Birds of Belize

Over 600 species of birds make the nation of Belize their home. However, interestingly none of the species are endemic to the country and can be found elsewhere. Around 30% of the nation’s landmass falls under protected territory, leading to low deforestation rates. This allows the birds living there to thrive. 

The brightly colored Keel-billed Toucan is the national bird of Belize. Bird enthusiasts like wildlife photographers and ornithologists visit between January and May to catch a glimpse of this toucan and the other birds living in Belize. This includes various sea birds, like the Red-footed Booby and the Great Egret.

Birds of Belize

List of Birds Found in Belize

Native Birds

Boobies and Gannets

  • Red-footed Booby

Cardinals and Allies

  • Blue-black Grosbeak
  • Blue Seedeater
  • Gray-throated Chat

Cotingas

  • Lovely Cotinga

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

  • Yucatan Jay

Falcons and Caracaras

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

  • Yellow-throated Euphonia

Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows

  • Great Curassow

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Hummingbirds

  • Black-crested Coquette
  • Cinnamon Hummingbird
  • Green-breasted Mango
  • Long-billed Hermit
  • Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Jacamars

  • Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Jacana

  • Northern Jacana

Kingfishers

  • Ringed Kingfisher

Manakins

  • Red-capped Manakin
  • White-collared Manakin

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

  • Black Catbird

Motmots

  • Tody Motmot

New World and African Parrots

  • Olive-throated Parakeet
  • Red-lored Parrot
  • Scarlet Macaw
  • White-crowned Parrot
  • White-fronted Parrot
  • Yellow-headed Parrot

New World Quail

  • Black-throated Bobwhite

New World Warblers

  • Blue-winged Warbler
  • Gray-crowned Yellowthroat

Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers

  • Plain Xenops
  • Rufous-breasted Spinetail
  • Tawny-winged Woodcreeper

Owls

  • Black-and-white Owl

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Pigeons and Doves

  • Scaled Pigeon
  • White-crowned Pigeon
  • White-tipped Dove

Potoos

Puffbirds

  • White-whiskered Puffbird

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

  • Ruddy Crake
  • Rufous-necked Wood-rail

Tanagers and Allies

  • Black-headed Saltator
  • Crimson-collared Tanager
  • Golden-hooded Tanager
  • Red-legged Honeycreeper
  • Yellow-winged Tanager

Tinamous

  • Great Tinamou
  • Little Tinamou

Tityras and Allies

  • Cinnamon Becard
  • Masked Tityra

Toucans

  • Collared Aracari
  • Keel-billed Toucan

Trogons

  • Black-headed Trogon
  • Gartered Trogon
  • Slaty-tailed Trogon

Troupials and Allies

  • Black-cowled Oriole
  • Montezuma Oropendola
  • Yellow-backed Oriole
  • Yellow-tailed Oriole

Typical Antbirds

  • Dusky Antbird

Tyrant Flycatchers

  • Common Tody-flycatcher
  • Fork-tailed Flycatcher
  • Great Kiskadee
  • Rufous Mourner

Vireos, Shrike-babblers, and Erpornis

  • Green Shrike-vireo
  • Rufous-browed Peppershrike
  • White-eyed Vireo

Woodpeckers

  • Black-cheeked Woodpecker
  • Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
  • Lineated Woodpecker
  • Pale-billed Woodpecker

Wrens

  • Spot-breasted Wren
  • White-breasted Wood-wren

Non-native Birds

Belize is a popular destination for birdwatchers owing to its rich variety of avifauna. Some popular sites include Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, and Blue Hole National Park.

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