Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

🇧🇿 Belize

🐒 Jaguar and Howler Monkey Basin
🌍 #131 Global · 3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #23 in Central America #60 in Tropical Forest
Stann Creek, Belize 860 spp. recorded

Cockscomb was the first protected area in the world created for jaguars, and they are still here: recorded on about one visit in five, mostly as tracks on the trails at first light.

16.749° N   88.671° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Jaguar ★
NT

Jaguar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera onca

10–20% · With luck
Mexican Black Howler Monkey ★
EN

Mexican Black Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta pigra

30–40% · Possible
Baird's Tapir ★

Baird's Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirella bairdii

10–20% · With luck
Keel-billed Toucan ★
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Spot-breasted Wren
LC

Spot-breasted Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheugopedius maculipectus

70–80% · Very likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

60–70% · Likely
White-collared Manakin
LC

White-collared Manakin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Manacus candei

50–60% · Likely
Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

50–60% · Likely
Melodious Blackbird
LC

Melodious Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dives dives

50–60% · Likely
Gray Catbird
LC

Gray Catbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dumetella carolinensis

50–60% · Likely
Short-billed Pigeon
LC

Short-billed Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Patagioenas nigrirostris

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
Black-headed Trogon
LC

Black-headed Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon melanocephalus

50–60% · Likely
White-breasted Wood-Wren
LC

White-breasted Wood-Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Henicorhina leucosticta

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Jaguar ★
NT

Jaguar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera onca

10–20% · With luck
Mexican Black Howler Monkey ★
EN

Mexican Black Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta pigra

30–40% · Possible
Baird's Tapir ★

Baird's Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirella bairdii

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Central American Red Brocket

Central American Red Brocket

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mazama temama

20–30% · Possible
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

20–30% · Possible
Kinkajou
LC

Kinkajou

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Potos flavus

20–30% · Possible
Deppe's Squirrel
LC

Deppe's Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus deppei

20–30% · Possible
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

10–20% · With luck
Collared Peccary
Endemic

Collared Peccary

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pecari tajacu

Insufficient data
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

5–10% · With luck
Ocelot
LC

Ocelot

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leopardus pardalis

Insufficient data
Greater Spear-nosed Bat
LC

Greater Spear-nosed Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Phyllostomus hastatus

Insufficient data
Mexican Mouse Opossum
LC Endemic

Mexican Mouse Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Marmosa mexicana

Insufficient data
Desmarest's Spiny Pocket Mouse
LC

Desmarest's Spiny Pocket Mouse

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Heteromys desmarestianus

Insufficient data
West Indian Manatee
VU

West Indian Manatee

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Trichechus manatus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Keel-billed Toucan ★
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Spot-breasted Wren
LC

Spot-breasted Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheugopedius maculipectus

70–80% · Very likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

60–70% · Likely
White-collared Manakin
LC

White-collared Manakin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Manacus candei

50–60% · Likely
Melodious Blackbird
LC

Melodious Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dives dives

50–60% · Likely
Gray Catbird
LC

Gray Catbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dumetella carolinensis

50–60% · Likely
Short-billed Pigeon
LC

Short-billed Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Patagioenas nigrirostris

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
Black-headed Trogon
LC

Black-headed Trogon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Trogon melanocephalus

50–60% · Likely
White-breasted Wood-Wren
LC

White-breasted Wood-Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Henicorhina leucosticta

50–60% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

50–60% · Likely
Middle American Ameiva
LC

Middle American Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus festivus

40–50% · Likely
Red Coffee Snake
LC

Red Coffee Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Ninia sebae

40–50% · Likely
Yucatán Banded Gecko
LC

Yucatán Banded Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Coleonyx elegans

30–40% · Possible
Helmeted Iguana
LC

Helmeted Iguana

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Corytophanes cristatus

20–30% · Possible
Belize Crocodile
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

Insufficient data
White-lipped Mud Turtle

White-lipped Mud Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Kinosternon leucostomum

20–30% · Possible
Blunthead Tree Snake
LC

Blunthead Tree Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Imantodes cenchoa

20–30% · Possible
Hernandez’s Helmeted Basilisk
LC

Hernandez’s Helmeted Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Corytophanes hernandesii

20–30% · Possible
Central American Boa
LC

Central American Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Boa imperator

Insufficient data
Mesoamerican Slider

Mesoamerican Slider

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachemys venusta

10–20% · With luck
Cloudy Snail-eating Snake
LC

Cloudy Snail-eating Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Sibon nebulatus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

30–40% · Possible
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

20–30% · Possible
Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

Insufficient data
Yellow Treefrog
LC

Yellow Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus microcephalus

Insufficient data
Long-Legged Streamfrog
NT

Long-Legged Streamfrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Craugastor sabrinus

Insufficient data
Mexican Mushroomtongue Salamander
LC

Mexican Mushroomtongue Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Bolitoglossa mexicana

Insufficient data
Vaillant's Frog
LC

Vaillant's Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Lithobates vaillanti

10–20% · With luck
Julian's Frog
LC Endemic

Julian's Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Lithobates juliani

Insufficient data
Stauffer's Tree Frog
LC

Stauffer's Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax staufferi

Insufficient data
Rufescent Salamander
LC

Rufescent Salamander

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Bolitoglossa rufescens

Insufficient data
Elegant Narrow-mouthed Toad
LC

Elegant Narrow-mouthed Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Gastrophryne elegans

Insufficient data
Harlequin Treefrog
LC

Harlequin Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus ebraccatus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐆

Jaguars and Tapirs on the Trails

MayOct

Jaguars and Baird's tapir leave tracks along the trails and river crossings, at their most recorded of the year.

Jaguar
NT

Jaguar

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera onca

10–20% · With luck
Baird's Tapir

Baird's Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirella bairdii

10–20% · With luck
🐒

Howlers and Coatis in the Dry Months

AprJul

Yucatán black howler troops call across the basin at dawn and coati bands work the forest floor.

White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

20–30% · Possible
Mexican Black Howler Monkey
EN

Mexican Black Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta pigra

30–40% · Possible
🐸

Frogs and Toads in the Rains

AprAugSep

Cane toads and Mexican tree frogs breed in every pool and call through the night.

Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

20–30% · Possible
Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

Insufficient data

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
Jaguar
10–20
5–10
<5
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
10–20
<5
20–30
10–20
10–20
Mexican Black Howler Monkey
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
20–30
30–40
30–40
40–50
20–30
5–10
10–20
20–30
Baird's Tapir
10–20
10–20
20–30
10–20
20–30
10–20
20–30
10–20
<5
<5
10–20
10–20
Keel-billed Toucan
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
60–70
30–40
30–40
30–40
Spot-breasted Wren
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
50–60
Great Kiskadee
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
Social Flycatcher
50–60
70–80
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
White-collared Manakin
40–50
60–70
70–80
60–70
30–40
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
Brown Basilisk
30–40
50–60
60–70
80–90
40–50
70–80
70–80
20–30
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
Melodious Blackbird
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Gray Catbird
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
10–20
5–10
5–10
10–20
10–20
50–60
80–90
70–80
Short-billed Pigeon
30–40
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
30–40
20–30
Turkey Vulture
60–70
60–70
60–70
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
20–30
50–60
50–60
60–70
Black-headed Trogon
30–40
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
40–50
30–40
50–60
White-breasted Wood-Wren
30–40
60–70
30–40
40–50
30–40
50–60
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🐆 Jaguars and Tapirs on the Trails
🐒 Howlers and Coatis in the Dry Months
🐸 Frogs and Toads in the Rains

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐒 Jaguar and Howler Monkey Basin

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
535
🐒 Mammals
157
🦎 Reptiles
124
🐸 Amphibians
44
860 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
19 Threatened 69 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
58%
📊
Coverage (260 species at ≥5% of 860 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
30%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
169
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
18
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
25

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

The most likely sightings are Spot-breasted Wren (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Great Kiskadee (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Social Flycatcher (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), White-collared Manakin (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 860 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary for wildlife?

February has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Jaguar in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 14% of wildlife watchers report a Jaguar sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Mexican Black Howler Monkey in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Black Howler Monkey sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 9 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Baird's Tapir in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

Yes — about 18% of wildlife watchers report a Baird's Tapir sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Keel-billed Toucan in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

Yes — about 48% of wildlife watchers report a Keel-billed Toucan sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 531 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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