florida bird watching tours

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Mangroves & Migrants

Florida is one of the more interesting places to bird in the country at most times of the year, and springtime adds yet another dimension to its greatness. This is the time of year when waves of birds are coming through Florida en route to their breeding grounds to the north, while many of Florida's breeders are at the peak of their nesting activity. South Florida is also the northern limit of the ranges of quite a few species that otherwise don't reach the continental United States, including Antillean Nighthawk, Mangrove Cuckoo, White-crowned Pigeon, and Black-whiskered Vireo. We will target these tropical specialties during our time in the southern part of the state.

A highlight of the tour, of course, will be a day trip to the Dry Tortugas. We will have a few hours on the open ocean looking for warm-water birds such as Audubon's Shearwater, and we could even get lucky with something like an elegant White-tailed Tropicbird. The crossing also offers great opportunities for spotting sea turtles, and there is a potential for other warm-water fauna as well. Once we get out to Fort Jefferson on Garden Key, it will be bird mayhem, with tens of thousands of Brown Noddies and Sooty Terns, and hundreds of Magnificent Frigatebirds. We will bask in the spectacle of huge numbers of breeding seabirds while we parse through them looking for the uncommon Bridled Tern and the very rare Black Noddy. If we can pull ourselves away from that spectacle, we will also get to search the areas around the fort for landbird migrants that use the Tortugas as a critical oasis on their northward journey.

During the rest of our time in the state, we will survey a variety of habitats for species such as Red-cockaded Woodpecker in the longleaf pine flatwoods, Snowy and Wilson's plovers along the sandy beaches and tidal mudflats of the west coast, Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, Snail Kites, and Limpkins in the apple-snail-rich wetlands of the Orlando area, and the endemic Florida Scrub-Jay in remnant patches of scrub habitat.

Whether it's spring migrants pouring through the oases of South Florida, the chance of a wayward vagrant from the West Indies, watching the pine flatwoods come to life as the sun rises, or taking in the spectacle of huge breeding colonies of terns, frigatebirds, or storks, this tour has something for everyone.

Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.

Client comment "I've had great prior experiences with Field Guides. I had never birded in Florida and wanted to see Florida specialties, in particular. The tour was terrific. The group was relaxed and cordial in general. I thought folks made an effort to cooperate and look out for one another. I enjoy meeting people from other areas. Doug Gochfeld and Jesse Fagan are both superb birders and work well together. They are organized and tactful and encouraging with all the participants. As always, I saw and learned so much and had a great time doing it. The office service was helpful and courteous. I've always been impressed with Field Guides office staff." A.B., FLORIDA 2019

Other Tours in USA

Itineraries • tour status • details • space requests.

• 2025 (PDF expected Jul 2024)

DEPARTURES • We have 3 departures currently scheduled through 2026, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.

Apr 27 - May 6, 2024 Guided by: Owen Hilchey Tour Manager: Christine Boilard Tour Limit: 7 Status: Open - This tour has enough participants registered to insure its operation, but it is not yet full. Click below to book one or more spaces. Tour Fee: $4375 Deposit: $450 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO

Apr 26 - May 5, 2025 Guided by: Doug Gochfeld & Sam Wilson Tour Manager: Christine Boilard Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2024=$4375 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO

Apr 25 - May 4, 2026 Guide: TBA Tour Manager: TBA Tour Limit: 14 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2024=$4375 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO

Enjoy looking through the 6 most recent Field Guides triplists for this tour linked below!

• 2023 (Apr departure guided by Jesse Fagan & Owen Hilchey)
• 2022 (May departure guided by Jesse Fagan & Doug Gochfeld)
• 2021 (May departure guided by Jesse Fagan)
• 2021 (Apr departure guided by Jesse Fagan)
• 2019 (Apr departure guided by Doug Gochfeld & Jesse Fagan)
• 2018 (Apr departure guided by Doug Gochfeld & Mitch Lysinger)

• Excellent and often easy wildlife viewing, especially large waders
• Specialties of the pine woods of the southeast USA
• Exciting birding on the Keys and the Dry Tortugas

Tour Overview

Winter is a great time to visit south Florida, the subtropics of the United States. On our Florida birding tour, we experience a range of fascinating habitats from upland pine forests, prairies and cypress swamps to mangrove swamps, hardwood hammocks, and the sheltered waters of the Florida Keys. We take in the famous Ding Darling NWR for its waterbirds, Babcock-Webb WMA for the pine trio of Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman’s Sparrow and Brown-headed Nuthatch, Everglades National Park for Mottled Duck, Limpkin, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Snail Kite, Swallow-tailed Kite, Short-tailed Hawk, Purple Gallinule and others, and the Keys for southern Florida specialties such as Mangrove Cuckoo and White-crowned Pigeon.

We also take a day trip to the fabulous Dry Tortugas, to witness the onset of breeding by thousands of Sooty Terns, Brown Noddies and Magnificent Frigatebirds. We end our tour in the Miami area, where several exotic species have become naturalized – various parakeets and parrots, mynas, exotic waterbirds, Red-whiskered Bulbuls and Spot-breasted Orioles are resident here. We will also keep track of local sightings, in case a vagrant occurs close by.

Dates & Prices

Dates & prices, what's included, tour price includes.

• All accommodation (Good, comfortable)
• All breakfasts and lunches
• Ground transportation (15-passenger vans)
• One EET guide with 4 - 8 participants, 2 guides with 9 - 12 participants in 2 vehicles
• Full-day boat ride to Dry Tortugas
• All park, conservation and entrance fees

Tour Price Does Not Include

• Flights to and from start/ end location
• Evening meals
• Travel Insurance
• Items of a personal nature

Day 1: Arrival - Fort Myers

Our Florida birding tour begins with a meeting for dinner in the hotel lobby at 6:30 p.m. Night in Fort Myers.

Day 2: Ding Darling NWR and San Carlos Bay

Our first birding day is a big one, as we visit the world-renowned Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. Among the spectacular array of waders and shorebirds we will search for some local specialities, including Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. With some luck we may catch a glimpse of a resident Short-tailed Hawk or Bald Eagle flying overhead. We will also stop at San Carlos Bay/Bunche Beach Preserve to look for saltwater-loving species such as Black Skimmer and Reddish Egret. In the early evening we will look for resident Burrowing Owls and Monk Parakeets in Cape Coral. Night in Fort Myers.

Day 3: Babcock-Webb WMA

On day 3 we will drive north to Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management area, a large tract of slash pine and marsh, for three pinewoods specialties - Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch and a chance for Bachman’s Sparrow. Other species here include Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Meadowlark. Sandhill Cranes nest in the area, and roadside wetlands support American Coot and Common Gallinule.

In the afternoon, we search for species we may have missed and look nearby for Florida Scrub-Jay, a threatened species found only in Florida. Nearby wetlands support Black-bellied Whistling-Duck and Glossy Ibis. Night in Fort Myers.

Day 4: Corkscrew Swamp and Miccosukee

In the morning we visit the famous Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. After checking the visitors center birdfeeders for Common Ground-Dove and Painted Bunting we will head out on the beautiful boardwalks in search of the swamp’s residents, including Limpkin. Many northern warblers spend their winter months here, and Tufted Titmice forage in the cypress.

In the afternoon we carry on across southern Florida towards Homestead, stopping in the Miccosukee area to search for the endangered Snail Kite foraging along the irrigation canals. Night in Homestead.

Day 5: Everglades

We spend the day in the Everglades, Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s “River of Grass”. We travel from Royal Palms to Flamingo, the terminus of Everglades National Park’s main road. We stop at well-known sites such as Anhinga Trail, where conspicuous residents include Purple Gallinule, and, appropriately, Anhinga, Mahogany Hammock with its diverse tropical hardwood trees and marvelous land snails, and Paurotis and Nine-mile Ponds for Mottled Duck, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill and soaring Short-tailed Hawk.

The mudflats at Flamingo host shorebirds and terns, including Marbled Godwit, and Eco Pond occasionally has Glossy and White Ibis, and possibly Black-necked Stilt. We will also be on the watch for American Crocodile and West Indian Manatee. Our tally of birds could include many specialties of southern Florida - White-crowned Pigeon, Short-tailed and Swainson’s Hawks, Barred Owl, White-tailed Kite and even Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Night in Homestead.

Day 6: Florida Keys

We begin the morning birding the Homestead area, this region of south florida is well known as being an excellent site for over-wintering birds, often with a decidedly western flair! After, we leave Homestead and head down to the keys. We stop first in Key Largo in search of specialties such as White-crowned Pigeon and Yellow-throated Warbler, and with luck scarcer species such as Mangrove Cuckoo or Shiny Cuckoo. Night in Key West.

Day 7: Dry Tortugas

We will take a day trip via boat to Dry Tortugas National Park to explore the birds & wildlife of the island. At this time of year we have a chance to see Sooty Tern, Masked Booby, Brown Noddy, and Magnificent Frigatebird nesting on these islands. There is also excellent snorkelling to be enjoyed here (equipment provided). Night in Key West.

Day 8: Florida Keys

This morning we will explore the lower Keys. We’ll visit Zachary Taylor State Park and the Key West Botanical Garden, as well as look for the diminutive Key Deer on Big Pine Key. The keys are a hotspot for rarities, so we will watch for reports of any unusual visitors. Recent rarities on the Keys in the last few winters have included Western Spindalis, Black-faced Grassquit, Cuban Pewee and Red-legged Thrush.

We bird our way up the Keys visiting several excellent spots along our way to Miami. Night in Miami.

Day 9: Miami Area

Our final birding day will be spent in the unlikely birding destination of urban Miami. Numerous exotic species have become naturalized here - various parakeets and parrots, mynas, Gray-headed Swamphen, Egyptian Goose, Red-whiskered Bulbul and Spot-breasted Oriole are possible. We will also keep track of local sightings, in case a vagrant occurs close by. There are usually one or two goodies to be found like the Bahama Mockingbird. Night in Miami.

Day 10: Departure - Miami

Our Florida birding tour concludes today in Miami. You can depart anytime for your flights home.

What to Expect

Overview The Florida tour is a relatively fast paced birding tour. You can expect early mornings and long days in the field, followed by a restful evening and early nights.

Food We often go birding right after (or sometimes before) breakfast and take a picnic lunch in the field, but will occasionally stop at a restaurant for lunch. We will spend the whole day birding. Most days we return in the late afternoon to our accommodations, and in the evening we arrange to go to a local restaurant. After dinner will be personal time at the hotel. Each evening after dinner we compile the day's checklist, review the day's activities, birds, mammals and other observations, and plan the next day's activities.

Accommodation Generally we stay in comfortable hotel rooms in locations close to where we want to go birding.

Walking The walking on this tour is easy to moderate. Most birding locations involve just short forays away from the van, but there will be some longer days including going to Oscar Scherer and Corkscrew Swamp, which are just under 5km (3 miles) in length. Participants must be able to walk slowly for up to three hours in warm weather. The topography of southern Florida is quite flat, and most trails are well groomed, paved or boardwalks.

Driving Driving distances vary from short on some days to moderate on others, and we make frequent stops during each day’s travel.

Climate The climate of this region is generally mild to seasonably warm with average February temperatures ranging from 25°C (76° F) during the day to 16° C (60°F) at night. Temperatures will be higher from Miami southwards.

There is generally little rain at this time of year but humidity is high. The sun can be intense, so sunscreen and a brimmed hat are advised. Mosquitoes and small biting flies can be a nuisance, but are usually not severe in this region; insect repellent is recommended as a precaution. Chiggers and ticks are present; we will avoid walking in tall grass where possible.

Boat Trips Our Florida birding tour includes a boat trip out to the Dry Tortugas; motion sickness on boat trips can be an issue, although the size of the boat minimizes the problem. It may be quite cool on the water, so layered clothing underneath a waterproof windbreaker would be desirable. Boat trips are rarely cancelled due to weather, however, if this occurs, we will bird alternative locations.

You will have the option to go snorkeling in the Dry Tortugas. Standard snorkeling equipment is included, but you will want to bring your prescription mask if you require one.

Featured Wildlife

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds or mammals listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.

• Roseate Spoonbill
• Brown Noddy
• Purple Gallinule
• Black Skimmer
• Swallow-tailed Kite
• Short-tailed Hawk
• Burrowing Owl
• White-crowned Pigeon
• Red-cockaded Woodpecker
• Florida Scrub-Jay
• Painted Bunting

Past Tour Checklists

View the list of birds and other wildlife we encountered on our past tours.

• Florida species list 2024 (eBird)
• Florida species list 2023 (ebird)
• Florida species list 2019
• Florida species list 2016
• Florida species list 2015

Trip Reports & Inspiration

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Great spots for bird watching in florida.

A group of birders inside Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park.

A birding tour group on the edge of Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park.

Birders at STA-5 near Lake Okeechobee.

By Kevin Mims

Bird watching in Florida is a big deal – even bigger than you might imagine.

In fact, birding is second only to beach-related activities as a form of outdoor recreation for both visitors and residents. The trend is still on the rise, so count on seeing more and more people carrying binoculars and spotting scopes around the Sunshine State.

If you’re already into birding, you probably know that Florida is considered one of the best places in the world for the activity. Here are just a few of the top spots for bird watching in Florida that you don't want to miss:

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

For Titusville , having one of the state's most diverse wildlife habitats on your doorstep is a good thing. In January, the area hosts the annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, which is the largest of its kind in the country. Birders flock to the area en masse to get a look at migrating waterfowl and all manner of shorebirds along Black Point Wildlife Drive, a 7-mile loop around salt marsh impoundments. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a week, you’re sure to check a few species off your life list here. 

Everglades National Park

When wildlife lovers dream, they more than likely dream about the Everglades . Not only is it a National Park, it's also designated as an International Biosphere Reserve for its ecological importance. Residents of Everglades National Park include the Florida panther, American crocodile, the rare Ghost orchid, manatees and much more. For a good day trip, check out the Anhinga Trail and the Shark Valley tram.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Located about 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas National Park is a little difficult to reach, but the reward is well worth the effort. Catch a ride on the Yankee Freedom Ferry, a high-speed catamaran that can get you there in just a couple of hours. Go in the spring and you'll be rewarded with the rare sight of thousands of Sooty terns and Brown noddies nesting on Bush Key.

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Year-round Florida bird watching and wildlife viewing is terrific on Sanibel Island . At "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, you can drive around the 4-mile Wildlife Drive and get looks at Roseate spoonbills and Gray kingbirds. Take a walk on the Indigo Trail in the summer months, where Mangrove cuckoos can be found.

STA-5 Lake Okeechobee

It's not a National Park or a National Wildlife Refuge, but STA-5 is one of the best birding spots in South Florida. Stormwater treatment areas are designed to filter out excess nutrients that would otherwise flow to the Everglades, but they also turn out to be excellent places for Florida bird watching. To access STA-5, you'll need to register a visit with one of the local Audubon Society chapters. The birding is fantastic year-round, and you'll definitely add a few life-listers at STA-5.

Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area

Stretching for 40 miles along the only free-flowing tributary to  Lake Okeechobee , bald cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks attract Florida black bears and panthers as well as a wide range of birds, including hefty whooping and sandhill cranes and sleek swallow-tailed kites. Ibises, herons, egrets, hawks, ospreys, owls and bald eagles enjoy a version of Florida where time stands still and it’s okay for you to slow down.

Tomoka State Park

Some of the best birding in Florida can be found at the  Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve , which attracts more than 160 species, including wood storks, wading birds, gulls, loons and bald eagles. Added bonus: proximity to Bulow Creek State Park – another site on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

Blackwater River State Park

Whether you’re paddling on the river of  Blackwater State Park  or walking along the Chain of Lakes Nature Trail, look around and you may just spy a river otter, white-tailed deer or cool bird. Recent sightings include yellow-billed cuckoos, hairy woodpeckers, great blue herons, wild turkeys and red-shouldered hawks.

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Osprey barred owls  hawks and wading birds reside south of Gainesville in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Sandhill cranes and other winter migrating species will have departed by spring but there is a large list of resident species to enjoy. Be on the lookout for pileated and red-bellied woodpeckers along the Bolen Bluff Trail.

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge

Located 25 miles west of Daytona Beach , Lake Woodruff NWR borders the St. Johns River and provides habitat for migratory waterfowl and wading birds. Herons white ibis anhinga and pied-billed grebes are commonly seen in the spring.

If these locations aren’t enough, don’t worry. The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail covers the entire state, with 514 official sites to explore.

PLACES TO REMEMBER

Merritt Island

Sanibel Island

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Fourteen New Sites on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail

The results are in.

The Trail held open nominations for new sites between October 2022 and February 2023.

The best candidates were chosen based on four criteria:

1. Unique wildlife viewing opportunities and ecological significance

2. Educational opportunities

3. Access for the public

4. Resilience to recreational use

To experience all 14 new areas, check out the full list below:

Site Closures Due to Hurricanes Idalia and Ian

As of October 26, 2023 several of our GFBWT sites are still partially or totally closed for repair and restoration. Before planning a trip, please see the links below for status updates on impacted sites. If the site’s status is uncertain please call the numbers provided on the site's webpages for more information. This list will be updated periodically.

South Section Closures

Cayo Costa State Park (partial closures) 

Matanzas Pass Preserve

West Section Closures

Suwannee River State Park 

Twin Rivers State Forest (partial closures)

Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park (partial closures)

The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail

It's your road to adventure.

The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. When you want to know where to go in Florida to see native birds, butterflies and more, head for the Trail.

Every year, millions of people, residents and visitors alike, participate in wildlife viewing activities, contributing billions of dollars to Florida’s economy*, but the ultimate goal of the Trail is to encourage conservation of Florida’s native habitats and species.

The Trail is a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, supported in part by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and is possible thanks to dozens of federal, state, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private landowners.

*2011 Economic Benefits of Wildlife Viewing in Florida, Southwick Assoc.

Florida Feathers Capturing the Best Florida Has to Offer

Getting you an eye to eye meeting with some of Florida's finest birds by foot and boat!

About Florida Feathers Birding and Photography Tours

Services and Pricing

 At Florida Feathers Birding and Photography Tours, we believe that quality birding &  photography tours should be accessible and affordable to everyone. 

You'll be happy to know that your guide, Brian Williams,  is more than just a guide; he's an avid birder since 1979 when he spotted a Magnificent Frigatebird on St. George Island, FL at the age of fourteen. Your guide is also a licensed Captain with the U.S. Coast Guard and can get you to some amazing areas only accessible by water. 

PACKAGE PRICING INCLUDES

Professional driver/photo/nature guide, captain guide services.

Transportation each day from your hotel to/from the site of the tour

Boating activities on the tour guide’s watercraft

Entrance fees to parks (if applicable).

PACKAGE EXCLUSIONS

Airfare, hotel accommodations, gratuities, meals and beverages, personal expenses or personal insurance are not included.

Deposit & Payments

Daily tour prices are $250 per person per day.  There is no half day pricing, given our days normally begin at sunrise.

A 25% non-refundable deposit is due to secure your travel dates.  The 75% balance is due 30 days prior to the trip.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

We allow for the eventuality that a customer may need to change or cancel a tour.  If notification is received at least 30 days prior to the tour, we will attempt to rebook you for another time.

Canceling less than 30 days prior to the scheduled tour is a 100% cancellation.

Upcoming 2024 Spring Tours

March, april and may.

Spring is approaching which is the best time to enjoy the abundance of wildlife northwest Florida has to offer!   We have several trips to offer from one day, weekend to a full week.  Experience some of the best birding destinations to include Wakulla Springs, Dead Lakes, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge and St. Marks National Wildlife refuge.  Also available are various river trips on the Apalachicola and St. Marks rivers conducted by our fully licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain who is an avid bird watcher and photographer.  All meals, transportation and accommodations will be included in the week long birding excursion. Please email us at [email protected]  or call 850-443-3250 for more information.  We look forward to seeing you there!  Limited space available.

Restaurants and Lodging

Resturants and dining.

There are several restaurants in our area that you'll want to look into. 

Dockside Halfshell - great seafood with indoor and outdoor seating right on the water. Also has a nice bar and live music on the weekends. 

The Apalachicola Grill has a lot of history and serves everything from burgers to seafood dinners. Located downtown at the red-light. 

The Gibson Inn has a very nice upscale restaurant. 

Another local favorite is  Owl Cafe.  Don't be fooled by the name; this place is very upscale and serves a wide variety of chef cooked meals. 

Transportation

If you are flying in for trips lasting more than one day, I can arrange have you picked up at the Tallahassee or Panama City airport for an additional fee. 

I will provide all other transportation from your place of lodging to the birding destinations and to your choice of dining.

Here in our town of Apalachicola, there are several places we can recommend. 

If you are looking for something more upscale, you would be happy at the Gibson Inn. 

If you are looking for something typical and modern, we have a relatively new Best Western. 

If you'd prefer something on the old Florida vibe right on the river, contact Bay City Lodge.

And lastly, if you are happy with a clean bed with very little amenities but a nice little hotel, contact  Apalachicola Inn.

Birding and Photography Trips

All trips are $250 per day, per person.  If you plan on being here longer than 5 days, contact me for special rates for additional days and destinations. 

Moments in Time: Florida Feathers Birding and Photography Tours Photography Exhibit

We would love to hear from you!  

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can use the chat icon at the bottom of the page or one of the other methods below.

Florida Feathers Birding and Photography Tours

Brian Williams [email protected] 850-443-3250

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South Florida: Everglades & More!

Covid-careful car caravan small group with discount.

February 19 - 24, 2021

• Full Itinerary
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• Trip Reports
• Know Before You Go

Find yourself far away from Florida’s bustling, tourist-packed theme parks on a Naturalist Journeys’ adventure that takes you deep into Florida’s wild side. South Florida is deservedly one of the classic birding destinations of the United States. Just barely above the Caribbean tropics, South Florida’s climate and geography isolate it from the rest of the country. Because of its geographically unique position, Florida is a crossroads between the temperate north and the sultry Caribbean south. Indeed, about a dozen bird species of West Indian origin reach the northern limits of their range here; many of these West Indian species live nowhere else in the United States. Winter is an especially wonderful season to visit. Unlike the rest of the country, the southern tip of Florida is warm and frost-free due to its proximity to the Gulf Stream. As a result, the southeast corner of the Sunshine state is home to an incredible assortment of vireos, flycatchers, raptors, shorebirds, and warblers–up to twenty-five warbler species in a winter season–in addition to all the wonderful herons, storks, spoonbills, and other waterbirds. Indeed, the excellence of winter birding in South Florida is one of North America’s secrets; winter is the time when the region’s avian diversity peaks. On this tour, we cover the southern third of the state in search of the many specialty and wintering birds on offer. We begin by exploring the justifiably famous and unique Everglades National Park, otherwise known as the River of Grass, in search of Short-tailed Hawk, Roseate Spoonbill, West Indian Manatee, American Crocodile, and more. A scheduled boat trip out onto Florida Bay allows us to experience a rich bounty of wintering shorebirds, herons, eagles, and perhaps even American Flamingo. We also spend time birding in Miami, a city with a decidedly Caribbean flair, in search of colorful exotics such as Spot-breasted Oriole, White-winged Parakeet, and Red-whiskered Bulbul, as well as native species like White-crowned Pigeon, Burrowing Owl, and a score of warblers. On the last leg of the main tour, we visit a series of well-planned wetlands in Palm Beach, where nearly all the Florida wetland specialties occur: Wood Stork, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, and so much more. We also visit oak-scrub for Florida’s only endemic bird, the Florida Scrub-Jay.

Tour Highlights

• Explore the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale metro area for exotics from around the world, including Spot-breasted Oriole, Red-whiskered Bulbul, and White-winged Parakeet, among lush, tropical gardens and landscaping
• Discover subtropical sawgrass prairies, cypress domes, tropical hardwood hammocks, pinelands, and mangrove swamps of Everglades National Park
• Bird Florida Bay from the Flamingo Visitor Center in Everglades National Park to observe large concentrations of wintering shorebirds, waders, raptors, and maybe even American Flamingo
• Enjoy tropical bird species that occur nowhere else in the USA: Mangrove Cuckoo, Short-tailed Hawk, White-crowned Pigeon, and more
• Visit the unique Florida pineland ecosystem as we seek Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, and endemic wildflowers
• Wonder at the bustling heron and stork rookeries of Green Cay and Wakodahatchee Wetlands, where these birds display and nest at close range – yes, even in January!
• Spot Florida’s only endemic bird, the charismatic Florida Scrub-Jay, in its native oak-scrub habitat

Trip Itinerary

Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.

Fri., Feb. 19: Arrivals

You arrive today at Miami International Airport. Once the group has gathered, we enjoy a welcome dinner with an orientation before we depart on our birding adventure in the morning. Accommodations south of Miami at Kendall (D)

Sat., Feb. 20: Everglades National Park

Published in 1947, Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ The Everglades: River of Grass highlighted the uniqueness of the Everglades. Lying at the southern tip of the state, the Everglades is a vast subtropical sawgrass prairie broken only by cypress domes, tropical hardwood hammocks, pinelands, and mangrove swamps. There is nowhere else in the United States with such a decidedly tropical suite of habitats. Throughout the day we work along the length of the main park road that terminates in Flamingo, exploring these various habitats for several birds difficult to see anywhere else in the country such as Short-tailed Hawk and Wood Stork, along with a strong supporting cast of various wintering songbirds such as Black-throated Blue, Pine, Black-throated Green, Prairie, and Magnolia Warbler. American Crocodile and West Indian Manatee are possible at the marina in Flamingo. The highlight of the day will be a scheduled boat trip out onto Florida Bay, where we will be able to access extensive mudflats that host hundreds of waterbirds and raptors: Bald Eagle, Osprey, Roseate Spoonbill, Great ‘White’ Heron, Reddish Egret, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Wilson’s Plover, Black Skimmer, and so many more. If we are lucky, we might even see American Flamingo! Accommodations south of Miami at Kendall (B,L,D)

Sun., Feb. 21: Miami Metro Area

The nearly tropical climate and exotic vegetation of the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale metropolitan area offers a unique landscape of opportunity for a myriad of introduced bird species from all over the world. We spend the morning in Miami exploring this urban landscape in search of exotics such as Spot-breasted Oriole, White-winged Parakeet, Red-whiskered Bulbul, and Common Myna. However, introduced species are only a small fraction of the avifauna of Miami, a county which claims one of the longest bird lists east of the Mississippi River. The parks and preserves peppered throughout the city provide habitat for a wide array of both resident and wintering species that include White-crowned Pigeon, Piping Plover, Burrowing Owl, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Summer Tanager, Bronzed Cowbird, Loggerhead Shrike, and so many more. Accommodations south of Miami at Kendall (B,L,D)

Mon., Feb. 22: Tamiami Trail | Green Cay | Wakodahatchee Wetlands

This morning, we travel along the road that skirts the northern edge of Everglades National Park—Tamiami Trail. Open sawgrass prairie north of the road regularly holds small numbers of Snail Kite, and we make several stops along the way to get good views of one. As we continue westward, the habitat quickly changes over to bald cypress forest. The trees are covered in a wide variety of bromeliads, orchids, and other epiphytic plants, making for a very picturesque and lush scene. After a delicious lunch in Miami, we head north to Green Cay and Wakodahatchee Wetlands, two artificially created wetlands that host nearly all of Florida’s wetland specialties: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Least Bittern, Limpkin, Gray-headed Swamphen, and Purple Gallinule. The rookeries at Wakodahatchee Wetlands should be very active at this time of year, providing excellent photo opportunities of nesting Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Wood Stork, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and others. Accommodations at the Hampton Inn, Juno Beach (B,L,D)

Tues., Feb. 23: Jonathan Dickinson State Park | Palm Beach

After an early breakfast, we drive to Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The pine flatwood and oak-scrub communities in this lovely park are more typical of Central Florida. As a result, several species reach the southern limit of their distribution here, such as Bachman’s Sparrow and the endemic Florida Scrub-Jay. Other species we should encounter as we explore this part of Florida include Wood Duck, Bald Eagle, Pileated Woodpecker, and Sandhill Crane. We will also be able to see Hobe Mountain, which is the highest natural point south of Lake Okeechobee at 86 feet above sea level! Later in the day, we visit a couple of sites to the south in Palm Beach County for some additional birding: Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Okeeheelee Park, and Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge all offer a slightly different mix of species depending on habitat and prevailing water levels. Along with large numbers of herons, egrets, and other large waders, we have more chances to see American Bittern, Roseate Spoonbill, Snail Kite, King Rail, Hooded Merganser, and more. Accommodations at the Hampton Inn, Juno Beach (B,L,D)

Wed., Feb. 24: Departures

After some morning birding at a coastal site or two as we make our way back south, the main tour ends at Miami International Airport. Please schedule departing flights around noon or later. (B)

Cost of the Journey

Cost of the main journey is $1995 DBL / $2395 SGL based on double occupancy, from Miami, FL (MIA). This cost includes: accommodations for five nights, most meals as specified in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), airport welcome and transfer or hotel shuttle, land transportation during the journey, professional guide services, park and other entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses. Cost does not include: round-trip airfare to and from Miami, items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, drinks from the bar, and gratuities for luggage handling or personal services. With fewer than 6 participants, a small-group surcharge (typically $100 – $300 per participant) may apply, or we may request that you pick up the cost of a few additional dinners in lieu of this surcharge.

Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.

The arrival airport for this tour is Miami International Airport (MIA) in Miami, FL. Please plan to arrive in Miami no later than 3:00 PM on February 19. Plan on departures after noon on February 24.

Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.

Florida & Keys

• Species List
• Trip Report

Guide and client-favorite Carlos Sanchez has deep experience guiding in Central and South America (and in Spain!) for Naturalist Journeys. Carlos has also birded Thailand many times and he guides for us there as well. Before joining us, he was a resident guide in both Brazil and in Ecuador. A Miami native and Northern Virginia resident, he leads the new-and-notable Homestead, FL, Christmas Bird Count, is active in the Tropical Audubon Society and contributes to the blog 10,000 Birds.

Other trips with Carlos Sanchez

Essential Information +

This information is important for being prepared for your journey; we want you to have the best experience possible. If you only read one section, this one is key!

Ahead of Your Tour

• Please talk with your doctor about general health needs. It is a good idea to consult with your doctor about general vaccinations recommended for travel.
• Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed. After you make travel reservations, please send a copy of your travel itinerary to the Naturalist Journeys office at [email protected] .
• Travel insurance in case of serious medical emergency is recommended. Full health coverage and repatriation is available through Allianz Travel Insurance .
• Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing the vans. Remember to pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.

Health Information

We will share a copy of your health and emergency contact information with your guide. This information will be kept confidential but is very important in case of a medical emergency. In addition to bringing any prescription medications with you, we recommend that you have a copy of the prescriptions in case of loss.

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect

You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.

Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain . It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.  

We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.

Food & Drink

We carry water and juices/cold drinks in the cooler each day, and sodas if people like them. Please also plan on bringing and filling your water bottle for hiking each day. We try to use as few plastics as possible!

Packing, Clothing & Laundry

Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing the vans. Please pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.

Dress is informal and is casual even at restaurants. Layering is a great way to stay comfortable. Protective clothing is essential, whether it be from sun, rain, cold, insects, or vegetation. You need closed toe shoes, and wear comfortable walking shoes with good tread. Hiking boots with good support for hiking and on rocky terrain can work well.

Spending Money

Many people ask how much to plan to bring as spending money. Part of that depends on how much you want to shop. Most shops will take VISA and MasterCard or American Express. Typical items people purchase include local souvenirs and T-shirts, caps, and natural history books.   You may want to bring cash for drinks with dinner (if available) or smaller local purchases.

Expect the normal tipping protocol to apply for hotel maids and bar service. If at the end of the tour, you would like to show your appreciation to your guides, tipping is entirely appropriate but at your discretion. We hope that you will be pleased with all professional services. Gratuities for group meals are included. For your birding tour guide, we suggest $10-$15 per day per guest. Note that if there is more than one guide, this amount can be split among them.

Cell Phones & Internet Service

Wi-Fi and cell phone service are available in most US destinations, although there are some exceptions in remote locations. Wi-Fi is generally provided in all hotels, lodges, and restaurants you visit, at least in public areas. Please refrain from taking or making cell phone calls in the vehicles when traveling with other passengers unless it appears to be an emergency as this disrupts other guests – please plan cell phone calls on your own time.

Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

For this tour, your guides will drive travelers in either full-size or mini-vans or a combination of those two. We ask all attendees to please rotate your seating, so you ride with different drivers and alternate between front and back seats.

Photo Release & Sharing

We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.

By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives permission to record photos and/or video of your participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochures, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at [email protected] or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.

Photo credits: Banner: Roseate Spoonbills by Carlos Sanchez; Black Skimmers by Carlos Sanchez; Florida Scrub Jay by Carlos Sanchez; Bachman's Sparrow, Naturalist Journeys Stock; Prairie Warbler by Carlos Sanchez; Everglades National Park, Naturalist Journeys Stock; Swallow-tailed Kite, Carlos Sanchez; Reddish Egret, Carlos Sanchez; White-winged Parakeets by Carlos Sanchez; Purple Gallinule, Carlos Sanchez; Mangrove Cuckoo by Carlos Sanchez; American Crocodile by Carlos Sanchez; Anhinga by Greg Smith; Zebra Longwing by Carlos Sanchez; Black-and-white Warbler by Carlos Sanchez; Burrowing Owls by Carlos Sanchez; Painted Bunting, Carlos Sanchez; Florida Scrub-Jay by Carlos Sanchez; Wilson's Plover by Carlos Sanchez; Savannah Sparrow by Carlos Sanchez; Sandhill Crane by Carlos Sanchez; Blue-headed Vireo by Carlos Sanchez; Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake by Carlos Sanchez; Common Buckeye by Carlos Sanchez; Black-throated Green Warbler by Carlos Sanchez.

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Birding and Wildlife Tour of Florida's Treasure Coast

• Bottled water
• Parking Fees
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Private transportation
• Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound, FL 33455, USA There is a large parking lot to the right after the pay station. I'll be waiting there for you.
• Look for the orange Honda Element with our company logo on the side. I will either meet you at the park, or pick you up from your hotel.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Jonathan Dickinson State Park Or, you can also get picked up See departure details
• 1 Hobe Sound Stop: 5 hours We'll be visiting the Jonathan Dickinson State Park both in the scrub and the pine forest habitats searching for the birds and wildlife that live there Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• jane713 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Spectacular Orlando Area Birding Since Rebecca and business partner were already committed for our specific date, she was able to locate us another excellent guide. Christian Newton was fabulous and a perfect match for us. He did quite a bit of research and went above and beyond my expectations for a birding guide to provide us with excellent viewing of Florida’s endemics plus so many new birds. It rained most of the time but his enthusiasm and passion showed through. Thank you Rebecca for making our birding trip spectacular by suggesting Chris! We could not have asked for more. 😊 Read more Written December 2, 2023
• Richard W 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Day birding with Archaeopteryx Great day, great value, great fun, great birds. All target species absolutely nailed. Beck was very knowledgeable and personable Read more Written February 20, 2023
• RaymondBedard 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Another great birding trip! Yet another great birding trip! Beck brought me out last year and when I booked my next Florida trip I had to book Beck again! I had a target of Burrowing Owl and Beck got me on them upon arrival. She also got me on a huge flock of 75+ Magnificent Frigatebirds. Any future trip to Florida will involve another birding trip with Beck. There’s no need to look anywhere else. Book Archaeopteryx now! Read more Written September 1, 2022
• ChanceGardener 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles WOW! Hit every target species on my life list plus more! Beck is amazing! We did a full day targeting a list of central Florida specific birds. One by one Beck led me to the perfect viewing areas to find AND photograph each species. I am beyond thrilled with experience and plane to schedule other regional and international trips with Archaeopteryx in the future. Seriously fun and addicting birding. Thank you Beck!!! Read more Written July 20, 2022
• SummerTraveler6 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Birding with Beck I choose the all-day birding tour in central Florida with Beck. It was amazing! She is very knowledgeable about the birds, insects, butterflies, and plants in the area. She knows just where to go to see the species that are special to central Florida: Florida Scrub-Jay, brown headed nuthatch, Bachmans sparrow and so much more. Highly enjoyable and recommended! Read more Written July 13, 2022
• gauxingK307NR 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A fantastic day of birding! We thoroughly enjoyed our full day of birding with Gallus Quigley in February. He put together an interesting agenda including several different ecosystems. Gallus is a master birder, biologist, ecologist, and teacher. We highly recommend Archaeopteryx Birding and Nature Tours. We definitely plan to join Gallus and Bec on birding tours in the future! Read more Written March 1, 2020
• cararro 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fabulous Guide I did a birding tour in the Apopka area with Gallus and was impressed with his encyclopedic knowledge of everything outdoors. I was especially interested in birds, which he found and identified with amazing skill, but the interconnectedness of all of nature is fascinating when explained in detail in ways I could understand. Read more Written January 28, 2020
• redlefgnid 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great guide, beautiful landscapes, 5 new birds on my life list! We had an amazing time with Beck, who is the kind of expert birder that makes it seem easy to find rarities like the red-cockaded woodpecker, brown headed nuthatch, and Bachman's Sparrow. Of course, we never would have found these birds without her, and it was great fun tooling around gorgeous, otherworldly Florida landscapes that I've never seen before. (And I grew up in Central Florida!) Beck is an all-around ecologist and knew a lot about the relationships between the plants, insects and birds. I learned so much and it was a vacation highlight. Read more Written December 2, 2019
• Gannybird 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Birding Great trip to Miami with Archaeopteryx Birding. With Beck and Paul’s help I got 10 new species. We saw many more birds. What a blast!! I highly recommend this group, they are Very knowledgeable and a fun bunch. Read more Written April 19, 2019
• michaelbirderseattle 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic bird tours I've taken three tours with Archaeopteryx, in Orlando, Miami and Fort Myers areas. Two all day and one half day. I enjoy bird photography, so I look for tour guides that are very knowledgeable about birds, know how to find endemics and rare birds and are also photographer friendly. Archaeopteryx meets all of these needs. The guides are friendly, very knowledgeable about birds and their habitats, and knows lots of spots, We added many to my life list. They use eBird and can send lists if you don't like to keep your own. They know where rare birds hide, can identify by calls and flight patterns, and are just great bird people. I highly recommend them and certainly will use them again. Read more Written March 15, 2019

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Birding and Wildlife Tour of Florida's Treasure Coast provided by Archaeopteryx Birding and Nature Tours

Best Birdwatching Hotspots in Florida: Insider’s Guide!

Florida is renowned for its diverse bird species, making it a top destination for birdwatching enthusiasts. With its unique habitats and ecological richness, the state offers numerous opportunities to observe and appreciate various bird species.

Whether you’re an experienced birder or a novice, Florida’s birdwatching hotspots offer a chance to discover some truly remarkable avian specimens.

From national parks to wildlife refuges, Florida has a wealth of birdwatching locations waiting to be explored.

Visitors can witness the splendor of migratory birds nesting in wetlands, or catch a glimpse of rare and endangered species as they fly across the horizon.

Table of Contents

• 1 Key Takeaways:
• 2 Birdwatching Hotspots in Florida
• 3 Florida’s Ecological Richness for Birds
• 4.1 Birds to Look Out for in Everglades National Park
• 5 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
• 6.1 Bird Species to Look Out For
• 7 Dry Tortugas National Park
• 8 Sanibel Island
• 9 Big Cypress National Preserve
• 10 Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
• 11 Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
• 12 St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge
• 13 Conclusion
• 14.1 What are some popular birdwatching hotspots in Florida?
• 14.2 What makes Florida ecologically rich for birds?
• 14.3 What bird species can be observed in Everglades National Park?
• 14.4 What bird species are found in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary?
• 14.5 What bird species can be observed in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge?
• 14.6 What bird species can be observed in Dry Tortugas National Park?
• 14.7 What bird species can be observed on Sanibel Island?
• 14.8 What bird species can be observed in Big Cypress National Preserve?
• 14.9 What bird species can be observed in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve?
• 14.10 What bird species can be observed along Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive?
• 14.11 What bird species can be observed in St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge?

Key Takeaways:

• Florida is known for its diverse bird species, making it a top destination for birdwatching enthusiasts.
• The state’s unique habitats and ecological richness offer numerous opportunities to observe various bird species.
• Florida’s birdwatching hotspots include national parks, wildlife refuges, and other locations throughout the state.

Birdwatching Hotspots in Florida

Florida is a birdwatcher’s paradise with numerous hotspots. Everglades National Park, Merritt Island, and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary are popular destinations. These hotspots offer diverse bird species, from elegant wading birds to vibrant migratory flocks, providing excellent opportunities for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Florida’s Ecological Richness for Birds

Florida’s diverse ecological conditions make it a haven for birdwatching enthusiasts. The state is home to over 500 bird species, making it one of the best places in the United States for birdwatching.

The wetlands, forests, and coastal areas found in Florida provide unique habitats that attract a wide variety of bird species. The state’s extensive coastline offers excellent opportunities for observing seabirds, while inland wetlands and marshes provide habitats for wading birds and waterfowl.

The hardwood and pine forests of Florida are home to various woodpeckers , songbirds , and birds of prey , such as the red-shouldered hawk.

Florida’s geographic location also contributes to its ecological richness for birds. The state serves as a vital stopover point for migratory birds traveling between North and South America, attracting numerous species during the spring and fall migration seasons.

For birdwatching enthusiasts, Florida’s diverse range of ecosystems and bird species make it an ideal destination for exploring the state’s top birdwatching locations.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is one of the most renowned birding destinations in Florida, boasting diverse ecosystems that include marshes, swamps, and mangrove forests. Its unique habitats make it a perfect location for a wide variety of bird species.

With over 350 species of birds identified in the park, birdwatchers are sure to spot something unique and interesting. The park is home to the rare Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow and the Everglade Snail Kite. Waterbirds such as herons, egrets, and ibises are also common sightings.

The park has several boardwalks and trails that offer exceptional birdwatching opportunities. The Anhinga Trail is a popular option where visitors can spot anhingas, cormorants, and purple gallinules.

The Mahogany Hammock Trail is perfect for viewing woodpeckers and warblers, while the Flamingo area is ideal for spotting shorebirds and wading birds.

For those interested in birdwatching tours, the park offers ranger-led tours that are highly recommended. Visitors can learn more about the park’s bird species while exploring its unique ecosystems.

Birds to Look Out for in Everglades National Park

Corkscrew swamp sanctuary.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary , located in southwest Florida, is a well-known birdwatching destination. The sanctuary’s 14,000 acres of protected land provides a home to a diverse range of bird species, including the endangered wood stork, the little blue heron, and the tricolored heron.

The sanctuary’s boardwalk trails offer visitors an up-close look at the sanctuary’s unique ecosystems, which include wet prairies, pine uplands, and the largest remaining stand of old-growth bald cypress trees in North America.

In addition to birdwatching opportunities, visitors may also catch a glimpse of other wildlife, such as alligators, turtles, and otters.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary also offers guided birdwatching tours led by knowledgeable naturalists. These tours provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the sanctuary’s ecosystems and the bird species that call it home.

Overall, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a must-visit destination for birdwatching enthusiasts in Florida, offering a unique glimpse into the state’s varied ecosystems and diverse avian population.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a premier birdwatching destination in Florida. The refuge spans over 140,000 acres and encompasses a diverse range of habitats, including salt marshes, coastal dunes, and freshwater impoundments, which provide habitats for more than 300 bird species.

One of the best ways to experience the refuge’s bird life is by following the Black Point Wildlife Drive . The seven-mile drive routes through a variety of habitats, offering birdwatchers the opportunity to spot resident and migratory birds.

Along the drive, you will find several observation platforms providing unobstructed views of the surrounding bird life.

Bird Species to Look Out For

Visitors to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge can expect to see a wide range of bird species, including the snowy egret, pelicans, ospreys, and roseate spoonbill. The refuge is also home to the elusive Florida scrub-jay, a threatened species only found in Florida.

If you’re lucky, you may spot endangered species such as the wood stork, reddish egret, and least tern, who call the refuge’s coastal habitats home.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is a unique birdwatching location that can be accessed by boat or seaplane from Key West. The park covers a vast area of 100 square miles and is home to an impressive variety of bird species, making it a top destination for birdwatching enthusiasts.

The park’s remote location and unique ecosystems make it an important stopover for migratory birds. Visitors can expect to observe species such as the Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Noddy, and Sooty Tern, among others.

The park is also home to endemic and endangered species, including the White-crowned Pigeon, and Peregrine Falcon , making it an important conservation site.

The park’s birdwatching trails and tours offer visitors the chance to explore the various habitats and witness the diverse bird species that call the park home. One popular birdwatching spot is Loggerhead Key , which provides exceptional views of seabirds in their natural habitat.

Visitors can also explore the park’s coral reefs and seagrass beds, which provide unique opportunities for underwater birdwatching.

Dry Tortugas National Park is a must-visit destination for serious birdwatching enthusiasts, offering a rare chance to observe unique species in a stunning natural setting.

Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is a must-visit destination for any birdwatching enthusiast. With its diverse habitats, including beaches, wetlands, and nature reserves, the island is a paradise for bird enthusiasts.

The island’s natural attractions include popular spots like J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge , where visitors can observe over 245 bird species. The refuge also has a number of nature trails and boardwalks that offer excellent birdwatching opportunities.

Other birdwatching hotspots on the island include the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Nature Center and the Bailey Tract , which has over 100 bird species.

Sanibel Island is also home to the famous “ Sanibel Stoop ,” a common sight for birdwatchers as they lean forward to study the many shells along the beaches.

In addition to the abundant bird species, visitors can also spot dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees while birdwatching on the island.

Big Cypress National Preserve

Located in southwestern Florida, Big Cypress National Preserve is a vast wilderness area encompassing over 700,000 acres of wetlands, cypress forests, and sawgrass prairies. The preserve is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including numerous bird species, that make it a top birdwatching destination in Florida.

Visitors to Big Cypress National Preserve can spot a variety of bird species year-round, including the striking great egret, the colorful painted bunting, and the elusive snail kite.

During fall and winter, the preserve is also an important stopover for migratory birds, providing birdwatchers with even more opportunities to observe unique and rare species.

For optimal birdwatching experiences, visitors can explore the numerous trails and areas recommended for birdwatching within the preserve.

Some popular birding locations include the Kirby Storter Roadside Park , the H.P. Williams Roadside Park , and the Bear Island Unit . Guided birdwatching tours are also available for those seeking a more immersive experience.

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a renowned birdwatching destination that is situated on the Gulf of Mexico between Naples and Marco Island in southwest Florida.

It is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Estuarine Research Reserve system and is known for its rich diversity of bird species.

The reserve features over 110,000 acres of mangrove forests, uplands, marshes, and aquatic habitats that provide a unique setting for birds.

Visitors can expect to see an impressive variety of bird species, including the endangered Everglade Snail Kite, Reddish Egret, Mangrove Cuckoo, and Bald Eagle .

There are more than 150 bird species that call Rookery Bay Reserve home throughout the year, and the numbers increase during the migratory season.

Birdwatching enthusiasts can explore the reserve’s trails that lead visitors through a variety of habitats that can be accessed through the Environmental Learning Center.

A quarter-mile wheelchair-accessible trail provides a suitable option for visitors with mobility challenges.

The reserve also has several observation points that are perfect for viewing birds up close within their natural habitats.

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is open to visitors from Monday to Friday, and the reserve is closed on weekends and public holidays.

The best time for birdwatching is during the winter and spring months, when the migratory birds are present in the reserve.

A Florida birdwatching guide is a helpful resource to ensure you see and identify the birds that call Rookery Bay Reserve home.

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a must-visit for birdwatching enthusiasts in Florida. The drive is located on the northern shore of Lake Apopka, which is the state’s fourth-largest lake.

Along the 11-mile drive, visitors can spot a diverse range of bird species, including migratory birds and resident species.

Some of the notable birds that can be observed along the drive include Wood Storks, Limpkins, and Roseate Spoonbills.

Additionally, the drive offers an excellent opportunity to spot Bald Eagles, which are known to nest in the area.

For optimal birdwatching experiences, it is recommended to visit Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive during the winter months, when migratory birds are abundant. The drive is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and is free to access.

Be sure to bring binoculars and a camera to capture the stunning birdlife in action.

St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is a prime birdwatching destination in Florida. The refuge covers over 70,000 acres of diverse habitats, including saltwater marshes, pine forests, and coastal habitats, providing birdwatching enthusiasts with ample opportunities to spot various bird species.

The refuge is home to over 300 species of birds, making it an ideal location for birdwatchers of all levels. Some of the notable bird species to observe in St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge include Bald Eagles, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, and Whooping Cranes.

Additionally, the refuge serves as an important nesting and roosting habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and many other bird species.

St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge offers several birding trails and observation points that provide visitors with excellent birdwatching experiences. The refuge’s eight-mile Wildlife Drive offers visitors the chance to see a variety of bird species from their vehicles or bikes.

Additionally, the Lighthouse Trail, Mounds Pool Trail , and Tower Pond Trail all offer unique birdwatching opportunities for visitors.

Florida’s diverse habitats make it a hotspot for birdwatching enthusiasts. The state’s ecological richness provides a home for a wide variety of bird species, making it an ideal destination for those looking to add new species to their list of sightings.

From exploring the wetlands and forests of Everglades National Park to witnessing the unique birdwatching opportunities at Dry Tortugas National Park, visitors can choose from a range of birdwatching hotspots.

Sanibel Island, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge are also notable birding destinations in Florida that offer exceptional experiences.

Whether a birdwatching veteran or a novice, Florida’s birdwatching hotspots provide an opportunity to witness a range of bird species up close and personal.

With a little research and exploration, visitors can discover the beauty of Florida’s avian biodiversity and create unforgettable birdwatching memories.

FAQs: Best Birdwatching Hotspots in Florida

What are some popular birdwatching hotspots in florida.

Some popular birdwatching hotspots in Florida include Everglades National Park, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Dry Tortugas National Park, Sanibel Island, Big Cypress National Preserve, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

What makes Florida ecologically rich for birds?

Florida’s favorable ecological conditions, including diverse habitats such as wetlands, forests, and coastal areas, attract a wide variety of bird species. The unique ecosystems found in the state provide abundant food sources and nesting opportunities for birds, making it a haven for birdwatching enthusiasts.

What bird species can be observed in Everglades National Park?

Everglades National Park is home to a diverse range of bird species. Visitors can observe species such as the roseate spoonbill, great blue heron, white ibis, peregrine falcon, and the endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow.

What bird species are found in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary?

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is known for hosting a variety of bird species. Visitors have the opportunity to spot birds such as the barred owl, red-shouldered hawk, limpkin, wood stork, and various warbler species.

What bird species can be observed in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge?

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is home to a wide range of bird species. Visitors may encounter species such as the American bald eagle, great egret, black skimmer, sandhill crane, and the endangered Florida scrub-jay.

What bird species can be observed in Dry Tortugas National Park?

Dry Tortugas National Park offers unique birdwatching opportunities. Visitors may spot bird species such as the magnificent frigatebird, sooty tern, brown noddy, peregrine falcon, and various species of warblers.

What bird species can be observed on Sanibel Island?

Sanibel Island is known for its abundance of bird species. Birdwatchers can observe species such as the roseate spoonbill, snowy egret, tricolored heron, osprey, and various shorebird species.

What bird species can be observed in Big Cypress National Preserve?

Big Cypress National Preserve is home to a diverse range of bird species. Visitors have the opportunity to spot birds such as the purple gallinule, red-shouldered hawk, limpkin, swallow-tailed kite, and various warbler species.

What bird species can be observed in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve?

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a habitat for nesting and roosting birds, including rare and endangered species. Visitors may spot birds such as the roseate spoonbill, American oystercatcher, black skimmer, least tern, and various heron species.

What bird species can be observed along Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive?

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive offers birdwatchers the chance to observe a variety of bird species. Visitors may encounter birds such as the purple gallinule, bald eagle, black-necked stilt, limpkin, and various waterfowl species.

What bird species can be observed in St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge?

St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge is known for its diverse bird species. Birdwatchers can spot species such as the white pelican, black-crowned night heron, red-cockaded woodpecker, painted bunting, and various species of warblers.

Meet Vince, the passionate founder and author of Learn Bird Watching, boasting 30 years of birding experience. With an unwavering mission to empower fellow bird enthusiasts, Vince shares invaluable wisdom and guidance. As a dedicated moderator and contributor to Quora's Bird Watchers' Club, he actively engages with the birding community, where his insightful answers have garnered over 440,000 views and over 2,670 upvotes. Whether you're a budding birder or a seasoned avian aficionado, his wealth of knowledge is at your service.

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Birding Tour USA: Florida Peninsula – Southern Specials and the Keys

Go to: USA Birding Tours | Birding Tours in North America | All our birding tours

Dates and Costs:

24 April – 02 May 2025

Price: US$4,980  / £4,196 / €4,883 per person sharing assuming 4 – 8 participants

Single Supplement: US$1,060  / £894 / €1,040

* Please note that currency conversion is calculated in real-time, therefore is subject to slight change. Please refer back to the base price when making final payments.

Recommended Field Guide

(Please also read our blogs about recommended field   guides for the seven continents here )

Tour Details

Duration : 9 days Group Size : 4 – 8 Tour Start : Miami Tour End : Miami

Price includes:

Meals Accommodation Transport Guiding fees

Price excludes:

Flights Personal insurance Drinks Gratuities – (please see our tipping guidelines blog ) Laundry service Personal expenses such as gifts

Featured Guide:

Florida Peninsula : Southern Specials and the Keys April 2025

On a map, the finger-like state of Florida protrudes prominently from the continental United States, reaching south towards the Caribbean just barely missing Cuba 90 miles (c. 140 kilometers) beyond. To the north, frost-hardy, temperate deciduous forest dominates, while warm bodies of water surround the rest of the state. Together, both climate and geography isolate Florida from the rest of the country. Because of its geographically unique position, Florida is a crossroads between the temperate northern latitudes and the sultry Caribbean tropics with almost tropical forest-like habitat resulting in some fantastic bird watching opportunities. Indeed, about a dozen bird species of West Indian origin reach the northern limits of their range here, while many species typical of more northern latitudes reach the southern edge of their range in Florida. Many of the West Indian species live nowhere else in the United States. We also time our tour in late April, when spring migration peaks and the national parks, botanical gardens and residential areas are teeming with bird life, potentially augmenting our trip list with a wide variety of colorful warblers and charismatic shorebirds.

On this tour, we cover the southern two thirds of the state comprehensively in search of the many special birds on offer. We begin by exploring Miami , a city with a decidedly Caribbean flair, in search of several established exotics such as  Spot-breasted Oriole ,  White-winged Parakeet  and  Red-whiskered Bulbul . In the central/western part of the state, pinelands feature a specialized avian community, including  Red-cockaded Woodpecker ,  Brown-headed Nuthatch and  Bachman’s Sparrow . We also explore nearby oak scrub for Florida’s only endemic bird,  Florida Scrub Jay . On the last leg of our journey, we explore the tropical hardwood hammocks and mangrove swamps of the Florida Keys in search of Caribbean specials such as Mangrove Cuckoo ,  White-crowned Pigeon and  Black-whiskered Vireo . We also take a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park , where  Sooty Tern  and  Brown Noddy  breed in their thousands. With some luck, many of the sites we visit on this tour may be alive with migrant songbirds, and there is always a chance for a vagrant from the Caribbean like a La Sagra’s Flycatcher  or a Western Spindalis  to show up.

Itinerary (9 days/8 nights)

Day 1. arrival in miami.

After arriving at Miami International Airport, you will be transferred to a nearby hotel for the night.

Overnight: Miami

Day 2. Miami and the Palm Beach Area

The nearly tropical climate and exotic vegetation of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area offers a unique landscape of opportunity for a myriad of introduced bird species from all over the world. We spend our first morning in Florida exploring this urban landscape in search of ABA-countable exotics such as  Grey-headed Swamphen ,  Spot-breasted Oriole ,  White-winged Parakeet ,  Red-whiskered Bulbul , and  Common Myna . However, introduced species are only a small fraction of the avifauna of Miami, a county which claims one of the longest bird lists east of the Mississippi River. Parks, preserves, and even parking lots provide opportunities to see native species like  Grey Kingbird ,  White-crowned Pigeon , and more, along with a supporting cast of migrant songbirds.

After a delicious lunch at a local spot in Miami, we will head north to Green Cay Wetlands and Wakodahatchee Wetlands, two artificially created wetlands that host nearly all of Florida’s water-associated specials: Black-bellied Whistling Duck , Least Bittern , Limpkin , Anhinga , Purple Gallinule , the incredibly beautiful Roseate Spoonbill and more. The rookeries at Wakodahatchee Wetlands should be active at this time of year, providing excellent birding photographic opportunities of nesting herons, egrets, ibises, and storks.

Overnight: West Palm Beach

Day 3. Ocean side to gulf side

We will spend the morning hours birding the ocean (east) side of the Florida peninsula at several local parks, hoping to catch a new batch of migrant songbirds. Depending on how we faired with waders the previous day and how migration fairs for the day, we may head to Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge for species such as Roseate Spoonbill , Snail Kite and a shot at Smooth-billed Ani . After lunch, we will spend the slower afternoon birding hours driving across the middle of Florida towards Fort Myers. The late afternoon and evening hours will be spent birding the gulf (west) side of the peninsula, searching the coastline for shorebirds including Snowy , Piping and Wilson’s Plovers , American Oystercatcher , Willet and more.

Overnight: Fort Myers

Day 4. Babcock-Webb and Tamiami Trail

Today will be an early start to ensure our sunrise arrival at the Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area . This huge tract of land hosts a wide variety of habitats including Florida slash pine , a favorite of several special bird species. We will spend the better part of the morning exploring these pines in search of Red-cockaded Woodpecker , Bachman’s Sparrow and Brown-headed Nuthatch . Following a successful morning at Babcock-Webb, we will then explore one or two other locations to search for the endemic Florida Scrub Jay . Where we go will depend on recent trends and timing.

Afterwards, we start our journey southeast across the peninsula via the Tamiami Trail to Homestead, passing through Big Cypress National Preserve and the northern edge of Everglades National Park . Sites along this road provide excellent opportunities to see  King Rail  and  Snail Kite  for our growing trip list.

Overnight: Homestead

Day 5. Everglades National Park

Published in 1947, Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s  The Everglades: River of Grass  highlighted the uniqueness of the Everglades. Lying at the southern tip of the state, the Everglades is a vast, subtropical sawgrass prairie broken only by cypress domes, tropical hardwood hammocks, pinelands and mangrove swamps. There is nowhere else in the United States with such a decidedly tropical suite of habitats. We bird throughout the day along the length of the main park road that terminates in flamingo campground, exploring these various habitats for several birds, difficult or impossible to see anywhere else in the country, like “Cape Sable” Seaside Sparrow  and  Shiny Cowbird .  American Crocodile  is possible at the marina in Flamingo. There will also be an optional birding session after dark to look for  Eastern Screech Owl ,  Barred Owl  and  Chuck-will’s-widow .

Day 6. Florida Keys

After an early breakfast, we will drive along Card Sound Road to Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park , making a brief stop at a patch of mangroves along the way to look for the Florida race of  Prairie Warbler  and the Cuban race of  American Yellow Warbler . Once slated to become a housing development, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park protects one of the largest tracts of tropical hardwood hammock in Florida. It is also an important breeding ground for several target species on our tour, particularly the elusive  Mangrove Cuckoo  and the vociferous  Black-whiskered Vireo . For the rest of the day we will keep our schedule open as we make our way south to Key West, to accommodate the presence (or absence) of migrant songbirds or even the possibility of chasing a Caribbean vagrant. Regardless of the status of migration, we visit a breeding colony of  Roseate Tern  in Marathon and stand vigil in the evening for  Antillean Nighthawk  in Key West.

Overnight: Key West

Day 7. Dry Tortugas National Park

Seventy miles (c. 110 kilometers) west of Key West, the Dry Tortugas National Park consists of a series of tiny coralline islands surrounded by the shimmering aquamarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Among birders, these islands are particularly famous for having the only nesting colonies of  Brown Noddy ,  Sooty Tern ,  Magnificent Frigatebird  and  Masked Booby  in the contiguous United States. We reach these islands via the  Yankee Freedom II  catamaran on a day trip.

Upon arrival at Garden Key, we have about four hours to enjoy the cacophony and bustle of activity from the seabird colonies on nearby Bush Key as well as marvel at impressive Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. Due to the isolation of these islands from any land, the parade grounds of this grand fort function as a welcoming oasis for exhausted migratory songbirds including warblers, cuckoos, flycatchers, vireos, tanagers, and buntings. On our return voyage to Key West we make sure to stop at nearby Hospital Key to see the colony of  Masked Booby .

We spend a second night in Key West to hopefully allow some time to relax and admire this famous town and perhaps to visit Ernest Hemingway’s home for example.

Day 8. Florida Keys to Homestead

We drive north back towards Miami, stopping at various state parks and preserves in the Florida Keys to look for species we may have missed (possibly a Bald Eagle or two). Perhaps we’ll find some new migrant songbirds and breeding specials or maybe we’ll even chance upon finding a Caribbean stray (we’ll be checking the e-bird reports frequently to see what’s around!). We also usually make a stop at the National Key Deer Refuge to see the miniature and endemic Key Deer , the smallest subspecies of White-tailed Deer and the smallest deer in North America. This will be a flexible day so that we can chase any reported rarities, and we will keep ourselves wired to any special sightings.

Day 9. Transfer to Miami International Airport

After some optional early morning birding, looking for any bird species we may have missed, we drive back (less than an hour when there is no traffic) to Miami to catch our flights home.

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Swallow-tailed Kite

Florida Scrub Jay

Mangrove Cuckoo

Grey-headed Swamphen

Tricolored Heron

White-crowned Pigeon

Brown Pelican

Brown Noddy

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet

American Alligator

Burrowing Owl

Bridled Tern

Florida – Set Departure Trip Report

22 – 30 april 2023, by jacob roalef.

DOWNLOAD TRIP REPORT

This nine-day birding adventure of Florida began in Miami with some exploration of the Atlantic Coast, crossed the state to Fort Myers on the Gulf side,  headed back along the southern edge and down throughout the Florida Keys, before circling back to Miami for the trip’s conclusion. The tour explored several different habitats and visited some amazing birding locations such as Crandon Park , Wakodahatchee Wetlands , Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge , Babcock Webb Wildlife Management Area , Carlos Pointe , Everglades NP , Big Pine Key , Dry Tortugas NP , and Fort Zachary Taylor State Park .

We enjoyed many fantastic bird sightings which included a variety of specialty species, migrants, seabirds, and ABA countable introduced species, giving us a fine list for southern Florida during our short nine-day visit. Avian highlights included Mangrove  Cuckoo , Mottled Duck , Reddish Egret , White-crowned Pigeon , Limpkin , Piping , Wilson’s , and Snowy Plovers , Black and Brown Noddies , Mitred and Red-masked Parakeets , Scaly-breasted Munia , Spot-breasted Oriole , Cape May Warbler , Black-whiskered Vireo , and several ABA area rarities: Smooth-billed Ani , Tricolored Munia , and Red-legged Honeycreeper !

A total of 160 bird species were seen, plus one additional heard only species, for a total of 161 species recorded. In addition to the birds, several nice mammal and reptile sighting were had which included West Indian Manatee , Marsh Rabbit , American Alligator , Florida Cooter , and the endangered subspecies of White-tailed Deer known as Key Deer . Full bird and mammal checklists can be found at the end of the report.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 22 nd April 2023. Arrival and Miami birding.

Two participants arrived in Miami earlier in the morning, so we headed off to do some early afternoon birding around the city. Miami is known for its many ABA countable introduced species that have taken a strong hold in the tropical climate here. With that in mind, we headed off to some strange birding locales to target these introduced birds. First up was the gorgeous Biltmore Hotel where we picked up both Red-masked and Yellow-chevroned Parakeets plus a beautiful Broad-winged Hawk soaring overhead. From here, we checked out the nearby Kendall Baptist Hospital and added our first Egyptian Goose and Muscovy Duck of the trip, as well a small group of Mitred Parakeets roosting in a giant tree nearby. The heat of the day was increasing, and we were all a little drained from our  travel to Miami, so it was time for an afternoon break before dinner and the final participant’s arrival. However, as we pulled into the hotel parking lot, a pair of stunning Spot-breasted Orioles were waiting for us to open our doors and enjoy them! That just goes to show that you really are never done birding until you close your eyes for the night.

Day 2, 23 rd April 2023. Miami birding and heading North.

This morning we headed off to Pine Woods Park, another local Miami hotspot and were quickly greeted by a large flock of Scaly-breasted Munias , another introduced species target. We continued walking the small path here and noted several other species which included Blue Jay , Red-bellied Woodpecker , Common Grackle and of course Northern Mockingbird (a staple on every checklist in Florida). From here we moved on to Key Biscayne to explore the large area of Crandon Park until lunch. The northern portion of the park hosted some nice woodland type habitat, but things were a bit quiet overall, and we ticked American Redstart , Cape May Warbler and Great-crested Flycatcher . We moved on to the southern portion of the park where we quickly added the exotic Indian Peafowl (another ABA countable species) before moving on to the beach area. On the sands we spotted many humans enjoying the lovely beach, but despite all the foot traffic, we still managed several great bird species which included both Piping and Wilson’s Plovers , Royal Tern , Brown Pelican , and Sanderling . It was now time to enjoy some lunch after a good morning of birding.

When our bellies were full, we headed off the island and worked our way through Miami which, thankfully, was void of any major traffic issues. We drove north of the city and arrived at Brian Piccolo Sports Park where we were greeted by several Monk Parakeets on the baseball fields and fence. After driving around for a bit, we spotted our other target here, a pair of Burrowing Owls who were busily working on their den. It was a treat to observe this pair, as one bird would kick sand into the air while the other kept a careful watch, before eventually switching places and jobs. We continued north and spent the mid-afternoon at the beautiful Wakodahatchee Wetlands. This park has an amazing boardwalk path through the wetlands and is home to countless nesting waders. As we arrived, we were  welcomed by a  party of nesting Wood Storks mere feet from the boardwalk’s edge. We took our time walking the loop trail here, really taking in the unbelievable encounters with Tricolored Heron , Great Egret , Anhinga , Double-crested Cormorant , Purple Gallinule , Grey-headed Swamphen , Mottled Duck and Glossy Ibis . This place is always a trip highlight, and this year was no different. A great cap to our first full day of birding here in southern Florida.

Day 3, 24 th April 2023. Ocean side to gulf side.

The goal for today was to make it across the peninsula and get to the gulf side of Florida, with many birding stops along the way. First up on the agenda was Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. We began in the eerie cypress swamp where we picked up several new trip species like Northern Parula , Pileated Woodpecker and Wood Duck , before we moved on to the marshes of the area and noted Red-shouldered Hawk and Little Blue Heron . After a morning well spent, we continued our journey across the state, but first we spotted a pair of Limpkins in the grass next to the road! We quickly pulled off and enjoyed watching these birds for a few minutes before continuing to Peaceful Waters. Here we enjoyed another wetland with a fantastic boarding dissecting the middle of it, and we picked up our first Roseate Spoonbill of the trip along with the classic wading species and a Brown Basilisk , one of the many exotic reptiles found here.

After lunch we covered a decent portion of the drive before we stopped near Lake Okeechobee at the Torry Island Campground. Thankfully the wind direction kept the looming storm north of us, so we could enjoy the area as we climbed the nearby tower and spotted several Snail Kites , another Florida specialty, as well as Osprey , Blue-winged Teal , and Grey-headed Swamphen . It was now time for the final push across the state to Fort Myers where we would stay for the night, but we had one more stop planned in a nearby neighborhood. As we pulled into the area, a Northern Bobwhite was out in the open for us to enjoy. From there, it didn’t take long to spot our target, a family group of the endemic Florida Scrub-Jay ! Despite the loud barking dogs at the nearby house, the jays put on a lovely show for us. From here we headed to the hotel and then off for a tasty Italian dinner, well deserved after our long day of travel across Florida.

Day 4, 25 th April 2023. Babcock Webb and the Tamiami Trail.

Today began with another gorgeous sunrise over the water as we drove the 40 minutes to Babcock Webb Wildlife Management Area. This preserve hosted a new habitat for us to explore (slash pine savannah) and with it, many new bird species for the trip. Along the entrance road we watched an Eastern Towhee singing atop a pine and a pair of Downy Woodpeckers busily working on their nest cavity. We continued along the roads here before reaching some trees that were clearly marked as nesting sites for our main target here, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker . This specialist only nests in pine savannah type habitat and thankfully it wasn’t long before we enjoyed a pair of these lovely birds as they foraged in the pines. In addition to the woodpeckers, we added many more great trip birds like Pine Warbler , Brown-headed Nuthatch , Sandhill Crane , Belted Kingfisher , Yellow-billed Cuckoo , and Eastern Bluebird . By mid-morning it was time to move on to our next birding location, Carlos Pointe. This sandy beach is protected, as it hosts several nesting species, and today it was packed with migrant birds as well. We slowly walked along and carefully scanned through all the birds, making sure to get a good view of everything here. Our list here was fantastic as we ticked many new species like American Oystercatcher , Black Skimmer , Black-bellied , Snowy , and Semipalmated Plovers , Willet , and Reddish Egret .

After all the shorebirds were thoroughly checked, it was time for a well-deserved lunch and a break from the heat. The afternoon was spent driving back across Florida via the Tamiami Trail, the southern route connecting Tampa and Miami. We made a quick stop through Naples which turned up a Brown Thrasher for us, but the heat made any birding slow. We arrived at the Homestead area around 4:30pm and headed straight to the nearby airport here, where a local rarity had been hanging out. The sun was brutal, and the birds were few, but we did see a large flock of Bobolinks as well as Eastern Meadowlark and Loggerhead Shrike . Our hopeful target was a no show, so we decided to pack up and leave the task to the other birders here. We didn’t get too far away before  another birder sped down the road to get our attention, the bird had shown up! We quickly turned around and made it back in time to see the rare Smooth-billed Ani . This bird was not only rare for the United States, but also held significance as Rich’s 700 th species for the ABA! Quite an impressive achievement and one worthy of celebration. We wound our way back to Homestead where Rich promptly added number 701 in the form of a Common Myna , and then we celebrated with a tasty Mexican dinner. Another fantastic day and huge congrats on number 700 (and 701) to Rich!

Day 5, 26 th April 2023. Everglades and Homestead.

The Everglades have their own unique style of beauty and ecology, with freshwater sloughs mixed with cypress and pine hardwood forests and even some grassland prairie habitats for good measure. Today we spent a lot of time enjoying this wonder and learning more about it, while of course also searching out birds. American Crows and Common Yellowthroats were there to greet us at our first stop of the day on the entrance road, along with an accommodating, Red-shouldered Hawk . We eventually made it to the end where freshwater meets saltwater in these marine estuaries, a perfect location for West Indian Manatees , which we saw a few of. We worked our way over to the Eco Pond area here and picked up some nice birds like White-eyed Vireo , American White Pelican , American Avocet , and Snowy Egret . From here, we enjoyed a picnic style lunch at the Amphitheater and waited for our target to show up. Eventually, the male Shiny Cowbird appeared with a small group of Brown-headed Cowbirds .

It was now time to work our way back out of the park with a brief stop along a boardwalk trail to take in the views of the glades. Just outside of the park, we made a quick stop for a delicious fruit shake and continued to a large colony of Cave Swallows to enjoy our treat. The heat of the day had taken full effect now, so we took a few hours break to rest. After our tasty dinner, we headed out for a little bit of late evening and night birding, however a looming storm nearby might have quieted bird activity. We managed to get on some very distant White-tailed Kites and as the sun set, a Chuck-wills-widow was seen down the road. It was then time for bed and rest in preparation for our adventure tomorrow in the Florida Keys!

Day 6, 27 th April 2023. The Lower Florida Keys.

This morning we headed south along Route 1 to begin our exploration of the Florida Keys. Most of the day was spent birding some of the lower keys before eventually making the scenic drive to Key West, where we would spend the night. First up was Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. We were greeted by a very vocal Black-whiskered Vireo in the parking lot, and it eventually made an appearance for us. We began to walk the trails, but the mosquitoes became a little too unbearable, so we quickly turned around and headed to the next location. Thankfully John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was much nicer in terms of bugs, but the birding was a bit quiet. We noted Least Tern , Laughing Gull , Northern Cardinal , and Northern Waterthrush .

From here we made our way to Long Key State Park and enjoyed a pleasant loop trail as we sighted Prairie Warbler , Common Ground Dove , Tricolored Heron , and some interesting crabs on the sand. It was now time for lunch, so we grabbed some tasty local food and headed back out to Big Pine Key. Here we slowly drove the roads until we eventually spotted our target, the endangered Key Deer (the tiny subspecies of White-tailed Deer ) which can only be found here. It was neat to see these little guys and we were all glad their population was doing well. We continued our drive and took in the gorgeous views of Route 1, as beautiful blue and green water surrounded us, before we eventually made it to the busy island of Key West. We made a circle of the island to view some of the more popular attractions and added both Red Junglefowl (which some people call Key West Chicken) and White-crowned Pigeon before checking in to the hotel and heading off for a tasty dinner.

Day 7, 28 th April 2023. Dry Tortugas National Park

Perhaps the most anticipated part of this tour is a visit to Dry Tortugas National Park, since it hosts many amazing nesting species as well as a mystery of migrants. We headed down to the docks early this morning to get checked in and board the ferry. We enjoyed the beauty of the waters during the 2.5-hour ferry ride to the islands which comprise the Dry Tortugas. As we approached, we noted the very distant Masked and Brown Boobies on Hospital Key and the many Magnificent Frigatebirds swirling overhead. Once we deboarded the boat, we had about 3.5 hours to explore the island and surrounding areas. We headed inside the fort and immediately got onto a Black-billed Cuckoo at the water drip feature, quite a difficult bird to spot in Florida. We also picked up Cape May and Palm Warblers as well as our first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the trip, before climbing the fort to scan through the seabirds. Thankfully it didn’t take too long to spot the rare Black Noddy mixed in with the hundreds of Brown Noddies on the north coaling docks. We headed back down inside the fort where another group of birders alerted us to a Tricolored Munia they had just seen. We exchanged some info on our sightings and about ten minutes later the munia made an appearance. This Tricolored Munia was almost certainly a vagrant from the established population in Cuba that would then count on anyone’s ABA list. We worked our way back to the boat to enjoy some lunch and along the way we noted Veery , Grey-cheeked Thrush , Black-and-white Warbler , and American Redstart .

After lunch, folks had some time on their own to either continue with some relaxed birding or explore the crystal-clear waters here and do a little snorkeling around the reefs. For the birding portion, we checked out the nearby Brown Noddy and Sooty Tern nesting colonies for some up-close views and then headed inside to relax by the water drip. The migrant birds here have, in some cases, flown hundreds of miles over salt water and are very tired when they arrive, so the freshwater drip here offers them a refreshing drink and a chance to wash off some of the salt spray from their feathers. We watched from nearby benches as many birds came and went including Indigo Bunting , Blue and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks , Scarlet Tanager , Hooded and Palm Warblers , Swainson’s Thrush , Ovenbird , and Eastern Wood-Pewee . It was then time to catch the ferry back to the mainland and head off for a tasty dinner after an incredible day at the Dry Tortugas.

Day 8, 29 th April 2023. The Upper Florida Keys.

Today we worked our way back to Homestead, with some birding in the morning in the upper keys. First up was Fort Zachary Taylor State Park located on Key West. Birding was a bit slow today with migrants being a struggle. We checked along the beaches first and noted some regular species like Brown Pelican , Royal Tern , and White-crowned Pigeon . We moved into the park a bit where we began to hear the chips of a few warblers and we managed to get onto a Palm Warbler and Northern Parula , before a bird lit up in Jacob’s binoculars, a Red-legged Honeycreeper ! This extremely rare bird gave us great views for around 15 minutes and allowed us to track down some other birders in the area and give them a heads up. We watched as it actively foraged in the flowering tree here and gave us a stellar view. What an incredible way to start the morning off. From here we left Key West and headed to Boca Chica Road nearby, where we spotted a Shiny Cowbird being chased around by a Brown-headed Cowbird . We got close to some mangroves and had some incredibly close views of a Black-whiskered Vireo singing and then a juvenile, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron as it hid in the trees. We continued to the No Name Pub for a tasty lunch and some interesting décor inside, with nearly 500,000 dollar bills covering the walls here.

After lunch we crossed over the 7-mile bridge and back to Marathon, where we stopped nearby and picked up a pair of Roseate Terns , along with some Least Terns and Double-crested Cormorants . We made one final stop in the keys along the water spots at Grassy Key, where we picked up Black-necked Stilt and Lesser Yellowlegs . A couple nice additions to our list. We then made the rest of the drive out of the beautiful keys and arrived in Homestead, where we picked up a couple more delicious fruit smoothie treats and did some pre-dinner birding at Frog Pond. Here we managed to find several new species for our list, like Western Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher , as well as some close views of the always impressive Swallow-tailed Kite . It was now time for dinner where we celebrated a great final day of birding together.

Day 9, 30 th April 2023. Departure Day and Black Point Marina.

The last day of the trip usually consists of breakfast and airport transfers, but today we all had afternoon departure times which left a little time for some extra birding in the morning. We still had a little unfinished business with a target species, so after breakfast we headed off to Black Point Marina. We walked along the roadside here and scanned through the mangroves as we went. There were a few migrants like Black-throated Blue Warbler and Northern Parula , which were nice. We made it to the cul-de-sac at the end of the road and enjoyed watching a pair of Great-crested Flycatchers and a Prairie Warbler here before our main target showed up. Sure enough, out of thin air, a Mangrove Cuckoo appeared! We all got fantastic views and photos before it disappeared back into the thick mangrove forest. This gave us an impressive cuckoo sweep on the trip, with four different species from the family. Not an easy feat in Florida for such a short time span. After our cuckoo excitement it was time to make some airport (and train station) drop-offs and say our goodbyes after another great tour in Florida!

Bird List – Following IOC (13.1)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. Species seen only on the pre-trip day of this trip are marked with (+) after the common name.

The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CE = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.  

Mammal List

Please see the downloadable PDF above with the full species lists included.  This is a sample trip report. Please email us ( [email protected] ) for more trip reports from this destination.

USA: Florida Peninsula – Southern Specials and the Keys

  tour-specific information.

PASSPORT AND VISA

For US citizens, no visas or passports are required. You will need to bring along a government issued ID as they are sometimes required for hotels.

Non-United States citizens will require a valid passport to enter the country, and some may require a tourist visa. Please consult with your local US Embassy for more details and information. You may need to show your ID/passport at various hotels and for the boat departures on this tour.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly encourage you to purchase trip cancellation or interruption insurance in case you have to cancel due to illness or for any other reason, as tour payments are non-refundable as per  our terms and conditions .  We advise you to get a plan which covers all your medical care and evacuation back to your country of residence, repatriation, and trip cancellation due to illness just prior, or any other reason.

Florida poses no major health risks and there only a few potential minor items to consider. There is a boat ferry (approximately two hours each way) which typically is smooth sailing but if you are prone to seasickness, it is best to pack the needed medication. Additionally, some of the drives can be long and pose similar issues. Climate can pose small issues but overall, the temperatures tend to be pleasant with a consistent breeze and plenty of water will be made available. Mosquitoes and other biting insects can be present, especially in wet swampy areas, so we recommend insect repellent and appropriate clothing to help with this. Your guide will inform you when they think things might be particularly “buggy”.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Please make sure that you are covered by medical insurance in case of an emergency while on this trip. Without insurance the cost of medical care can be extremely high. Please notify us at the time of registering for this tour of any medical conditions you think we should know about (including allergies, heart conditions, epilepsy, etc.). This will greatly help us to cater to your needs and to update emergency services if required.

WEATHER/CLIMATE

The weather in Florida in April can range from 70–90 °F (21–32 °C) during the day with nights remaining mild and warmer. Rain and thunderstorms can occur at any moment, so it is best to be prepared with a waterproof jacket. Just as quickly as clouds can appear, they can dissolve, leaving behind a wave of hot and humid conditions. Wind is typically present, especially near water, with a gentle breeze felt most of the time.

ACCOMMODATIONS

We will be staying at comfortable hotels throughout the tour.

COMMUNICATIONS

Our hotels should have decent access to Wi-Fi throughout the trip and phone service is typically fine near these areas and in the larger more populated cities. There are times throughout the trip where we will be out driving through the swamps between destinations so service can be lost there. Additionally, out on the boat and Dry Tortugas, service will be spotty.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND PACE OF TOUR

Overall, this tour is labeled as fairly easy from a physical requirement perspective. All hiking will be on flat ground with an occasional stray to more sandy trails. There will always be an option to remain back with the vehicle if needed. There are no long hikes on this tour (all less than one mile). There are a few drives of distance but none lasting longer than three hours and those drives do have birding and restroom stops planned to break things up.

WHAT TO BRING

Please kindly read the general list of what to bring on a birding tour,  here .

Layers and waterproof gear are always a good idea when preparing for a wide variety of possible weather conditions, and we consider them essential on this tour. We also do recommend bringing Dramamine or other motion sickness medications if you need them as there are longer drives in the vehicle and the ferry ride. Also, please bring along a face mask (or a few) to ensure we are able to follow local guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic as they will be required in certain areas.

Do not forget – Binoculars, prescription drugs (also bring the generic names for these drugs), toiletries, prescription glasses (and a spare pair), sunglasses, camera, batteries (for electronic equipment and chargers for re-chargeable batteries if required), alarm clock, money pouch, field guide(s), daypack.

Key Documents and Cash – Passports, your travel or health insurance cards, photocopies of which can be carried by the tour leader in case of emergency, Covid-19 vaccine card (or photo/copy), credit cards (see info above). US dollars for drinks, gifts, tips, items of a personal nature, etc., which are not included in the tour cost.

There should be enough space for each participant to bring one medium-sized suitcase as well as a personal bag to keep at their seat with them. Please do be mindful with large cameras or tripods if you choose to bring these along.

Download Florida Peninsula: Southern Specials and the Keys Tour-specific Information

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Space Coast Birding — Sites & Experiences Our sister web sites: Space Coast Paddling Space Coast Hiking Space Coast Biking PADDY CUNNINGHAM's CLASSES 900 N Birch Road, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Everglades Birding Festival Jan. 16-20, 2025 January 24-28, 2024 Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival NBBD's website History of the First 13 Years Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Listed Species of the Merritt Island NWR Canaveral National Seashore Space Coast Audubon Society North Brevard Photography Galleries Bob Paty's Photography Galleries Dean Pettit's Titusville Outdoors Eagle Nest Locators - 10/1/11 Florida Wildlife Festivals Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida Details of the Trail Sections Right Bird, Right House FIND OUT WHICH BIRDS YOU CAN BUILD A NEST BOX OR NEST STRUCTURE FOR IN YOUR REGION AND HABITAT Click for details. American Birding Assn. Listing Central Brevard County Florida Scrub-Jay Our endemic bird AUDUBON'S FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDING TRAILS (page 5): Great Florida Birding Trail : "This trail's biggest star by far, the Florida scrub-jay, is a striking blue bird found nowhere else in the world. These jays have a reputation for being practically fearless of humans, so your odds of seeing at least one–if not a constellation's worth–are quite good." US Fish & Wildlife web site US Geological Survey web site NASA web site Army Corps of Engineers site Florida MyFWS web site Florida Audubon web site Landcover and the Florida Scrub-Jay Wikipedia Florida Scrub-Jay Trail BIRDNET has a web site devoted to posting Grants, Awards, and Prizes in Ornithology. Take some time to browse through their extensive list of links, and you may just find a source of money for some work you would like to do. See www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET Cornell Lab of Ornithology Cornell Lab "All About Birds" Cornell Lab of Ornithology's personal checklist and eBird Site Survey BirdFreak.com (blog) Bird Watching Topix • Carroll Holland's Basic Birding • The Space Coast's Best Known Birding and Wildlife Sites • Brevard County Birding List • Cocoa Christmas Bird Count Historic List • Space Coast Birding eMagazine St. Johns River Water Management District Birding area maps and bird count tables. (dated) Buck Lake Conservation Area Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area Hal Scott Regional Preserve & Park Little-Big Econ State Forest Seminole Ranch Conservation Area Lake Monroe Conservation Area Lake Jesup Conservation Area Flying WILD (classroom activities) Florida Beach-nesting Bird Website Florida Bird Songs Florida Museum of Natural History - Southeastern U.S. Birds Florida Junior Birder Booklet Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter Florida Ornithological Society --> Great Backyard Bird Count - Bird Guide Florida's Breeding Bird Atlas Florida Beach-nesting Birds U.S. Geological Survey Merritt Island NWR Bird Checklist Manfredi's Pelagic Birds Birding.com Ivory Billed Woodpecker -USFWS Operation Migration Cats Indoors! Campaign Bob Paty's Florida Birds of Prey 2002 - First U.S. Mangrove Swallow Andy Blankert's report on his triumphant experience at the 2007 World Series of Birding. The State of the Birds in the U.S.A. Visit the official website of Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism 2/9/2024 — Partial Opening of the Viera Wetlands Set For March 4 Find Providers of Outdoor Experiences Birding, Photography, Airboat Rides, Kayak & Canoe Tours & Rentals, Boat Tours, Horseback Riding, Bicycle Rentals, Sailing & windsurfing, Extraordinary Experiences Updates, corrections & advertisers welcome. Discover more than 50 of Florida's Great Space Coast Birding Sites with descriptions & maps. If you are a birdwatcher, welcome to Florida birding paradise! Strategically located on the Eastern Continental Flyway, a major bird migration corridor, the region provides prime stopover habitat for many migrating shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and passerines. In fact, more than 330 species of birds have been seen here. Thousands of birds migrate from their northern homes to spend the winter here. The painted bunting, North America's most colorful bird, is a winter resident. The Space Coast is also home to one of the largest populations of Florida Scrub-Jays remaining in the state. The fastest growing passive sport in America, birdwatching is an activity that can be enjoyed by families, groups and individuals. Birding is easy and inexpensive, requiring minimal equipment, skill or physical fitness. With its diverse habitats and favorable climate, it is easy to see why the Space Coast is among the best birding locations in North America. Featuring numerous charismatic and colorful birds, easily seen and identified with a field guide, this area appeals to beginning birders as well as experts. The animated reddish egret (the rarest heron in North America), spectacular roseate spoonbill (the pink bird that many assume is a flamingo) and the imposing bald eagle are not as common in other areas as they are on the Space Coast. Other avian species coveted by experienced birders can be seen along the Space Coast. They include the northern caracara, snail kite, swallow-tailed kite, peregrine falcon, black rail, brown-headed nuthatch, Bachman's sparrow, red-cockaded woodpecker and many more. Another magical opportunity is the possibility of spotting pelagic seabirds in fall and winter. On days with strong winds from the northeast or east, northern gannets and jaegers may be seen offshore or even from the beach. Tropicbirds and magnificent frigatebirds are sighted occasionally.

Haulover Canal and Mullethead Island

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Contact us by filling out form below:, custom private florida trips available.

Get out and enjoy your vacation the way it was meant to be experienced — immersed in nature!

Nature is Awesome LLC., offers tours rich in birding and cultural experiences, with outdoor activities that includes birding, butterflying, kayaking, hiking, and biking.

We are a husband and wife team of professional guides that strive to deliver you a fun and personalized tour wherever we go together! 

Whether you have a large or small group, or want a more exclusive experience,  Nature is Awesome Tours can tailor-make an amazing experience for you.

Nature Travel Birding

Private and Small group Birding tours

Florida Winter Birding Tour

Private and small group, customised safaris can be booked on request

Next Group Departure Date: To be confirmed

Full Itinerary – Florida: Winter Birding Tour Day 1: Arrival in Orlando Welcome to central Florida! Upon your arrival at the Orlando International Airport you will be met by your expert bird guide and transferred to our chosen hotel in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle.

Orlando, nicknamed “the City Beautiful”, is one of the most-visited cities in the world. This is primarily due to the city’s proximity to the Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, LegoLand, Fun Spot America and Universal Studios Orlando Resort. This is why the city is also known as the “Theme Park Capital of the World”.

Other attractions include the Orlando Eye (a huge observation wheel), numerous world class golf courses, the Harry P Leu Gardens, excellent restaurants, the Mennello Museum of American Art, and a rich performing scene. Orlando is also home to many national and international conferences, and is also a major industrial and hi-tech centre. Orlando is the home city of two major league professional sports teams: the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer (MLS).

The geography of Orlando is mostly wetlands. The terrain is generally flat, and the area is dotted with hundreds of swampy areas and lakes, the largest of which is Lake Apopka.

Depending on what time your flight arrives, there may be time to visit one or more of these attractions. We will get together at a restaurant and get to know each other over our welcome dinner tonight. We will discuss our previous trips and which bird species are high on everyone’s target lists for this trip. Then we will get a good night’s sleep; tomorrow we really start birding!

Day 2: Lake Apopka We will start our day with breakfast in the hotel and then head to our first location on this tour. We’ll be familiarising ourselves with the wonderful birds of Florida with a trip to Lake Apopka, specifically the North Shore, a world-renowned birding destination. It is the 4th largest lake in the state (surface area of 30,800 acres/125 km2), and is situated about 15 miles northwest of Orlando. This former agricultural area suffered from years of pollution, but these days it is a mecca for birds and for birders from near and far.

Almost 370 different species have been recorded here (the most for any inland site in the U.S.) and we’ll utilise the trails and observation towers to tick our first species of the trip. While there are six main access points to the lake, the main attraction is the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Specials we could see include Sora, Purple Gallinule, Groove-billed Ani, Fulvous Whistling Duck and more.

Some of the more common water-associated species we will see include American Coot, Ring-necked Duck, Common Gallinule, Blue-winged Teal, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Snowy Egret, Pied-billed Grebe, Glossy Ibis and Lesser Scaup.

We will also see others like Anhinga, Limpkin, Western Osprey, Northern Crested Caracara, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk, Sandhill Crane, Wood Stork, Great Blue, Great and Western Cattle Egret, Little Blue and Tricolored Heron, Ruddy and Mottled Duck, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Ring-billed Gull, Black-necked Stilt, Belted Kingfisher, Gull-billed Tern, King Rail, American and Least Bittern and Grey-headed Swamphen.

Passerines that we could tick include American Robin, American Tree, Savannah and Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, Fork-tailed and Ash-throated Flycatcher, American Goldfinch, Buff-bellied (American) Pipit, Yellow-rumped, Pine and Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Blue-grey Gnatcatcher.

Rare birds usually show up at this location as well, and we will make sure we don’t miss something like Greater White-fronted Goose, Willow Flycatcher or Shiny Cowbird.

We’ll also see American Alligators and there’s a possibility for North American Otter, Southern Watersnake, Marsh Rabbit, raccoons and even Bobcat. We will return to our hotel for dinner and to update our trip lists after an exciting first day of birding.

Day 3: Ocala National Forest We will have an early start today as we check out of the hotel after a quick breakfast and head north. We should reach our destination, the Ocala National Forest, after about 90 minutes.

This beautiful forest (at 607 sq mi/1,570 km2 the second largest protected forest in Florida) is one of the last remaining large sandhill ecosystems in the state that were once historically so abundant. The forest was established in 1908. The word Ocala is thought to be a derivative of a Timucuan term meaning “fair land” or “big hammock”. The forest contains the largest concentration of sand pine in the world as well as some of the best remaining stands of longleaf pine in central Florida. There are also small stands of evergreen oaks, slow-moving rivers and wet prairie areas, along with swamps and marshes.

Here we have the possibility to see all 8 species of woodpecker the state has to offer, including the iconic Red-cockaded Woodpecker, a federally endangered species. We should also be able to locate Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Red-headed, and Pileated Woodpecker as well as the Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Two other top targets, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Bachman’s Sparrow, live in the same habitat and we’ll also look for mixed feeding flocks of songbirds that can contain Carolina Chickadee, Carolina and House Wren, American Goldfinch, Blue-headed Vireo and Pine Warbler.

A different section of the same forest will provide the scrub habitat essential for locating our state’s only endemic bird, the Florida Scrub Jay. This species lives only in a unique oak scrub community, dominated by a layer of evergreen oaks and adapted to regular high-intensity fires, with well-drained, bare sandy patches. This rare habitat is unfortunately under increasing pressure from agriculture and housing developments, leading to a decline in numbers for this special species. We should also find Eastern Towhee in this area, and could also tick Red-tailed Hawk, Tufted Titmouse, Ovenbird, Northern Bobwhite, Hermit Thrush and Barred Owl.

Mammals are well represented in the forest too, and we could see White-tailed Deer, Wild Boar, Bobcat, Red and Grey Fox, Southeastern Pocket Gopher and numerous small animals, including squirrels, bats and raccoons. With lots of luck we could even see Nine-banded Armadillo and American Black Bear!

Day 4: Tallahassee Today we will start with a hearty breakfast before we head northwest into the Florida Big Bend and Panhandle toward the capital city of Florida, Tallahassee.

Tallahassee is the site of the Florida State Capitol, Supreme Court of Florida, Florida Governor’s Mansion, and nearly 30 state agency headquarters. The city is also known for its large number of law firms, lobbying organizations, trade associations and professional associations, including the Florida Bar and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The city is home to many entertainment venues, theatres, museums, parks and performing arts centres.

We will spend the day in some hotspots around the city, looking for some wintering birds not seen anywhere else on the tour. Places we could visit include Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, Lafayette Heritage Trail Park, Apalachicola National Forest, Lake Elberta, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and others. We will make a collective decision on where to go depending on which species we still need on our trip lists at this point.

Greater and Lesser Scaup is likely along with Red-throated Loon, Canvasback, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch. There is also a possibility for Seaside and Henslow’s Sparrow, Vermilion Flycatcher and Virginia Rail as well.

More common species we could encounter include Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Black and Turkey Vulture, Anhinga, Wood Stork, American White Ibis, Canada and Snow Goose, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Bufflehead, Redhead, American Black Duck, American Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Forster’s Tern, Wilson’s Snipe, Least and Spotted Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Blue Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Chipping and Nelson’s Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Black-and-white and Orange-crowned Warbler, and many others.We will also see many colourful butterflies today, even in winter!

Day 5: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore Today we are back in central Florida to visit two key sites in the state. First up is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge covers 140,000 acres (570 km2) of Florida’s largest barrier island, and is famous as the last refuge of the nigrescens subspecies of the Seaside Sparrow, which is now extinct as a result of human flooding of its marshland habitat. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and visitor complex are also situated on the island and NASA can actually restrict access to the refuge based on its operational needs.

The refuge provides a range of habitats, from saltwater estuaries and freshwater impoundments and marshes, to dunes, hardwood hammocks, and scrub. More than 330 avian species have been recorded here, along with 31 mammals, 117 species of fish and 68 amphibians.

Merritt Island is a ‘gateway site’ for the Great Florida Birding Trail and attracts thousands of waterfowl and large numbers of American Coot in winter, as well as large flocks of migrant and wintering shorebirds, gulls and terns, herons, egrets (including good numbers of Reddish Egret), Sora, Northern Pintail, American Avocet, Roseate Spoonbills and American White Pelicans. Areas of scrub harbour one of the largest remaining populations of Florida Scrub Jay. The Black Point Wildlife Drive can be particularly productive, and Northern Gannets can be seen off the beach at Playalinda in the winter. The space shuttle launch facility is easily visible from the parking lot here. Also look out for the gorgeous Painted Bunting at the entrance gate!

Next up we visit the neighbouring Canaveral National Seashore for some more opportunities for new species and better photographs of ones we may have seen previously. The park was created in 1975 by an act of Congress, so this 25 mile stretch of pristine Atlantic Ocean beach, dunes and Mosquito Lagoon (the longest expanse of undeveloped land along the east coast of Florida) should remain undisturbed forever.

Here we will walk along the beach, scanning the sea, the lagoon and mudflats for birds. Small flocks of Black and Surf Scoters may be seen here, and Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers are often spotted harassing terns and gulls. Other species we could tick include Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Red-breasted Merganser, American White and Brown Pelican, Ring-billed and Laughing Gull, Royal and Forster’s Tern, Western Cattle, Great and Snowy Egret, Horned Grebe, Black-bellied Plover, Common Gallinule, Killdeer, Sanderling, Willet and many more.

Day 6: Joe Overstreet Landing Today we will bird at another of Florida’s top spots! Just south of the theme parks and bright lights of Orlando, the sod fields and cattle ranches of the beautifully rural Joe Overstreet Road and Landing provide excellent habitat for some of the state’s birds.

Located north of Kenansville, the dirt farm road runs from Canoe Creek Road (FL Rt. 15) to the landing on the eastern shore of Kissimmee Lake.

Here we will look for Bald Eagle, the USA’s national bird, as well as Western Osprey, Northern Crested Caracara, Snail Kite, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Meadowlark, Wild Turkey, Sandhill Crane, Black Skimmer, Western Cattle Egret, American White and Glossy Ibis, Anhinga, Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Boat-tailed and Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Red-headed and Pileated Woodpecker, Wilson’s Snipe, Forster’s Tern, Black-bellied Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Eastern Bluebird, Palm, Prairie and Pine Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and American Tree Swallow.

Rarities that have been spotted here before that we will look out for include Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Long-billed Curlew and Whooping Crane.

This site is very good for butterflies too, and we should some spectacularly coloured ones on our visit today.

Day 7: Downtown Miami exotic birding OR optional pelagic trip We’ll spend the day chasing introduced and exotic species in the greater Miami area, visiting parks, green areas and urban neighbourhoods. Whether you believe they are invasive pests (although some of them are very well established) or wonderful additions to your lists, it can’t be denied that they are all beautifully coloured and make for wonderful photographs. And almost all of them are ABA countable!

We could see Yellow-chevroned, White-eyed, Scarlet-fronted, Green, Red-masked, Crimson-fronted, Mitred, and White-winged Parakeet, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Common Myna and Spot-breasted Oriole. There is also a chance for Lilac-crowned Parrot, Scaly-breasted Munia and even Blue-and-yellow Macaw. Don’t forget about the resident species though; we could see Grey Kingbird, Northern Parula, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Boat-tailed Grackle and White-crowned Pigeon in the city too.

We will break for lunch at the Titanic Brewery for some local British-influenced beers and food. We’ll finish the day at Brewer Park in South Miami where we’ll hope to see Orange-winged Parrots and Chestnut-fronted Macaws coming in to roost.

*Please note: there is an alternative option for those not interested in exotic birding, namely a full morning pelagic birding trip with a local expert. Expected species include Royal, Sandwich and Foster’s Tern, Common Loon, Northern Gannet, Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Booby, plus the possibility for Masked Booby, Bridled Tern, White-tailed Tropicbird, shearwaters, jaegers, phalaropes, scoters or storm-petrels. We’ll have lunch at the marina restaurant and continue birding in some of the local parks in Miami for wintering warblers.

Please inform us well in advance if you plan to partake in the pelagic cruise. We will get together for dinner, chatting the night away and updating our trip lists.

DAY 8: Everglades National Park Today we visit one of Florida’s (and the United States’) most famous national parks or reserves.

The Everglades National Park is the largest (1,509,000 acres/6,106 km2) subtropical wilderness in the U.S. and is one of only three places on the planet to be a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. It is also a specially protected area under the Cartagena Treaty. The park provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species, including the West Indian Manatee, American Crocodile, the elusive Puma (Florida Panther), and also boasts a bird list of 350 species. The park is the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America, but also contains 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles.

The park contains 9 distinct ecosystems, ranging from freshwater sloughs to tropical hardwood hammocks, pineland and mangroves, but also a large marine component.

We will concentrate our efforts on the southern part of the Everglades, specifically the area around Flamingo, the southernmost headquarters of the park. Unfortunately the visitor centre was severely damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and is currently closed.

We’re going to begin the day before sunrise and look for American Barn Owl, Eastern Whip-poor-will and Lesser Nighthawk along the road. At daybreak we’ll search for Broad-winged, Short-tailed, and Swainson’s Hawk, as well as Louisiana and Northern Waterthrush. Other species include American White Ibis, Wood Stork, Western Cattle, Reddish, Great and Snowy Egret, Green, Tricoloured, Great and Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Skimmer, American White and Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Royal and Caspian Tern, American Avocet, Clapper Rail, Sora, Western, Stilt, Spotted and Least Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s, Laughing and Ring-billed Gull, Marbled Godwit, Killdeer, Dunlin, Willet, White-crowned Pigeon, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Nelson’s and Swamp Sparrow, Marsh and Sedge Wren, White-eyed Vireo and American Tree Swallow.

Plus we will see American Crocodiles that inhabit the southern Everglades, and with a lot of luck we might even spot an elusive Puma, called a “Florida Panther” by the locals.

When traveling back north, we’ll make a quick stop at Lucky Hammock to check the area for songbirds. It is a small isolated square of lush trees among the agricultural fields, and is known as an excellent site for wintering land birds and. Despite its tiny size, this hotspot has a bird list of over 200 species!

Recent records here included Yellow-breasted Chat and Least Flycatcher, and we will also look for Chuck-will’s-widow, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Great Horned Owl, American Bittern, King Rail, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Painted and Indigo Bunting, Clay-colored, Grasshopper, Lincoln’s, Swamp, House and Savannah Sparrow, Northern Rough-winged, Barn and Cave Swallow, and Brown-crested and Great Crested Flycatcher.

DAY 9: Blackpoint Marina, Wilton Manor & Green Cay Wetlands; transfer to Orlando We’ll begin the day at Black Point Marina in Miami. It is a starting point for fishing and diving expeditions, especially among locals. The nearby Biscayne National Park consists of large picnic pavilions, bikeways, jogging trails and a jetty, which extends 1.5 miles into Biscayne Bay. Here we will search for species like Mangrove Cuckoo, Magnificent Frigatebird, Black Scoter, Lesser Scaup, Muscovy and Mottled Duck, Great and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Belted Kingfisher and many more. Sightings of the latirostris subspecies of West Indian Manatee (“Florida Manatee”) are common at Black Point, and seeing these strange-looking aquatic mammals will be a highlight.

We’ll then travel north to the town of Wilton Manors to search for Blue-crowned Parakeets and end the day at Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach. The 100-acre (0.4 km2) property has a mile-long boardwalk across open water, wetlands and mudflats, offering excellent photographic opportunities of wetland species.

We will look for Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Anhinga, Roseate Spoonbill, American and Least Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork, Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night Heron, Mottled, Wood and Ring-necked Duck, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Purple Gallinule, Red-breasted and Hooded Merganser, Limpkin, Painted Bunting and many others. In 2015, a La Sagra’s Flycatcher even wintered here, and a pair of Eastern Screech Owl have been seen here for a few years too! Also, the Atala butterfly in all of its life stages can be seen on the Coontie plants in the parking lot.

After our exciting final day, we’ll make the drive back to Orlando via the Florida Turnpike. It will take us about 2 and a half hours to reach our comfortable hotel close to the airport.

We will freshen up and get together for our farewell dinner at a nice restaurant tonight. We will finalise our trip lists, enjoy dinner and exchange contact details and even some photos, having made friends for life on our Florida birding adventure. *Please note: the hotel accommodation is for your own account tonight, but we can make some good recommendations for you.

*Please enquire about this extension well in advance of the main tour.

DAY 10: Departure We will enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then you will be transferred to the Orlando International Airport for your onward or homeward flights after an amazing Florida birding tour.

Do you have a quick question about this birding tour? Speak to a specialist at [email protected]  

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Welcome to Obsessive Compulsive Birding, LLC

I specialize in general as well as customized birding tours, in and around Central Florida, to fit the wants and needs for making a successful birding experience. I have Merritt Island NWR virtually in my backyard here on the Space Coast, as well as other outstanding Central Florida birding hotspots. If in Orlando for business, vacation or visiting the theme parks and need an escape to nature I have just the remedy to get away from the busy city environment.

Tours can be personalized to acquire target species to add to those ever growing life lists as well as Florida specialties that everyone seeks such as Florida’s only endemic species the Florida Scrub-jay plus Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill, Crested Caracara, Snail Kite and Purple Gallinule. I am also well versed in the identification of Florida butterflies, dragonflies & damselflies.

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The southern peninsula is loaded with iconic and exotic species....

Areas in and around South Miami and Kendall for established exotics, and great wetlands at Green Cay and the Wakodahatchee Wetlands near West Palm Beach.

Areas near Lake Okeechobee for sandhill and wetland specialties including Sandhill Crane, Crested Caracara, Limpkin, and Snail Kite.

St. Sebastian River State Park for Bachman's Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and especially for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

Many beautiful spots along the Gulf Coast including a full day at Fort De Soto Park, then to San Carlos Bay. We will traverse Everglades National Park, the ‘River of Grass’, from the Anhinga Trail to the village of Flamingo, and many of the beautiful spots along the way.

The entire length of the Florida Keys, including Key Largo, Big Pine Key, and Key West, with a SPECIAL DAY at Fort Jefferson on the world-famous Dry Tortugas!

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Sightings for, amazing bird photos, take world class bird photos near rookeries and along near barrier island shores., a private birding tour is the best way to see amazing birds in remote areas around marco island and the ten thousand islands national wildlife refuge., bird tour in the remote 10000 islands.

Snowbirds galore

Over two billion birds fly to Florida in the winter months to stay warm. The great bird migration is so impressive it may be the best bird watching in the world all year. Escaping their cold home climates, these “snowbirds” fly thousands of miles to stay warm and enjoy Florida’s warm climate and beautiful beaches in the winter.

Mangrove islands provide bird habitat

Watch the osprey hunt and raise their chicks

The “fish eagle” excels in this nearshore estuary due to the excess fish to catch and eat. The osprey mates for life and returns to the same nest year after year to raise their young. Adaptation increases success, and the osprey knows all about it. Nesting in man-made objects in the winter (instead of summer like up north) has made these raptors even more successful in south Florida.

Have you met the burrowing owls of Marco Island?

Birding enthusiasts love bird boat tours

What better way to enjoy your vacation on Marco Island than on a bird boat tour? Our captains and guide are experts at finding incredible bird habitats in the remote 10000 Islands. Our captains also know where the birds are depending on the tide and can show you some amazing bird rookeries. If birds are your favorite animal, do yourself a favor and book a bird boat tour.

” Captains Nate & Jules gave us a terrific boat tour around Marco Island & surrounding waterways & islands. We saw much wildlife, including manatees, many dolphins, ospreys & their chicks, pelicans. The captains are a wealth of knowledge about the history of Marco & the plants & abundant wildlife. We highly recommend these tour guides if you want a fun cruise & you want to learn a lot. Mary Titcomb Trenton, NJ

Private 2 Hour Bird Tour

Spend a couple of hours on the water enjoying Florida’s birds and observing them as they go about their day on the beaches, hunting over the gulf waters, quiet mangrove islands, and in the air.

2 hours: $500 Private

Private 2.5 Hour Bird Tour

Witness the dazzling spectacle of birds gracefully soaring through the azure sky, their feathers shimmering in the sunlight. Observe them diligently hunting across the vast expanse of the Gulf waters, their keen eyes focused on their next catch.

2.5 hours: $625 Private

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Our most popular birding tour. Tour through the 10,000 islands and see amazing birding scenes. Enjoy seeing some great bird sightings in remote backwater and beach areas.

3 hours: $750 Private

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A birder’s dream! Spend half the day out on the gulf waters with lots of amazing bird photo opportunities. See unbelievable remote bird rookeries and nesting shorebird colonies.

4 hours: $1,000 Private

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Birdwatching in the Florida Keys: Beautiful Birds (and the Scoop on Flamingos!)

By: Author Rob Taylor

Posted on Published: September 1, 2023  - Last updated: February 27, 2024

Birdwatching in the Florida Keys is one of my favorite things to do when we’re visiting. I’m the only one in our family that really gets into it, but the wildlife in the Florida Keys is just so awesome, how can I not?! From small colorful birds to humongous wading birds, it’s kind of thrilling to bring your binoculars wherever you’re going, or to bring a big telephoto lens, and spy on EVERY bird you see.

We’ve got tips for birdwatching in the Florida Keys from Key Largo all the way out to Dry Tortugas National Park . Even if you’re not planning time dedicated to setting up a birding chair on the flats, you’ll still enjoy the wildlife we’re going to share. And if you’re a pro at this and want to share your tips or have more questions, please leave a comment or send us a note . We’re always happy to learn or tell more about travel in the Florida Keys!

Where to Go Birdwatching in the Florida Keys

Not easily accessible to motorized boat traffic, the backcountry area is largely untraveled, unspoiled and teeming with fascinating plant and animal life.  Birding  in the Florida Keys is worth its own trip. It’s a bird watcher’s paradise, and with kids is just as good as an  open ocean safari . Avian inhabitants include roseate spoonbills, osprey, great white herons (very similar to great egrets, but not the same) and even some bald eagles.

If you pay close attention to the mangroves just above the water, you may spot kingfishers, green herons and limpkins. It’s very common to see the many types of egrets and herons, including the great egret, great blue heron, snowy egret and cattle egret, but if you’re lucky, you might also be able to see a tri-colored heron or roseate spoonbill too.

And keep your eyes peeled for pelicans and cormorants. Although they are both very common throughout the Florida Keys, they’re remarkable birds to observe. Watch for cormorants gathering in the shallows and then diving. And when it comes to pelicans, you’ll most commonly see the common brown pelican, but in the winter months if you’re lucky you may spot some American white pelicans. The white pelicans are WAAAYYY bigger and are really a treat to see!

With over 400 species of birds recorded, there is no shortage of opportunities for Birdwatching in the Florida Keys . Enthusiasts can observe and appreciate the avian diversity of the area. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a beginner, the Florida Keys offers a fascinating and rewarding birdwatching experience that is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories.

Best Birdwatching Stops on the Overseas Highway

Part of heading this way is enjoying all the stops along the Florida Keys road trip . Departing from the Miami or Naples / Everglades National Park areas, you’ll have countless opportunities to stop along the drive. The first stop for birdwatching in the Florida Keys is literally right when you arrive on Key Largo: make that first LEFT!!! You’ll come to Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park almost immediately. More great Key Largo birdwatching spots include the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park .

As you continue south, the Middle Keys are full of great stops too! Long Key State Park, Curry Hammock State Park, Indian Fill Key and Pigeon Key Historic District are all fantastic places to stop for bird watching. These are great places for kayaking in the Florida Keys too!

When you get to the Lower Keys, Bahia Honda State Park and the west side of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge are two of our favorite birdwatching spots. Continuing on, the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key is great, and then Key West National Wildlife Refuge (accessible by boat), Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, and Dry Tortugas National Park (book passage here).

There are many more, but these are our top picks for birdwatching in the Florida Keys. You’ll find that, in general, this is one of the most interesting things to do in the Keys and it’s great if you’re doing the Florida Keys on a budget !

11 Unique Species of Birds in the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys is home to a wide variety of bird species, ranging from common shorebirds and waterfowl to rare and unique species found only in this region. Here are 11 of the most unique birds to look for when visiting the Florida Keys:

Rare Birdwatching in the Florida Keys

We’ll start with some of the most difficult birds to spot when you’re birdwatching in the Florida Keys and then we’ll get to the more common ones. Everyone is at a different level with their birding skills and patience, so make yourself a little list of what you want to be sure to see and then keep your eyes peeled!

Check out our favorite wildlife tours in the Keys for great expedition options!

Key West Quail-Dove – This rare and elusive bird is found only in the Florida Keys and a few other small areas in the Caribbean. It’s a small, brownish dove with a distinctive pattern of white spots on its wings. You’ll hear them before you see them. The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden is a great place to watch for them!

Black-whiskered Vireo – This small, greenish bird has a black mask and distinctive white “whiskers” on its face. It’s found in tropical forests and woodlands throughout the Keys, and is a favorite of birdwatchers. I have yet to see one myself, so I’m always on the lookout for one.

Mangrove Cuckoo – This secretive bird is found primarily in mangrove swamps and other coastal habitats in the Florida Keys. It has a distinctive call that sounds like “coo-coo-coo-coo,” and is often heard but not seen. There are other types of cuckoo you can see in the Southeast, including the yellow billed cuckoo (my favorite type of cuckoo bird; common in Congaree National Park ).

American Flamingo – While flamingos aren’t common in Florida, a small population of American Flamingos has established itself in the Florida Keys, making rare appearances and always causing a stir when people see them. These birds are known for their bright pink plumage and distinctive curved bills, and if you see one, consider yourself SUPER LUCKY and then report it to Florida Fish & Wildlife. Flamingos in the Florida Keys are exceptionally rare since they were hunted to near extinction, so if one or two fly in, it’s really a treat for anyone into birdwatching in the Florida Keys.

Tip: you should always keep a good distance from wildlife in general, but flamingos even more so. They spook very easily and we want to ALL get to see them. Do not go creeping across the flats to get closer and scare them away, ruining everyone else’s opportunity to see flamingos in the Florida Keys.

Reddish Egret – This large, long-legged wading bird is found in shallow coastal waters and wetlands throughout the Florida Keys. It has a distinctive shaggy appearance and a habit of dancing and jumping around in the water to stir up prey.

Würdemann’s Heron – I love this bird. The Würdemann’s heron is a hybrid of two more common birds: the Great Blue Heron and the Great White Heron. The specific color morph pattern of the Würdemann’s heron is the result of these two species mating. You’ll see them throughout the state, and when you’re birdwatching in the Florida Keys, you’ll be able to see a lot of them within the Key West National Wildlife Refugue.

Common but Cool Birdwatching in the Florida Keys

I’m not picky about birdwatching in the Florida Keys. If it’s pretty, has something unique about it and flies, I’m happy to observe and photograph it. While the birds noted below have strong populations in the Keys, they are still wonderfully unique and a joy to watch.

White-crowned Pigeon – This bird is a large, grayish pigeon with a distinctive white crown on its head. It’s found primarily in the Caribbean and the Florida Keys, and is a threatened species due to habitat loss and hunting.

Magnificent Frigatebird – These large, black seabirds are known for their impressive wingspan of up to 7.5 feet. They’re commonly seen soaring over the open water, and are often spotted around the Florida Keys. You might think of frigate birds as having the bright red chests that swell up. That’s correct, but they only look that way during mating season and it’s only the males who’ve really been though it. Juvenile frigate birds are really cool to see, with bluish beaks and totally curious spirits!

Roseate Spoonbill – With its bright pink plumage and distinctive spoon-shaped bill, this bird is hard to miss. It’s found in shallow waters and wetlands throughout Florida, but is particularly common in the Keys.

Gray Kingbird – This sleek, gray bird is found throughout the Caribbean and the southern United States, but is particularly common in the Florida Keys. It’s known for its aggressive behavior and its habit of chasing off other birds.

Key West Piping Plover – This small, sand-colored shorebird is found only in the Florida Keys and a few other areas along the Gulf Coast. It’s a threatened species due to habitat loss and disturbance, and is a favorite of birdwatchers and conservationists alike.

Clearing Up Confusion about Birdwatching in the Florida Keys

People assume that because the Florida Keys are mysterious and tropical that they are full of all sorts of unique creatures. Well, yes they are, but it’s not all flamingos and giant purple parrots. Here’s the breakdown of what some people expect to see when birdwatching in the Florida Keys and the reality of some of the more exotic species.

Are there Flamingos in the Florida Keys?

American Flamingos can be found in the Florida Keys, very rarely. While flamingos are not native to Florida, a small population of American Flamingos has established itself in the Florida Keys, coming and going over the years. These birds boast bright pink plumage and distinctive curved bills, and they inhabit shallow coastal waters and wetlands throughout the Keys. Flamingo sightings in the Florida Keys are rare due to their secretive nature and the fact that they, along with spoonbills and great egrets were basically hunted to near extinction during Florida’s pluming days (feather industry).

If you see a news story about seeing flamingos in the Keys, head there right away and be prepared for a complete frenzy. Birdwatching really gets turnt when a phenomena like this happens and it’s usually only for a few weeks that even just one flamingo will be in the Florida Keys.

NOTE : after Hurricane Idalia (summer 2023) a LOT of flamingos were swept up into Florida and they’ve since been seen from the Florida Keys all the way up to St Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Tallahassee!

Can you see Scarlet Ibises in the Florida Keys?

I wish; Scarlet ibises are one of my absolute favorite birds! People occasionally spot Scarlet Ibises in Florida and the Florida Keys, although they are not native to the region. However, sightings of Scarlet Ibises in the Florida Keys are relatively rare and unreliable. For those interested in seeing Scarlet Ibises, it’s best to visit their South American natural habitat, where they thrive in countries like Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. If you happen to see a scarlet ibis in Florida, it’s likely due to being either illegally imported or it’s escaped from a zoo. Bummer.

Are there Parrots in the Florida Keys?

There are several species of parrots that can be spotted while Birdwatching in the Florida Keys. Many of these are not native to the region. The most common parrots in the Keys are the Yellow-fronted Amazon, native to the Caribbean (but not endemic to the Keys). These birds have established populations up into South Florida even if you rarely see them. Other parrot species spotted in the Keys: the Cuban Amazon, Blue-fronted Amazon, and Red-masked Parakeet, many of which are the result of escaped or released bird populations, displaced flocks, or human interference.

While delightful to observe, parrots can harm the local ecosystem and native bird species. They may be pretty and a treat to spot while birdwatching in the Florida Keys, but they don’t necessarily belong here.

Frequently Asked Questions about Birdwatching in the Florida Keys

Even though bird watching can be as easy as just keeping your eyes peeled or pulling over on the side of the highway, there’s a lot of information that will help you have the best experience, particularly in the Florida Keys.

What time of year is best for bird watching in the Florida Keys?

The best time for Florida Keys birdwatching is winter (November – March) when migratory species visit. There are TONS of birds year round, but in the winter months places like the Key West National Wildlife Refuge are crazy with birds!

Where are the best places to go bird watching in the Florida Keys?

Top birdwatching spots in the lower Keys include the Key West National Wildlife Refuge (accessible by boat), Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, National Key Deer Refuge, and Dry Tortugas National Park (book passage here). Middle Keys: Long Key State Park, Curry Hammock State Park, Indian Fill Key. Upper Keys: Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park . There are many more, but these are our top picks for birdwatching in the Florida Keys.

What types of birds can I expect to see in the Florida Keys?

The Florida Keys house diverse bird species, including shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and tropical parrots and toucans (escaped, not native). See above for more information about the many bird species to watch for.

Do I need any special equipment for bird watching in the Florida Keys?

Essential in the Florida Keys for birdwatching: a good pair of binoculars for spotting elusive species ( we have THESE ONES ), particularly the larger birds you see out in the flats. A field guide to Florida birds can also be helpful in identifying species. We have THIS FLORIDA BIRD BOOK and THIS POCKET GUIDE . If you’re into photography, a good telephoto is also amazing to have. I LOVE my 600mm Sigma lens for my Canon Rebel T7i .

Are there any birding tours or groups in the Florida Keys?

Numerous birding tours in the Florida Keys offer expert guidance and assistance for spotting and identifying bird species. Check out our guide to Wildlife Tours in the Florida Keys for our top picks through the whole island chain.

Florida Birdwatching Guide: Discover the Fascinating Avian Residents of the Sunshine State – Florida Vibe Tribe

Monday 23rd of October 2023

[…] The Florida Keys are known for their diverse bird population, including the white-crowned pigeon and… […]

Florida Birdwatching Guide - Florida Vibe Tribe

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Wes is one of the best-known birder/naturalists in Florida. A birder since the age of 5 in upstate New York, his family moved to St. Petersburg in 1962, and for over 50 years he has been involved in every aspect of Florida ornithology, from scientific research, numerous conservation projects, journal articles and book contributions to ecotourism and the fun of listing. As the State Coordinator of the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas Project from 1986 through 1991, he was one of the leaders of the biggest ornithological project in Florida history.

Wes is a founding member of the Florida Ornithological Society and is the co-compiler of the Zellwood/Mt. Dora Christmas Bird Count, considered to be the best inland count in North America. Wes has participated in & led over 200 pelagic trips in Florida and 11 other US states and Canadian provinces. He started leading field trips with the St. Petersburg Audubon Society at the age of 16, and for over 40 years has conducted birding tours as well as private guiding throughout Florida, North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Wes is also knowledgeable in many other areas of natural history and the history of Florida ornithology. He cherishes and makes good use of his extensive ornithological library.

Competitive birding, or listing is a unique sport because most of the people who do it help the people with whom they’re in competition. If you question the notion that birding is a sport, check out the January 19, 2004 issue of Sports Illustrated! In the spirit of cooperative listing Wes has reached some lofty heights. With 495 species observed in Florida, (adhering to the American Birding Association Checklist and rules) he is in first place, and he’s ranked number 7 on the lower 48 states list with 799 species. He’s seen 803 species in the ABA area.

(The March-April 2010 issue of Bird Watchers Digest has an article by “ The Fat Birder ” Bo Beolens entitled  An Englishman in Florida  that describes his 5 days birding with Wes.

“My adventures in the Dry Tortugas started when I was 17 years old, and Russ Mason invited me to take part in the June 1966 tern banding expedition. Russ was for many years the executive director of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and at that time held the same position with the Florida Audubon Society. Russ and Oliver Austin had started the project in the late 1930’s, as a joint Audubon/National Park Service venture, making it the longest running ornithological study in the world. Like Russ, Dr. Austin, (who for many years was editor of the Auk) had migrated south from the Bay State, to became the head of the Ornithology Department at the University of Florida. The two project founders were still involved, but the leadership of the project had passed from Audubon to the NPS with Dr. William B. Robertson at the helm. We banded many thousands of Sooty, Brown Noddy and Roseate Terns, and I saw my first White-tailed Tropicbird! On June 8, 1966 we were hit by the 130 mph winds of Hurricane Alma and all hell broke loose. As a result I became a part of the first scientific team to study a major tern-nesting colony from within the eye of a hurricane! From within the eye we observed Black Swifts & Gray-rumped Swifts, the only Florida report for both species, and the only Gray-rumped report for North America. The following June as my high school classmates were attending our graduation ceremony I was back in the Dry Tortugas banding terns, this time with Dr. Glen Woolfenden as Bill’s executive officer and Dr. Austin as the “Overseer.” I got my diploma in the mail. After a few years with the Navy and Marine Corps I returned to the Tortugas for the 1971 tern banding expedition. After college I led privately guided birding tours throughout Florida, and elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere, and many tours to the Dry Tortugas.”

“In 1986 while working on the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas I started doing birding tours of the Dry Tortugas for other tour companies. On a 1988 trip Bettye and I got married on Garden Key. In the spring of 1992 I started Florida Nature Tours and began leading birding tours to Dry Tortugas, South Florida and the Caribbean. I led tours to the Dry Tortugas through the spring of 2003, the year of the Long-eared Owl and White-tipped Dove. Since then I’ve been working as an environmental/ornithological consultant involved mostly with endangered species. In the spring of 2010 I returned to the Dry Tortugas to resume my Spring Birding Tours and I hope once again to return in the Spring of 2021.”

Cell: 407-376-6967     Email:  [email protected]

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