Florida is home to a diverse array of bird species due to its varied habitats and geographic location. From vibrant tropical species to majestic birds of prey, there are many fantastic birds that can be seen in the Sunshine State. Here are 30 amazing Florida birds that birdwatchers should look out for when exploring the state’s natural areas.

American Flamingo

The bright pink American Flamingo is one of Florida’s most iconic birds. They can be found in the Florida Keys and the Everglades, where they feed in shallow saltwater areas. Their pink color comes from the carotenoid pigments in the algae and small crustaceans that they eat. Flamingos are social birds that live in large flocks called colonies. They build mud mounds for their nests and lay one egg per year.

Roseate Spoonbill

Recognizable by their unique spoon-shaped bills, Roseate Spoonbills are a vibrant pink species of wading bird. They sweep these specialized bills back and forth in shallow water to catch small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. Spoonbills breed in coastal areas and feed in freshwater wetlands across the state. These striking birds nest in trees and mangroves in breeding colonies.

Painted Bunting

The beautiful Painted Bunting is known for the colorful plumage on the males. With hues of blue, green, yellow, and red, they are often called the non-tropical American bird. Females have green bodies with blue-tinted wings. Painted Buntings frequent shrublands, woodland edges, and feeders across Florida.

Snail Kite

A raptor found in freshwater marshes and wetlands, the Snail Kite gets its name from its specialized diet of Apple Snails. Its curved bill allows it to expertly extract the snails from their shells. Due to habitat loss, Snail Kites are endangered in Florida. Lucky birders may spot them soaring low over the sawgrass hunting for Apple Snails.

Purple Gallinule

Easily identified by their bright purple-blue plumage and long yellow legs, the Purple Gallinule is a fun wetland bird to spot in Florida. They walk atop floating vegetation, sometimes even upside down, using their long toes. Gallinules swim with a jerky, bobbing motion and can dive underwater momentarily if needed.

Anhinga

Sometimes called the Snake Bird or Water Turkey, the Anhinga is a large water bird with a long neck and dagger-like bill. When swimming, only its head and long neck are visible above the water, giving it a snake-like appearance. True to its name, Anhingas spear fish underwater and have the ability to remain submerged for extended periods while hunting.

Wood Stork

As the only stork species that breeds in the United States, the Wood Stork is an impressive large wading bird. They breed in Florida year-round, typically in large rookeries in cypress swamps or mangroves. Wood Storks are endangered in Florida due to habitat loss. However, restoration efforts have helped populations rebound in recent years.

Burrowing Owl

One of Florida’s most unique owls, the Burrowing Owl lives in underground burrows originally created by Gopher Tortoises. They have long legs and are often active during the day, perching at the entrance of a burrow. Though small, they help control rodent and insect populations. Burrowing Owls are a threatened species in Florida.

Swallow-tailed Kite

A graceful raptor that feeds exclusively on insects caught during flight, the Swallow-tailed Kite migrates to Florida each spring to breed. They build nests high up in trees, typically choosing tall pines near wetlands and river systems. Watch for their distinctive profile high overhead, with pointed wings and a deeply forked tail.

Sandhill Crane

Standing nearly 4 feet tall, the elegant Sandhill Crane can be found across Florida grasslands, meadows, and wetlands. Mated pairs engage in an elaborate, synchronized mating dance. These large gray birds are long-lived, with some reaching over 20 years old. They’re very social and usually migrate and nest in cooperative groups.

American Oystercatcher

The bold black and white American Oystercatcher probes for oysters and mussels along Florida’s coastal beaches and islands with its long, knife-like orange bill. They nest on the ground, and the chicks are precocial, able to feed themselves soon after hatching while still being guarded and brooded by the parents.

Smooth-billed Ani

The Smooth-billed Ani has a long tail and a large, curved black bill used for eating fruits, seeds, and insects. They breed in South Florida and are highly social, forming breeding groups of multiple females that lay eggs in a communal nest. Smooth-billed Anis have loud vocalizations and black plumage with blue iridescent highlights.

Wood Duck

One of North America’s most stunningly colorful waterfowl, male Wood Ducks are known for their iridescent greens and burgundies accented with bold white markings. They nest in tree cavities near wooded wetlands and swamps across Florida. Females have a gray-brown, camouflaged body that helps conceal her while incubating eggs.

Reddish Egret

A medium-sized heron of coastal habitats, the Reddish Egret comes in a dark and a white morph. They use an acrobatic technique called canopy feeding, spreading wings to create shade that attracts fish. This entertaining feeding behavior makes the egret a fun bird to observe. Breeding birds grow filmy, wispy plumes on their head, neck, and back.

Black Skimmer

The unique Black Skimmer has a large red and black bill with a lower mandible longer than the upper, allowing it to skim the water’s surface with its bill open to catch small fish. Skimmers nest on sandy coastal beaches and islands in large colonies. They are graceful in flight, with long narrow wings.

White Ibis

Often seen wading in shallows probing for food, the White Ibis has brilliant white plumage contrasted by black wingtips and a long decurved bill that is reddish-pink during breeding season. These elegant wetland birds breed in huge rookeries, with up to 10,000 nests in a single site. Their downward-curving bill allows them to probe crevices for crustaceans.

Limpkin

The Limpkin is a large, heron-like bird that inhabits freshwater wetlands and marshes in Florida. They have long legs and a distinctive long, slightly curved bill specialized for extracting Apple Snails from their shells. Limpkins have loud, shrieking calls that carry over wetlands. They also have an unusual reverberating call likened to a wailing woman or crying baby.

Barn Owl

With their white heart-shaped faces, Barn Owls are a distinctive owl species found in rural areas across Florida. They inhabit abandoned buildings, barns, and tree cavities and hunt by slowly flying low over open areas at night. Barn Owls consume large amounts of rodents and other small prey. They make screeching calls and also hiss at intruders when threatened.

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallows can often be seen flying over fields catching insects on the wing. They build mud nests lined with feathers attached to vertical surfaces on manmade structures. Originally cliff nesters, they readily adapted to nesting on human structures. Look for their long forked tail, reddish underparts, and steely blue back. Barn Swallows migrate to Florida in spring and summer.

White-crowned Pigeon

A striking grey pigeon with a beautiful white crown, white tail edges, and bright red feet and eyes, the White-crowned Pigeon frequents forests across the Caribbean and South Florida. They forage for wild fruits and berries and make loud coos when communicating. White-crowned Pigeons fly swiftly and directly in small flocks.

Barred Owl

A common forest owl, the Barred Owl has striking vertical brown stripes on its chest and horizontal barring on the belly. They have large, dark eyes and a brown-streaked cream face. Barred Owls use a variety of vocalizations, most famously a series of 8 loud, rhythmic hoots. They hunt from perches, preying on rodents and other small animals.

Northern Cardinal

The brilliant red Northern Cardinal with a crest and black face mask is probably the most easily recognized backyard bird throughout Florida. The red hue comes from carotenoids found in seeds and fruit contained in their typical diet. Look for females that are tan with some red in the wings and tail. Cardinals are non-migratory, remaining year-round as breeding pairs.

Eastern Bluebird

A small thrush with brilliant plumage, the male Eastern Bluebird has deep blue upperparts and a rusty orange throat and breast. Females are grayer overall with some blue in the wings and tail. Bluebirds perch on wires or branches scanning for insects. They readily use nest boxes, helping boost their populations.

Crested Caracara

The Crested Caracara has a unique appearance for a bird of prey. It has a long neck, stout body, long legs, and a large black bill. It is mostly brown but has a black crest, whitish head, and buff neck and underside. Caracaras typically feed on carrion but also eat insects, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and eggs. They are found in dry prairies and ranchlands.

Killdeer

A common shorebird found in open, grassy areas, the Killdeer is named for its loud, shrill “kill-dee” call. They run swiftly over the ground, pausing periodically to check for insects and invertebrates in the soil. Killdeer perform a “broken wing act” distraction display when a predator approaches the nest. They lay eggs directly on the ground in scrapes lined with pebbles or debris.

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egrets are elegant white wading birds that can be readily identified by their vibrant yellow feet and black bill with yellow lores. During breeding season, they grow beautiful lacy plumes on the back, head, and chest. They hunt for small aquatic animals in shallow waters and wetlands across the state.

Tricolored Heron

Often seen walking slowly through shallow wetlands stalking prey, the slender Tricolored Heron has gorgeous plumage in white, blue, and lavender. The bill can range from all yellow to a mix of blue-gray and yellow. Tricolored Herons hunt fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates using a specialized technique of bill vibration and baiting to attract prey.

Osprey

A specialist fish eater, the Osprey plunges feet first to catch fish swimming near the surface of waterways across Florida. They possess a reversible outer toe that allows them to grasp fish more securely. Sometimes called a Fish Hawk, Ospreys build large stick nests high up near water. Their loud, whistling calls carry over long distances.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

A striking bird of open country, the Fork-tailed Flycatcher breeds in South America but migrates north to Florida in winter. They have bold black and white plumage, long wings, and extraordinarily long, deeply forked tails. These flycatchers perch upright on fence posts and wires, darting out acrobatically to catch insects mid-air before returning to the same perch.

Hooded Merganser

Male Hooded Mergansers are boldly marked with a black back and tail, white sides, and a large fan-shaped crest on the head that can be raised dramatically. Females are gray-bodied with a reddish-brown crest. Hooded Mergansers are small diving ducks that inhabit wooded swamps and ponds across Florida. They mainly eat fish like minnows as well as aquatic invertebrates.

Pine Warbler

A year-round resident across Florida, the Pine Warbler frequents pine forests and wooded parks. They have olive upperparts, yellow underparts with streaking, and white tail patches. Pine Warblers forage along branches and sometimes catch insects in midair. Males sing a series of trills that descend in pitch. They nest in pine trees, often quite high up near the tops.

Pileated Woodpecker

Florida’s largest woodpecker, the crow-sized Pileated Woodpecker makes quite an impression with its red crest, black and white plumage, and loud calls. These woodpeckers excavate large, rectangular holes in trees to access carpenter ants and beetle larvae. Pileated Woodpeckers inhabit mature pine and hardwood forests across the state.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

A tiny songbird of open woodlands and thickets, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher feeds on insects caught in flight or gleaned off foliage. They have blue-gray upperparts, white underparts, and a very long black tail with white outer tail feathers. Males have a black cap. Though very small at only 4-5 inches long, the energetic Gnatcatcher is constantly in motion as it forages.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Named for their extraordinarily long, forked tails, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers breed in Florida before returning south to winter in Mexico and Central America. They have pink sides, pale gray upperparts, and a red crown. From exposed perches like fences, wires, or small trees, they launch out to snatch insects before returning to the same perch.

Red-shouldered Hawk

A colorful raptor of wetland forests, the Red-shouldered Hawk hasreddish- and white-barred underparts and lined upperparts creating a ladderlike pattern when perched. They have piercing red eyes surrounded by white malar streaks and barred black and white tails. Red-shouldered Hawks make a piercing, whistling “kee-ah” call. They hunt small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians from low perches.

Loggerhead Shrike

Sometimes called a “Butcher Bird,” the Loggerhead Shrike impales prey like insects, lizards, and small mammals on thorns or barbed wire before tearing them apart. They have gray upperparts, black facial mask, and light underparts. Loggerhead Shrikes perch upright on wires or fence posts in open areas with scattered trees, from which they hunt.

Great Egret

A snowy-white heron with black legs and a yellow bill, Great Egrets can be seen patiently stalking prey in the shallows of ponds, marshes, and mangrove areas across Florida. They sometimes jab the water with their bills to attract fish before spearing them. In breeding plumage, they have beautiful filmy green-tinged plumes on the back.

Boat-tailed Grackle

Florida’s largest grackle species, the Boat-tailed Grackle has glossy blue-black plumage and a long, keel-shaped tail. The tail allows them to spread their feathers like a rudder as they swim and dive for food. Males have larger bodies and tails than females. Look for them strutting across lawns or foraging in shallow waters.

Eastern Meadowlark

A robin-sized songbird with a bold black “V” on the bright yellow breast, the Eastern Meadowlark frequents grasslands and fields. They sing a flutelike song from fenceposts and sometimes in a display flight overhead. Meadowlarks probe the ground for invertebrates with their long bills. When flushed, they reveal white outer tail feathers.

White-eyed Vireo

The small White-eyed Vireo has olive upperparts, white underparts, and a bold white ring around each eye. They inhabit tangled thickets and woodland edges, where they can be heard singing a chick-a-per-chick call. White-eyed Vireos hop through branches gleaning insects while slowly pumping their tails. Despite the name, females lack the white eye rings.

Bald Eagle

The national bird of the United States, the Bald Eagle has made an impressive comeback in Florida after nearly going extinct due to hunting and DDT poisoning. These powerful raptors have a massive wingspan and large yellow bill. Bald Eagles feed mainly on fish but will eat waterfowl and other small animals as well. They nest in tall trees near waterways and coastal areas.

Double-crested Cormorant

An expert swimmer and diver, the Double-crested Cormorant frequents coastal areas across Florida and inland lakes and rivers. They swim low in the water propelled by webbed feet. Double-crested Cormorants dive underwater to pursue fish. When drying their wings, a small double crest sometimes appears. They nest in trees and on docks and buoys.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

The attractive Black-bellied Whistling Duck has a long pink bill and black belly that contrasts with its grey body and chestnut neck and face. As the name suggests, they make a clear whistling call. They often perch and nest on tree branches near freshwater wetlands and canals. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks feed on plant material as well as aquatic invertebrates.

Common yellowthroat

A small warbler that inhabits marshes and wetlands, the Common yellowthroat male has a distinctive black mask over a gray head and bright yellow throat and breast. They also have a rufous patch under the tail. Females lack the mask and are gray-brown above with a paler throat. Common yellowthroats forage low, hopping through vegetation or sometimes catching insects in flight.

Belted Kingfisher

Often seen perched prominently on wires, posts, or branches near water before diving to catch fish, the Belted Kingfisher has a shaggy crested head and thick pointed bill. Females have a rusty band across the chest while males have a blue-gray band. They nest in burrows dug into vertical dirt or sand banks along waterways. Kingfishers are solitary and highly territorial.

Conclusion

Florida is truly a bird lover’s paradise with an incredible diversity of avian species from vibrant songbirds to majestic birds of prey.