Belize Birds

Belize's diverse environments provide habitats to over 500 species of birds. A small sample appears below in low resolution thumbnail photos. Digital files in .tif format (no compression) are available. Captions can be provided for all photos.

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Brown Pelican 1540  Brown pelicans plunge-dive 30-60 feet, bill first, to catch fish. Air sacs just beneath their skin cushion the impact of hitting the water. Their throat pouch extends to form a scoop net with a capacity of 2 ??? gallons. Powerful flyers, with wingspans of 6 feet, they often fly in a V-formation low to the water in search of food.
Brown Pelican 1540

Brown Pelican 1059  Brown pelicans plunge-dive 30-60 feet, bill first, to catch fish. Air sacs just beneath their skin cushion the impact of hitting the water. Their throat pouch extends to form a scoop net with a capacity of 2 ??? gallons. Powerful flyers, with wingspans of 6 feet, they often fly in a V-formation low to the water in search of food.
Brown Pelican 1059
Currasow 1050
Currasow 1050
Harpy Eagle 1565  Five-inch talons, a wingspan up to seven feet, fast flight, and a length one-half the average human make the harpy eagle a formidable bird of prey. Shooting and loss of habitat has endangered this majestic eagle. In 2000, one was seen in Belize for the first time in 42 years. Harpy eagles mate for life.
Harpy Eagle 1565
Harpy Eagle 1566  Five-inch talons, a wingspan up to seven feet, fast flight, and a length one-half the average human make the harpy eagle a formidable bird of prey. Shooting and loss of habitat has endangered this majestic eagle. In 2000, one was seen in Belize for the first time in 42 years. Harpy eagles mate for life.
Harpy Eagle 1566
Harpy Eagle 1567  Five-inch talons, a wingspan up to seven feet, fast flight, and a length one-half the average human make the harpy eagle a formidable bird of prey. Shooting and loss of habitat has endangered this majestic eagle. In 2000, one was seen in Belize for the first time in 42 years. Harpy eagles mate for life.
Harpy Eagle 1567
Harpy Eagle 1568  Five-inch talons, a wingspan up to seven feet, fast flight, and a length one-half the average human make the harpy eagle a formidable bird of prey. Shooting and loss of habitat has endangered this majestic eagle. In 2000, one was seen in Belize for the first time in 42 years. Harpy eagles mate for life.
Harpy Eagle 1568

Jabiru Stork 1049  At five feet tall, the endangered Jabiru Stork towers over all other flying birds in the Americas.  Effective predators, they use their massive bill to capture fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and birds.  Jabiru storks live in swampy woodland and marshy savannas and communicate to each other by rattling their bills.
Jabiru Stork 1049

Keel-billed Toucan 1065  Keel-billed toucans, Belize’s national bird, sport gaudy plumage and massive bills that have the feel of laminated balsa wood. A sponge-like network of fibers inside the bill provides strength and light weight. Toucans eat rain forest fruits, insects, and small animals. A frog-like croak signals a toucan’s presence.
Keel-billed Toucan 1065
Keel-billed Toucan 1066  Keel-billed toucans, Belize’s national bird, sport gaudy plumage and massive bills that have the feel of laminated balsa wood. A sponge-like network of fibers inside the bill provides strength and light weight. Toucans eat rain forest fruits, insects, and small animals. A frog-like croak signals a toucan’s presence.
Keel-billed Toucan 1066
Keel-billed Toucan 1067  Keel-billed toucans, Belize’s national bird, sport gaudy plumage and massive bills that have the feel of laminated balsa wood. A sponge-like network of fibers inside the bill provides strength and light weight. Toucans eat rain forest fruits, insects, and small animals. A frog-like croak signals a toucan’s presence.
Keel-billed Toucan 1067
Keel-billed Toucan 1068  Keel-billed toucans, Belize’s national bird, sport gaudy plumage and massive bills that have the feel of laminated balsa wood. A sponge-like network of fibers inside the bill provides strength and light weight. Toucans eat rain forest fruits, insects, and small animals. A frog-like croak signals a toucan’s presence.
Keel-billed Toucan 1068

Keel-billed Toucan 1552
King Vulture 1051  King vultures, largest in Central America, soar high over Belizean forests on wings that span six feet. Their sharp eyes, keen sense of smell, and strong, hooked bill equip king vultures to efficiently detect and devour carrion. Ancient Mayans called them “Oc” and used their feathers in headdresses.
King Vulture 1051
King Vulture 1052  King vultures, largest in Central America, soar high over Belizean forests on wings that span six feet. Their sharp eyes, keen sense of smell, and strong, hooked bill equip king vultures to efficiently detect and devour carrion. Ancient Mayans called them “Oc” and used their feathers in headdresses.
King Vulture 1052
King Vulture 1053  King vultures, largest in Central America, soar high over Belizean forests on wings that span six feet. Their sharp eyes, keen sense of smell, and strong, hooked bill equip king vultures to efficiently detect and devour carrion. Ancient Mayans called them “Oc” and used their feathers in headdresses.
King Vulture 1053
King Vulture 1054  King vultures, largest in Central America, soar high over Belizean forests on wings that span six feet. Their sharp eyes, keen sense of smell, and strong, hooked bill equip king vultures to efficiently detect and devour carrion. Ancient Mayans called them “Oc” and used their feathers in headdresses.
King Vulture 1054

King Vulture 1538

King Vulture 1539
Northern Jacana 1047  The northern jacana (hah-SAH-nah), nicknamed “Georgie Bull” by Belizeans, lives in freshwater marshes, rivers, and along lakeshores from Mexico to Panama. Its long legs and exceptionally long toes allow it to walk on floating plants in search of aquatic insects. Males build floating nests, incubate the eggs, and raise the chicks.
Northern Jacana 1047
Oscellated Turkey 1046
Oscellated Turkey 1046
Osprey 1061  The osprey, also known as “fish hawk”, is commonly seen on the cayes off Belize’s coast. Its swept-back wings can reach a six-foot span. This raptor plunges into the water feet-first, with locking talons, to snatch a fish. Young ospreys must learn not to capture a fish too heavy to lift.
Osprey 1061
Osprey 1062  The osprey, also known as “fish hawk”, is commonly seen on the cayes off Belize’s coast. Its swept-back wings can reach a six-foot span. This raptor plunges into the water feet-first, with locking talons, to snatch a fish. Young ospreys must learn not to capture a fish too heavy to lift.
Osprey 1062
Osprey 1063  The osprey, also known as “fish hawk”, is commonly seen on the cayes off Belize’s coast. Its swept-back wings can reach a six-foot span. This raptor plunges into the water feet-first, with locking talons, to snatch a fish. Young ospreys must learn not to capture a fish too heavy to lift.
Osprey 1063
Osprey 1551  The osprey, also known as “fish hawk”, is commonly seen on the cayes off Belize’s coast. Its swept-back wings can reach a six-foot span. This raptor plunges into the water feet-first, with locking talons, to snatch a fish. Young ospreys must learn not to capture a fish too heavy to lift.
Osprey 1551
Scarlet Macaw 1032  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn the forests of southern Belize. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence as they gather on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1032
Scarlet Macaw 1033  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn the forests of southern Belize. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence as they gather on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1033
Scarlet Macaw 1034  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn the forests of southern Belize. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence as they gather on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1034
Scarlet Macaw 1035  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn the forests of southern Belize. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence as they gather on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1035
Scarlet Macaw 1036  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn the forests of southern Belize. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence as they gather on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1036
Scarlet Macaw 1037  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn the forests of southern Belize. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence as they gather on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1037
Scarlet Macaw 1038  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn the forests of southern Belize. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence as they gather on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1038
Scarlet Macaw 1039  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn tropical forests of Central and South America. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1039
Scarlet Macaw 1040  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn tropical forests of Central and South America. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1040

Scarlet Macaw 1041
Scarlet Macaw 1550  Scarlet macaws, endangered members of the parrot family, adorn tropical forests of Central and South America. Their gaudy colors and raucous, squawking calls announce their presence on fruiting trees. These symbols of wildness are vulnerable to loss of rain forest habitat and capture for the illegal pet trade.
Scarlet Macaw 1550

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