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Report from the Belize tour

Posted Mar 11, 2025 by Skye Haas
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Skye Haas

Leader

Learn more about the Belize tour

I could not be happier with how the WINGS 2025 tour to Belize went! This small and enchanting nation along the Caribbean coast hosts a wealth of birds, forests and wonderful people, as well as ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization that are amazing to behold. Our tour is rather extensive, journeying from the lowland savannas and extensive open marshlands of Crooked Tree, to the depths of the jungles of La Milpa, Caracol, and Bocawina; up high to the conifer forests and waterfalls of the Mountain Pine Reserve and down to the coastal beaches of Hopkins Village along the Sittee River. In doing so, we tallied in an impressive 335 species of birds- colorful tropical species like Keel-billed Toucan, Golden-hooded Tanagers and the always elusive Lovely Cotinga; North American migrants like Magnolia Warblers, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Indigo Buntings; to genuine rarities like Cave Swallows, Loggerhead Shrike, Bicolored Hawk and the first solidly documented Short-eared Owl ever for Belize, (with the last reports coming from 25 years ago!); as well as excellent looks at legendary species that lure us to the tropics in the first place, birds like Pheasant Cuckoo, Agami Heron, Stygian Owl and Tody Motmot!

One of the first regional endemics we had success with near the Village of Crooked Tree were the dapper looking Yucatan Jay.
One of the first regional endemics we had success with near the Village of Crooked Tree were the dapper looking Yucatan Jay.
Skye Haas
While in Crooked Tree, we took an early morning boat ride across an expansive wetland where we saw birds like Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Snail Kite, Northern Jacana…
While in Crooked Tree, we took an early morning boat ride across an expansive wetland where we saw birds like Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Snail Kite, Northern Jacana…
Skye Haas
… and this stately Black-collared Hawk, a wetland specialist.
… and this stately Black-collared Hawk, a wetland specialist.
Skye Haas
We then traveled to the wild jungles of La Milpa for a few days exploring the dry forest jungles seeing some fantastic birds like Tody Motmot, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager and the outrageous looking Ocellated Turkey.
We then traveled to the wild jungles of La Milpa for a few days exploring the dry forest jungles seeing some fantastic birds like Tody Motmot, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager and the outrageous looking Ocellated Turkey.
Skye Haas
After a morning of hunting birds down in the tangles of jungle woodlands, we would enjoy a break with something cool to drink as we watched the busy fruit feeders at our lodges having great photo ops with birds like this vividly painted Collared Aracari
After a morning of hunting birds down in the tangles of jungle woodlands, we would enjoy a break with something cool to drink as we watched the busy fruit feeders at our lodges having great photo ops with birds like this vividly painted Collared Aracari
Skye Haas
We did several night drives to look for some of the nocturnal denizens of Belize. We saw all kinds of interesting things such as Paca, Ocelot, Boa Constrictor as well as birds like Yucatan Poorwill and this Northern Potoo.
We did several night drives to look for some of the nocturnal denizens of Belize. We saw all kinds of interesting things such as Paca, Ocelot, Boa Constrictor as well as birds like Yucatan Poorwill and this Northern Potoo.
Skye Haas
We had an excellent trip for owls as well; in addition to the first documented record of Short-eared Owl (all previous records lacked photos or physical documentation), we encountered Stygian Owl, American Barn Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Middle American Screech-Owl and this Mottled Owl that posed nicely for us!
We had an excellent trip for owls as well; in addition to the first documented record of Short-eared Owl (all previous records lacked photos or physical documentation), we encountered Stygian Owl, American Barn Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Middle American Screech-Owl and this Mottled Owl that posed nicely for us!
Skye Haas
We enjoyed seeing cultural sights, such as the Canna Temple (meaning Sky Palace) in the ancient Mayan city of Caracol. The Canna remains today as one of the largest buildings in Belize!
We enjoyed seeing cultural sights, such as the Canna Temple (meaning Sky Palace) in the ancient Mayan city of Caracol. The Canna remains today as one of the largest buildings in Belize!
Skye Haas
While birding the Mennonite community’s rice fields, we saw quite the spread of amazing sightings ranging from a stake-out Loggerhead Shrike (the first ever recorded in Belize!), to the highly localized, if not somewhat underwhelming White-throated Flycatcher to the absolutely jaw-dropping Jabiru gathering nesting material for its huge nest in a nearby tree!
While birding the Mennonite community’s rice fields, we saw quite the spread of amazing sightings ranging from a stake-out Loggerhead Shrike (the first ever recorded in Belize!), to the highly localized, if not somewhat underwhelming White-throated Flycatcher to the absolutely jaw-dropping Jabiru gathering nesting material for its huge nest in a nearby tree!
Skye Haas
There are a handful of species that serious listers eventually come to Belize to try for, with Keel-billed Motmot being a desired target that we had to adventure our way off trail before getting some cracking looks at this reclusive jungle species!
There are a handful of species that serious listers eventually come to Belize to try for, with Keel-billed Motmot being a desired target that we had to adventure our way off trail before getting some cracking looks at this reclusive jungle species!
Skye Haas
Another species that is always super high on participants' dream list is the globally rare Orange-breasted Falcon. We were treated to a pair nesting along the 1000 Foot Falls in the Mountain Pine Reserve, boasting some of the most spectacular views Belize has to offer!
Another species that is always super high on participants' dream list is the globally rare Orange-breasted Falcon. We were treated to a pair nesting along the 1000 Foot Falls in the Mountain Pine Reserve, boasting some of the most spectacular views Belize has to offer!
Skye Haas
Our final dream bird we got on our last morning required a significant amount of patience and diligence as we lurked along the forested pools in southern Belize where our efforts were rewarded with stellar looks at the ever elegant Agami Heron, an exciting lifer for most in the group!
Our final dream bird we got on our last morning required a significant amount of patience and diligence as we lurked along the forested pools in southern Belize where our efforts were rewarded with stellar looks at the ever elegant Agami Heron, an exciting lifer for most in the group!
Skye Haas