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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