Belize - 6th-31st December 2015

This is a brief summary of our itinerary

·         CT - Crooked Tree Lodge - water levels were very high. 2 guided boat trips out on lagoon, and self-walking round the island

·         L - Lamanai Outpost Lodge - guided walks most days plus several night boat trips and self-walking

·         Belize City - 2 overnight stops to pick up and drop off hire car

·         HV - Hidden Valley Inn - car trips to 1,000 foot falls and around reserve tracks. Mountain biking but poor for birding !

·         CC - Chan Chich - guided walks, night drives and car trip around the farm and plantations, and self-walking

·         Caye - Tree Tops, Caye Caulker - self-walking around the island.

Birds

Site Name

Species Name

Scientific Name

CT

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Northern)

Dendrocygna autumnalis fulgens

L

Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschata

HV

Blue-winged Teal

Anas discors

L,HV

Plain Chachalaca

Ortalis vetula

CC

Crested Guan

Penelope purpurascens

L, CC

Great Curassow

Crax rubra

CC

Ocellated Turkey

Meleagris ocellata

CT

Least Grebe

Tachybaptus dominicus

CT, L

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

CT

Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

CT, L, Caye

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

CT

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

L

Black-crowned Night Heron (American)

Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli

CC, Caye

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Yellow-crowned)

Nyctanassa violacea [violacea-group]

CT, L, HV

Green Heron (Eastern)

Butorides virescens virescens/maculata

CT, CC

Western Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

CT, CC, Caye

Great Blue Heron (Blue form)

Ardea herodias [herodias-group]

CT, CC, Caye

Great Egret (American)

Ardea alba egretta

CT

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

CT, CC

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

CT, CC

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

Belize City, Caye

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Belize City, Caye

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Crooked Tree

Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Belize City, Caye

Double-crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus auritus/floridanus

CT

Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga

Every day

Turkey Vulture (Northern)

Cathartes aura [aura-group]

CT

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Every day

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

HV

King Vulture

Sarcoramphus papa

CT

Western Osprey (American)

Pandion haliaetus carolinensis

Caye Caulker

Western Osprey (Caribbean)

Pandion haliaetus ridgwayi

CC

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

CC

Hook-billed Kite (Hook-billed)

Chondrohierax uncinatus uncinatus

CT

Black-collared Hawk

Busarellus nigricollis

CT, L

Snail Kite

Rostrhamus sociabilis

CT, Caye

Common Black Hawk (Common)

Buteogallus anthracinus anthracinus/utilensis

Most days

Roadside Hawk (Mainland)

Rupornis magnirostris [magnirostris-group]

HV

White Hawk (Snowy)

Pseudastur albicollis ghiesbreghti

L

Grey-necked Wood Rail

Aramides cajaneus

CT

American Coot

Fulica americana

L

Limpkin

Aramus guarauna

Caye Caulker

Black-necked Stilt (Black-necked)

Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus

CC

Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus

CT, L

Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa

Caye Caulker

Whimbrel (American)

Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus/rufiventris

CC

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Caye

Willet

Tringa semipalmata

CT

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Caye 

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Belize City, Caye

Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus atricilla

CT

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

Caye

Royal Tern (American)

Thalasseus maximus maximus

Belize City

Cabot's Tern (Cabot's)

Thalasseus acuflavidus acuflavidus

Belize City

Rock Dove (Feral)

Columba livia 'feral'

Caye

White-crowned Pigeon

Patagioenas leucocephala

CC

Scaled Pigeon

Patagioenas speciosa

L

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

CC

Short-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas nigrirostris

CT, Caye

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

CC

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

CC

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

CT, L, CC

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

CT

White-tipped Dove (White-tipped)

Leptotila verreauxi [verreauxi-group]

L

Grey-chested Dove (cerviniventris)

Leptotila cassinii cerviniventris

CT, L

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

CT, L, CC

Squirrel Cuckoo (Middle America)

Piaya cayana thermophila

CC

Western Barn Owl (American)

Tyto alba [furcata-group]

HV

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Ridgway's)

Glaucidium brasilianum [ridgwayi-group]

L, CC

Northern Potoo (Middle American)

Nyctibius jamaicensis [mexicanus-group]

L, CC

Pauraque

Nyctidromus albicollis

L

Yucatan Nightjar

Antrostomus badius

L

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

HV, CC

Vaux's Swift

Chaetura vauxi

CC

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila cayennensis

CC

Long-billed Hermit (Central American)

Phaethornis longirostris [longirostris-group]

CC

Stripe-throated Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

CC

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Caye

Cinnamon Hummingbird (Mainland)

Amazilia rutila [rutila-group]

CT, L

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Rufous-tailed)

Amazilia tzacatl [tzacatl-group]

L, HV

White-bellied Emerald

Amazilia candida

HV

Azure-crowned Hummingbird (Azure-crowned)

Amazilia cyanocephala cyanocephala

CC

Purple-crowned Fairy

Heliothryx barroti

L, CC

Slaty-tailed Trogon (Massena)

Trogon massena massena/hoffmanni

L, CC

Black-headed Trogon

Trogon melanocephalus

HV, CC

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

CT, HV

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

CT

Ringed Kingfisher (Northern)

Megaceryle torquata torquata/stictipennis

CT

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

CC

Tody Motmot

Hylomanes momotula

CC

Blue-diademed Motmot

Momotus lessonii

CC

Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Black-chinned)

Galbula ruficauda melanogenia

L

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

CC

White-whiskered Puffbird

Malacoptila panamensis

CC

Emerald Toucanet

Aulacorhynchus prasinus

L, CC

Collared Aracari

Pteroglossus torquatus

L, HV, CC

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

CT, HV

Acorn Woodpecker (Acorn)

Melanerpes formicivorus [formicivorus-group]

CC

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

CT, L, CC

Velasquez's Woodpecker

Melanerpes santacruzi

HV

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

L

Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Picoides fumigatus

L, HV

Golden-olive Woodpecker (Golden-olive)

Colaptes rubiginosus [rubiginosus-group]

CC

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker

Celeus castaneus

HV, CC

Lineated Woodpecker (Lineated)

Dryocopus lineatus [lineatus-group]

Most days

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus guatemalensis

HV

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

HV, CC

American Kestrel (Northern)

Falco sparverius [sparverius-group]

CT

Bat Falcon

Falco rufigularis

HV

Orange-breasted Falcon

Falco deiroleucus

CT, L, CC

Olive-throated Parakeet (Aztec)

Eupsittula nana astec/vicinalis

CC

Brown-hooded Parrot

Pyrilia haematotis

CT, L

White-fronted Amazon

Amazona albifrons

Most days

Red-lored Amazon (Red-lored)

Amazona autumnalis autumnalis/salvini

CT

Yellow-headed Amazon

Amazona oratrix

CC

Mealy Amazon (Northern)

Amazona farinosa guatemalae/virenticeps

L

Plain Xenops

Xenops minutus

L, HV, CC

Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Greyish)

Sittasomus griseicapillus [griseus-group]

CC

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus flavigaster

L

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

CT

Barred Antshrike (Barred)

Thamnophilus doliatus [doliatus-group]

CC

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

L, CC

Northern Bentbill

Oncostoma cinereigulare

L, CC

Yellow-olive Flatbill (Grey-headed)

Tolmomyias sulphurescens cinereiceps

CC

Stub-tailed Spadebill

Platyrinchus cancrominus

HV, CC

Tropical Pewee (Short-legged)

Contopus cinereus [brachytarsus-group]

L, CC

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

CT

Vermilion Flycatcher (Vermilion)

Pyrocephalus rubinus [obscurus-group]

Most days

Social Flycatcher (Vermilion-crowned)

Myiozetetes similis [texensis-group]

CT, L

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

HV

Boat-billed Flycatcher (Northern)

Megarynchus pitangua [mexicanus-group]

Most days

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

HV

Couch's Kingbird

Tyrannus couchii

Belize City

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

CT, CC

Fork-tailed Flycatcher (monachus)

Tyrannus savana monachus

HV

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

CT

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

L, CC

Bright-rumped Attila (Northern)

Attila spadiceus [flammulatus-group]

L

White-collared Manakin

Manacus candei

L, CC

Red-capped Manakin

Dixiphia mentalis

L

Northern Royal Flycatcher

Onychorhynchus mexicanus

CT

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

L, CC

Masked Tityra

Tityra semifasciata

CC

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

CC

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

L, HV, CC

Rose-throated Becard

Pachyramphus aglaiae

CT

Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Northern)

Cyclarhis gujanensis [gujanensis-group]

L, HV, CC

White-eyed Vireo (White-eyed)

Vireo griseus [griseus-group]

CT, L

Mangrove Vireo (Northern Central America)

Vireo pallens ochraceus/semiflavus

L, HV, CC

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

HV

Plumbeous Vireo (Central American)

Vireo plumbeus notius/montanus

L, HV, CC

Lesser Greenlet (Northern)

Hylophilus decurtatus [decurtatus-group]

HV

Green Jay

Cyanocorax luxuosus

Most days

Brown Jay

Psilorhinus morio

CT

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

CT, L

Mangrove Swallow

Tachycineta albilinea

L, HV, CC

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Northern)

Stelgidopteryx serripennis [serripennis-group]

L, CC

Spot-breasted Wren

Pheugopedius maculipectus

CC

House Wren (Southern)

Troglodytes aedon [musculus-group]

CT

White-bellied Wren (Middle America)

Uropsila leucogastra [leucogastra-group]

L

White-breasted Wood Wren (Sclater's)

Henicorhina leucosticta [prostheleuca-group]

CT, L, HV

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

HV

Tropical Gnatcatcher (White-browed)

Polioptila plumbea [bilineata-group]

L, HV, CC

Grey Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

CT, Caye

Tropical Mockingbird (Tropical)

Mimus gilvus [gilvus-group]

L, CC

Wood Thrush

Hylocichla mustelina

CT, HV

Clay-colored Thrush

Turdus grayi

L, HV, CC

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Euphonia hirundinacea

CC

Olive-backed Euphonia

Euphonia gouldi

CT, Caye

Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapilla

CC

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

CT, L

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

L

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera

Most days

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

HV, CC

Grey-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis poliocephala

CT, L

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

Most days

Hooded Warbler

Setophaga citrina

CT, L, CC

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

CT

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

Most days

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Most days

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Caye

Mangrove Warbler (Mangrove)

Setophaga petechia [erithachorides-group]

CT, CC

Yellow-throated Warbler (White-lored)

Setophaga dominica albilora

HV

Grace's Warbler

Setophaga graciae

CT, L, HV

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

HV

Rufous-capped Warbler (South Mexico)

Basileuterus rufifrons salvini

CC

Eastern Meadowlark (Eastern)

Sturnella magna [magna-group]

L, CC

Montezuma Oropendola

Psarocolius montezuma

HV, CC

Yellow-backed Oriole

Icterus chrysater

L

Altamira Oriole

Icterus gularis

HV, CC

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

HV

Yellow-tailed Oriole

Icterus mesomelas

CT, L

Hooded Oriole (Yucatan)

Icterus cucullatus igneus

L, CC

Black-cowled Oriole

Icterus prosthemelas

L

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

CT

Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)

Agelaius phoeniceus [phoeniceus-group]

CT, HV, CC

Melodious Blackbird

Dives dives

Most days

Great-tailed Grackle (Great-tailed)

Quiscalus mexicanus [mexicanus-group]

HV

Rusty Sparrow

Aimophila rufescens

L

Black-throated Shrike-tanager

Lanio aurantius

CT, L

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

L, CC

Yellow-winged Tanager

Thraupis abbas

CC

Golden-hooded Tanager

Tangara larvata

L

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

HV

Grassland Yellow Finch (Northern)

Sicalis luteola [chrysops-group]

L

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

CC

Variable Seedeater (Black)

Sporophila corvina corvina

Most days

White-collared Seedeater (White-collared)

Sporophila torqueola [morelleti-group]

HV

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

HV, CC

Hepatic Tanager

Piranga hepatica

Most days

Summer Tanager (Eastern)

Piranga rubra rubra

L, CC

Red-throated Ant Tanager (Salvin's)

Habia fuscicauda [salvini-group]

L, CC

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

L

Northern Cardinal (Common)

Cardinalis cardinalis [cardinalis-group]

HV

Black-faced Grosbeak

Caryothraustes poliogaster

L, HV

Black-headed Saltator

Saltator atriceps

CC

Greyish Saltator (Middle American)

Saltator coerulescens [grandis-group]

CC

Blue-black Grosbeak

Cyanocompsa cyanoides

L,CC

Blue Bunting (Middle America)

Cyanocompsa parellina [parellina-group]

Notes:- Couch's Kingbird is impossible to ID by sight alone and I only counted it where an experienced guide heard the call.

Caye Caulker was very disappointing in terms of birdlife and sun-bathing opportunities. The 'reserve' is heavily encroached, and most birds were seen alongside the runway or in the mangroves

Animals

Site Name

Species Name

Scientific Name

CT, L

Yucatan Squirrel

Sciurus yucatanensis

L

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

L

Proboscis Bat

Rhynchonycteris naso

L

Greater Bulldog Bat

Noctilio leporinus

L

Guatemalan Black Howler

Alouatta pigra

L

Nine-banded Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

L

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Sphiggurus mexicanus

L

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

L

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

L

Kinkajou

Potos flavus

CC

Guatemalan Black Howler

Alouatta pigra

CC

Geoffroy's Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

CC

Deppe's Squirrel

Sciurus deppei

CC

Grey Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

CC

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

CC

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

 

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