Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated October 3, 2025

Please post updates for the following on eBird (providing the specific location where the bird was seen is always appreciated) or on either of our Bird Boards (website and Facebook):

Recent Reports

Rufous Hummingbird

Seacrest Scrub Natural Area, Palm Beach County: Last reported October 3 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at Woolbright Road (Exit 56). Drive east 0.4 miles to Seacrest Blvd. Turn right and drive south 1.4 miles to the entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been frequenting a firebush tree at the end of the paved trail. Map

Smooth-billed Ani

L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported October 3 (eBird) Photo Directions: From US 1 and Florida’s Turnpike in Florida City, drive south to Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). Turn right and drive west 1.6 miles to SW 192 Avenue. Turn left and drive south 2 miles to SW 376 Street. Turn right and drive west 5 miles (becomes SW 392 Street) to the L-31W Canal. Walk north about 1.5 miles along the unpaved road on the east side of the canal to where the canal bends to the west. Up to three birds have been seen along the dirt road that leads east from the bend in the canal. Map

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Kendall Square, Miami-Dade County: Reported October 3 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike, exit at Kendall Drive (SW 88 Street, Exit 20). Drive west 5.3 miles to SW 172 Avenue. The bird was seen among Brown-headed Cowbirds on the north side of Kendall Drive at this intersection. Map

Red-necked Phalarope

Dr. Von D. Mizell Eula Johnson State Park, Broward County: Reported October 2 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at Sheridan Street (Exit 21). Drive east 2.8 miles to SR A1A. Turn left and drive north 1.5 miles to the entrance (fee, open 8:00 AM until sunset). From the entrance, drive north to the Barrier Island Nature Trail, at the north end of parking area 1. The bird was seen in mangroves along Whiskey Creek. Map

Tropical Kingbird

L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported September 30 (eBird) Photo Directions: From US 1 and Florida’s Turnpike in Florida City, drive south to Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). Turn right and drive west 1.6 miles to SW 192 Avenue. Turn left and drive south 2 miles to SW 376 Street. Turn right and drive west 5 miles (becomes SW 392 Street) to the L31W Canal. Walk north about 1.5 miles along the unpaved road on the east side of the canal to where the canal bends to the west. The bird has been seen at the bend in the canal. Map

Yellow-headed Caracara

Haulover Park, Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County: Last reported September 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at FL 826 E (NW 163 Street, Exit 12). Drive east 5.8 miles to Collins Avenue (A1A). Turn right and drive south 1.3 miles to the park entrance (fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has most often been seen around the bait shop in the park’s marina area, usually around sunrise, and in the picnic area near the Haulover Inlet bridge. This bird has also been seen at Oleta River State Park and the adjacent Biscayne Bay campus of Florida International University. Map

Thick-billed Vireo

Florida Atlantic University Ecological Site, Boca Raton, Palm Beach County: Last reported September 28 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95 in Boca Raton, exit at Spanish River Blvd. (NW 40 St., Exit 48). At Spanish River Blvd., drive south 1 mile on NW 8 Ave./FAU Blvd to the parking area for the ecological site’s Tortuga Trail system. The bird has been seen on the green trail between intersections with the red trail and blue trail. Map

Older Reports

Lark Sparrow

Aerojet Road, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported September 23 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). Drive west 1.6 miles to SW 192 Avenue. Turn left and drive south 2 miles to SW 376 Street (FL 9336). Turn right and drive west 4.5 miles to Aerojet Road (SW 232 Avenue, gated). This area is only accessible on foot or bicycle. The bird has been seen at Lucky Hammock, 0.3 miles south of the gate. Ma

Variegated Flycatcher

Treeline Trail, Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Palm Beach County: Last reported September 21 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike, exit at Atlantic Avenue (FL 806, Exit 81). Drive west 2 miles to US 441. Turn right and drive north 3 miles to Lee Road. Turn left and drive west to the entrance (fee, open sunrise to sunset). The Treeline Trail begins on the north side of Lee Road, just west of the visitor center’s bus parking area. The bird has been seen at 26°30'25.3"N 80°13'01.7"W, about 200 yards north of where the trail bends 90° to the north. Map

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Curry Hammock State Park, Little Crawl Key, Monroe County: Reported September 20 (eBird) Photo Directions: The park entrance (fee, open 8:00 AM to sunset) is on US 1 at mile marker 56.5. The bird was last seen along the park entrance road between the entrance station and the campground entrance. Map

South Florida as defined here includes the following counties: Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach. Only sightings at publicly accessible locations are listed here. Click on each county to view that county’s eBird Rare Bird Alert.

Click here for locations to see regularly occurring south Florida specialties. Click here for directions to those locations. 

Banner photo: White-tailed Tropicbird by Daniel Gribbin