With over 590 bird species, it is safe to say that Belize is a paradise for birdwatchers. Interestingly, even regular folks who aren’t really into bird watching are drawn to this recreational activity when in Belize — maybe it’s because birds are so easy to spot here.
Most of the birds in Belize are local species and approximately 20 percent are migrants who fly down to Belize during the harsh winter months in North America. With almost half of Belize’s land made up of protected areas, it doesn’t matter if you are inland or on the cayes, you will encounter numerous beautiful birds.
I recommend visiting the jungle lodges in western Belize, it is especially easy to spot birds there. At many of those resorts, in the morning you can have your breakfast while you’re treated to a ceremonial chatter of several types of birds. Another option is waking up early and going to the Mayan sites — the ruckus of the rainforest there is absolutely amazing.
60 birds you are likely to see in Belize and the 8 best locations to see them
1. Acorn Woodpecker
The Acorn Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a unique face pattern: red crown, pale yellowish forehead and throat, and pale eyes. Fairly common from western North America through Central America to Colombia.
2. Agami Heron
The Agami Heron is a medium-sized heron that is a resident breeding bird from Central America to Peru and Brazil. As an adult, their plumage is dark with a beautiful silvery spray of lacy neck plumes. When immature, they are browner overall, without the neck plumes.
3. American Pygmy Kingfisher
The American Pygmy Kingfisher is a tiny kingfisher that occurs in the American tropics. It is oily green above, with a yellow-orange collar around the neck, rufous underparts, and a white belly. The female has a narrow green breast band that the male lacks.
4. Anhinga
The Anhinga aka snakebird, darter, or water turkey, is a large long-necked water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. Males are black with white on their wings and females are similar but with brownish necks and heads.
5. Azure-crowned Hummingbird
The Azure-crowned Hummingbird is a medium-sized hummingbird found in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Both sexes typically look alike.
6. Bare-throated Tiger Heron
The Bare-throated Tiger Heron is a large but rather short-legged, primal-looking heron of mangroves and freshwater marshes in tropical lowlands. It can be found from Mexico to northwestern Colombia.
7. Black-and-white Warbler
The Black-and-white Warbler is distinctive due to its bold black-and-white stripes. It is a species of New World warbler that breeds in northern and eastern North America, and winters in Florida, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America.
8. Black-collared Hawk
The Black-collared Hawk is an attractive chunky hawk of marshes and wetlands. It has a wide range of presence, from western Mexico to Uruguay.
9. Black-crowned Tityra
The Black-crowned Tityra is a medium-sized passerine bird that is mostly silvery gray with a black cap. It can be found from Mexico to Argentina, in tropical lowland forests and adjacent semi-open areas with taller trees.
10. Black-headed Trogon
The Black-headed Trogon is a medium-sized, yellow-bellied trogon of tropical lowlands. Both sexes have a complete blue-gray eye-ring, and the underside of the tail is marked with big blocks of white. It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
11. Blue-diademed Motmot
12. Brown Jay
13. Caspian Tern and Gull-billed Tern
14. Collared Aracari
15. Couch’s Kingbird
16. Crimson-collared Tanager
17. Fork-tailed Flycatcher
18. Gartered Trogon a.k.a. Violaceous Trogon
19. Golden-fronted Woodpecker
20. Gray-necked Wood Rail and Limpkin
21. Great Black Hawk
22. Great Blue Heron
23. Great Egret
24. Green Heron
25. Slaty-tailed Trogon
26. Green Jay
27. Green Kingfisher
28. Hooded Warbler
29. Laughing Falcon
30. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
31. Lineated Woodpecker
32. Long-billed Hermit
33. Magnolia Warbler
34. Mangrove Swallow
35. Northern Jacana
36. Pale-billed Woodpecker
37. Purple-crowned Fairy
38. Red-lored Parrot
39. Ringed Kingfisher
40. Roseate Spoonbill
41. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
42. Rufous-tailed Jacamar
43. Rusty Sparrow
44. Harpy Eagle
The above photo was not taken in the wild. It’s at The Belize Zoo.
45. Snail Kite
46. Spectacled Owl
47. Spotted Sandpiper
48. Thick-billed Seed Finch
49. Keel-billed Toucan
50. Tricolored Heron
51. Vermilion Flycatcher
52. Violet Sabrewing
53. White-collared Manakin
54. White-fronted Parrot
55. White-necked Jacobin
56. White-whiskered Puffbird
57. Wood Stork and Snowy Egret
58. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
59. Yellow-headed Parrot
60. Yellow-throated Euphonia
If you made it to the end of this post, it means that you’re really into birdwatching and will be interested in knowing where to go birding in Belize. Below are a few spots that the Belize Audubon Society recommends.
Places to go Birdwatching in Belize:
1. Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
In 1998, this protected area was declared Belize’s first Ramsar site based on the wetland’s international significance for many migratory and non-migratory wetland bird species. Large numbers of wading birds flock into the lagoons during Belize’s dry season (February through May) when food is hard to find in other places.
2. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Raptors cruise the valleys of the Pine Ridge and it is the most likely place in Belize to see the rare Orange-breasted Falcon.
3. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
While visitors rarely see a jaguar, the many ecosystems of Cockscomb support a rich and varied bird fauna – forest species, pine woodland and savanna species, species restricted to riverine areas, and birds associated with higher elevations.
4. Caracol Archaeological Reserve
Caracol is one of the last outposts where the Keel-billed Motmot, a globally vulnerable species is relatively common. Other notable birds seen at Caracol include Ocellated Turkey, Crested Guan, and Great Curassow. While admiring the largest Maya site in Belize you may also see colorful toucans and trogons.
5. Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary
These wetlands in the Toledo District attract a number of very visible birds forming the principal attraction for visitors. Aguacaliente protects important breeding colonies for the Wood Stork and Boat-billed Heron. There are a few birds in Toledo District that can’t be found elsewhere in the Belize
6. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker
Of all the habitats in Belize, the littoral forest on the Cayes is the most endangered due to development. Caye littoral forests benefit the Black Catbird and White-crowned Pigeon, both are listed as Near-Threatened species. The Mangrove habitat also attracts many other birds.
7. Half Moon Caye Natural Monument
Declared a crown reserve bird sanctuary in 1928, the Red-footed Booby colony of Half Moon Caye is the oldest site for wildlife protection in Belize. Half Moon Caye’s population, an estimated 4,000 birds, is made up almost entirely of white morphs with black on the trailing edge of the wings.
8. Red Bank Village
The unmistakable Scarlet Macaw flocks to the small Maya Village of Red Bank in South Stann Creek seasonally. As many as 100 birds gather near the village, primarily from January to March, to feed on the sweet, ripe fruits of the annatto trees.
Let me know if I listed any of your favorite birds and if you have a photo of a bird I should add, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
All pictures were taken in Belize by Joe Schelling.
Mike Charlton says
Hi..passed through very briefly recently with a camera that gave up on me!
I had a couple of unidentified birds.,are you able to help please? Nothing too exciting!
I can sen copies to your email?
Take care..
Mike
Chaz Creger says
I am I am on Ambergris now. Really enjoying the birds here! With this resource, I hope to identify many of these spectacular birds! Thank you.
Debbi says
Going to Belize in August! I can’t wait to look for these exquisite birds!!
Maria says
I LOVE DEEZ FOTOS!!! DEY ARE AWESOME!!!!
I just love all those cute little birds and I CANNOT wait to visit belize someday!!!
Mike says
Lorenzo,
I am going to be in Belize one short day on a cruise soon. I would really like to see and maybe get some photos of some of the local hummingbirds. Do you have any suggestions of somewhere in or close to Belize City that I may be able to see some of them?
Thank you in advance,
Mike
Jenn Turnbull says
Beautiful pictures of beautiful birds! I had no idea half of the land in Belize is protected. That’s awesome. Belize has been on my list for a long time for snorkeling. Hoping to get there soon!
Lorenzo Gonzalez says
You definitely should visit soon! It’s similar to Costa Rica so you’ll love it.
Jocelyn Plowey says
did not realized there were so many beautiful birds in Belize… my sister-in-law would love this, she is an environmentalist.
Lorenzo Gonzalez says
I’m glad you like this photo-essay 🙂
April M Koonce says
Why does the Violaceous Trogon not get a number? Just wedged between 17. Fork-tailed Flycatcher and 18. Golden Fronted Woodpecker. I have fallen in love with all trogons and am grateful they are all over Belize!!
Lorenzo Gonzalez says
I fixed it! Thanks for bringing that to my attention!