Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Belize

This checklist, which includes 566 species reliably recorded in Belize through August 2001, is the culmination of nearly a decade of field work and meticulous research by the authors, including an extensive review of the literature, critical evaluation of hundreds of museum specimens and photographs, and perusal of volumes of unpublished field notes and trip reports. It is the most authoritative, detailed, and up-to-date checklist of the birds of Belize.

Unlike previous lists, this checklist provides a separate column for each of Belize’s six districts, plus two separate columns for the cayes, one devoted entirely to Ambergris Caye. It follows the latest taxonomy, nomenclature, and listing sequence of the American Ornithologists’ Union and contains:

• A full color habitat map of Belize;
• A political map and gazetteer with district borders, roads, and all major rivers and streams;
• Detailed coded habitat information for every species;
• Status and abundance codes for every species in each district, Ambergris Caye, and the other “true” cayes;
• Additional footnote annotations for nearly 150 species, with references to published accounts of the rarer species;
• Detailed information on 21 threatened species and other species of concern.

The Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Belize is invaluable as both a field aid for birders living in or visiting Belize and as a definitive reference for dedicated field ornithologists.