The Florida Keys, known as a Bird Watcher’s Paradise, is regarded as a haven by many birders from all over the world. It offers an exciting array of wildlife thanks to its diverse habitats, making it a unique and sought-after location. It gives bird watchers the opportunity to see a wide range of rare and exotic species not found anywhere else.
With more than 500 bird species spotted in Florida, there’s plenty for you to enjoy during your vacation, no matter what your experience level. As it is such a popular birding destination, a lot of information has been provided to help make things easier for casual and expert birders alike.
What Birds Can You Expect to See?
The Florida Keys give a unique guarantee you won’t find anywhere else – you’re sure to see at least one bird species you’ve never laid eyes upon ever before. The mild climates help to attract a myriad of unusual birds such as the snail kite and Florida burrowing owl like this one “caught” on camera by Judy Cinque of Key Colony Beach Realty.
Bird watchers will travel from afar for the chance to spot these highly sought after birds.
Furthermore, there are plenty of wading birds, limpkins and Caribbean birds.
The best time to come visit may be during the spring and fall migration. During this time a great variety of species will use the Keys as a resting point to stop and refuel on their journey north. March is the perfect viewing time for Herons, Raptors and Ibises. The fall migration period lasts a little longer than the spring one and you can expect to see large flights of Raptors, including Peregrine Falcons and Broad-winged Hawks.
However, if your trip does not fall during this period, don’t worry as there are still plenty of birds to be seen all year round. Expect juvenile Sooty Terns amongst the tern colonies in the summer period. Water birds are to be found during the winter months, including gulls and terns. Of course, sometimes winter storms can bring in rarer bird species, such as snow geese and shore birds.
Bird Watcher’s Paradise: Top Florida Keys
Make sure you visit the central Florida Keys on your bird watching trip. It has plenty of brilliant birding opportunities. Key Colony Beach makes a great basecamp as there are various locations close by. It’s close to all the amenities of Marathon, but located off the beaten path. It’s just an hour to Key West for a day trip if you desire.
Some of the birds you might see in this area include Eagles, Osprey and the White Crowned Pigeon. Bahia Honda State Park is another great location, especially for watching bird feed, such as brown pelicans. Discover wading and shore birds in this tropical area, making it a worthwhile destination.
You might consider visiting Boca Grande, a remote island west of Key West. It’s accessible by private charters or boat rentals if you don’t bring your own boat to the Keys. This is another fantastic place to catch some birds on migration, including white pelicans. There are plenty of shore birds, wading birds and birds of prey to be found in this stunning location. It is locations such as these that help to make the Florida Keys a bird watcher’s paradise.
Bird watchers find the ideal location in the Florida Keys to observe an impressive array of birds, including some rarer species that many seek. Be sure to bring some good binoculars so you can make the most of your visit!
