Central America - Belize

Despite the usual problems of a developing nation, Belize offers excellent year-round birding. Indeed Belize is a rival to Costa Rica as a tropical birding destination with more than 40 per cent of the country set aside as forest reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The dry season runs from December through to May. Popular birding destinations include Mayflower Bocawina and Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, the latter a Ramsar wetland. Mayflower Bocawina is perhaps the best place in the world to see Keel-billed Motmot whilst Crested Guan, Great Currasow and Ocellated Turkey also occur in the park. During migration, wood-warbler, tanagers and orioles abound. Crooked Tree is an expanse of freshwater lagoons and pine-oak forest best known for Jabiru Stork. Other prize birds include Agami Heron, Boat-billed Heron and Sungrebe. Also try out night birding at Lamanai Outpost Lodge, the rustic camp at Chaa Creek, 1000-foot Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge (for Orange-breasted Falcon) and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Other Belize birds not to miss include Rufous-necked Wood Rail, Yucatan Jay, Black Catbird and Black-throated Shrike-tanager.

Ocellated Turkey, copyright Aidan G Kelly