Bird Watching in Florida

If you are already into bird-wacthing (birding), you probably know that Florida is considered one of the best places in the world for this fun activity. We have more bird species than any other state east of the Mississippi River!

For international birders Florida offers an accessible, comfortable introduction to subtropical birding. North American birders flock to the state to see bird species not found elsewhere in the United States and Canada, such as the Snail Kite, Short-tailed Hawk, Black-hooded Parakeet, Mangrove Cuckoo, Black-whiskered Vireo and Florida Scrub-Jay.

The Florida Ornithological Society checklist of Florida Birds currently lists 516 different species of birds that can be seen in Florida. Approximately 125 of these are occasional visitors, 12 are non-native and 5 are reported extinct (2013 count). Many of the others are year round residents, some over winter here, and others use Florida as a migratory rest stop.

We have LOTS of birds in Florida that make their homes in and around waterways (lakes, springs, lagoons), and paddling is a great (and stealthy) way to spot, identify and photograph birds.  If fact, one of the best birdwatching sites in Florida, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, is right by one of our favorite camping sites in Mosquito Lagoon. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the state's most diverse wildlife habitats, supporting a large population of migrating and resident waterfowl and shorebirds.

Bird activity normally peaks during the hour or two just after sunrise. Birds have high metabolisms and need to first first thing in the morning. When we camp on the islands of Mosquito Lagoon, we are right there to witness LOTS of different types of birds after they wake up at sunrise. Early mornings also provide the best light to photograph birds.

We love Mosquito Lagoon and Merritt Island Refuge for photographing waterbirds also, as the still birds and water make it easier to capture perfect "mirror" reflections.

For your birdwatching trip in Florida, bring your camera & closeup lens, bird ID guide, tripod and binoculars. Birdwatching often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are more easily detected and identified by ear than by eye. There are lots of apps out there too that can help ID which birds you hear, but cannot see clearly.

Here are some of the birds we have seen on our recent trips:


Florida scrub jay Aphelocoma coerulescens



Osprey Pandion haliaetus


White Ibis Eudocimus albus



Limpkin Aramus guarauna


Wood Stork Mycteria americana


Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis


Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja



Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Click here to read an excellent guide on how to photograph birds

Marine Biologist/OW, Tech and Cave Instructor
denise@dayo.com
Orlando, Florida