Nicaragua Ramsar wetland
Lago de Apanás
212 bird species recorded; the most in February and in December.
Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 by EOX IT Services GmbH (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data), CC BY 4.0, with relief shading from Copernicus WorldDEM-30
This month here
125 species in January.141 species in February.123 species in March.99 species in April.86 species in May.52 species in June.37 species in July.104 species in August.73 species in September.117 species in October.95 species in November.138 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
NT
NT
NT
NT
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
212 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 212Speciesrecorded more than once
- 92Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 0ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 7,378Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 952 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 20Raptors
- 2Owls
- 8Waders
- 1Gulls & seabirds
- 9Ducks & geese
- 13Herons, ibises & grebes
- 1Storks & cranes
- 109Songbirds
- 49Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 212 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus
- Crested CaracaraCaracara plancus
- Roadside HawkRupornis magnirostris
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Falco sparveriusFalco sparverius
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Short-tailed HawkButeo brachyurus
- Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis
- Collared Forest FalconMicrastur semitorquatus
- Grey-lined HawkButeo nitidus
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Bat FalconFalco rufigularis
- Laughing FalconHerpetotheres cachinnans
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
- Hook-billed KiteChondrohierax uncinatus
Owls2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Ferruginous Pygmy OwlGlaucidium brasilianum
Waders8 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Northern JacanaJacana spinosa
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNT
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNT
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNT
- Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanus
Gulls & seabirds1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla
Ducks & geese9 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Fulvous Whistling-duckDendrocygna bicolor
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- American WigeonMareca americana
Herons, ibises & grebes13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- Phalacrocorax brasilianusPhalacrocorax brasilianus
- Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- Pinnated BitternBotaurus pinnatus
- Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja
- Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus
Storks & cranes1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Wood StorkMycteria americana
Songbirds109 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicus
- Quiscalus mexicanusQuiscalus mexicanus
- Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechia
- Great KiskadeePitangus sulphuratus
- Clay-colored ThrushTurdus grayi
- Morelet's SeedeaterSporophila morelleti
- Blue-black GrassquitVolatinia jacarina
- Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus
- Social FlycatcherMyiozetetes similis
- Mangrove SwallowTachycineta albilinea
- Rufous-backed WrenCampylorhynchus capistratus
- Tropical MockingbirdMimus gilvus
- Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savana
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Blue-gray TanagerThraupis episcopus
- Common Tody-flycatcherTodirostrum cinereum
- Southern House WrenTroglodytes musculus
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Variable SeedeaterSporophila corvina
- Spot-breasted OrioleIcterus pectoralis
- Saltator grandisSaltator grandis
- Orchard orioleIcterus spurius
- Yellow-bellied ElaeniaElaenia flavogaster
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
- Dusky-capped FlycatcherMyiarchus tuberculifer
- Melodious BlackbirdDives dives
- Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneus
- Yellow-faced GrassquitTiaris olivaceus
- Yellow-winged TanagerThraupis abbas
- Tropical PeweeContopus cinereus
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Montezuma OropendolaPsarocolius montezuma
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Cabanis's WrenCantorchilus modestus
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnolia
- Boat-billed FlycatcherMegarynchus pitangua
- Gray-crowned YellowthroatGeothlypis poliocephala
- Brown JayPsilorhinus morio
- Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Band-backed WrenCampylorhynchus zonatus
- Buff-throated SaltatorSaltator maximus
- Summer TanagerPiranga rubra
- Black-headed SaltatorSaltator atriceps
- Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltria
- Tropical ParulaSetophaga pitiayumi
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- Northern Beardless-TyrannuletCamptostoma imberbe
- Scrub EuphoniaEuphonia affinis
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Rusty SparrowAimophila rufescens
- Painted BuntingPasserina ciris
- Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaNT
- Yellow-throated EuphoniaEuphonia hirundinacea
- Barred AntshrikeThamnophilus doliatus
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
- Rufous-browed PeppershrikeCyclarhis gujanensis
- Streak-headed WoodcreeperLepidocolaptes souleyetii
- Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla
- Stilpnia larvataStilpnia larvata
- Rufous-capped WarblerBasileuterus rufifrons
- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- Black-striped SparrowArremonops conirostris
- Grassland Yellow-FinchSicalis luteola
- Masked TityraTityra semifasciata
- Scarlet-rumped TanagerRamphocelus passerinii
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
- White-throated Magpie-JayCalocitta formosa
- Yellow-crowned EuphoniaEuphonia luteicapilla
- Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
- Western Wood-PeweeContopus sordidulus
- Myrtle WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
- Yellow-olive FlatbillTolmomyias sulphurescens
- Orange-billed Nightingale-thrushCatharus aurantiirostris
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Streak-backed OrioleIcterus pustulatus
- Altamira OrioleIcterus gularis
- Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa
- Black phoebeSayornis nigricans
- American Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysopteraNT
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- Olive-crowned YellowthroatGeothlypis semiflava
- Olive-Sided FlycatcherContopus cooperi
- Crimson-collared TanagerRamphocelus sanguinolentus
- Gray-breasted MartinProgne chalybea
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicus
- Olive-backed EuphoniaEuphonia gouldi
- Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana
- Southern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx ruficollis
- Sulphur-bellied FlycatcherMyiodynastes luteiventris
- Chestnut-headed OropendolaPsarocolius wagleri
- Olivaceous WoodcreeperSittasomus griseicapillus
- White-winged TanagerPiranga leucoptera
- White-breasted Wood-wrenHenicorhina leucosticta
- Ochre-bellied FlycatcherMionectes oleagineus
- Lesser GreenletHylophilus decurtatus
- Stripe-headed SparrowPeucaea ruficauda
- Thick-billed Seed FinchSporophila funerea
Other birds49 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Groove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostris
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica
- Ruddy Ground DoveColumbina talpacoti
- Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
- Rufous-tailed HummingbirdAmazilia tzacatl
- American CootFulica americana
- Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifrons
- Cinnamon HummingbirdAmazilia rutila
- Ruddy CrakeLaterallus ruber
- SoraPorzana carolina
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Golden-olive WoodpeckerColaptes rubiginosus
- Red-billed PigeonPatagioenas flavirostris
- PauraqueNyctidromus albicollis
- Ringed KingfisherMegaceryle torquata
- White-fronted AmazonAmazona albifrons
- Common Ground-DoveColumbina passerina
- Common Squirrel-cuckooPiaya cayana
- White-tipped DoveLeptotila verreauxi
- Spot-bellied BobwhiteColinus leucopogon
- Hoffmann's WoodpeckerMelanerpes hoffmannii
- Finsch's ParakeetAratinga finschi
- Inca DoveColumbina inca
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Cynanthus canivetiiCynanthus canivetii
- Amazon KingfisherChloroceryle amazona
- Lesson's MotmotMomotus lessonii
- Scaly-breasted HummingbirdPhaeochroa cuvierii
- Vaux's SwiftChaetura vauxi
- Lineated WoodpeckerDryocopus lineatus
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- Green KingfisherChloroceryle americana
- Violet SabrewingCampylopterus hemileucurus
- Long-billed HermitPhaethornis longirostris
- Aratinga canicularisAratinga canicularis
- Aztec ParakeetAratinga nana
- Brown Violet-earColibri delphinae
- Saucerottia hoffmanniSaucerottia hoffmanni
- Green-breasted MangoAnthracothorax prevostii
- Plain-capped StarthroatHeliomaster constantii
- Black-crested CoquetteLophornis helenae
- Thicket TinamouCrypturellus cinnamomeus
- Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorus
- White-crowned ParrotPionus senilis
- Blue Ground DoveClaravis pretiosa
- Lesser Ground CuckooMorococcyx erythropygus
- Olivaceous PiculetPicumnus olivaceus
- White-faced Quail-doveZentrygon albifacies
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in February and in December.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan28°/17°4 mm
- Feb30°/17°4 mm
- Mar32°/18°10 mm
- Apr33°/20°35 mm
- May30°/21°184 mm
- Jun28°/20°211 mm
- Jul28°/20°105 mm
- Aug28°/20°144 mm
- Sep27°/20°259 mm
- Oct26°/19°242 mm
- Nov26°/18°42 mm
- Dec27°/17°17 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Lago de Apanás.
Artificial lake in Nicaragua, Jinotega Department
Lago de Apanás is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Nicaragua, 952 m above the sea.
212 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 7,378 open records.
The most recorded are the Great White Egret, the Black Vulture and the Turkey Vulture.
32 species come for the summer, 55 for the winter and 5 only pass through.
The most species are recorded in February and in December.
Get there and watch
- LLano de La Cruznearest town · 8.5 km in a straight line
- Augusto C. Sandino (Managua) International Airport (MGA)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 119 km in a straight lineCar hire at MGA airport (Managua)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- campsites within 10 km
- places to stay within 10 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Lago de Apanás.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas17 mountains within 25 kmCerro Bonetillo1,304 m · 11 kmCerro La Cruz1,314 m · 12 kmCerro Chimborazo1,661 m · 13 kmCerro El Diablo1,607 m · 13 kmCerro Loma Azul1,286 m · 14 kmCerro Grande1,354 m · 16 kmCerro El Columpio1,353 m · 19 kmCerro La Gloria1,536 m · 19 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Lago de Apanás
Nicaragua
- 64Birdyas Score
- 212Species
- 92Migrants
- 0Threatened
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Costa Rica · 289 km
- 91Birdyas Score
- 476Species
- 167Migrants
- 9Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q3017786) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 7,378 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Lakeyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
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