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.
List of Birds Found in Belize
Native Birds
Boobies and Gannets
Cardinals and Allies
- Blue-black Grosbeak
- Blue Seedeater
- Gray-throated Chat
Cotingas
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
Falcons and Caracaras
- Barred Forest-falcon
- Collared Forest-falcon
- Crested Caracara
- Laughing Falcon
- Orange-breasted Falcon
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
- Bare-throated Tiger-heron
- Boat-billed Heron
Hummingbirds
- Black-crested Coquette
- Cinnamon Hummingbird
- Green-breasted Mango
- Long-billed Hermit
- Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Jacamars
Jacana
Kingfishers
Manakins
- Red-capped Manakin
- White-collared Manakin
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Motmots
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
New World Warblers
- Blue-winged Warbler
- Gray-crowned Yellowthroat
Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers
- Plain Xenops
- Rufous-breasted Spinetail
- Tawny-winged Woodcreeper
Owls
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
Pigeons and Doves
- Scaled Pigeon
- White-crowned Pigeon
- White-tipped Dove
Potoos
Puffbirds
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
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
- Arctic Tern
- Black Swift
- Canada Goose
- Eurasian Collared-dove
- Fulvous Whistling-duck
- House Sparrow
- Inca Dove
- Masked Booby
- Northern Mockingbird
- Rock Pigeon
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.
