Bird Sanctuaries, Belize National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Monuments, Natural Reserves

Belize River Front Real Estate and Investment Properties
W E L C O M E - T O B A N A N A - B A N K - H E I G H T S

Birds, Birding and Bird Watching

It is no wonder that bird watching is so popular in Belize, a country the size of Massachusetts and home to over 570 species of birds. This is considered remarkable while just over 800 species of birds have been documented in all of North America. Belize is for the most part free of pest, prays and smog. The diverse and largely undeveloped habitats within the country support this remarkable bird representation. Observations and sightings are abundantly available while taking nature walks, tours, river expeditions or while visiting any of the numerous cayes (islands) of Belize.The nature reserves of northern Belize are unquestionably the home to the largest bird populations. Shipstern Wildlife Reserve and the Rio Bravo Conservation Area enclose the largest bird sanctuaries in the north.

The Yellow Lored Parrot, Black Catbird, Reddish Egret, White Winged Dove and the Yucatan Jay are among just some of the birds that are found at the Shipstern Lagoon housing over two hundred species. Many of these birds migrate from North America during the winter. The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area is home to at least 344 species. The New River as well as the Lamanai Archaeoloigcal Reserve also has a uniquely diverse bird population. Bird watchers will find many accommodations within these areas having birding tours with trained professionals upon request.

Nature trails, recorded species lists and birdwatchng towers are found in many locations throughout Belize. Belize Audubon Society has created special itineraries that explored forest, reef, savannah and wetland habitats.

Both Progresso and Cocos Lagoon served as passage for Mayan merchants at the height of the Mayan Era. These waterways in the Corozal District are located only 10 to 12 km from the Caribbean Sea. Once a military lookout and post and busy trading area… Progresso and Cocos Lagoons today serve as an area of unique ecological diversity within a serene, tranquil environment. On the western side of Progresso Lagoon lies the charming little village of Progresso. In recent times, Mennonites settlements have transformed the area and given it a new sense of cultural diversity. The Mennonite still believe that modern machinery and equipment will contaminate their faith and to this day most drive horse drawn buggies similar to the Amish of Pennsyvania, U.S. and will not use automated farm equipment. The long, wide and irregularly shaped lagoons provide wonderful beachside picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and of course swimming. Within Progresso Lagoon you will find Caye Coco. This ancient Mayan hub, a post-Classic monumental center may be the colonial Maya site of Chanlacan, the capital Chetumal after the fall of Santa Rita and seat of the 1547 rebellion against Spanish Bacalar. More recent excavations of Caye Coco have uncovered cemeteries, courtyards and buried residential platforms. Visitors can find access to Progresso and Cocos Lagoons either through Orange Walk Town… after crossing the bridge in Orange Walk drive approximately 8 km and you will arrive at San Estevan Village. Continue down George Price Street and follow the pavement as it turns right. Proceed another 14 km until you reach Progresso Lagoon. You can also get to Progresso Village by taking the boat ferry across the New River. Once across the New River you will pass the Progresso Heights development, then proceed about 5 ½ miles to the Village. The New River Ferry is a must see for first time visitors to the area.

With an abundance of over 500 species of birds, Belize is quickly becoming a favorite Cenral american spot amongs birders and nature lovers. Many local companies offer small and personalized bird watching tours catering to both the casual and serious birder. The following parks are of special interest and are close by the lots: Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary Mountain Pine Ridge, Lamanai, Half Moon Caye, Caracol, Macal River, Guanacaste, El Pilar, Aguacaste Lagoon, Crystal Paradise, Jaguar Reserve, Five Blues Lake, Blue Hole National Park, Grass Creek Road.

Nesters

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Red-footed booby (Sula sula)

Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Frigate bird (Fregata magnificens)

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)

Green heron (Butorides viriscens)

Little blue heron (Florida caerulea)

Reddish egret (Dichromanassa rufescens)

Common egret (Casmerodius albus)

Snowy egret (Leucophoyx thula)

Tri-colored heron (Hydranssa tricolor)

Least tern (Sterna albifrons)

Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Brown noddy (Anous stolidus)

White-crowned pigeon (Columba leucocephala)

Pale-vented pigeon (Columba cayennesis)

White-winged dove (Zenaida asiactica)

Mangrove cuckoo (Coccyzus minor)

Green-breasted mango (Anthracothorax prevostii)

Cinnamon hummingbird (Amazilia rutila)

Golden-fronted woodpeckers (Centurus aurifrons)

Mangrove swallow (Iridoprocne albilinea)

Tropical mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

Mangrove warbler (Dendroica petechia)

Great-tailed grackle (Cassidix mexicanus)

Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

White ibis (Endocimus albus)

Osprey (Pandion haliatus)

Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris)

Thick-billed plover (Charadrius wilsonia)

Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)

Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)

Laughing gull (Larus atricilla)

Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii)

Bridled tern (Sterna anaethetus)

Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata)

Winter Residents

Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)

Least sandpiper (Erolia minutilla)

Royal tern (Thalasseus maximus)

Belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)

Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

Grey catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Black and white warbler (Mniotilta varia)

Worm-eating warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus)

Blue-winged warbler (Verminvora pinus)

Tennessee warbler (Vermivora peregrina)

Northern parula (Parula americana)

Magnolia warbler (Dendroica magnolia)

Cape May warbler (Dendroica tigrina)

Black-throated blue warbler (Dendroica virens)

Yellow-throated warbler (Dendroica dendroica)

Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum)

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)

Northern waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis)

Common yellowthroat (Geothylpis trichas)

Hooded warbler (Wilsonia citrina)

American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

Visitors

Masked booby (Sula dactylatra)

Brown booby (Sula leugogaster)

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)

Black-bellied plover (Squatarola squatarola)

Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia)

Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

Vermillion-crowned flycatcher (Myziozetetes similis)

Melodious blackbird (Dives dives)

Transients

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Sora (Porzana carolina)

Collared plover (Charadrius collaris)

Upland plover (Bartramis longicauda)

Greater yellowlegs (Totanus melanoleucas)

Common snipe (Capella gallinago)

Sanderling (Crocethia alba)

Semipalmated sandpiper (Ereunetes pusillus)

Western sandpiper (Ereunetes mauri)

White-rumped sandpiper (Erolia fuscicollis)

Pectoral sandpiper (Erolia fuscicollis)

Black tern (Chlidonias niger)

Yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Lesser nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)

Tawny-collared nightjar (Caprimulgus salvini)

Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Piratic flycatcher (Legatus leocophaius)

Sulfur-bellied flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris)

Great-crested fltcatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)

Brown-crested fltcatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
Eastern wood-pewee (Contopus virens)

Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)

Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Bank swallow (Riparia riparia)

Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

Grey-cheeked thrush (Hylocichla minima)

Cedar waxwing (Bomycilla cedrorum)

White-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus)

Yellow-green vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

Golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)

Cerulea warbler (Dendroica cerulea)

Blackburnian warbler (Dendroica fusca)

Chestnut-sided warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica)

Bay-breasted warbler (Dendroica castanea)

Prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor)

Louisiana waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla)

Kentucky warbler (Oporornis formosus)

Connecticut warbler (Oporornis philadelphia)

Mourning warbler (Oporonis philadelphia)

Wilson’s warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)

Canada warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)

Orchard oriole (Icterus spurius)

Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula)

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Summer tanager (Piranga olivacea)

Rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Blue grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea)

Indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Painted bunting (Passerina ciris)

Dickcissel (Spiza americana)

Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)

Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)

Accidentals

Least grebe (Podiceps dominicus)

Olivaceous cormorant (Phalacrocorax olivaceus)

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

Cattle egret (Bulbulcus ibis)

Fork-tailed flyercatcher (Muscivora tyrannus)

Black-whiskered vireo (Vireo altiloquus)

Residents

Common ground dove (Columbina passerina)

Smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani)

Tropical kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)

Great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

Caribbean elaenia (Elaenia martinica)

Black catbird (Melanoptila glabirostris)

Mangrove vireo (Vireo pallens)

Yucatan vireo (Vireo magister)

Ground chat (Chamaethlypis poliocephala)

Hooded oriole (Icterus cucullatus)

Red-throated ant tanager (Habia gutturalis)

White-collared seedeater (Sporophila torqueola)