Exploring Belize's Wildlife: Do Flamingos Make An Appearance?

Belize is a birdwatcher's paradise, with over 540 species of birds, including colourful parrots and tiny hummingbirds. While flamingos are not native to Belize, they can be found in neighbouring countries such as Mexico. On very rare occasions, a vagrant American Flamingo may pass through Belize.

Flamingos in Belize are rare

However, on very rare occasions, you may see a vagrant American Flamingo passing through Belize. The American Flamingo is classed as an "accidental" species in Belize, meaning it rarely or accidentally occurs in the country.

If you want to experience these gorgeous birds in their wetland habitat, a close place to visit is the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve in Yucatán, Mexico. Here, vast flocks of flamingos, as well as many herons and other bird species, winter.

Vagrant American Flamingos pass through Belize

Vagrant American Flamingos do pass through Belize, though sightings are rare. Belize is a sanctuary for over 540 bird species, and flamingos are among the many species that migrate through the country. In fact, approximately 20% of the birds in Belize are migratory.

The American Flamingo, or Phoenicopterus ruber, is a gregarious wading bird usually found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. These birds are filter feeders, consuming shellfish and algae. Their beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from their food and are used upside down. The unique shape of their beak also means flamingos are unable to take off like other birds and can barely walk.

While vagrant American Flamingos are rarely spotted in Belize, they can be seen in nearby Yucatán, Mexico, particularly in the fishing village of Celestún. This village is surrounded by the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve wetland reserve, where vast flocks of flamingos, herons, and other bird species winter.

Flamingos can be seen in nearby Yucatán, Mexico

To get to Celestún, you can rent a car, take a public bus, or join a tour that includes transportation and a boat tour. The drive from Mérida takes about an hour and a half on a paved road. There are also buses that leave on the hour from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm from the Noreste Bus Station in Mérida. The bus trip takes longer due to stops along the way.

Once you arrive in Celestún, you will need to take a boat tour to see the flamingos up close. These tours can be booked in advance or arranged locally upon arrival. The tours typically last around 90 minutes and offer a chance to see the flamingos in their natural habitat, as well as other bird species and wildlife in the area.

Another place to see flamingos in Yucatán is Rio Lagartos, located on the north coast of the peninsula. The flamingos stay in Rio Lagartos from April to October for their mating season. The best time to visit Rio Lagartos is during the months with the highest concentrations of flamingos, which are April to July and October to February.

The Yucatán Peninsula is known for its diverse bird population, with over 590 different avian species recorded in the region. The flamingos in this area are American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber), known for their brilliant pinkish-red plumage, long slender legs, and thin, flexible necks. They obtain their pink colour from the crustaceans and plankton in their diet.

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds

Flamingos, or flamingoes, are gregarious wading birds that are usually 3–5 feet tall. They are characterised by slender legs, long graceful necks, large wings, and short tails. They are highly social birds that live in colonies, or flamboyances, whose populations can number in the thousands. These large colonies are believed to serve three purposes: avoiding predators, maximising food intake, and using scarce suitable nesting sites more efficiently.

Flamingos are filter feeders, consuming shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from their food, and they are used upside down. The filtering process is aided by hairy structures called lamellae, which line the mandibles, and a large, rough-surfaced tongue. They are also known to balance themselves on one leg while standing, feeding, and sleeping. The reason for this behaviour is not fully understood but may be to conserve body heat or reduce energy expenditure.

Young flamingos hatch with white plumage, but as adults, they range from light pink to bright red due to carotenoids obtained from their food supply. The pinker a flamingo is, the more desirable it is as a mate. A white or pale flamingo is usually unhealthy or malnourished. All flamingos have 12 black flight feathers in each wing.

Flamingos are found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres, with four species in the Americas and two in the Old World. They are often seen in long, curving flight formations and in wading groups along the shore. On some of East Africa's large lakes, more than a million lesser flamingos gather during the breeding season.

Flamingos are found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres

The American flamingo, also known as the Caribbean flamingo, is found in the Caribbean (Cuba, the Bahamas, the Yucatan, Turks and Caicos), the Galapagos Islands, coastal Colombia, northern Brazil, Venezuela, Belize, southern Florida, and the northern part of coastal South America. They are native to Mexico and can be found in the coastal regions of the Yucatan Peninsula, as well as in the Celestun Biosphere Reserve near Merida.

The Chilean flamingo is found in central Peru, both coasts of southern South America (mainly in the winter), Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Brazil, the Falkland Islands, and Ecuador. They are the most common flamingo in Peru and can be found at high elevations and in coastal wetlands, shallow brackish saltwater lakes, coastal estuaries, or lagoons.

The Andean flamingo is found in southern Peru, north-central Chile, western Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and the Andean Mountains. They can also be found in the summer in the Andean highlands, congregating to feed in the region's lakes.

The James' flamingo has the most restricted range of all flamingo species. They are found in southern Peru, northeastern Chile, western Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina.

The lesser flamingo is primarily an African species, with populations in eastern, southwestern, and western Africa. They are the most numerous flamingo species, with an estimated population of 1.5 to 2.5 million individuals. A sizable population also nests in India.

The greater flamingo has the most widespread distribution of all flamingo species. Populations are found in northwest India, the Middle East, the western Mediterranean, Africa, northern Europe, and eastward to Siberia.

Flamingos are generally non-migratory birds, but they may relocate due to changes in climate and water levels in their breeding areas. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas, typically in large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons that usually lack vegetation. They also inhabit mangrove swamps, tidal flats, and sandy islands in the intertidal zone.

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