photo-riparian area (Celaque creek crossing?)
Some species often found in riparian areas include: Crane Hawk, Roseatte Spoonbill,
Gray-necked Wood-Rail, White-throated Crake, Sungrebe, kingfishers, Rufous-tailed
Jacamar, Paltry Tyrannulet, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Slate-colored Seedeater,
wood-warblers, saltators and orioles.
Photo-riparian area (Rio Platano)
Wetlands and LakesThese freshwater habitats are scattered throughout the country and can either be
permanent bodies of water or seasonal. Some of the more permanent freshwater areas
have adjacent corresponding marshes comprised of grasses, rushes, sedges, cattails,
etc. These areas also provide critical habitat for a number of bird species. One of the
largest freshwater habitats in Honduras is Lake Yojoa.
Photo (Lake Yojoa)
Species typically found in this habitat include: Snail Kite, Limpkin, Ruddy Crake, Graybreasted Crake, Spotted Rail, Sora, herons and egrets, ducks and the Sedge Wren.
Other species often associated here include: Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Least Grebe,
N. Jacana, Moorhen, Spot-tailed Nigntjar, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Yellow-bellied
Elaenia, White-throated Flycatcher, yellowthroats, seedeaters and Red-winged
Blackbird.
Photo (seasonal pond)
Brackish Water Lagoons, Mangroves and adjacent Flood ForestThese habitats are spread throughout Honduras along both coasts with the bodies of
water being either freshwater, brackish or almost completely inundated by sea water.
Typical vegetation can include: red, black and white mangroves (Laguncularia spp),
“Sangre” trees (Pterocarpus spp), Soursops (Anona spp), “Zapoton” (Pachira aquatica),
Buttonwood (Conocarpus sp) and other broadleaf species. In some areas such as La
Mosquitia streams run slowly through low-lying rain forest thereby flooding areas before
releasing the freshwater into a mangrove-lined lagoon.
Photo (Ibans Lagoon)
Species mostly specific to these habitats include: Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed
Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Black-collared Hawk, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail
and Mangrove (Yellow) Warbler.
Other species commonly found here include: Agami Heron, Mangrove Cuckoo,
Mangrove Vireo, Prothonotary Warbler and Yucatan Vireo.
Pine/Oak Forest
This habitat is common throughout Honduras occupying mostly hilly or mountainous
terrain. It is characterized by six species of native pines, with P. oocarpa being the most
common species, and oaks (Quercus sp.). They are often interspersed with other
broadleaf trees and a scrubby understory.
Photo (in Copan)
Although these forests are not as species rich as broadleaf forests they are, however,
important wintering grounds for many migratory species and breeding grounds for
pine/oak specialists.
Species found frequently in this habitat include: White-breasted Hawk, Buffy-crowned
Wood-Partridge, Ocellated Quail, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Mountain Pygmy-Owl, Hairy
Woodpecker, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner, Greater Pewee,
Tufted Flycatcher, Gray-collared Becard, several jays, Band-backed Wren, Eastern
Bluebird, Brown-backed Solitaire, Brown Creeper, Rufous-collared Thrush, Grace’s,
Olive and Red-faced Warblers, many migrant wood-warblers, Black-headed Siskin, Red
Crossbill, Rusty Sparrow and Yellow-backed Oriole.
Another photo?
Broadleaf Rainforest
Tropical broadleaf rainforests are very complex habitats that are dominated mostly by
broadleaf trees. These trees contain most of the forests biomass whose shallow root
systems quickly absorb the nutrients made available by the microorganisms within a
thin, fertile layer of soil and detritus. These forests are broken down into the forest floor,
mid-level and canopy layers. Rainforests are also broken down by altitude accordingly:
Humid Lowland Forest:
0 to 750m.
Pre-montane Wet Forest: 750 to 1,500m.
Montane Forest:
1,500 to 2,849m. (highest peak in Honduras)
Graph here showing elevation gradients
Each layer in a rainforest at any given elevation can be a special niche or refuge for any
number of species. Birds, however, are highly mobile with many being found at various
layers within the forest. There are, however, many species that are more frequently
found in the canopy, some more common at mid-levels and some that are almost
entirely terrestrial.
Photo (Pico Bonito or Mosquitia)
The following selection of species are typically encountered to humid forest understory:
Slaty-breasted Tinamou, Black-eared Wood-Quail, Tawny-faced Quail, Great Curassow,
Ruddy Quail-Dove, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, some antbirds, Thicket Antpitta, some
manakins and some wrens.
The following species are typically encountered in humid forest in mid level and the
canopy: Harpy and Crested Eagles, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, other large raptors,
Scaled Pigeon, macaws, most large owls, Rufous Motmot, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan,
many woodcreepers, cotingas, Speckled Mourner, Green Shrike-Vireo, many tanagers
and Slate-colored Grosbeak.
The following species are more frequently found in pre-montane wet forest: Spotted
Wood-Quail, Violet Sabrewing, Brown Violet-Ear, Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner, Scalecrested Pygmy-Tyrant, Brown-capped Vireo, Green Jay, N. Nightingale Wren, Slatethroated Redstart and Blue-hooded Euphonia.
The following species are more frequently encountered in montane forests: Highland
Guan, Singing Quail, Amethyst-throated and Garnet-throated Hummingbirds, Mountain
Trogon, Blue-throated Motmot, Emerald Toucanet, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Tawnythroated Leaftosser, Scaled Antpitta, Mountain Elaenia, Black-capped Swallow, Blackthroated, Unicolored and Azure-hooded Jays, Rufous-browed Wren, Ruddy-capped
Nightingale-Thrush, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush, Black Thrush, Golden-browed Warbler,
Blue-crowned Chlorophonia and Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer.
Arid Scrub Forest
Arid scrub forests are characterized by unique plant communities and usually have a
longer dry season. Many of the plants have adapted to retain scarce water and are
succulent in nature or are spiny to protect small, delicate leaves from herbivores. Many
of the plants lose all their leaves in the dry season and make the habitat appear almost
lifeless. Typical plants are cacti, acacias and other succulents. Arid scrub forest
habitats are highly endangered throughout the region. In Honduras they occur primarily
along the Gulf of Fonseca, Agalta Valley in Olancho and the Aguan Valley in Yoro.
Photo of Olanchito forest
Birds typical of this habitat include: Hook-billed Kite, Thicket Tinamou, Double-striped
Thick-Knee, White-fronted Amazon, Lesser Roadrunner, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo,
Honduran Emerald, N. Beardless Tyrannulet, Ash-throated and Nutting’s Flycatchers,
Long-tailed Manakin, White-lored Gnatcatcher, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Banded
Wren, White-bellied Wren, Stripe-headed Sparrow and Altamira Oriole.
Disturbed Areas, Gardens, Scrub, etc.
Although not specifically considered habitats, these areas do harbor many bird species,
most of which are common. They can provide a multitude of food sources such as
seeds for ground-doves and seedeaters, or insects for flycatchers and nighthawks or
rodents for birds of prey.
Photo of E.W. bird friendly gardens
Birds often encountered in these areas include: Roadside Hawk, Bat Falcon, Crested
Bobwhite, ground-doves, anis, Barn Owl, caprimulgids, many hummingbirds, Turquoisebrowed Motmot, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Barred Antshrike, many flycatchers,
swallows, Brown Jay, Rufous-naped Wren, Clay-colored Thrush, Blue-and-white
Mockingbird, yellowthroats, some tanagers, saltators, seedeaters, sparrows and many
icterids.
Photo-scrub
young secondary forest??
Photo-
Coastline
Honduras has some __ miles of coastline along the Caribbean Sea that run in an east
to west direction from near Omoa in the northwest to the Cape of Gracias A Dios in the
east. In the Gulf of Fonseca there are approximately
miles of coastline along the
Pacific Ocean.
A number of seabirds inhabit the coast such as the Magnificent Frigatebird, boobies,
pelicans, gulls, terns, and Neotropic Cormorant. The coastline itself acts as an important
resting and feeding area or jumping off point for a myriad of migrant shorebirds. Some
shorebirds that are frequently seen include: Black-bellied Plover, Whimbrel, Ruddy
Turnstone, Sanderling and a number of sandpipers. The Mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove
Cuckoo and a number of migrant wood-warblers are often found in the adjacent dune
scrub.
Photo-La Mosquitia?
Pelagic and Bay Islands
The marine waters of Honduras have been explored little by bird enthusiasts and there
are a fair number of species yet be registered. The Bay Islands of Utila, Roatan and
Guanaja as well as the Hog Islands and Swan Islands have been inventoried to a great
extent.
Photo-Utila
Birds recorded on the islands and in ocean waters include: Parasitic Jaeger, Largebilled Tern, Brown Noddy, Skua sp., Bridled and Roseate Terns,Caribbean Dove,
Antillean Nighthawk, Yellow-lored Parrot, Canivet’s (Fork-tailed) Emerald, Red-vented
Woodpecker, Smooth-billed Ani, Gray Kingbird, Yucatan Vireo, Vitelline Warbler,
Northern Cardinal and Bobolink.