WEC425

Birding and Conservation Reference Wading of

Belize is home to over 605 species. At Jones. H. L. 2004. Birds of . University of Northern Belize least 20 percent are migrants, choosing to Texas Press, Austin, TX. over-winter in the lush tropics and contributing to incredible avifaunal diversity. For More Information Contact In Northern Belize, migrants are seen earlier than in other parts of the country, making this area a true birder’s paradise. Lamanai Field Research Center Along the New River and associated Indian Church Village marshes, a multitude of birds can be seen. Orange Walk, Belize Here we present some of the most common Tel: (501) 678-9785 and some of the rarest long-legged wading [email protected] bird species you may encounter along the way. www.lamanai.org

Long-legged wading birds are medium to crocdoc.ifas.ufl.edu large-bodied birds that are charismatic in Like or follow @TheCrocDocs both their coloration and behavior. Tied to low water levels (usually <30cm deep), long -legged wading birds are intriguing to watch as they quietly and patiently hunt and stalk prey. These birds generally hunt for small and invertebrates using a variety of techniques, like slow stalking, active chasing, or probing. The calls of these birds are generally not well described in the literature, though some are distinctive, like the limpkin. As it can be difficult to distinguish calls, the best way to identify Photos credit Jorge E. Ruano long-legged wading birds is by their physical appearance. We include some call 1. This document is WEC425, one of a series of the De- partment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, UF/ characteristics in addition to IFAS Extension. Original publication date April 2020. description and key measurements of body Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the size (LT) and wingspan (WS) for each currently supported version of this publication. species in this fact sheet. 2. Venetia S. Briggs-Gonzalez, research ecologist; Jorge E. Ruano, local Lamanai bird guide; Justin R. Dalaba, Bird-watching is a major contributor to science writer and outreach coordinator; and Frank J. successful wildlife conservation and Mazzotti, professor, UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Re- search and Education Center; UF/IFAS Extension, enhances the value of important biodiversity Gainesville, FL 32611. and habitat that are being lost to development. Important Bird Areas (IBAs) have been identified in Belize and portions The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an are located within Protected Areas under Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individu- local or national management. This fact als and institutions that function with non-discrimination with sheet and your local guide will help you respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, identify and fall in love with some of your sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political wading birds. Enjoy the sights and sounds. opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office. April 2020 Agami (Agamia agamia) LT Pinnated Limpkin (Aramus 28 in, WS 40 in Reclusive, medium- ( guarauna) LT 26 in, WS sized heron with short legs and a pinnatus) LT 27 40 in Large, dark brown in thin bill. Striking plumage with in, WS 55 in color with a long bill. reddish-brown neck and belly, blue Large, sturdy Uncommon and -grey/green wings, and white heron with buffy- inconspicuous in brushy stripe down foreneck, wispy white brown plumage swamps seen walking

feathers on crown, neck and back. and cryptic slowly along water’s Stalks prey. Rattling call. patterning. Rarely seen. Patient hunter. edge searching for apple snails. Usually solitary. Very loud, Solitary breeder. Rough rawk-rawk-rawk call. haunting scream or wail heard mainly at night. Bare-throated Tiger At dusk, male call is deep poonk/poonkoo. Heron (Tigrisoma Least Bittern mexicanum) LT 31 in, Great Blue (Ixobrychus exilis) WS 45 in Heron ( LT 13 in, WS 17 in Large heron with black herodias) Small, reddish- crown and narrow, grey LT 46 in, WS 72 brown bird with buff and buff striping. Throat in Largest heron -striped breast and a is bare and foreneck is white bordered by black. Solitary, with a grey-blue short black cap. motionless hunter seen standing tall, with neck uncoiled in body, long legs Uncommon and open habitat. Produces a hoarse howk-howk-howk call and and a long neck solitary in marshes. males emit a loud hrrrowwr call at sunset. that can be coiled or extended. Stands or Often seen clinging to reeds watching for below. walks slowly while foraging. Graceful flight Sometimes flies short distance just above reeds with Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius with slow wing-beats and arched wings. Call is quick wingbeats. Song is a low cooing poo-poo-poo. cochlearius) LT 21 in, WS 30 in a deep, hoarse trumpeting or croaking. Large, sturdy heron with pale grey Tri-colored Heron wings, buff breast and brown belly. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) (Egretta tricolor) Large, dark eyes. Broad, black bill LT 24 in, WS 41 in Small LT 26 in, WS 36 in used to scoop prey from shallow with all-white plumage, thin Slender, medium- water. Forages nocturnally, leaving black bill, yellow feet and sized bird found in roost 30 minutes after sundown to lacy feathers. Common and open shallow water. perch over water, often in pairs. found in mixed roosts. Solitary but roosts Deep squawking call. communally. Actively ON COVER: Great Egret (Ardea alba) Jabiru Stork (Jabiru mycteria) LT 55 in, WS 108 chases fish. Long brown neck and bill, dark blue-grey

in Tallest bird with second largest wingspan in body and white belly. Moaning, croaking call. LT 39 in, WS 51 Large size, very long neck, deep gravelly Neotropics. Black, featherless head and neck with flexible red pouch at base. Large, pointy Woodstork (Mycteria Glossy Ibis (Plegadis bill and white plumage. Forages with open bill americana) LT 40 in, falcinellus) LT 23 in, WS when wading in WS 60 in Very large 36 in shallow water. stork with a white Slender, medium-sized Powerful, graceful body and black flight bird with reddish-brown flier. Not abundant feathers. Dark head body and glossy, blue- but protected in and neck are bare of green wings. Often appears dark at a distance. Long Belize. Hoarse feathers. Walks in curved bill used to probe for prey in muddy pools and chatter voice, bill- shallow, muddy pools with submerged bill foraging for marshes. Forages, roosts and nests communally with other clatters in breeding. fish. Often soars with vultures and roosts in colonies. wading birds. Nasal grunting voice. Mute except bill-clattering during nest displays.