The Pink-headed Warbler (Cardellina versicolor) lives only in the highlands of Guatemala and the neighbouring Mexican state of Chiapas. Of the five hotspot bird lists we read on eBird (1 November 2026), the two with recent records are north of Tecpán, Chimaltenango: Restaurante Rincón Suizo at km 94 of the Pan-American Highway (4 birds, 27 October 2026) and Finca Caleras Chichavac (5 birds, 20 October 2026). Finca El Pilar, the Sacatepéquez hotspot with the most eBird checklists, last logged the species in April 2017.
This page is about one bird: where it is turning up this season, how to reach those sites, what its conservation status has been, and who guides there at what price. eBird figures are eBird checklist data as of 1 November 2026, read on each hotspot page and on the Sacatepéquez and Chimaltenango all-years hotspot lists. Site descriptions are from Cayaya Birding’s hotspot pages, status data from BirdLife International’s species factsheet, and tour prices from each operator’s own site, all read the same day. For the country-wide picture (Biotopo del Quetzal, Los Tarrales, Tikal and more), start with our birdwatching in Guatemala guide.
Quick summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Species | Pink-headed Warbler, Cardellina versicolor (formerly genus Ergaticus) |
| Range | Highlands of Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico; not south-east of Guatemala (Cayaya) |
| Elevation | 1,800-3,500 m, most common above 2,800 m (BirdLife); locally common in Guatemala above 2,300 m (Cayaya) |
| IUCN Red List | Least Concern (2020); Vulnerable in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 (BirdLife) |
| Population | 13,000-33,000 mature individuals, decreasing (BirdLife, 2020) |
| Recent records (hotspots read) | Rincón Suizo, 27 Oct 2026 (4); Finca Caleras Chichavac, 20 Oct 2026 (5) (eBird) |
| Rincón Suizo | Restaurant at km 94, Pan-American Highway, north of Tecpán, 2,500 m; parking at the restaurant |
| Entrance fee / hours | Not published for Rincón Suizo or Chichavac (checked 1 Nov 2026) |
| From Antigua | About one hour each way to Tecpán (Motmot Treks) |
| Guided half-day | Motmot Treks Tecpán tour US$320 for two (US$285 with launch offer) |
| Season | Rincón Suizo and Cerro Tecpán: any time of the year (Cayaya) |
Where eBird has it now
eBird’s bird list for each hotspot shows the most recent record of every species there, with the count. Read 1 November 2026:
| eBird hotspot | Department | All-time species / checklists | Latest Pink-headed Warbler record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurante Rincón Suizo–sendero en bosque de pino-encino | Chimaltenango | 226 / 1,157 | 27 Oct 2026, 4 birds |
| Finca Caleras Chichavac | Chimaltenango | 209 / 659 | 20 Oct 2026, 5 birds |
| Finca El Pilar (general area) | Sacatepéquez | 306 / 2,703 | 25 Apr 2017, 2 birds |
| Cerro Alux, Parque Ecológico Senderos Alux | Sacatepéquez | 218 / 359 | Not on the hotspot’s list |
| Finca Filadelfia (main hotspot) | Sacatepéquez | 200 / 146 | Not on the hotspot’s list |
Rincón Suizo and Chichavac are the top two Chimaltenango hotspots on eBird by both species and checklists. In October 2026, Rincón Suizo had 61 species on 12 checklists from 12 eBirders, the most recent dated 27 October. A latest-record date tells you when someone last submitted the species, not how many are present: El Pilar has far more checklists than either Tecpán site, and still no Pink-headed Warbler since 2017.
The Finca Filadelfia row is the main hotspot only; its child hotspots (cloud-forest trail, mirador, Casita de Piedra, El Cuyun) have their own lists, which were not read for this species.
Rincón Suizo, km 94
Cayaya Birding describes Rincón Suizo as a restaurant at km 94 of the Pan-American Highway, north of the city of Tecpán, at 2,500 m (8,200 ft). The forest reserve behind the restaurant is family-owned and is part of the Atitlán Important Bird Area (IBA GT015). Cayaya names the Pink-headed Warbler among the regional endemics there, with Blue-throated Motmot and Rufous-browed Wren, and says the forest can be very quiet until you meet a mixed flock.
- Winter flocks (Cayaya): migrant Townsend’s, Wilson’s, Black-and-white and Red-faced Warblers with resident Slate-throated Redstart and Pink-headed, Crescent-chested and Olive Warblers, plus Hutton’s Vireo.
- Access: car parking at the restaurant. On walking in, Cayaya says: “Birders are welcome to walk along the trails”. It adds that a visit to the restaurant after your walk would be much appreciated.
- Season: any time of the year, per Cayaya.
- Fee and hours: not published on Cayaya’s page or on the eBird hotspot page (checked 1 November 2026). The eBird page’s visitor section reads “Nothing added yet for this hotspot”.
- eBird coordinates: 14.7970947, -90.9838654 (hotspot L1021273).
Finca Caleras Chichavac
Chichavac (eBird hotspot L4099952, coordinates 14.8014178, -90.9817100) sits about 0.5 km from the Rincón Suizo hotspot by eBird’s coordinates. eBird lists 209 species, 659 checklists and 307 eBirders there. Its Plan Your Visit section is empty, and none of the operator pages we read describes access. Whether the finca accepts walk-in visitors, what it charges and when it opens are not published in any source we found (checked 1 November 2026). Ask a guide, or ask on site, before walking in.
Cerro Tecpán and other Chimaltenango hotspots
Cayaya describes Cerro Tecpán, north of the city of Tecpán, as partly covered by pine-cypress-oak-alder forest at 2,100 to 3,000 m, also inside IBA GT015. It lists the Pink-headed Warbler with Rufous-collared Robin, Rufous-browed Wren, Blue-throated Motmot, Black-capped Swallow and Black-capped Siskin, and gives the best time as any time of the year.
Other Chimaltenango hotspots on eBird’s all-years list. Their bird lists were not read for the Pink-headed Warbler, so no record date is given:
| eBird hotspot | Species / checklists |
|---|---|
| Finca El Espinero (acceso restringido) | 159 / 230 |
| Sitio arqueológico Iximché | 144 / 217 |
| Rincón Suizo–camino a Finca El Espinero (acceso restringido) | 126 / 73 |
| Albergues de Tecpan | 100 / 53 |
The words acceso restringido (restricted access) are part of the hotspot names on eBird. For visiting the archaeological site, see Iximché ruins.
Why not Antigua’s own sites
Cayaya says the species can be seen on day trips from Antigua, but of the Antigua-side hotspots we read (El Pilar, Senderos Alux, Finca Filadelfia main), none has a recent record. El Pilar tops out around 2,400-2,650 m; Cayaya says the bird is locally common above 2,300 m in Guatemala and BirdLife says it is most common above 2,800 m. El Pilar’s last eBird record of the species is from 25 April 2017. For what El Pilar does deliver (hummingbird feeders, trails, Highland Guan records), see Finca El Pilar. For a site-by-site comparison of half-days around Antigua, see birding day trips from Antigua.
Getting there
- From Antigua: Motmot Treks writes that “Tecpán is about an hour’s drive from Antigua each way”. Rincón Suizo is at km 94 of the Pan-American Highway, north of Tecpán (Cayaya).
- From Guatemala City: none of the sources we read gives a drive time to Tecpán. Cayaya Birding runs half- and full-day tours from Guatemala City with hotel pick-up.
- From Tecpán: the restaurant is north of the city on the Pan-American Highway. Cayaya says hotels, lodges and restaurants are available in and near Tecpán.
- Public transport: none of the sources we read (checked 1 November 2026) gives a bus route or timetable to Rincón Suizo or Chichavac. For the road from Antigua towards Tecpán, see Antigua to Iximché; it does not cover a bus to Rincón Suizo.
Conservation status: Vulnerable to Least Concern
BirdLife International’s factsheet carries the full IUCN Red List history:
| Assessment year | IUCN Red List category | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Least Concern | N/A |
| 2016 | Vulnerable | B1ab(i,ii,iii,v) |
| 2012 | Vulnerable | B1ab(i,ii,iii,v) |
| 2008 | Vulnerable | B1a+b(i,ii,iii,v) |
| 2004 | Vulnerable | B1ab(i,ii,iii,v) |
| 2000 | Vulnerable | B1ab(i,ii,iii,v) |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Near Threatened | |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
BirdLife’s 2020 justification: the species has a very large range (extent of occurrence 52,900 km²), and although the population appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be fast enough to approach the Vulnerable thresholds. BirdLife adds that “a change in IUCN Red List category does not necessarily indicate a genuine change in the status of the species” and may only reflect better knowledge.
Other figures from the factsheet:
- Population: 20,000-50,000 individuals, roughly 13,000-33,000 mature individuals; data quality is poor, and the total is likely larger than estimated.
- Trend: not directly estimated; BirdLife says “the species is suspected to be in slow decline owing to habitat degradation”, tentatively 1-9% over ten years.
- Threats (BirdLife): firewood and leaf-litter collection in the forest understorey, including inside protected areas; feral dogs, which probably affect this ground-nesting warbler’s breeding success; and about 50% of its Guatemalan range lying in areas used or planned for exploration and opencast mining.
- Sites: 13 IBAs/KBAs identified for the species.
The 2020 change also explains older wording you may meet: the Antigua Guatemala IBA (GT016), designated in 2009, was based partly on the Pink-headed Warbler as a globally threatened species (Birding Antigua Guatemala). That was its status at the time.
Habitat
Cayaya says the species is “locally common above 2300 m (7500 ft)” in Guatemala, in cloud forest, pine-oak forest, humid coniferous forest and humid scrub, and that it does not occur south-east of Guatemala because it prefers high-elevation mountains. BirdLife lists humid to semi-humid pine-oak-alder, pine and cypress forest with undisturbed understorey, high-elevation scrub and cloud forest. It tolerates forest edge and disturbed forest, though BirdLife calls that likely suboptimal.
Guided options and published prices
Each price is from the operator’s own site, read 1 November 2026.
| Operator | Trip | Published price | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motmot Treks | Tecpán, half-day from Antigua, 6:00 start | US$320 for a group of 2; US$285 with the 10% launch offer (booked by 31 Dec 2026) | Guide, binoculars, site and reserve entries, coffee and traditional bread, breakfast, round-trip transport |
| Cayaya Birding | Private half- or full-day to Tecpán | No Tecpán-specific price; day tours from US$74 per person in a group of 4 (cayaya-birding.com) | Day tours: guide, private transport, entrance fees to nature reserves, hotel pick-up and drop-off, bird checklist |
| Birding Ecotours | Highlands Specials and Horned Guan, 11 days, 2-12 March 2027, from Guatemala City | US$7,370 per person sharing; single supplement US$531 | Accommodation, meals except where indicated, land transport, tour leader, admission fees, local guides; excludes domestic flights Guatemala City-Huehuetenango (around US$188, per the operator) |
Notes on each:
- Motmot Treks says Tecpán is one of the more reliable places to find the bird, and that the 6:00 start is its only departure on this tour, to reach the forest while birds are most active. Its booking form also shows the generic morning and afternoon slots used on its other tours, so confirm the time when you book. The price assumes a hotel in Antigua or its immediate surroundings.
- Cayaya Birding half-days run from sunrise (5 to 6 a.m.) to midday, with pick-up in Antigua or Guatemala City. Cayaya’s species page lists publications by its guides Knut Eisermann and Claudia Avendaño as contributions to knowledge of the Pink-headed Warbler, among them the Guatemala chapter of Important Bird Areas Americas (BirdLife, 2009).
- Birding Ecotours looks for the warbler in the Cuchumatanes, at the La Alfalfa area around Unicornio Azul Lodge in Huehuetenango, not near Tecpán.
Where to sleep
The Motmot tour leaves Antigua at 6:00. If you would rather bird on your own from a base near the sites, Cayaya says hotels, lodges and restaurants are available in and near the city of Tecpán. See our Tecpán Guatemala page.
Live availability near Tecpán:
Where to stay in Tecpán Guatemala
Compare Booking.com, Airbnb and hotels on one map. Drag the map and set your dates to see live availability and real prices.
Affiliate links — if you book, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More birding
- Birdwatching in Guatemala: the national guide.
- Birding day trips from Antigua · Finca El Pilar · Los Tarrales birding · Iximché ruins · all activities.
Sources
- eBird, Restaurante Rincón Suizo hotspot (L1021273): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1021273 and its bird list (read 1 November 2026)
- eBird, hotspot pages and bird lists for Finca Caleras Chichavac (L4099952), Finca El Pilar (L3959134), Senderos Alux (L503536) and Finca Filadelfia (L776840) (read 1 November 2026)
- eBird, Chimaltenango hotspots, all years: https://ebird.org/region/GT-CM/hotspots?yr=all; Sacatepéquez hotspots, all years: https://ebird.org/region/GT-SA/hotspots?yr=all (read 1 November 2026)
- BirdLife International, Pink-headed Warbler factsheet: https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pink-headed-warbler-cardellina-versicolor (read 1 November 2026)
- Cayaya Birding: https://cayaya-birding.com/species/Pink-headed-Warbler.htm, https://cayaya-birding.com/rinconsuizo.htm, https://cayaya-birding.com/tecpan.htm, https://cayaya-birding.com/daytours.htm, https://cayaya-birding.com/daytours_antigua.htm (read 1 November 2026)
- Birding Antigua Guatemala (Cayaya): https://birding-antigua-guatemala.com (read 1 November 2026)
- Motmot Treks, Tecpán tour: https://motmotgt.com/birdwatching-tours/tecpan/ (read 1 November 2026)
- Birding Ecotours, Highlands Specials and Horned Guan: https://www.birdingecotours.com/tour/birding-tour-guatemala-highlands-specials-and-horned-guan/ (read 1 November 2026)
Affiliate links — if you book, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Before you pay, check each plan's medical-evacuation limit and its rules for hiking and adventure activities. Three options, as each company describes them on its own site:
- Genki Traveler: a monthly subscription for up to 12 months that covers up to €1,000,000 for unexpected medical care while traveling abroad, at public and private doctors and hospitals.
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance: the Essential plan is travel medical insurance paid every 4 weeks; the Complete plan is full health insurance with extra travel protections.
- Faye: single-trip plans sold to residents of U.S. states (not U.S. territories); its FAQ lists emergency medical cover of up to $250K and emergency medical evacuation of up to $500K, and adventure and extreme activities need a paid add-on for medical cover.
Limits, prices and the altitude rules side by side: travel insurance for Guatemala · insurance for volcano hikes
Affiliate links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Plan descriptions come from each insurer's own site, read September 22-25, 2026; Genki's limit is in euros, Faye's in U.S. dollars; this is not insurance advice. Disclosure
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see the Pink-headed Warbler in Guatemala right now?
On eBird (read 1 November 2026), two Tecpán-area hotspots in Chimaltenango with recent records are Restaurante Rincón Suizo, at km 94 of the Pan-American Highway, with 4 birds on 27 October 2026, and Finca Caleras Chichavac, about 0.5 km away by eBird’s coordinates, with 5 birds on 20 October 2026 (other nearby hotspots were not checked).
Is the Pink-headed Warbler endangered?
No. BirdLife International lists it as Least Concern in its 2020 IUCN Red List assessment. It was listed Vulnerable in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. BirdLife puts the population at 13,000-33,000 mature individuals with a decreasing trend, and notes that a category change may reflect better knowledge rather than a real change in the species’ status.
Can I see the Pink-headed Warbler at Finca El Pilar near Antigua?
Do not plan on it. The most recent Pink-headed Warbler record on the Finca El Pilar eBird hotspot is 2 birds on 25 April 2017 (read 1 November 2026). It is not on the bird lists of the main Cerro Alux (Senderos Alux) or Finca Filadelfia hotspots.
How much is a Pink-headed Warbler tour from Antigua?
Motmot Treks prices its half-day Tecpán tour at US$320 for a group of two, or US$285 with its 10% launch offer for trips booked by 31 December 2026, including round-trip transport from Antigua, breakfast and site entries. Cayaya Birding runs private Tecpán tours but does not publish a Tecpán-specific price; its day tours start from US$74 per person in a group of four. Prices read 1 November 2026.
Is there an entrance fee at Rincón Suizo or Finca Caleras Chichavac?
Not published. Neither Cayaya Birding’s Rincón Suizo page nor the eBird hotspot pages list a fee or opening hours for either site (checked 1 November 2026). Cayaya says birders are welcome to walk the Rincón Suizo trails and says a visit to the restaurant afterwards would be much appreciated.
At what elevation does the Pink-headed Warbler live?
BirdLife gives 1,800-3,500 m, most common above 2,800 m. Cayaya Birding says it is locally common in Guatemala above 2,300 m. Rincón Suizo sits at 2,500 m and the forest on Cerro Tecpán runs from 2,100 to 3,000 m, per Cayaya.
