Birdwatching Northern Belize

La Milpa Forest Station is a rustic lodge in the vast 260,000-acre research area known as the Rio Bravo Conservation Area. It shelters around 390 bird species, 75 percent unique to Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula. This dense broadleaf forest, located in North Western Belize, ranks among Belize’s prime birding hotspots.

Keep your eyes peeled for species like the Grey-throated Chat and Rose-throated Tanager while exploring the extensive network of trails at La Milpa. You might also spot sightings of Ocellated Turkey, Yucatan Poorwill, Lovely Cotinga, Crested Guan, Great Curassow, and Barred Forest Falcon.

This remote location on the New River lagoon boasts almost 400 species of birds documented within a 3-mile radius. The area is Belize’s premier birding location. Habitats range from vast wetlands and broadleaf forests to pine savannah, and all are easily accessible.

A Spotlight Safari provides a fantastic opportunity to see roosting waders, nocturnal, and some of the more elusive diurnal species up close and personal. Regular sightings include the Yucatan Nightjar, Northern Potoo, Common Pauraque and Nighthawk, Grey-necked Wood-Rail, Sungrebe, and Agami Heron.

Some species that inhabit this reserve are Black-Collared Hawk, Northern Jacana, Mangrove Swallow, Olive-Throated Parakeet, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Red Lored Parrot, Blue-crowned Mot-mot, Collared Aracari Toucan, Lineated and Pale-Billed Woodpeckers, and Black-Headed and Violaceous Trogons, Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Woodpecker, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Azure-crowned hummingbird, Yellow-headed Parrot, White-tailed Hawk, Gray-throated Chat, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Botteri’s Sparrow, and Jabiru.

This area is of international importance for migratory birds as they flock to the lagoons during the wet season, and food is difficult to find in other areas. Non-migratory birds also find this area essential; various species are here. In 1998, Belize designated this area as its first Ramsar site.

This location offers excellent birdwatching opportunities on land and the water in its tributaries. Seek out the Bare-throated Tiger, Sungrebe, Jabiru, Wood-storks, Black-collared Hawk, and the American Pygmy Kingfisher. In the pine and hardwood forest habitats, seek out the endangered Yellow-headed Parrot among other migratory and resident breeds.

Our friendly representative at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport will greet you and transfer you by ground to La Milpa Forest Station. Upon arrival at La Milpa, check in, and you will have time to observe birds around the lodge after dinner.

Dinner and lodging at La Milpa Forest Station

Today, you will start with an early morning birdwatching hike through La Milpa trails, searching for local specialties such as Gray-throated Chat, Tody Motmot, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, King Vulture, and Crested Eagle.

The lodge feeders are a unique attraction where dozens of birds can be observed, among them Red-legged Honeycreepers, Green Honeycreepers, Olive-backed Euphonias, and Tanagers; it is also easy to find Ocellated Turkey and Great Curassow.

Time for lunch, a short rest, and the walk continues to observe birds and other species that inhabit the Reserve.

At night, there will be a walk in search of owls and other nocturnal creatures around the lodge; on this walk, there is the possibility, with great luck, to observe a jaguar and other cats; several travelers have reported encounters with this fantastic mammal.
Dinner and Lodging at La Milpa Ecolodge

We will continue birding around the lodge and on different trails to find more species that inhabit this tropical paradise.

Also, you will have excellent photography opportunities at the feeders, with a dozen colorful birds, including hummingbirds such as White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Violet Sabrewing, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, and White-bellied Emerald, among others.

Lodging at La Milpa

After breakfast, transfer to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary with a birding stop at the Lamanai Archaeological site on the route.

Lamanai is among Belize’s major Mayan ceremonial centers, situated on the banks of the New River Lagoon. A tropical forest, home to an essential selection of bird species, surrounds this archaeological site: Spider Monkeys, Yucatan Black Howler Monkeys, and more.

Besides, the cultural treasure Lamanai is a well-known bird watching paradise with plenty of bird species, such as Black-faced Ant-thrush, Gray-collared becards, Royal and Sepia-caped Flycatchers, Black-throated Shrikes, Northern Bentbills, White-breasted, and Spot-breasted Wood Wrens, Plain Xenops, Stub-tailed Spadebills, White-crowned Parrots, Keel-billed Toucan, and Collared Aracaris, among others.

After a birding adventure at the Lamanai Archaeological site, the trip continues to Crooked Tree Sanctuary. Arrival and check-in at Bird’s Eye View Lodge, birdwatching afternoon near the lodge

Dinner and lodging are at Bird’s Eye View Lodge.

The Crooked Tree Sanctuary provides inland waterways, swamps, and lagoons; the Reserve also has a series of trails allowing foot exploration. Today, you are going to explore the trails on foot and by car in the quest for birdlife, including some specialties from the Yucatan peninsula, such as Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Woodpeckers, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Vermillion Flycatchers, Fork-tailed Flycatchers, Parrots, and Raptors.

Lunch and time for a short rest, then you will continue birding inside the Reserve. Night walk for owling with good opportunities to spot Northern Potoos and Yucatan poorwill

Dinner and lodging at Bird’s Eye View Lodge

The Birding Boat Tour is one of the most exciting activities in the sanctuary. A fascinating journey through the different waterways of the Reserve provides the opportunity to observe birds such as the beautiful Agami Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Black-collared Hawk, Roseate Spoonbill, Yucatan Jays, Snail Kites, and Jabiru Stork, among others

Lodging at Bird’s Eye View Lodge.

Transfer to the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport for your flight home.