Birds

We saw birds wherever we went.

Head close-up Bird with background Great Curassow, Crax rubra

We saw these at the Belize Zoo and at Tikal.

Egret in tree Closer shot Snowy Egret, Egretta thula

We photographed these birds from a boat on the Mopan River.

Egret by the water Great Egret, Ardea alba

This bird is in breeding plumage. Note the long feathers on the back. This bird was at the Belize Zoo.

Toucan Collared Aracari, Pteroglossus torquatus

This toucan was watching us when we were at Tikal.

Parrot Mealy Parrot, Amazona farinosa

This beautiful bird was in the Belize Zoo.

Wings spread White-collared Manakin, Manacus candei

We photographed this bird at the Mopan River Resort.

Colorful Ocellated Turkey, Memeagris ocellata

There were many of these colorful turkeys running around in Tikal.

Red-footed booby Check out those feet! Red-footed Booby, Sula sula

These were nesting on Half Moon Caye.

Frigates Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens

The frigates were also nesting on Half Moon Caye. The one with the red pouch is a male. The one in the background with the white fuzz is a juvenile.

Flocks of Birds

Hundreds of birds Many birds More birds

The birds in the first photo are mostly great egrets and wood storks, but there are others too. In the second photo the two big birds are jabiru storks, Jabiru mycteria, the largest bird which lives in this hemisphere. There are also cormorants, white ibises, great egrets, snowy egrets, roseate spoonbills, tricolored herons, little blue herons, ducks, and even a hawk. The third photo is in the same area but a bit closer. These photographs were from the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, which is heaven for bird watchers.

Flying Wood Storks, Mycteria americana

These wood storks were at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.

Puffbird White-whiskered Puffbird, Malacoptila panamensis

Another bird from Tikal.

Bathing Great-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus

Another bird from Crooked Tree.

Bigfoot Looking for food Northern Jacana, Jacana spinosa

These are immature birds, photographed at Crooked Tree. Look at the huge feet!

On the beach Yellow-billed Cacique, Amblycercus holosericeus

We're not positive of the identification of this bird, which we photographed on Half Moon Caye.

At Tikal Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus

These vultures were hanging around near one of the temples at Tikal. Maybe they were waiting for a tourist to expire, or for human sacrifices?

Red bird Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra

Photographed near the Mopan River.

On a tree Black and white Brown Jay, Psilorhinus morio

Photographed at Tikal. Locally this bird is called the "Pam pam".

Looking for food Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Celeus castaneus

This bird was at Tikal. Tikal was fun because there were many birds along the paths between the temples.

Getting ready to fly On the dock Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus

These birds hung out around the dock at the Blackbird Caye Resort on Turneffe Atoll.

Unknown Plover Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (non-breeding plumage)

We are not positive what species this is, as it flew away after just one shot.

Unidentified Birds:

Brown bird

This brown bird was photographed visiting a feeder at the Mopan River Resort. We could not identify it using any of our books.

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Last modified 5 April 2026