Situated at the southeastern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula bordering Mexico and Guatemala, Belize is a tiny English-speaking nation that has become a world center for both amateur birdwatchers and professional ornithologists. Blessed with a varied topography and relatively small human population, the tropical country has entertained 573 recorded species of birds.
"Many bird species have dramatically increased in number in the 39 years since the publication of Steve Russell's 'Distributional Study of the Birds of British Honduras,' (American Ornithologists' Union , 1964.)" author H. Lee Jones points out. "Nearly all of these are birds associated with cleared land, urban areas, second-growth scrub, and manufactured wetlands such as rice fields and shrimp farms. At the same time, although not as apparent, all birds of mature broadleaf forest, littoral forest, and mangrove forest have surely decreased in number as man-made habitats have gradually replaced Belize's original forested habitats."
As a result, there are more grackles, cowbirds, seedeaters, pigeons and doves to be seen in Belize these days and fewer colonial seabirds and birds of prey.
Jones' book is the most complete identification guide to all 574 of the Belize birds. Grouped by families, the species are presented with details useful for field identification: size, plumage, voice, habitat and distribution. Range maps are included for species that are not found throughout Belize or are not widespread migrants. Artist Dana Gardner contributed the color illustrations throughout the text.