Birds and Birding Info
Bird Board
The Tropical Audubon Bird Board provides a forum for local and visiting birders to share South Florida bird sightings with the birding community. Recent rare bird sightings are summarized in the South Florida Rare Bird Update. In addition to reports of rare, unusual or interesting birds and other wildlife seen in our area, appropriate BirdBoard content also includes local birding trip reports and requests for identification assistance. Users of this forum are asked to provide location specifics for bird sightings (including directions where appropriate), and are encouraged to include a photograph to illustrate their sighting.
South Florida's Birds
South Florida is world-renowned for its spectacular assemblages of herons, egrets and other wading birds, yet there are innumerable reasons why this region is considered one of the birding world’s preeminent destinations.
Birders flock to our beaches, parks and other hotspots seeking to expand their life lists with amazing species found only here. Our avifauna is a unique gathering of resident specialties and exotic introduced species, plus a wide variety of winter visitors, neotropical migrants and highly sought-after rarities from the Caribbean and beyond. If you’re hoping to see a Mangrove Cuckoo, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Painted Bunting, Bahama Mockingbird or countless other specialties, South Florida is the place to spot them!
Birding Locations
Looking for birds? Check out our list of 70+ prime birding locations spanning South Florida's varied habitats. Listed both alphabetically and by region, each site description includes birding highlights and directions to help you roost in the perfect hotspot.
South Florida Bird Guides
Looking to hire a professional bird guide during your visit to South Florida? TAS recommends the following:
Biscayne Birding Trail
TAS and Biscayne National Park are offering a certificate program for birders. Full color lifetime achievement certificates will be awarded at four levels. Kids 18 years and younger can earn a Junior Birder certificate. The program also awards an annual achievement certificate for at least 50 native birds found within the park in a calendar year.
Birding Resources
Looking for bird-related books, websites, checklists, audio recordings, travel info, trip reports or more? Recommended resources include:
- The Tropical Audubon Store
- Links to eBird and Florida's birding listservs
- Recorded bird songs and calls from the Macauley Library and Xeno-Canto
- South Florida birdlists
- Florida birding festival links
- Birding organization links
- Links to other bird and birding websites
- Florida botany, butterfly and park and nature websites
Field Trips
Tropical Audubon Society offers a diverse lineup of outings and programs of every feather, including: bird, butterfly and plant trips; morning forays, all-day adventures, overnight trips; local outings and expeditions far afield.
Injured Birds
If you find an injured bird, carefully place it in a ventilated cardboard box with protective lid or a towel over the top, and place in a cool, safe place. Birds go into shock very easily when injured, and often die from the shock. If a bird has hit a window and is still alive, it may just need a little time to regain its senses, then it may be able to fly away. Do not try to force-feed or give water to the bird. If it is still alive after a few hours, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.
Reporting Banded Birds
Banded birds may be reported to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Other organizations compile bird banding data for certain species such as spoonbills, snail kites and shorebirds.
Citizen Science
Tropical Audubon Society invites South Floridians to become volunteer Citizen Scientists and make a measurable difference in our environment and quality of life. In essence, Citizen Science is research conducted by members of the public, often with the help or supervision of a professional scientist or scientific institution. Whether volunteering for a TAS program or working with a TAS partner, citizen scientists can flex their intellect and/or muscle at a personal level of comfort that ultimately will benefit Nature or a particular conservation cause.
Bird Feeding Tips
Feeding birds is both entertaining and rewarding. Whether seedeaters, hummingbirds or fruit eaters are in your yard, you can offer each a little something special.
Illegal Trapping
Illegal trapping of buntings and other birds is a big problem in South Florida. If you see trapping going on, do not attempt to confront the trappers yourself. Report it to Fish and Wildlife. Our illegal trapping page has information on what to look for and how to report it.