ANIS & CUCKOOS - In Belize

Smooth Billed Ani

Smooth Billed Ani

Smooth Billed Ani - Anis are bizarre, coal-black cuckoos with long floppy tails and unique, very deep and broad-sided bills. They occur in tropical lowlands and foothills, in a variety of open and semiopen habitats. Smooth-billed is very similar to Groove-billed Ani, but the two species only overlap on a few Caribbean islands, southern Central America, and northern South America. Smooth-billed is slightly larger, with overall smooth sides to the bill. The typical calls of the two species are different; Smooth-billed has a hawklike, whistled scream.

Grove Billed Ani

Groved Billed Ani

Groved Billed Ani - Entirely black bird with long tail that seems loosely attached. Named for its thick, grooved bill with a curved top, but grooves often difficult to see. Widespread through Central and South America, north to southern Texas. Most similar to Smooth-billed Ani, which lacks the grooved bill. Most often found in small flocks. Prefers open shrubby habitats such as weedy lots or woodland edge.

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CUCKOOS - in Belize

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Yellow Billed Cuckoo

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

Yellow Billed Cuckoo - Brown above and white below with yellow bill. Long tail with black-and-white spots on underside. Wings flash rufous in flight. Stealthy and shy as it moves through dense forests and riparian areas. Favors tent caterpillars. Winters in South America.

Black Billed Cuckoo

Black Billed Cuckoo

Black Billed Cuckoo - Slender, long-tailed bird more often heard than seen. White below and brown above, with black bill. Separated from Yellow-billed Cuckoo by bill color, uniformly brown outer wings (not rufous) and smaller white spots on underside of tail. Feeds mainly on caterpillars and other insects. Found mostly in deciduous woodlands, especially areas with thick secondary growth. Often sits motionless for long periods of time and is difficult to spot. Listen for its song, a repeated series of soft "cu-cu-cu" notes.

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Squirrel Cuckoo

Squirrel Cuckoo

Squirrel Cuckoo - Very striking and long-tailed bright rusty cuckoo, widespread in tropical lowlands and locally up into foothills. No similar species in Mexico and Central America. Occurs in a wide range of wooded and forest edge habitats. Mostly forages stealthily at mid-upper levels in trees, where can be surprisingly difficult to see. Often seen swooping across roads and eliciting a ‘wow’ reaction. Underside of white-tipped tail feathers is rusty overall in West Mexico, blackish overall in other areas.

Pheasant Cuckoo

Pheasant Cuckoo

Pheasant Cuckoo - Very retiring and elusive cuckoo of tropical forest, heard far more often than seen. Sings mainly in spring and summer, and at other times appears absent from areas where it may actually be fairly common. Feeds mostly on the ground, walking stealthily, but usually sings from mid-upper levels in trees, when it is most likely to be seen. Oddly shaped, with small head (rusty crest often raised and lowered) and very long, fan-shaped, (‘pheasant-like’) tail.

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Stripped Cuckoo

Stripped Cuckoo

Stripped Cuckoo - Long-tailed, fairly small cuckoo of tropical lowlands, rarely seen unless singing its loud and far-carrying song, usually from a fence or other low perch. Most of the time it is furtive, feeding on or near the ground in dense growth. Found in scrubby woodland and edge, overgrown weedy fields, and thickets, often with dense grasses. Note the striped upperparts and plain buffy underparts. While singing it often raises and lowers its dark crest.

Mangrove Cuckoo

Mangrove Cuckoo

Mangrove Cuckoo - Slender, long-tailed bird found in shrubby woodland (especially mangroves). Brown above and buffy below with gray cap, black mask, and bold black-and-white pattern on underside of tail. Bill is black on top, yellow below. Similar to Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but note buffy belly, black mask, and no rufous in the wings. Shy; tends to sit still for long periods of time, can be difficult to spot. Song is a series of low croaking notes, gradually becoming longer and lower-pitched. Feeds primarily on insects and small reptiles.