BEST OF BELIZE:

CROOKED TREE & CHAN CHICH LODGE

MARCH 15–20, 2020

Gray-throated Chat, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize, March 19, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

LEADER: BARRY ZIMMER LIST COMPILED BY: BARRY ZIMMER

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

By Barry Zimmer

Simply put, our Best of Belize tour never fails to deliver a superb nature adventure. Even in a year when we had to end our trip two days early due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the implementation of Stage Four restrictions, we had a wildly successful tour. Water conditions at Crooked Tree were nearly perfect (low), and Chan Chich Lodge is a place where you just about can’t go wrong.

We started our tour at the village of Crooked Tree. Crossing the causeway to reach the village, we were stopped in our tracks by multiple Jabirus, a Russet-naped Wood-Rail scampering across the road, and a host of waterbirds carpeted across the lagoon.

Jabiru, Crooked Tree Lagoon, Belize, March 16, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

An uncommon Rose-throated Becard and some close perched Red-lored Parrots also demanded our attention as we tried to reach Bird’s Eye View Lodge for breakfast. We were scheduled for a morning boat trip into the lagoon, so we were trying to get through breakfast and out on the water as soon as possible. The birds had other ideas. Stepping out of the van, we realized that there were many distractions. A brilliant male Vermilion Flycatcher posed on a wire. Four species of orioles (including Black-cowled) and multiple Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds buzzed about a tree with feeders. Mangrove Swallows and Gray-breasted Martins perched atop a TV aerial. A stunning Yellow-

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Best of Belize, 2020 throated Warbler and a male American Redstart foraged in full view. A Ringed Kingfisher rattled overhead. Sixteen (!) Jabirus fed at once among the thousands of egrets, ibis, Wood Storks, and herons in the lagoon in front of us. Yes, it was going to be hard to get to the dining room!

We gulped down breakfast as quickly as possible and loaded up into our boat to head out in Crooked Tree Lagoon. Over the course of the next four hours, great birds appeared at a dizzying pace. We drifted right up on several Jabirus. A Russet-naped Wood-Rail allowed great studies. Snail Kites posed in the morning sun, as did a couple of Black-collared Hawks. A male American Pygmy Kingfisher (among four species of kingfishers seen) let us float up to within eight feet of it, and then watch and photograph it at our leisure. Eventually we left with the bird still perched in the same spot.

American Pygmy Kingfisher, Crooked Tree, Belize, March 16, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

A Sungrebe appeared quickly along one of the banks, and everyone got decent views before it scurried into the brush. Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures fought over some unseen carrion, giving us great looks at perched birds. A pair of Fork-tailed Flycatchers elegantly sallied out from low branches over the water. Comical Boat-billed Herons clambered about the trees along the riverbanks. Roseate Spoonbills, Barred Antshrike, Limpkins by the dozens, over 100 Northern Jacanas—it was truly an embarrassment of riches!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Best of Belize, 2020 In the afternoon, we headed back to Belize City, making stops en route. An Aplomado Falcon hunting shorebirds at the shrimp farm was a real surprise, while a stunning pair of “Mangrove” Warblers in Belize City was more expected but no less spectacular. A King Vulture sailing in with a flock of Black Vultures just north of Belize City was totally unexpected. A short walk around our hotel grounds rounded out the day. Highlights included Cinnamon Hummingbird, Grayish Saltator, and Yellow-winged Tanagers. For our first day, we would tally a staggering 118 species of birds!

“Mangrove” Yellow Warbler, Belize City, Belize, March 16, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Day Two found us back in Crooked Tree, but this time to bird the nearby pine-oak savanna. Topping the previous day’s success was going to be a challenge, but we were up for it. Myriad new species greeted us, including fabulous Yellow-headed Parrots, White-fronted Parrot, comical Acorn Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Rufous- browed Peppershrike, Plain Chachalacas, the regionally endemic Yucatan Woodpecker, multiple Green-breasted Mangos and more. The highlight of the morning (and perhaps the entire trip), however, was the discovery of an ant swarm attended by eight Yucatan Jays. We were able to watch these special birds busily feeding at the leading edge of the swarm for over twenty minutes from about fifteen feet away! A male Hooded Warbler joined the jays and added a splash of color. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience!

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Yucatan Jay, Crooked Tree, Belize, March 17, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

By midmorning, we were back at Bird’s Eye View Lodge (after pausing to watch a Bat Falcon feasting on a Ruddy Ground-Dove) walking the trails through the nearby thorn scrub. Spot-breasted Wren, an unexpected Gray-throated Chat, and a pair of Rufous- breasted Spinetails were among the highlights. In the midafternoon, we caught our charter flight from Belize City to Gallon Jug (where the airstrip for Chan Chich is located). Appropriately, an Ocellated Turkey greeted our arrival along the runway. Somewhat surprisingly, we also had a male Great Curassow in the road before we could even get to the lodge. With just enough time for a quick walk around the grounds (after checking in and settling into our luxurious rooms), we added a stunning Slaty- tailed Trogon, allo-preening Mealy Parrots, White-necked Jacobin, and Long-billed Hermit among others. Ocellated Turkeys were everywhere! Another day, another 116 species seen—nearly 40 of them new from yesterday’s list!

On our first full day at Chan Chich, we started out right around the cabanas, moved onto the east staff area, and finished the morning down by the suspension bridge and Trish’s Hill. Highlights were almost too numerous to mention, but topping the list were prolonged scope studies of a rare Strong-billed Woodcreeper, a stunning male Gartered Trogon, a male Slaty-tailed Trogon that continually darted right through our group to reach some berries on the other side of the road, the always spectacular Rufous-tailed

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Best of Belize, 2020 Jacamar, Golden-hooded Tanager, Green and Red-legged honeycreepers, White- throated Thrush, and Squirrel Cuckoo among others. Even our lunch was interrupted by birds, as a wonderful pair of Crested Guans posed right off the veranda!

Crested Guan, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize, March 18, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

In the afternoon, we headed out to the Hill Bank Road. A pair of Tody Motmots from ten feet stole the show, but we also added seven more Great Curassows, a bathing Purple- crowned Fairy, Keel-billed Toucans, and stunning Red-capped Manakins to our ever- growing list.

The next day we walked the short forest along the Sylvester Village Road. We saw a ton of new species and, incredibly, found another army ant swarm. Gray-headed Tanagers, Red-throated Ant-Tanagers, a Bright-rumped Attila, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Hooded Warbler, and a brilliant Gray-throated Chat (epic views) were all at the swarm. Other birds on the walk included a rarely seen Ruddy Quail-Dove, Crane Hawk, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, White-collared Manakin, an eye level pair of Long-billed Gnatwrens, Northern Schiffornis, Black-faced Grosbeak, and a Bare- throated Tiger-Heron among the more notables.

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Gray-headed Tanager (with Hooded Warbler) at ant swarm, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize, March 19, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

We arrived back at the lodge in time for lunch, only to receive the unfortunate news that Americans abroad were being asked to return home immediately due to the Coronavirus situation. Arrangements were made to change our charter flight back to Belize City, as well as our return flights home. Fortunately, we still had one afternoon and evening left. Our afternoon ride was to Laguna Verde. Incredibly, we saw six more Great Curassows (this species is usually tough to find), a very close Great Black-Hawk, Lineated Woodpecker, White-whiskered Puffbird, and a troop of 20 or so Central American Spider Monkeys right over our heads.

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White-whiskered Puffbird, Laguna Verde, Belize, March 19, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

After dinner, we went on our much-anticipated night drive. An Ocelot crossed the road almost immediately, although it was generally seen poorly. Night birds put on a great show, however. We had spectacular views of Middle American Screech-Owl, Mottled Owl, Northern Potoo, and Common Pauraque.

We had a little time the next morning before we had to leave and managed to add a locally rare Northern Emerald-Toucanet to the list. In all, we tallied 234 species of birds and had a wonderful Belizean adventure. We wished we could have had our final two days, but we were happy to not get stranded outside the United States. I can hardly wait for next year’s trip!

ITINERARY

March 15 - arrival in Belize City

March 16 – Crooked Tree Village & causeway, Bird’s Eye View Lodge four-hour boat trip into Crooked Tree South Lagoon & Black Creek; Sand Creek Road, Caribbean Shrimp Farms, mangroves near St. Johns School, hotel grounds and nearby coast (118 species; 118 total)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Best of Belize, 2020 March 17 – Bird’s Eye View Lodge, pine/ oak savanna west of Crooked Tree, trail south of bird’s Eye View Lodge; brief Belize City waterfront birding, midafternoon charter flight to Gallon Jug, brief afternoon birding at Chan Chich Lodge (116 species; 155 total)

March 18 - lodge clearing, east staff area, walk to suspension bridge & Trish’s Hill, ; afternoon to Hill Bank Road and cacao plantation (79 species; 200 total)

March 19 - west service area, Sylvester Village Road and River Trail in AM; afternoon to Gallon Jug, Sylvester Village, Laguna Verde and newer coffee groves; night drive (106 species; 229 total)

March 20 – east staff area and lodge clearing; charter flight to Belize City (43 species: 234 total)

***tour ends two days early due to State Department’s implementation of stage four restrictions telling all Americans abroad to return home immediately (Coronavirus pandemic)

KEY

B = Belize City and surrounding areas

CT = Crooked Tree

C = Chan Chich

bold-faced species indicate birds of rare, casual, or accidental occurrence or species rarely seen even though they occur regularly

underlined species indicate birds of very uncommon occurrence or species which occur regularly, but in such low densities as to be easily missed

BIRDS

Tinamous:

Great Tinamou (Tinamus major) C---one seen very briefly along the River Trail by Jen & me as it skittered across the forest floor; generally heard only at best

Waterfowl:

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrcygas autumnalis) CT---small groups each day at Crooked Tree

Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) six total at Crooked Tree; uncommon

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Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) CT

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) CT---two on boat trip

Cracids:

Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) CT---only two seen on the outskirts of Crooked Tree; good views

Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens) C---four total; extraordinary views at lunch one day

Great Curassow (Crax rubra) C---a great year for this generally uncommon & shy species; we saw an mazing 15 individuals over two and a half days with several superb views of both males & females

Pheasants, Grouse & Allies:

Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) C---very common right around the cabanas and elsewhere, including displaying males; up to 50 in one day

Pigeons & Doves:

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) B

Pale-vented Pigeon (Patagioenas cayennensis) CT---four; best from the boat total

Scaled Pigeon (Patagioenas spectosa) C---seen the last morning in the east staff area

Red-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas flavirostris) C---regular around lodge clearing

Short-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas nigrirostris) C---heard only

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopilia decaocto) B---this rapidly increasing species in Belize was seen at the Radisson and elsewhere in Belize City

Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti) CT,B

Blue Ground-Dove (Claravis pretiosa) C----male blasted by us in the west staff area

Ruddy Quail-Dove (Geotrygon montana) C---exceptional views of a female walking towards us on the Silvester village road for a prolonged period of time; a very hard species to see

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Best of Belize, 2020 White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verrauxi) CT,C---only one seen briefly, others heard

Gray-headed Dove (Leptotila plumbeiceps) C---quick view of one on the ground the last morning by Michelle & me

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) B,CT---increasing at Crooked Tree and elsewhere around Belize City; formerly a bird largely restricted to the keys

Cuckoos:

Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) CT,C

Striped Cuckoo (Tapera naevia) CT---exceptional views of this skulking species (which is typically heard only at best) from our boat trip

Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) C---multiple, nice views of this stunner; subspecies thermophile

Nightjars:

Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) C---nice studies on our night drive; heard pre-dawn around the rooms on a daily basis

Potoos:

Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis) C----nice studies of one on night drive

Swifts:

Vaux’s Swift (Chaetura vauxi) C

Hummingbirds:

White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) C---regular at lodge feeders; always stunning

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White-necked Jacobin, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize, March 18, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris) C---several daily at lodge feeders; formerly Long-tailed Hermit

Stripe-throated Hermit (Phaethornis striigularis) C---one buzzed us along the Silvester Village Road quite close; uncommon

Purple-crowned Fairy (Heliothryx barroti) C---particularly memorable was one seen bathing at pool along the Hill Bank Road; two others seen around Chan Chich Lodge itself; always spectacular; tied for favorite bird of the tour!

Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) CT---four around Crooked tree; great views

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) CT,C---seven total

White-bellied Emerald (Agyrtria candida) C---one in the flowering “madre de cacao” tree (Gliricidia species) behind the bar

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) CT,C---seen daily

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Best of Belize, 2020 Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila) B---seen along the roadside in Belize City (thanks to Jen) and also at the Radisson

Rails & Allies:

Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans) B---heard only at the shrimp farm

Russet-naped Wood-Rail (Aramides albiventris) CT---four total; excellent views thanks to the low water levels; this is a recent split from the old “Gray-necked Wood- Rail” complex

American Coot (Fulica americana) CT

Sungrebes:

Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) CT---quick but close views of one along Black creek on our boat trip; in view for about five seconds before it disappeared into the brush; very uncommon

Limpkin:

Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) CT---60 or more on the day of our boat trip

Shorebirds:

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) B---14 at the shrimp farm

Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) B---five at the shrimp farm

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmata) B---five at the shrimp farm

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) CT---heard only from boat

Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) B,CT---an incredible 103 in view at once from Bird’s Eye View

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) B---a few on rocky beach behind hotel

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) CT,B

Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) B---about 75 at the shrimp farm

Dowitcher species (Limnodromus sp.) B---two dowitchers at the shrimp farm were likely Short-billed, but were not seen well enough or heard for specific determination

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitus macularius) CT,B

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Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) CT---two

Gulls & Terns:

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) B---common

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) CT

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) CT

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) B---one behind the hotel

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) B—about 20 near our hotel

Storks:

Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) CT---an unbelievable total of 54 seen; an incredible year for this species (thanks to low water) which was missed entirely two years before

Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) CT----over 600 in one day!

Frigatebirds:

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) B---common around the Belize City hotel

Anhingas:

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) CT,B---oddly, we had one swimming in salt water off the municipal airport runway

Cormorants:

Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) CT,C---hundreds

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) B---six total; generally associated with salt water here

Pelicans:

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) CT---twenty the first day & twelve the next day at Crooked Tree; this species is increasing but still very uncommon in Belize

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) B

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns:

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum) C---exceptional views of an adult at the base of the River Trail; another more distantly at Laguna Verde

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize, March 19, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) CT

Great Egret (Ardea alba) CT,C---by the thousands in Crooked Tree Lagoon!

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) CT

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) CT

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) CT---four total

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) B,CT,C

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) CT---90 in one day at Crooked Tree!

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Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) CT---eight total

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) CT,B---six total

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) CT---about 10 seen on our boat trip; great views

Ibis & Spoonbills:

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) CT---350 in one day!

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) CT---group of five flew by our boat; uncommon

Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) CT---about 35 total at Crooked Tree (more than usual); uncommon

New World Vultures:

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) CT,B

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) daily

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) CT---seventeen total, including wonderful studies of perched birds on the boat trip

King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) B---one in with a large flock of Black Vultures north of Belize City was completely unexpected; we didn’t see any in our short time at Chan Chich where the species is expected

Ospreys:

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) CT---eleven total

Hawks, Eagles & Kites:

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) B---one in the outskirts of Belize City seemed unusual

Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis) CT---three total at Crooked Tree with fantastic views of perched and flying birds; a very handsome raptor

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Black-collared Hawk, Crooked Tree, Belize, March 16, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) CT---about 40 total with many exceptional studies

Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus) C---four high flying birds over Chan Chich over two days

Crane Hawk (Geranopsiza caerulescens) C---beautiful adult bird soaring over the west staff area at Chan Chich; very uncommon to rare

Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) B---one just outside of Belize City

Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga) C---stunning views of adult bird right over our heads near Laguna Verde

Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris) B,CT,C---seen daily with a high count of four in one day

Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus) CT---three light morph birds; best was one over the Hill Bank Road

Owls:

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Middle American Screech-Owl (Megascops guatemalae) C---prolonged close study from about fifteen feet away on night drive; hard to see; tied for second favorite bird of the tour!

Middle American Screech-Owl, Chan Chich, Belize, March 19, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Mottled Owl (Ciccaba virgata) C---close, perched birds on night drive; fabulous views

Trogons:

Slaty-tailed Trogon (Trogon massena) C---several great views of this beauty, but particularly memorable was a male that kept diving through the middle of our group to reach a small cluster of orange berries along the road; it literally flew within inches of some Katy & Michelle’s heads!; tied for second favorite bird of the tour!

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Slaty-tailed Trogon, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize, March 17, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Best of Belize, 2020 Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus) C---group of three seen by suspension bridge

Gartered Trogon (Trogon caligatus) C---excellent views of male spotted by Michelle by the River Trail; formerly Violaceous Trogon

Motmots:

Tody Motmot (Hylomanes momotula) C---a pair of this uncommon & localized species was seen exceptionally well along the Hill Bank Road after some effort; we also heard another pair near Trish’s Hill

Tody Motmot, Chan Chich, Belize, March 18, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Kingfishers:

Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) CT,C---30 in one day!

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) CT---ditto

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Best of Belize, 2020 American Pygmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea) CT---we pulled our boat right up next to a male of this species that sat unconcernedly no more than ten feet away for several minutes; we finally just left

Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) CT---an impressive twelve total

Puffbirds:

White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) C---great studies of one near Laguna Verde our last afternoon; uncommon

Jacamars:

Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) C---two seen and a few others heard; scope views of this stunner at the base of the River Trail

Toucans:

Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus) C---a real bonus was one the last morning in the east staff area; very uncommon to rare

Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus) C---only nine seen although we had good views (best from the veranda at breakfast); less numerous than usual

Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) C---four total; this species also seemed less numerous than usual; the essence of the tropics!

Woodpeckers:

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) CT---subspecies lineatus

Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani) C---daily around Chan Chich; many close views, especially at the custard apple trees

Yucatan Woodpecker (Melanerpes pygmaeus) CT---nice studies in the pine/ oak savanna; regional endemic

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) B,CT---subspecies dubius

Smoky-brown Woodpecker (Veniliornis fumigatus) C---seen briefly by some near the suspension bridge, for others this species was heard only; a low density species

Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) C---one along the main road between Chen Chich and Gallon Jug

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Best of Belize, 2020 Pale-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) CT---one over the Yucatan Jay ant swarm was quite unexpected at Crooked Tree where rare

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker (Celeus castaneus) C---a female in the west staff area was our only one; one of my personal favorites

Falcons:

Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) C----one heard well from the west staff area, but unfortunately not seen

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) C---two in Gallon Jug

Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) B---quite unexpected was one at the shrimp farm chasing shorebirds; rare

Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) CT,C---seven total; almost always a pair around the lodge clearing at Chan Chich; one eating a Ruddy Ground-Dove at Crooked Tree was certainly memorable

Parrots:

White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis) C---including perched birds in the east staff area the last morning

Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis) CT,C---very common at Chan Chich; many great views

Yellow-headed Parrot (Amazona oratrix) CT---great scope views of six birds total in good morning light in Crooked Tree Village; seen on only about 25% of trips here

White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons) CT----in the pine-oak savanna

Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa) C---less numerous than Red-lored, but still seen or heard every day at Chan Chich

Olive-throated Parakeet (Aratinga nana) CT,C---subspecies astec

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Yellow-headed Parrot, Crooked Tree, Belize, March 17, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Antbirds:

Barred Antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus) CT---nice study of male from the boat

Dot-winged Antwren (Microrhopias quixensis) C---a good year for this species with three different family groups seen, totaling 12 individuals; uncommon

Dusky Antbird (Cercomacra tyrannina) C—pair heard only along the River Trail

Antthrushes:

Black-faced (Mexican) Antthrush (Formicarius analis) C---heard only the final morning; subspecies moniliger

Ovenbirds & Woodcreepers:

Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus) C---only three seen this year, but good studies; our first thanks to Kathy

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 23 Best of Belize, 2020 Tawny-winged Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla anabatina) C---one seen at the ant swarm along the Silvester Village Road; uncommon

Strong-billed Woodcreeper (Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus) C---one spotted by Jen behind the east staff area allowed exceptional, prolonged scope views; rare

Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Chan Chich, Belize, March 18, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus flavigaster) C---heard only this year

Plain Xenops (Xenops minutus) C---excellent, repeated views of one along the Silvester village Road

Rufous-breasted Spinetail (Synallaxis erythrothorax) CT---pair in the thorn scrub just south of Bird’s eye view Lodge that initially very skulky, but eventually allowed nice views; uncommon

Tyrant Flycatchers:

Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet (Ornithion semiflavum) C---scope views of this tiny canopy dweller by the River Trail

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Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma imberbe) CT---seen well in the pine/oak savanna

Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia martinica) C----also in the pine/oak savanna

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes oleagineus) C---three birds bathing in the small pool at the end of the Hill Bank Road

Northern Bentbill (Oncostoma cinereigulare) C---heard only

Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum) CT---great views near Bird’s Eye View Lodge

Eye-ringed Flatbill (Rhychocyclus brevirostris) C---nice studies of two (one near the River Trail and one on the Silvester Vilalge Road); uncommon

Yellow-olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) C---heard more often than seen

Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus) C---one at breakfast one morning

Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) C---oddly, only one seen this year

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) CT---up to 20 in one day at Crooked Tree; always spectacular

Bright-rumped Attila (Attila spadiceus) CT,C---wonderful studies of this canopy dwellerat the ant swarm along Silvester Village Road; it was literally fifteen feet away and one foot off the ground!; subspecies gaumeri

Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) CT,C---subspecies lawrencei

Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus) CT,C---regularly right around our rooms at Chan Chich

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) B,CT,C---common

Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis) B,CT,C---seen daily with up to 6 in a day

Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) B,CT,C---abundant

Couch’s Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii) C--- heard daily at Chan Chich, but we could never connect the sound to one we could see

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) B---a half dozen or so at our Belize City hotel eating palm fruit; uncommon

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 25 Best of Belize, 2020

Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) CT,C---several good views of this spectacular species

Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Crooked Tree, Belize, March 16, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Manakins:

White-collared Manakin (Manacus candei) C---one brilliant male in the west staff area

Red-capped Manakin (Pipra mentalis) C---two males and a female (spotted by Michelle) bathing in the small pond at the end of the Hill Bank Road; also one along Silvester Village Road

Becards, Tityras & Allies:

Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata) CT,C---mostly inflight; eight total

Northern Schiffornis (Schiffornis turdinus) C---one very close at the beginning of the Silvester Village Road; others heard; formerly Thrushlike Schiffornis

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 26 Best of Belize, 2020

Rose-throated Becard (Pachyramphus aglaiae) CT---male the first morning in Crooked Tree Village; very uncommon Vireos:

Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis) CT---we had nice studies in Crooked Tree Village

Green Shrike-Vireo (Vireolanius pulchellus) C---heard only, as is often the case

Lesser Greenlet (Hylophilus decurtatus) C

White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) CT,C---two total

Mangrove Vireo (Vireo pallens) CT---great looks from just feet away

Corvids:

Brown Jay (Psilorhinus morio) CT,C---the southern race fulginosus

Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas) CT---heard only; a real skulker here

Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus) CT---unsurpassed studies of eight birds at an ant swarm in the pine/oak savanna; we watched them for over twenty minutes from as close as fifteen feet away; tied for the favorite bird of the tour!

Swallows:

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) CT

Purple Martin (Progne subis) CT

Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea) CT,C

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) CT

Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea) CT,C---very close studies in Crooked Tree

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) C

Wrens:

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) CT,B---; the “Southern” House Wren of some authors (T.musculus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 27 Best of Belize, 2020 Spot-breasted Wren (Thryothorus maculipectus) CT,C---multiple nice views of this skulker, but seen best near Bird’s Eye View Lodge in the thron scrub

White-bellied Wren (Uropsila leucogastra) C---heard only

White-breasted Wood-Wren (Henicorhina leucosticta) C---another skulker; seen best along the Silvester Village Road

Gnatcatchers:

Long-billed Gnatwren (Ramphocaenus melanurus) C---exceptional views of a pair at eye level on the Silvester Village Trail; another skulker

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) CT

Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) C---seen very well on the Silvester Village Road

Thrushes:

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) C---good views of two the last morning; declining

White-throated Thrush (Turdus assimilis) C---two cooperative birds that gave epic views near the River Trail; uncommon

Clay-colored Thrush (Turdus grayi) B,CT,C--- subspecies grayi

Mimids:

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) CT,C---three

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) B,CT---common

Finches, Euphonias & Allies:

Yellow-throated Euphonia (Euphonia hirundinacea) C---fairly common

Olive-backed Euphonia (Euphonia gouldi) C---less common than preceding species, but still very good views at the custard apple trees

New World Sparrows:

Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus) CT----coming in to pygmy-owl whistles; uncommon & local here

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 28 Best of Belize, 2020

Green-backed Sparrow (Arremonops chloronotus) C---Silvester Village Road; uncommon

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) CT---one in the pine/oak savanna

Icterids:

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) C---a recent invader to Gallon Jug

Black-cowled Oriole (Icterus prosthemelas) CT,C---superb looks at quite a few; much more numerous than usual with 16 seen

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) CT,B,C

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) CT,---great views at Bird’s Eye View Lodge

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) CT,C---stunning males; eleven total

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) CT

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) CT---male at Bird’s Eye View Lodge; uncommon

Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives) CT,C---seen daily

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) B,CT,C---our first bird of the trip; quite the cacophony at the Radisson!

New World Warblers:

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) C---two on the River Trail

Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) CT,C---13 total

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) CT,C---5 total

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) CT---one at Bird’s Eye View Lodge

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) CT

Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) CT,C---many superb views, especially at the ant swarms; nine total; voted the third favorite bird of the tour!

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Hooded Warbler, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize, March 19, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

American Redstart (Setaphaga ruticilla) CT,C---nine total

Northern Parula (Setaphaga americana) CT---only one

Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) CT,C---just two this year

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) B,CT,C---including a stunning pair of “Mangrove” Warblers in Belize City (thought by some to be a distinct species)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) C---three of the “Myrtle” subspecies along the Gallon Jug runway

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) CT---three at Crooked Tree

Grace’s Warbler (Setophaga graciae) CT---seen well in pine forests

Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) CT---just one

Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus) C---pair near the suspension bridge

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 30 Best of Belize, 2020

Cardinals & Allies:

Rose-throated Tanager (Piranga roseogularis) C---great views of a pair on the Sylvester Village Road; another regional endemic

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) CT,B,C

Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Habia rubica) C---near the suspension bridge

Red-throated Ant-Tanager (Habia fuscicauda) C----best at the ant swarm on Silvester Village Road

Black-faced Grosbeak (Caryothraustes poliogaster) C---two family groups along the Silvester Vilalge Road

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) CT---male of the yucatanensis subspecies (a possible future split)

Gray-throated Chat (Granatellus sallaei) CT,C---best views ever of this regional endemic at the ant swarm along the Silvester village Road; also another male unexpectedly near Bird’s Eye View Lodge; tied for the second favorite bird of the tour!

Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) C---pair came in to water feature every morning at breakfast

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) C

Tanagers & Allies:

Gray-headed Tanager (Eucometis penicillata) C---super views of three at the ant swarm on the Silvester village Road; uncommon

Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) CT---three ttoal

Yellow-winged Tanager (Thraupis abbas) B,C---more numerous than usual, including a pair at the Radisson where I have never seen them before; 12 total; several nice views

Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata) C---this stunning species was also more numerous than usual and was seen each day at Chan Chich (especially at the custard apples)

Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) C---always stunning!; up to 12 in one day

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 31 Best of Belize, 2020 Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) C---generally very uncommon here at this season, but we had ten total with great views

Green Honeycreeper, Chan Chich Lodge, Belize, March 18, 2020 © Barry Zimmer

Morelet’s Seedeater (Sporophila torqueola) CT,B,C---seen daily

Black-headed Saltator (Saltator atriceps) C---excellent studies at the custard apples

Grayish Saltator (Saltator coerulescens) B---scope views at the Radisson total species - 234

LEADER ONLY BIRDS

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Lesser Yellowlegs

FAVORITE BIRDS OF THE TOUR

1. Yucatan Jay & Purple-crowned Fairy

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 32 Best of Belize, 2020 2. Slaty-tailed Trogon, Middle American Screech-Owl & Gray-throated Chat 3. Hooded Warbler

MAMMALS

Mexican Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra)---much scarcer than normal, but we had great views of five in the west staff area

Central American Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)---excellent views of a troop of about twenty right over our heads near Laguna Verde

Yucatan Squirrel (Sciurus yucatanensis)---one at the Radisson in Belize City

Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata)----two total at Chan Chich

Long-nosed Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso)----small group flushed along Black Creek on our boat trip were believed to be this species

Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)---a very brief sighting just as we started our night drive; not seen well

Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor)---eight on night drive

White-tailed Deer (Odocolleus virginianus)---common; including two adorable fawns total species - 8

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

Turtle species---probably Meso-American Slider Common House Gecko Spiny-tailed (Black) Iguana Green Iguana Brown Anole Brown (Striped) Basilisk Snake species---small brown snake in the pine/oak savanna total species - 7

BUTTERFLIES

Cloudless Sulphur Small yellow species Florida White Banded Peacock White Peacock

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 33 Best of Belize, 2020 Buckeye Monarch Queen Gulf Fritillary Brown Longtail plus many others left unidentified total species – 22+

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

Emil’s margaritas army ants leafcutter ants Mexican Red-rumped Tarantula

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 34 Best of Belize, 2020