Birding Belize Part 2

 

Black Catbird (Melanptila glabrirostris).
Caye Caulker, Belize

After our sojourn to the Rio Bravo Conservation Area in northwestern Belize, the Mecklenburg Audubon birders went to the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.  This sanctuary is managed by Belize Audubon and is an area of rivers, lagoons, forests and savannas.  It is situated in the north-central part of Belize.  Our lodgings were at the Bird’s Eye View Lodge on the shores of the Crooked Tree Lagoon, a large freshwater lake and marsh. 

Green Heron (Butorides virescens).
New River, Belize.

We took two boat trips on the New River during our time at Crooked Tree.  The small motorboats we used allowed us intimate views of many birds that make their living along the river.  Herons were abundant with the familiar Green Heron (Butorides virescens) stalking the water’s edge and the large and impressive Bare-throated Tiger-Herons (Tigrisoma mexicanum) hunting fish.  The odd Boat-billed Herons (Cochlearius cochlearius), with their massive beaks, perched in trees along the river waiting for sunset to commence feeding.  

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum).
New River, Belize. 

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius).
New River, Belize. 

Kingfishers were plentiful along the New River including the beautiful Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) with its green back and head, white collar and in the males, a red breast.  We saw Russet-naped Wood-Rail (Aramides albiventris) hunting along the bank.  This large rail is found only in Central America and Mexico.  It has a yellow beak, red eyes, a gray head and back, rufous wings and, of course, a russet nape.  Raptors were common along the river including the Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis).  This predator has a hooked beak that it uses to extract snails from their shells.  

Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana). 
New River, Belize. 

Russet-naped Wood-Rail (Aramides albiventris).
New River, Belize. 

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis).
New River, Belize. 

The Crooked Tree Lagoon is home to many wading birds.  The most dramatic is the Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria).  These giant storks with their white body, black head and red collar, towered over the other waders in the lagoon.  Flocks of Roseate Spoonbills (Platalea ajaja) fed in the shallows and flew overhead at sunset heading to their roosts.   

Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria).
Crooked Tree Lagoon, Belize.

Roseate Spoonbills (Platalea ajaja).
Crooked Tree Lagoon, Belize. 

Mangrove Swallows (Tachycineta albilinea) and Gray-breasted Martins (Progne chalybea) patrolled the air over the lagoon scooping up insects as they flew. Tiny Least Grebes (Tachybaptus dominicus) were common in the lagoon, paddling about and diving for prey.

Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea).
Crooked Tree Lagoon, Belize. 

Gray-breasted Martin (Pogne chalybea).
Crooked Tree Lagoon, Belize. 

Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus).
Crooked Tree Lagoon. 

The forests and fields of Crooked Tree also yielded many good birds.  Cinnamon-bellied Saltators (Saltator grandis) with their heavy beaks and delicately colored bellies perched tantalizingly low.  Noisy bunches of parrots and parakeets squawked as they flew by.  Olive-throated Parakeets (Eupsittula nana) are the smallest and most common of these colorful birds.  Sometimes they would briefly perch in the tops of the trees for a few seconds to give us a look. 

Cinnamon-bellied Saltator (Saltator grandis).
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize.

Olive-throated Parakeets (Eupsittula nana).
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

Vermillion Flycatchers (Pyrocephalus obscurus) were nesting in the area. The males, with their black backs and eye-popping red heads and breasts contrasted with more delicately colored females.  We also found a brilliant orange, black and white Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis) on its impressive hanging nest.  

Male Vermillion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus obscurus).
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

Female Vermillion Flycatcher at its nest.
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis) at nest.
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

A family of three Ferruginous Pygmy Owls (Glaucidium brasilianum) was resting in a stand of oak trees early one morning.  These tiny owls have long tails, streaked breasts and eyespots on the back of their heads.  The eyespots probably confuse predators into thinking they are being watched.  

 

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum).
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl showing  eyespots
 on the back of the head.
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) were nesting in power poles in the oak forest too.  These black, white and red woodpeckers drill holes in trees, and poles, to store their acorns for later use.  We found a family of Acorn Woodpeckers lined up on a pole near their nest hole.  The Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus) is a beautiful endemic bird found only in the Yucatan of Mexico and adjacent areas of Belize and Guatemala.  It is about the size of a Blue Jay with a bright blue back, wings and tail and a black head, breast and belly. 

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) at nest. 
An acorn is stored in a hole above the woodpecker. 
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

An Acorn Woodpecker family and nest.
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus).
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

The forests of Crooked Tree had birds that are found throughout the tropics like Black-headed Trogons (Trogon melanocephalus) and White-fronted Parrots (Amazona albifrons).   

Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus).
Lamanai Archeological Reserve, Belize.

White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons).
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

There were also birds that are endemic to the area like the delicate Rufous-breasted Spinetail (Synallaxis erythrothorax) and Yucatan Flycatcher (Myiarchus yucatanensis).

Rufous-breasted Spinetail (Synallaxis erythrothorax).
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

Yucatan Flycatcher (Myiarchus yucatanensis).
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. 

While most of our group left for home and others went to visit Mayan ruins, Diane and I went with our guide Roni to Caye Caulker, an island off the coast of Belize.  We were in search of birds found only along the coast and others that are endemic to the area.  

Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila).
Caye Caulker, Belize. 

Cinnamon Hummingbirds (Amazilia rutila) are common on the island.  They have a pink bill, green head and back and cinnamon-colored and tail.  Common Black Hawks (Buteogallus anthracinus) feed mainly on crabs they catch in the mangroves.  One of these large hawks was being harassed by a pair of Tropical Kingbirds (Tyrannus melancholicus) trying to chase the predator from their territory.  White-crowned Pigeons (Patagioenas leucocephala) are found from South Florida, through the West Indies and along the Caribbean coast of Central America.  These large pigeons are dark gray with a brilliant white cap on their heads were perched high in Casuarina trees (Casuarina equisetifolia).  

Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) and
Tropical Kingbirds (Tyrannus melancholicus).
Caye Caulker, Belize. 

White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala).
Caye Caulker, Belize. 

Yucatan Vireos (Vireo magister) are endemic to this section of Caribbean coast and Grand Cayman Island.  We found many of these small songbirds in gardens and mangrove stands including one sitting on a nest. The main bird we were seeking on Caye Caulker was the Black Catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris).  With its narrow distribution I expected the Black Catbird would be hard to find, but on Caye Caulker it was abundant.  They flew between low trees, perched in the open and sang their songs. This beautiful bird is the same size as our Gray Catbird but is iridescent black.  Black Catbirds are threatened by habitat loss in their very limited range.

 

Yucatan Vireo (Vireo magister). 
Caye Caulker, Belize. 

Yucatan Vireo on nest.
Caye Caulker, Belize. 

Black Catbird.
Caye Caulker, Belize. 

Our ten-day trip to Belize brought us views of tropical habitats, diverse mammals, beautiful flowers, striking insects and of course many, many birds.

 

 

 

 

Belize Birding Part 1

White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Belize is a small country on the Caribbean coast of Central America.  It is a  mere two-and-a-half-hour plane ride from Atlanta but despite its proximity, it is a world apart from our daily experience.  Belize has tropical forests, savannas and mangrove-fringed islands atop the second longest barrier reef in the world.  We recently traveled there with a group of North Carolina birders to experience what the tropics had to offer. This blog will deal with the first of the three locations we visited. 

Our first stop was the Rio Bravo Conservation Area in northwestern Belize, near the border with Mexico and Guatemala.  This wild area is a large block of conserved land that connects reserves in all three countries.  The Conservation Area butts up against the extensive fields and pastures of the Mennonite farmers of Belize. The Bio Bravo Conservation Area is managed by Project for Belize and has pine savanna, tropical broad-leaf forest, rivers and lagoons.  Our group stayed at the La Milpa Field Station near the Mayan archeological site of the same name. 

Hummingbirds abounded near the Field Station and in the surrounding forest.  The large Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) fed on wild flowers while White-necked Jacobins (Florisuga mellivora) buzzed around the hummingbird feeders that ringed the outdoor dining room at the Station.  Tiny Wedge-tailed Sabrewings (Campylopterus pampa) feed on the orange-flowered Flamboyant tree (Delonix regia).  

Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

White-necked Jacobin.
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Wedge-tailed Sabrewing (Campylopterus pampa).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize.

Four species of large birds were also around the Field Station.  Male Great Curassows (Crax rubra) were dueling for supremacy on the lawns while Ocellated Turkeys (Meleagris ocellata) strolled the grounds with chicks.  Crested Guans (Penelope purpurascens) perched in tall trees watching this show while a large flock of Plain Chachalacas (Ortalis vetula) jabbered from the undergrowth.  

Great Curassows (Crax rubra).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize.

Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Ocellated Turkey.
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Raptors were abundant in the area.  The most impressive was a flyover by a King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa).  This bird is the third largest vulture in the New World, behind only the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus).  Roadside Hawks (Rupornis magnirostris) were common on savannas and around farms, hunting from perches, often on the side of the road.  We saw many Laughing Falcons (Herpetotheres cachinnans) perched in trees, carefully watching for their favorite prey, snakes. One evening we went in search of owls and we hit the jackpot.  A Barn Owl (Tyto alba) was giving its high-pitched scream while a Mottled Owl (Ciccaba virgata) and two Black-and-white Owls (Strix nigrolineata) perched nearby.  

King Vulture (Sarcoramhpus papa).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris). 
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize.

Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Black-and-white Owl (Strix nigrolineata).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

The neotropics has many species of flycatchers and we found quite a few.  The largest and most conspicuous was the Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus).  With its rufous wings, yellow breast and belly, and striped head, this flycatcher always stood out.  Social Flycatchers (Myiozetetes similis) have a similar color pattern but are smaller.  A pair of Social Flycatchers had a dome-shaped nest with an entry hole made of fine fibers and we watched them make regular visits to feed their young.  Couch's Kingbirds (Tyrannus couchii) and Tropical Kingbirds (Tyrannus melancholicus) are very similar in appearance and are best distinguished by their vocalization.  We saw both species around the Field Station. Yellow-bellied Elaenias (Elaenia flavogaster) also nested near the Station.  They had the yellow belly, as advertised, and a jaunty crest.  

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Social Flycatcher nest. 
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize.

Couch's Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster). 
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Motmots are emblematic birds of the tropics.  They are large, brightly colored and have a long tail with two rackets at the end.  A pair of Lesson's Motmots (Motmotus lessonii) had a nest near the Station and would make regular visits carrying large insects for their young.  During our visit, the rainy season had not started and many ponds were dry.  Despite this, an American Pygmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea) showed up at the Station one afternoon and perched on the lower branches of trees.  This fish-eating bird was probably hunting insects or lizards until the water returned. 

Lesson's Motmot (Motmotus lessonii).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

American Pygmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Trogons are another characteristic group of tropical birds.  We saw several species including the Gartered Trogon (Trogon caligatus), with its black head, yellow belly, barred tail and yellow eye ring. The Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata) is a large and distinctive flycatcher with a white body, black wings, a black mask, a red and black beak and red eye ring.  These birds were abundant around the Station and on roadsides. We also saw a toucan relative, the Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus).  This brightly colored bird is black above, with a bold yellow eye and the distinctive toucan beak. 

Gartered Trogon (Trogon caligatus).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasicata).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

The forest had many birds that crawled along tree trunks.  The beautiful Chestnut-colored Woodpecker (Celeus castaneus) has a dark brown body, a blond, crested head and males have red on the face.  The American tropics are the home to many species of woodcreepers including the large Ivory-billed Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus flavigaster) and the diminutive Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus).  

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker (Celeus castaneus).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper (Xiphorhyncus flavigaster).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize.  

Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Small birds abounded in the forest.  Brilliant male Red-capped Manikins (Ceratopipra mentalis) were singing and dancing on their lek to attract females.  Rose-throated Tanagers (Piranga roseogularis) are found only in the Yucatan of Mexico and adjacent Guatemala and Belize.  The males with their rose-pink throat and undertail coverts were singing in the lower canopy. 

Red-capped Manikin (Ceratopipra mentalis).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

Rose-throated Tanager (Piranga roseogularis).
Rio Bravo Conservation Area, Belize. 

This excellent trip was organized by the Mecklenburg Audubon Society through Natural Selections Tours.  Our guides, Roni Martinez and Abimael Moralez, worked tirelessly from dawn to late in the night.  They made sure everyone in the group got to see and hear the terrific birds of Belize. Roni and Abi were not just bird guides.  They knew the plants, mammals, reptiles, insects, history and more about their country.  Our final total was 191 bird species and I saw 21 life birds but many of our group saw many more.  Thanks to all who went on the trip and to all who made it so enjoyable.