Original version compiled by Steve Mumford and Jeff Weber, updated by John Boyd and Brian Rapoza. If you have comments or suggestions, email the webmaster. Picture/IDs linked from: USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
Directions to many of the locations listed below can be found on the Birding Locations page.
Where Can I Find?
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Need More Info?
A variety of birding and nature books are available through the TAS Store on amazon.com, including Brian Rapoza's Birding Florida, which covers many birding locations throughout the state.
The Birds
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are most likely at Stormwater Treatment
Area 5 (STA-5), in Hendry County, but are also possible in the
Everglades Agricultural Area and at STA-1E and Wakodahatchee and Green Cay
Wetlands, in Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Fulvous Whistling-Ducks are most likely at Stormwater Treatment Area 5
(STA-5), in Hendry County, but are also possible in the Everglades
Agricultural Area and STA-1E, in Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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Mottled Duck
Mottled Ducks are likely at Dump Marsh and Cutler Wetlands, and are
resident at Wakodahatchee and Green Cay Wetlands, in Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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White-cheeked Pintail
White-cheeked Pintails are resident throughout much of the Caribbean,
but are only occasionally seen in Florida. It's also difficult to
determine if individuals are escapees or true vagrants. The most recent
sighting in south Florida was from Grassy Waters Preserve in Palm Beach
County in 2011.
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Masked Duck
Masked Ducks are resident in scattered locations throughout the
Caribbean, but are only occasionally seen in Florida. The most recent
sighting in south Florida was from the Gate 15 area of Everglades
National Park in 2010; others have been found recently at locations in
central Florida.
Pic/ID
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Least Grebe
Least Grebes are resident throughout the Caribbean, but are only
occasionally seen in Florida. The last verified sighting in south
Florida was in Fall 2008 at Yamato Scrub in Palm Beach County.
The previous one was at Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge in 1988.
Pic/ID
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White-tailed Tropicbird
White-tailed Tropicbirds breed throughout the Caribbean, but are only
rarely seen in Florida. Most sightings have been from the Dry Tortugas.
Pic/ID
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Masked Booby
Masked Boobies nest on Hospital Key in the Dry Tortugas.
Pic/ID
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Brown Booby
Brown Boobies often perch on Fowey Light, in Biscayne National Park.
A boat is needed to reach this location. Brown Boobies can sometimes be
seen on channel markers in the Dry Tortugas.
Pic/ID
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Red-footed Booby
Red-footed Boobies breed on remote islands in scattered locations
throughout the Caribbean, and are seen only occasionally in Florida.
The most recent sighting in south Florida was from Fowey Light in
Biscayne National Park in 2011.
Pic/ID
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Neotropic Cormorant
Neotropic Cormorants are resident in the Bahamas and Cuba. The
first verified sighting in Florida was from Boca Chica Key, near Key
West, in 2007. Another was present there in spring 2009.
Since 2012, Neotropic Cormorants have been found during winter at
Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Palm Beach County; one or two have been seen on
nests.
Pic/ID
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Magnificent Frigatebird
Magnificent Frigatebirds are most common during summer in the Florida
peninsula and are easy to see on Key Biscayne. They roost on an island
off Crandon Marina, to your right after you cross the Bear Cut Bridge
onto Key Biscayne. They may be seen year-round in the Florida Keys and
the Dry Tortugas.
Pic/ID
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Least Bittern
Least Bitterns are more often heard than seen at locations such as
Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park. During spring and summer,
they are often conspicuous at Wakodahatchee and Green Cay Wetlands in Palm Beach
County.
Pic/ID
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Reddish Egret
Reddish Egrets prefer coastal beaches and mudflats. A reliable
location is at the Flamingo visitor center in Everglades National Park.
Pic/ID
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Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbills can usually be seen at Paurotis Pond and Flamingo,
and sometimes at Shark Valley, in Everglades National Park. During late
summer, they often congregate in large numbers in the Everglades
Agricultural Area in Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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Wood Stork
Wood Storks nest at Paurotis Pond in Everglades National Park, but can
often be found during winter at Anhinga Trail, Mrazek Pond, Shark Valley
and other locations within the National Park. It is also not unusual to
see them feeding in wet areas along highways. During late summer, they
often congregate in large numbers in the Everglades Agricultural Area in
Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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American Flamingo
American Flamingos have become scarce since the hurricanes of 2005, but
are still reported occasionally in Florida Bay or in the Keys. They have
been most recently seen in Snake Bight and at Lake Ingraham in Everglades
National Park. These locations are most easily accessed by motorized boat,
though Snake Bight can also be reached at high tide by canoe or kayak.
They are no longer likely to be seen from the boardwalk at the end of Snake
Bight Trail.
Pic/ID
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Swallow-tailed Kite
These beautiful raptors arrive in Florida in late February and return to
their wintering grounds in South and Central America by September. Look
for them anywhere along the main park road in Everglades National Park,
as well as at Royal Palm Hammock, Long Pine Key, Paurotis Pond, West
Lake and the Flamingo area. Swallow-tailed Kites may also be seen in
suburban Miami-Dade, especially the South Miami area.
Pic/ID
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White-tailed Kite
White-tailed Kites are occasionally seen in Southwest Miami-Dade. Places to
check include over fields, around Lucky Hammock on Aerojet Road, the C-357
sparrow fields on SW 168 Street and along SW 237th Avenue, in the East
Everglades near the Chekika Unit of Everglades National Park. In the main
portion of the national park they are most often found in the restoration
area at the end of Research Road. They seem to prefer prairie-like areas,
including some farm fields.
Pic/ID
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Snail Kite
Throughout the year but especially during winter, Snail Kites can be
found on the north side of U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) near the Shark Valley
section of Everglades National Park. Good vantage points are the
parking lot of the Miccosukee Indian Restaurant (across from the Shark
Valley entrance), and the abandoned airboat concession just across the
road from the Everglades Tower Motel, a mile west of Shark Valley.
Snail Kites can also be found in the Water Conservation Area west of
Markham Park in Broward County, and can be common at Stormwater
Treatment Area 5 (STA-5) in Hendry County.
Pic/ID
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Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle may be seen soaring overhead anywhere in Everglades
National Park, but are more likely in the Flamingo area. They are often
seen over Dump Marsh and Cutler Wetlands.
Pic/ID
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Great Black-Hawk
Although not ABA-countable, Great Black-Hawks of unknown
origin have been seen in the Miami area since the 1970's.
In recent years, most sightings have been on Virginia Key.
Robin Diaz has provided a detailed summary
of the situation.
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Short-tailed Hawk
During winter, Short-Tailed Hawks can be most reliably seen in
Everglades National Park. They are seen regularly over Royal Palm
Hammock (watch for them among kettles of vultures), along Research Road,
at West Lake, Nine Mile Pond and Eco Pond in Flamingo. They can also be
seen occasionally over suburban Miami-Dade.
Pic/ID
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Crested Caracara
The closest reliable location for Crested Caracara is along Snake
Road (CR 833) in Broward County and Pole Crossing Road (CR 846) in
Hendry County. The southern terminus of Snake Road is at Exit 49
of Alligator Alley (I-75).
Pic/ID
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Black Rail
Black Rails are rarely seen, but during winter, they can sometimes be heard
at dawn or dusk along the Coastal Prairie Trail in Flamingo, Everglades
National Park.
Pic/ID
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King Rail
King Rails are more often heard than seen; your best bet is to visit
Shark Valley, in Everglades National Park, early in the morning.
They are also regularly seen in the East Everglades, along SW 237th Avenue
(follow the signs toward Chekika).
Pic/ID
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Purple Swamphen
This introduced species is common at Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (STA-5) in
Hendry County and STA1-E, STA1-W and Harold Campbell Day Use Area (STA3/4)
in Palm Beach County. Swamphens can still be found at several locations in
Broward County, including the City Furniture wetlands on Hiatus Road
between McNab Road and Commercial Boulevard, the wetlands near Southeast
Regional Library, on the north side of Sheridan Street, 1.2 miles west of
I-75 in Pembroke Pines, Silver Lakes North Park, on the south side of
Sheridan Street, 0.3 mile west of the library, Chapel Trail Nature
Preserve, 2 miles west of Silver Lakes North Park and at Water Conservation
Area 2-A, accessed from Markham Park.
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Purple Gallinule
Look for Purple Gallinule at Anhinga Trail and at Shark Valley
(especially in the canal along the west side of the loop road) in
Everglades National Park, and at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Green Cay
Wetlands and Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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Limpkin
Limpkins can reliably be found at Shark Valley, along Snake Road (CR 833)
in Broward County and at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Green Cay Wetlands,
Wellington Environmental Preserve, and Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
in Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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Snowy Plover
Snowy Plover nests in small numbers on Gulf Coast beaches. Reliable
locations in south Florida include Tigertail Beach on Marco Island (Collier
County) and Big Carlos Pass and Bunche Beach near Ft. Myers Beach (Lee
County).
Pic/ID
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Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gulls are regular at Crandon Beach on Key
Biscayne and in the Crystal Lakes area around Pompano Beach landfill in
Broward County.
Pic/ID
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Brown Noddy
Brown Noddies are easy to see during spring and summer in the Dry
Tortugas, their only nesting location in North America.
Pic/ID
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Black Noddy
Black Noddies are rare but almost annual spring visitors to the Dry
Tortugas.
Pic/ID
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Sooty Tern
Sooty Terns are easy to see during spring and summer in the Dry
Tortugas, their only nesting location in North America.
Pic/ID
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Roseate Tern
Roseate Terns breed during summer in the Florida Keys. One location
where they have nested in recent years is on the roof of the Government
Center buildings, at mile marker 48.5 in Marathon. They may also be
seen perched on channel markers in the Dry Tortugas.
Pic/ID
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White-crowned Pigeon
White-crowned Pigeons are most common in the Florida Keys. Look for
them at Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site, and in Key West. They
may also be perched on wires anywhere along US 1 from Key Largo to Key
West. They can often be seen in Everglades National Park, as well as in
the Lucky Hammock area, just outside the park. Good areas within the
park include Royal Palm Hammock, Paurotis and Nine Mile Ponds (scan the
treetops on the far side of the ponds), and along Snake Bight Trail.
Finally, they may be found in suburban south Miami-Dade. Check wires in
South Miami and around Baptist Hospital, as well as at A.D. Barnes,
Matheson Hammock and Kendall Indian Hammocks Parks.
Pic/ID
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Zenaida Dove
Zenaida Doves are resident throughout the Caribbean, but are only
occasionally seen in Florida. The last verified sighting was from Key
Largo in 2009.
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Key West Quail-Dove
Key West Quail-Doves are resident in the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola and
Puerto Rico, but are only occasionally seen in Florida. Recent
sightings include from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and Bill Baggs Cape
Florida State Park, both in 1999, and from Elliot Key, Biscayne National
Park, in 2002.
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Ruddy Quail-Dove
Ruddy Quail-Doves are resident throughout the Caribbean (except the
Bahamas), but are only occasionally seen in Florida. The most recent
sighting was from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in 2002.
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Mangrove Cuckoo
Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site has been a reliable location for
this secretive species, especially during spring. Other locations worth
trying include Black Point Marina, and Snake Bight and Bear Lake Trails
in Everglades National Park.
Pic/ID
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Smooth-billed Ani
While still common in the Bahamas, this species has almost disappeared as a
breeding bird in Florida. In recent years, a reliable location was south
of Ft. Lauderdale International Airport. One or more anis were regularly
seen on Old Griffin Road, about 0.2 miles west of US 1. More recently, a
single bird was seen in an overgrown field on the north side of the canal
that parallels Old Griffin Road, just west of the railroad tracks that
cross the road. Previously, anis could be reliably found on the fence along
the perimeter road on the south side of the airport. This area is best
accessed from Greenbelt Park. The park entrance is on Griffin Road. Anis
are still occasionally seen in and around Everglades National Park and may
also continue in Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and in the Everglades
Agricultural Area of Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owls reside at a number of local airports, including
Kendall/Tamiami Executive Airport (SW 137 Avenue, between SW 120 and SW 136
Street), Homestead General Aviation Airport (SW 217 Avenue, north of SW 296
Street), Opa-Locka Airport (NW 135 Street, between NW37 and NW 57 Avenue)
and Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport (NW 21 Avenue, north of Commercial
Boulevard). Burrowing Owls can also be found at Brian Piccolo Park, on
Sheridan Street in Cooper City (Broward County)), on golf courses and in
residential areas in Marathon (Monroe County), and on Marco Island (Collier
County). Burrows at all of these locations are usually marked with stakes,
orange cones or t-bars.
Pic/ID
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“Arawak” (Short-eared) Owl
The Arawak Owl is the Antillean race of Short-eared Owl. It is resident
in Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico and is an almost annual visitor to
the Dry Tortugas. Individuals are sometimes found at Ft. Zachary Taylor
State Park in Key West. The Antillean race is buffier than the
continental race, itself an occasional winter visitor to the Florida
mainland.
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Lesser Nighthawk
Lesser Nighthawk winters in small numbers in south Florida. Reliable
locations include Dump Marsh, the Lucky Hammock area on Aerojet Road and
around Eco Pond in Flamingo, Everglades National Park.
ID
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Antillean Nighthawk
Antillean Nighthawks can be found during spring and summer over
Marathon and Key West airports in the Florida Keys, and occasionally in
Key Largo and at Long Pine Key campground in Everglades National Park.
Common Nighthawks are also likely at these locations, so learn to
distinguish them by call ("pity-pit-pit" for Antillean, "peent" for
Common).
ID
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Chuck-will's-widow
Chuck-will's-widows are most likely to be seen during spring and fall
migration, when they perch on tree limbs in hardwood hammocks and often
flush when approached. Good locations during migration include A.D.
Barnes Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. During spring and
summer, Chuck-will's-widows may be heard just before sunrise around
pinelands and hammocks in Everglades National Park. Reliable locations
include the pinelands around the entrance station and the Royal Palm
Hammock parking area.
Pic/ID
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Bahama Woodstar
Bahama Woodstars are endemic to the Bahamas, but are very rarely seen
in Florida. The last verified sighting was from Homestead in 1981.
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Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers nest in Big Cypress National Preserve as
well as in J W Corbett Wildlife Management Area in Palm Beach and Martin
Counties, but in locations inaccessible to birders or heavily used by
hunters. This species has been recently introduced to DuPuis
Management Area in Martin and Palm Beach Counties; accessible nest clusters can be found
along the management area's auto tour road. They also nest at Babcock
Webb Wildlife Management Area, in Charlotte County.
Pic/ID
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Parrots
Over 75 species of parrots have been introduced to Florida; of these, at least 20 species are now breeding in the state. Only four are currently ABA-countable in Florida; of these, three are countable in the Miami area:
Monk Parakeet
Monk Parakeet: While parrots introduced to Florida typically nest in tree cavities, Monk Parakeets are the only species that builds communal stick nests. These large, bulky nests can be found throughout suburban southeast Florida, sometimes in trees but also on power poles and other man-made structures. Reliable locations in Miami-Dade include Miami Shores, Miami Springs (around the Fair Haven Nursing Home), Key Biscayne, Baptist Hospital and Kendall Indian Hammocks, A D Barnes and Matheson Hammock Parks. The parakeets are often found around shopping centers along SW 88 Street (Kendall Drive); stick nests are conspicuous on power poles where North Kendall Drive crosses SW 127 Avenue.
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White-winged Parakeet
Canary-winged Parakeet has been split into
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) and White-winged Parakeet
(Brotogeris versicolurus). Currently, only the White-winged Parakeet is
ABA-countable. White-winged and Yellow-chevroned Parakeets are
widespread in the Miami area and may be seen almost anywhere.
White-winged Parakeets are more common in Broward and the Miami Shores
area of north Miami-Dade, while Yellow-chevroned is dominant in Miami
Springs, Coral Gables, Kendall and South Miami. In recent years,
White-winged Parakeets have been frequently seen near the intersection
of NW 42 Avenue (LeJeune Road) and NW 7 Street, south of Miami
International Airport. Both species have been seen at Baptist Hospital;
look in trees around the ponds at the front of the hospital. Other
locations include A D Barnes and Matheson Hammock Parks.
Pic/ID
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Nanday Parakeet
In southeast Florida, Nanday Parakeets are most often seen in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Reliable locations in Broward include Tall Cypress Natural Area and around the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame on Griffin Road, just west of I-95. Boynton Inlet in Boynton Beach is a reliable location in Palm Beach. Nandays can sometimes be found in Miami-Dade (Biscayne Gardens, Miami Shores and the ZooMiami area are reliable locations). Nandays are common in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.
Other Parrots
Budgerigar: The only locations in Florida where countable Budgerigars may be found are in Pasco and Hernando Counties, north of Tampa.
The following areas in Miami-Dade can be good for finding a variety of parrots:
- Biscayne Gardens: the neighborhoods east of I-95, between NW 151 Street and NW 135 Street, especially along South Biscayne River Drive. Monk, White-winged, Yellow-chevroned, Black-hooded, Blue-crowned, Mitred, Red-masked, Crimson-fronted and White-eyed Parakeets; Chestnut-fronted Macaw; White-fronted, Orange-winged and Red-crowned Parrots.
- Miami Shores: the neighborhoods east of I-95, between NE 103 Street and NE 95 Street, east to Miami Shores Country Club. Monk, White-winged, Yellow-chevroned, Black-hooded, Blue-crowned, Mitred, Red-masked, Crimson-fronted and White-eyed Parakeets; Chestnut-fronted Macaw; White-fronted, Orange-winged and Red-crowned Parrots.
- Miami Beach: the neighborhoods around Muss Park (on Chase Road) and Pine Tree Park (on Pine Tree Road); both parks are just north of Arthur Godfrey Road (accessed from the mainland via I-195/Julia Tuttle Causeway). Monk, Blue-crowned, Mitred. amd White-eyed Parakeets, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Scaly-headed Parrot.
- Miami Springs: the neighborhood around Fair Haven Nursing Home on Curtiss Parkway, as well as the neighborhood around the intersection of Wren Avenue and Apache Street. Monk, Yellow-chevroned, Blue-crowned, Green, Mitred, Scarlet-fronted, Red-masked, Crimson-fronted, White-eyed and Dusky-headed Parakeets; Blue-fronted, Orange-winged, Red-crowned and Yellow-crowned Parrots.
- Key Biscayne: neighborhoods in the village of Key Biscayne, plus Crandon Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Monk Parakeets.
- South Miami: the neighborhoods between SW 56 Street (Miller Drive), SW 72 Street (Sunset Drive), SW 67 Avenue (Ludlam Road), and SW 57 Avenue (Red Road). Monk, White-winged, Yellow-chevroned, Mitred and Red-masked Parakeets, Blue-and-yellow and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, White-fronted, Blue-fronted, Orange-winged, Red-crowned, Lilac-crowned, Yellow-crowned, Yellow-headed and Mealy Parrots.
- A D Barnes Park: entrance is on SW 72 Avenue, north of SW 40 Street (Bird Road). Monk, White-winged, Yellow-chevroned and Mitred Parakeets, Blue-and-yellow and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Orange-winged Parrot.
- Baptist Hospital area: the neighborhoods between US 1 (South Dixie Highway) and SR 874 (Don Shula Expessway), SR 878 (Snapper Creek Expressway) and SW 88 Street (North Kendall Drive). Monk, White-winged, Yellow-chevroned and Mitred Parakeets.
- Kendall Indian Hammocks Park: entrance is on SW 107 Avenue, north of SW 88 Street (North Kendall Drive). Monk Parakeets.
- Matheson Hammock Park: entrance is on Old Cutler Road, south of SW 88 Street (North Kendall Drive). Monk, White-winged, Yellow-chevroned and Red-masked Parakeets, Blue-and-yellow Macaw,Lilac-crowned Parakeet.
- Metrozoo/Larry and Penny Thompson Park: west of Florida's Turnpike; the entrance to Metrozoo is on SW 152 Street (Coral Reef Drive), the entrance to Larry and Penny Thompson Park is on SW 184 Street (Eureka Drive). Monk and Black-hooded Parakeets.
The most reliable way to locate parrots in residential neighborhoods is
by driving side streets with the windows down, listening for squawking.
Early morning and late afternoon are most productive. As always when
birding in urban areas, common sense is essential. Avoid birding alone.
Lock car doors and secure valuables out of sight. Do not trespass on
private property.
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Cuban Pewee
Cuban Pewees, sometimes called Crescent-eyed Pewees, are resident in
the Bahamas and Cuba. The last sighting in Florida was from Long Pine
Key in Everglades National Park, in 2010.
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Alder Flycatcher
Alder Flycatchers can be found annually during late August and September in
“The Annex” area along Aerojet Road.
Pic/ID
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Vermilion Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatchers now winter almost annually in Florida. Since 2011,
one or two have wintered along the C-111 Canal where it crosses SR 9336,
east of the entrance to Everglades National Park.
Pic/ID
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Brown-crested Flycatcher
A few Brown-crested Flycatchers are seen annually during winter. The
best locations to find them are in and around Everglades National Park,
including Lucky Hammock, Royal Palm, and Long Pine Key. Listen for their
big “whit” call. Keep in mind that they are substantially
outnumbered by Great Crested Flycatchers.
Pic/ID
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Tropical Kingbird
Tropical Kingbirds now winter almost annually in south Florida. Several
were in south Miami-Dade during the winter of 2012-13, including along SR
9336 outside the entrance to Everglades National Park and at the C-357
sparrow fields on SW 168 Street.
Pic/ID
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La Sagra's Flycatcher
La Sagra's Flycatchers are resident in the Bahamas and Cuba, but are
seen in Florida almost annually, typically at coastal locations.
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Gray Kingbird
Gray Kingbirds are common and conspicuous during spring and summer in
suburban Miami and throughout the Keys; they can usually be found around
shopping centers. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne is
another reliable location; they often perch on wires near the
lighthouse.
Pic/ID
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Loggerhead Kingbird
Loggerhead Kingbirds are resident in the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola and
Puerto Rico. The first verified sighting in Florida was from Fort
Zachary Taylor State Park in 2007, with a repeat visit in 2009.
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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, along with Western Kingbirds, can often be
found in Flamingo, Everglades National Park, during winter. Check along
the main park road from the visitor center to Eco Pond. Near the park
entrance, check the wires and fences along SR 9336 and around Lucky Hammock
on Aerojet Road.
Pic/ID
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Thick-billed Vireo
Thick-billed Vireos are resident in the Bahamas, but are only
occasionally seen in Florida. The most recent sightings are from
Crandon Park on Key Biscayne in 2010, Matheson Hammock Park in 2011,
and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in 2013.
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Bell's Vireo
Bell's Vireo winters almost annually in south Florida. A good location
is the Lucky Hammock area on Aerojet Road.
Pic/ID
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Black-whiskered Vireo
During spring and summer, Black-whiskered Vireos are easiest to find
in the Florida Keys, where they sing incessantly throughout the day.
Good locations include Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site and Long
Key State Park. During spring migration, Black-whiskered Vireos are
often seen and heard at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Matheson
Hammock Park and in hammocks throughout Everglades National Park.
Pic/ID
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Florida Scrub-Jay
The closest reliable locations for Florida Scrub-Jay, the only bird
endemic to Florida, are Jupiter Ridge Natural Area, in
Palm Beach County, and Jonathan Dickinson State Park, in Martin County.
Pic/ID
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Bahama Swallow
Bahama Swallows are endemic to the Bahamas, but are very rarely seen
in Florida. The last verified sighting was from the Cutler Ridge Cave
Swallow roost in 1992.
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Cave Swallow
At dawn and dusk during spring and summer, look for Cave Swallows of the
West Indian race under the Florida Turnpike bridge over Black Creek,
just north of Southwest 216th Street in Cutler Ridge; they may be also
seen at Cutler Wetlands and Dump Marsh.
Pic/ID
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Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch has been reintroduced to pine rocklands in
Everglades National Park, and can be seen in and around the Long Pine
Key picnic area and campground, as well as in pinelands along Research
Road.
Pic/ID
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Red-whiskered Bulbul
Red-whiskered Bulbuls are often seen in the neighborhood just north of
Baptist Hospital on SW 88 Street (Kendall Drive), the Kendalwood
neighborhood on SW 82 Street, west of SW 87 Avenue, as well as in the
native planting area at Kenwood Elementary (SW 79 Avenue, 0.2 miles
south of Kendall Drive).
Pic/ID
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Bahama Mockingbird
Bahama Mockingbirds are resident in the Bahamas, Jamaica and on
islands off the northern coast of Cuba, but are seen almost annually in
Florida, typically at coastal locations.
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Common Myna
Common Mynas can be found around shopping centers and fast-food
restaurants throughout Miami and the Keys.
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Hill Myna
Hill Mynas prefer tropical hardwood hammocks and are easiest to find at
Matheson Hammock Park. Other good locations are around Baptist Hospital
on North Kendall Drive, and at A D Barnes and Kendall Indian Hammocks
Park.
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Cuban Golden Warbler
This West Indian subspecies of the Yellow Warbler breeds in mangrove
forests in the Keys and Everglades National Park. A reliable location
is around the Card Sound Bridge tollbooth on Card Sound Road; the bridge
connects Key Largo to the mainland.
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Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warblers are at the southern end of their range in south
Florida. Here they breed in cypress swamps such
as those in Big Cypress National Preserve. A reliable location is at
Sweetwater Strand, on Loop Road in Big Cypress.
Pic/ID
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Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breated Chat winters annually in south Florida. A good location is
the Lucky Hammock area on Aerojet Road.
Pic/ID
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Bananaquit
The Bananaquit is easy to find in the Bahamas. In south Florida, it is
an occasional visitor during fall, winter, and spring. It is most likely
to show up in the keys or within a few miles of the coast.
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Western Spindalis
Western Spindalis are resident in the Bahamas and Cuba, but are seen
almost annually in Florida, typically at coastal locations.
In 2009, a pair successfully nested at Long Pine Key in Everglades
National Park, the first North American breeding record for this
species.
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Yellow-faced Grassquit
Yellow-faced Grassquits are resident in Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico
and Jamaica, but are rarely seen in Florida. The most recent sightings
were from Fort Zachary Tayler in Key West in 2009,
the Dry Tortugas in 2002 and Eco Pond in Everglades National
Park in 2001.
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Black-faced Grassquit
Black-faced Grassquits are resident throughout the Caribbean (though
rare and local in Cuba), but are rarely seen in Florida. The most
recent sightings were from Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park in
2003 and Jupiter Ridge Natural Area in 2004.
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Bachman's Sparrow
Bachman's Sparrows are year-round residents of pinelands with a saw
palmetto understory, but are easiest to find when males are singing.
Try the Kitching Creek Trail at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, in Martin
County, or Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area, in Charlotte County.
Pic/ID
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Sharp-tailed Sparrows
Both Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows (Nelson's predominates)
can sometimes be found during winter around Flamingo, in Everglades
National Park. Check the Coastal Prairie Trail, which starts at the end
of the campground, or coastal prairie habitat behind Eco Pond.
Saltmarsh Pic/ID
Nelson's Pic/ID
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Seaside Sparrow
The Cape Sable race of Seaside Sparrow, once considered a separate
species, is most easily found during the breeding season (late
winter/early spring), when they are singing. The most reliable location
is in Everglades National Park, in sawgrass prairie beginning about 0.5
mile past the Mahogany Hammock turnoff.
SS Pic/ID
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Painted Bunting
Painted Buntings come to feeders during winter at Castellow Hammock and
Bill Sadowski Parks in Miami Dade, as well as Green Cay Wetlands and
Okeeheelee Nature Center in Palm Beach. Also look for Painted Buntings in
brushy areas around Lucky Hammock and the Annex in Southern Glades WEA, and
along Snake Bight and Coastal Prairie Trails in Everglades National Park.
Pic/ID
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Shiny Cowbird
Shiny Cowbirds can sometimes be found among flocks of Brown-headed
Cowbirds, feeding in grassy areas around the Flamingo Visitor Center
parking lots in Everglades National Park. They also come to seed
feeders in the Homestead area, such as at Castellow Hammock Nature
Center. Shiny Cowbirds have been recently reported at feeders around
the visitor center at Green Cay Wetlands, in Palm Beach County.
Pic/ID
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Bronzed Cowbird
Bronzed Cowbirds have recently become regular denizens of south Florida.
Bronzed Cowbirds have been regularly found in Hialeah, at Flamingo in
Everglades National Park, and Eagle Lakes Park in Naples, but could be
found anywhere. Check any cowbird flock you see for both Bronzed and Shiny
Cowbirds.
Pic/ID
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Spot-breasted Oriole
Spot-Breasted Orioles can be found throughout the suburbs of southeastern Florida, most often in areas with exotic flowering trees. Check neighborhoods in Biscayne Gardens, Miami Shores, Miami Springs, South Miami and around Baptist Hospital on Kendall Drive. The oriole has also been found at A.D. Barnes, Kendall Indian Hammock and Bill Sadowski Parks.
Pic/ID
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References
- Herbert Raffaele et al., “A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies,” Princeton University Press, 1998.
- William B. Robertson, Jr. and Glen E. Woolfenden, “Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List,” Florida Ornithological Society, 1992.
- Henry M. Stevenson and Bruce H. Anderson, “The Birdlife of Florida,” University Press of Florida, 1994