These showy birds were common around the village. Unlike our familiar Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) we did not hear these birds mimic, although they are apparently capable of doing so. It differs from its northern cousin in that it lacks large white patches on its wings and has streaking on its flanks.
Ten subspecies are divided into two groups. The gilvus Group includes nine races while the magnirostris Group is comprised of one large-billed race, possibly deserving full species status. It is confined to Isla San Andrés off Nicaragua in the Caribbean.
Belize birds are the race M. g. leucophaeus which is endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula and adjacent Belize including offshore islands. This subspecies is characterized by narrow gray edges to the wing coverts, more white in the tail and a cleaner gray color to the mantle cf. nominate birds from adjacent Mexico. All of these distinguishing features are visible in this photo.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter)