BELIZE ZOO - Birds
BIRDS OF BELIZE
Birds are a group of animals that have a backbone similar to mammals and reptiles. They are warm blooded like mammals, but do not have hair on their bodies. Instead, they are clothed with feathers. All birds also lay eggs, and most incubate the eggs by using body warmth.
The one recent account, Belize supports 543 species of birds. Birds thrive in all of Belize's habitats. Wading birds congregate along the coastline and inner lagoons. The grasslands and savannas provide seeds for the many finches, and nesting trees for the giant Jabiru Stork. And the tropical forests there is an astonishing diversity of bird species.
Watching birds in the tropical forests of Belize can tend to be very frustrating at times, and extremely rewarding at others. The thick vegetation of tropical forests, and the typical behavior of quick, seemingly random movements of many forest birds, make them often difficult to see. Many birds also live in the upper canopy of the forest, making it a strain to be constantly looking upward. But early morning and late afternoon are excellent times to bird watch, as most bird species are feeding or moving to new locations during these times.
The Belize Zoo has always had a strong collection of bird species, from parrots and macaws, to vultures and hawks, to wading birds, including the endangered Jabiru Stork. But besides the caged birds, the habitat around the zoo supports a variety of "free" birds thriving within the savanna habitat.
ANIMALS YOU WILL SEE AT THE ZOO ARE: Toucan, King Vulture, Jabiru, Scarlet Macaw, Great Egret, Harpy Eagle
The one recent account, Belize supports 543 species of birds. Birds thrive in all of Belize's habitats. Wading birds congregate along the coastline and inner lagoons. The grasslands and savannas provide seeds for the many finches, and nesting trees for the giant Jabiru Stork. And the tropical forests there is an astonishing diversity of bird species.
Watching birds in the tropical forests of Belize can tend to be very frustrating at times, and extremely rewarding at others. The thick vegetation of tropical forests, and the typical behavior of quick, seemingly random movements of many forest birds, make them often difficult to see. Many birds also live in the upper canopy of the forest, making it a strain to be constantly looking upward. But early morning and late afternoon are excellent times to bird watch, as most bird species are feeding or moving to new locations during these times.
The Belize Zoo has always had a strong collection of bird species, from parrots and macaws, to vultures and hawks, to wading birds, including the endangered Jabiru Stork. But besides the caged birds, the habitat around the zoo supports a variety of "free" birds thriving within the savanna habitat.
ANIMALS YOU WILL SEE AT THE ZOO ARE: Toucan, King Vulture, Jabiru, Scarlet Macaw, Great Egret, Harpy Eagle
For those of you who would like to read about your tour prior to taking it, we have provided the following information for you to review. This is an excellent way to help children explore the wonderful world of Belize. Take time to sit down with your children and read to them, what they are about to see. Feel free to download and print these notes provided in the PDF file below. We recommend taking these notes with you on your tour, as they will assist you in reinforcing important points in the minds of your children.
Toucan
SIZE: 20 inches
RANGE: S. Mexico to N. Columbia
HABITAT: Lowland forests and forest borders
FOOD: Fruits, insects, reptiles, bird eggs
Keel Billed Toucan, known as the "bill bird" locally, is the national bird of Belize. The most obvious characteristic of the toucan is the huge, yellow, orange, red, green and black bill. The toucan's bill is amazingly dexterous and allows the bird to feed on a variety of tropical forest fruits.
The Keel-billed toucans are a very social bird and can often be seen in flocks of six or more birds. They are found throughout Belize's forest and next to holes in tree trunks. They lay one to four eggs and the parent birds take turns incubating the eggs. The bird displays a rapid, heavy flapping of the wings when flying and calls with a creek creek sound, similar to a frog.
Toucans are primarily fruit eaters, feeding on a wide variety of tropical fruits of the forest. It feeds by snipping off the fruit and flipping its head back to gulp the fruit. Toucans will also feed on insects, lizards, snakes, and event the eggs of smaller birds.
RANGE: S. Mexico to N. Columbia
HABITAT: Lowland forests and forest borders
FOOD: Fruits, insects, reptiles, bird eggs
Keel Billed Toucan, known as the "bill bird" locally, is the national bird of Belize. The most obvious characteristic of the toucan is the huge, yellow, orange, red, green and black bill. The toucan's bill is amazingly dexterous and allows the bird to feed on a variety of tropical forest fruits.
The Keel-billed toucans are a very social bird and can often be seen in flocks of six or more birds. They are found throughout Belize's forest and next to holes in tree trunks. They lay one to four eggs and the parent birds take turns incubating the eggs. The bird displays a rapid, heavy flapping of the wings when flying and calls with a creek creek sound, similar to a frog.
Toucans are primarily fruit eaters, feeding on a wide variety of tropical fruits of the forest. It feeds by snipping off the fruit and flipping its head back to gulp the fruit. Toucans will also feed on insects, lizards, snakes, and event the eggs of smaller birds.
King Vulture
SIZE: 32 inches
RANGE: S. Mexico to S. Argentina
HABITAT: Tropical lowlands up to 4000 feet
FOOD: Carrion
The King Vulture, known as "king jan kro" in Belize, is the largest and most colorful of the four species of vultures in Belize. The extremely thick and strong bill is well adapted for tearing, and the long, thick claws for holding the meat.
The king Vulture inhabit the forested lowlands of Belize. They will sometimes fly over savannas searching for dead meat. Their extremely keen eyesight and sense of smell allow them to locate potential food sources easily. They will often locate food by the presence of the other vulture species. One the King Vulture lands, the other birds make way for it.
Little is known of the King Vulture nesting habits. Usually one chick is hatched, and it remains black for about three years before turning a pure white. Habitat destruction is the main cause of the decline of this species. Belize fortunately still protects healthy populations of this magnificent bird.
RANGE: S. Mexico to S. Argentina
HABITAT: Tropical lowlands up to 4000 feet
FOOD: Carrion
The King Vulture, known as "king jan kro" in Belize, is the largest and most colorful of the four species of vultures in Belize. The extremely thick and strong bill is well adapted for tearing, and the long, thick claws for holding the meat.
The king Vulture inhabit the forested lowlands of Belize. They will sometimes fly over savannas searching for dead meat. Their extremely keen eyesight and sense of smell allow them to locate potential food sources easily. They will often locate food by the presence of the other vulture species. One the King Vulture lands, the other birds make way for it.
Little is known of the King Vulture nesting habits. Usually one chick is hatched, and it remains black for about three years before turning a pure white. Habitat destruction is the main cause of the decline of this species. Belize fortunately still protects healthy populations of this magnificent bird.
Jabiru Stork
SIZE: 57 inches
RANGE: S. Mexico to N. Argentina
HABITAT: Savannas, coastal lagoons and marshes
FOOD: Fish and reptiles
The Jabiru Stork is a very rare bird and is endangered throughout its range. One of the largest birds in the New World, the Jabiru stands 5 feet tall and has a wingspan of 8 feet. Its heavy bill is about 12 inches long perfectly designed to catch fish, frogs and snakes.
Recent studies have confirmed that Belize has the healthiest breeding population of Jabirus for all of Central America. They arrive in Belize from Mexico in November and nest in the tail pines of the savannas and marshes of the Belizean lowlands. They remain in Belize until June or July, flying north with the first rains.
The largest number of Jabiru counted in Belize is 24. Hunting and habitat destruction have decimated a once healthy population throughout the region. The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, just 33 miles north of Belize City has the largest population of Jabirus in Belize.
RANGE: S. Mexico to N. Argentina
HABITAT: Savannas, coastal lagoons and marshes
FOOD: Fish and reptiles
The Jabiru Stork is a very rare bird and is endangered throughout its range. One of the largest birds in the New World, the Jabiru stands 5 feet tall and has a wingspan of 8 feet. Its heavy bill is about 12 inches long perfectly designed to catch fish, frogs and snakes.
Recent studies have confirmed that Belize has the healthiest breeding population of Jabirus for all of Central America. They arrive in Belize from Mexico in November and nest in the tail pines of the savannas and marshes of the Belizean lowlands. They remain in Belize until June or July, flying north with the first rains.
The largest number of Jabiru counted in Belize is 24. Hunting and habitat destruction have decimated a once healthy population throughout the region. The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, just 33 miles north of Belize City has the largest population of Jabirus in Belize.
Scarlet Macaw
SIZE: 35 inches
RANGE: E. Mexico to Brazil
HABITAT: Tall deciduous trees of forests and rivers
FOOD: Tropical forest fruits
The Scarlet Macaw is arguably the most magnificent of the parrot family. With their wide strong wings, macaws can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour. They often fly in pairs or small groups and often call to each other in raucous hoarse voices.
Macas appear to prefer higher elevations and riparian (riverine) forests. They are known to have very large territories. They prefer to nest in holes high up in trees and lay one or two eggs. They feed on specific fruits such as polewood, roaming large areas searching for clumps of their favorite foods.
As recent as 1989, the reported Belizean population of Scarlet Macaws was a total of 24 birds. But in 1996, a new population of over 100 birds was "discovered" south of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Unfortunately, over most of its range, the Scarlet Macaw is endangered, a victim of human greed - many have been taken as a commodity in the pet trade.
RANGE: E. Mexico to Brazil
HABITAT: Tall deciduous trees of forests and rivers
FOOD: Tropical forest fruits
The Scarlet Macaw is arguably the most magnificent of the parrot family. With their wide strong wings, macaws can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour. They often fly in pairs or small groups and often call to each other in raucous hoarse voices.
Macas appear to prefer higher elevations and riparian (riverine) forests. They are known to have very large territories. They prefer to nest in holes high up in trees and lay one or two eggs. They feed on specific fruits such as polewood, roaming large areas searching for clumps of their favorite foods.
As recent as 1989, the reported Belizean population of Scarlet Macaws was a total of 24 birds. But in 1996, a new population of over 100 birds was "discovered" south of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Unfortunately, over most of its range, the Scarlet Macaw is endangered, a victim of human greed - many have been taken as a commodity in the pet trade.
Great Egret
SIZE: 36 inches
RANGE: Global, spanning 5 continents
HABITAT: Savannas, coastal lagoons and marshes
FOOD: Fish, aquatic invertebrates and reptiles
The great egret is a slender, graceful heron that forages in marshlands. During the breeding season it displays a spectacular cloak of delicate feathery plumes. It is the most widespread of all the herons in Belize.
The great egret feeds in all the shallow waters of Belize. This large bird coils its sinewy neck, ready to spear prey. Prey includes fish, aquatic invertebrates and reptiles. During the drier months, the bird will stalk small mammals, snails, and nesting birds.
During the early nineteenth century, the demand for the breeding plumage for man's hats was widespread. Heavy hunting nearly drove the species to extinction before public demand resulted in laws to protect the bird. Today, pollution and habitat loss has caused their numbers to decline worldwide.
RANGE: Global, spanning 5 continents
HABITAT: Savannas, coastal lagoons and marshes
FOOD: Fish, aquatic invertebrates and reptiles
The great egret is a slender, graceful heron that forages in marshlands. During the breeding season it displays a spectacular cloak of delicate feathery plumes. It is the most widespread of all the herons in Belize.
The great egret feeds in all the shallow waters of Belize. This large bird coils its sinewy neck, ready to spear prey. Prey includes fish, aquatic invertebrates and reptiles. During the drier months, the bird will stalk small mammals, snails, and nesting birds.
During the early nineteenth century, the demand for the breeding plumage for man's hats was widespread. Heavy hunting nearly drove the species to extinction before public demand resulted in laws to protect the bird. Today, pollution and habitat loss has caused their numbers to decline worldwide.
Harpy Eagle
SIZE: 35-41 inches tail
WING SPAN: 6-7 Feet
RANGE: Southern Mexico all the way down into Northern Argentina and Southern Brazil
HABITAT: Tropical lowland forests
FOOD: Sloth, monkeys, opossums, as well as various reptiles and other birds
Harpy Eagles are considered to be one of the world's largest eagles. This eagle has hind talons that can be as large as those of a grizzly bear. However, it can only fly with prey weighing less than one half its own body weight.
The scientific and common names of this species come from the Greek word, harpe, referring to a bird of prey that was written about by many Greek scholars, and may also be correlated with the mythological harpies who were winged creatures with extremely sharp claws, a woman's face, and a culture's body.
These birds are found from southeastern Mexico to northern Argentina and Southern Brazil. This bird prefers large expanses of uninterrupted forest, but will hunt in open areas near to their territory.
They feed primarily on animals that live in the trees, such as sloth, monkeys, opossums, as well as various reptiles and other birds. Harpy Eagles are highly maneuverable fliers and strike their prey after rapid pursuit through the forest canopy.
Harpy Eagles build extremely large nests of sticks and branches in the tallest, or emergent, trees in their territory. Female Harpy Eagles lay 1-2 eggs a year. When the first egg hatches 52-58 days later, the other egg is usually ignored and does not hatch. The new chick will fledge from 4 to 6 months of age, but the young bird will stay in and around the parent's territory for at least a year.
WING SPAN: 6-7 Feet
RANGE: Southern Mexico all the way down into Northern Argentina and Southern Brazil
HABITAT: Tropical lowland forests
FOOD: Sloth, monkeys, opossums, as well as various reptiles and other birds
Harpy Eagles are considered to be one of the world's largest eagles. This eagle has hind talons that can be as large as those of a grizzly bear. However, it can only fly with prey weighing less than one half its own body weight.
The scientific and common names of this species come from the Greek word, harpe, referring to a bird of prey that was written about by many Greek scholars, and may also be correlated with the mythological harpies who were winged creatures with extremely sharp claws, a woman's face, and a culture's body.
These birds are found from southeastern Mexico to northern Argentina and Southern Brazil. This bird prefers large expanses of uninterrupted forest, but will hunt in open areas near to their territory.
They feed primarily on animals that live in the trees, such as sloth, monkeys, opossums, as well as various reptiles and other birds. Harpy Eagles are highly maneuverable fliers and strike their prey after rapid pursuit through the forest canopy.
Harpy Eagles build extremely large nests of sticks and branches in the tallest, or emergent, trees in their territory. Female Harpy Eagles lay 1-2 eggs a year. When the first egg hatches 52-58 days later, the other egg is usually ignored and does not hatch. The new chick will fledge from 4 to 6 months of age, but the young bird will stay in and around the parent's territory for at least a year.