Located at the southeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. Unlike countries nearby (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras), Belize lacks a history of Spanish conquest and high population densities. About a third of Belize lies in national parks and nature reserves and there are less than 40 people per square mile. Compare that to almost 900 people per square mile in El Salvador.
These statistics make Belize an ideal destination for nature lovers, including birders. Close to 600 species of birds have been recorded in Belize. We recently spent six days visiting a variety of lodges in Belize and we birded as much as possible during our packed daily schedules. Below are species checklists Caves Branch Jungle Lodge near the capital city of Belmopan and Chaa Creek set along the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains.
Caves Branch – Dec 7, 2014
Black-crowned night-heron
Yellow-crowned night-heron
Little blue heron
Snowy egret
Turkey vulture
Black vulture
King vulture
Bat falcon
Spotted sandpiper
Short-billed pigeon
Ruddy ground-dove
Squirrel cuckoo
Long-billed hermit
Purple-crowned fairy
Rufous-tailed hummingbird
Rufous-tailed jacamar
Black-cheeked woodpecker
Lineated woodpecker (heard)
Wedge-billed woodcreeper
Barred antshrike
Great antshrike (heard)
Black phoebe
Vermilion flycatcher
Tropical pewee
Dusky-capped flycatcher
Tropical kingbird
Social flycatcher
Great kiskadee
Boat-billed flycatcher
White-collared manakin
Yellow-green vireo
Gray catbird
Spot-breasted wren
White-breasted wood-wren
Wood thrush
Clay-colored robin
Chestnut-sided warbler
Black-throated green warbler
Magnolia warbler
Wilson’s warbler
Hooded warbler
Kentucky warbler
Black-and-white warbler
American redstart
Red-throated ant-tanager
Crimson-collared tanager
Yellow-throated euphonia
Variable seedeater
White-collared seedeater
Orange-billed sparrow
Black-headed saltator
Buff-throated saltator
Green-backed sparrow
Melodious blackbird
Yellow-billed cacique
Black-cowled oriole
Chaa Creek – Dec 11, 2014
Magnificent frigatebird
White-crowned parrot
Violaceous trogon
Black-headed trogon
Collared aracari
Golden-olive woodpecker
Golden-fronted woodpecker
Olivaceous woodcreeper
Great kiskadee
Brown jay
Clay-colored robin
Yellow-winged tanager
Summer tanager
Black-headed saltator
Green-backed sparrow
Great-tailed grackle
Melodious blackbird
Yellow-tailed oriole
We would like to thank Exito Travel, Delta Airlines, Tropic Air, Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge, and Chaa Creek Lodge for hosting us on this recent scouting trip to Belize.