Finding South 's Specialty Birds 4/13/2014 South Florida Specialties Home Contact TAS About TAS Birds Birdboard Conservation Store Events Membership Newsletter Volunteer! Original version compiled by Steve Mumford and Jeff W eber, updated by John Boyd and Brian Rapoza. If you have comments or suggestions, email the webmaster. Picture/IDs linked from: USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter More Bird Info Directions to many of the locations listed below can be found on the Birding Locations page. Bird and Nature Where Can I Find? Books Bird Feeding Tips Black-bellied W histling-Duck Limpkin Gray Kingbird Bird Rehab Info Fulvous W histling-Duck Snowy Plover Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Birding Locations Mottled Duck Lesser Black-backed Gull Bell's Vireo Masked Booby Brown Noddy Black-whiskered Vireo Specialty Birds Brown Booby Sooty Tern Florida Scrub-Jay STA-5 and STA-1E Magnificent Frigatebird Roseate Tern Cave Swallow Schedules Least Bittern W hite-crowned Pigeon Brown-headed Nuthatch TAS Birdboard Reddish Egret Mangrove Cuckoo Red-whiskered Bulbul Walk Schedule Roseate Spoonbill Smooth-billed Ani Common Myna Bird Links W ood Stork Burrowing Owl Hill Myna Breeding Bird Atlas American Flamingo Lesser Nighthawk Cuban Golden W arbler Swallow-tailed Kite Antillean Nighthawk Prothonotary W arbler W hite-tailed Kite Chuck-will's-widow Yellow-breasted Chat Birding Snail Kite Red-cockaded W oodpecker Bachman's Sparrow Locations Bald Eagle Monk Parakeet Sharp-tailed Sparrows Great Black-Hawk Nanday Parakeet Seaside Sparrow Northern Miami-Dade Short-tailed Hawk W hite-winged Parakeet Painted Bunting Crested Caracara Other Parrots Shiny Cowbird Southern Miami-Dade Black Rail Brown-crested Flycatcher Bronzed Cowbird Everglades main park King Rail Alder Flycatcher Spot-breasted Oriole road Purple Swamphen Vermilion Flycatcher The Florida Keys Purple Gallinule Tropical Kingbird Broward County Palm Beach What about West Indian vagrants? Tamiami Trail W hite-cheeked Pintail Zenaida Dove Thick-billed Vireo Other south Florida Masked Duck Key W est Quail-Dove Bahama Swallow locations Least Grebe Ruddy Quail-Dove Bahama Mockingbird W hite-tailed Tropicbird “Arawak” Short-eared Owl Bananaquit Local Red-footed Booby Bahama W oodstar W estern Spindalis Neotropic Cormorant Cuban Pewee Yellow-faced Grassquit Checklists Black Noddy La Sagra's Flycatcher Black-faced Grassquit Loggerhead Kingbird Miami-Dade County Monroe County Need More Info? Bill Baggs Cape A variety of birding and nature books are available through the TAS Store on Florida amazon.com, including Brian Rapoza's Birding Florida, which covers many birding A.D. Barnes locations throughout the state. Cutler Wetlands Elaine Gordon Park The Birds Lucky Hammock BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK Black-bellied W histling-Ducks are most likely at Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (STA- 5), in Hendry County, but are also possible in the Everglades Agricultural Area and at STA-1E and W akodahatchee and Green Cay W etlands, in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK Fulvous W histling-Ducks are most likely at Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (STA-5), in Hendry County, but are also possible in the Everglades Agricultural Area and STA-1E, in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

MOTTLED DUCK

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Mottled Ducks are likely at Dump Marsh and Cutler W etlands, and are resident at W akodahatchee and Green Cay W etlands, in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL W hite-cheeked Pintails are resident throughout much of the Caribbean, but are only occasionally seen in Florida. It's also difficult to determine if individuals are escapees or true vagrants. The most recent sighting in south Florida was from Grassy W aters Preserve in Palm Beach County in 2011. Return to birdlist.

MASKED DUCK Masked Ducks are resident in scattered locations throughout the Caribbean, but are only occasionally seen in Florida. The most recent sighting in south Florida was from the Gate 15 area of in 2010; others have been found recently at locations in central Florida. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

LEAST GREBE Least Grebes are resident throughout the Caribbean, but are only occasionally seen in Florida. The last verified sighting in south Florida was in Fall 2008 at Yamato Scrub in Palm Beach County. The previous one was at Key Deer National W ildlife Refuge in 1988. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD W hite-tailed Tropicbirds breed throughout the Caribbean, but are only rarely seen in Florida. Most sightings have been from the Dry Tortugas. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

MASKED BOOBY Masked Boobies nest on Hospital Key in the Dry Tortugas. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BROWN BOOBY Brown Boobies often perch on Fowey Light, in . A boat is needed to reach this location. Brown Boobies can sometimes be seen on channel markers in the Dry Tortugas. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

RED-FOOTED BOOBY Red-footed Boobies breed on remote islands in scattered locations throughout the Caribbean, and are seen only occasionally in Florida. The most recent sighting in south Florida was from Fowey Light in Biscayne National Park in 2011. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT Neotropic Cormorants are resident in the Bahamas and Cuba. The first verified sighting in Florida was from Boca Chica Key, near Key W est, in 2007. Another was present there in spring 2009. Since 2012, Neotropic Cormorants have been found during winter at W akodahatchee W etlands in Palm Beach County; one or two have been seen on nests. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD Magnificent Frigatebirds are most common during summer in the Florida peninsula and are easy to see on Key Biscayne. They roost on an island off Crandon Marina, to your right after you cross the Bear Cut Bridge onto Key Biscayne. They may be seen year-round in the Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

LEAST BITTERN Least Bitterns are more often heard than seen at locations such as Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park. During spring and summer, they are often conspicuous at W akodahatchee and Green Cay W etlands in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

REDDISH EGRET Reddish Egrets prefer coastal beaches and mudflats. A reliable location is at the Flamingo visitor center in Everglades National Park. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

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ROSEATE SPOONBILL Roseate Spoonbills can usually be seen at Paurotis Pond and Flamingo, and sometimes at Shark Valley, in Everglades National Park. During late summer, they often congregate in large numbers in the Everglades Agricultural Area in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

WOOD STORK W ood Storks nest at Paurotis Pond in Everglades National Park, but can often be found during winter at Anhinga Trail, Mrazek Pond, Shark Valley and other locations within the National Park. It is also not unusual to see them feeding in wet areas along highways. During late summer, they often congregate in large numbers in the Everglades Agricultural Area in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

AMERICAN FLAMINGO American Flamingos have become scarce since the hurricanes of 2005, but are still reported occasionally in Florida Bay or in the Keys. They have been most recently seen in Snake Bight and at Lake Ingraham in Everglades National Park. These locations are most easily accessed by motorized boat, though Snake Bight can also be reached at high tide by canoe or kayak. They are no longer likely to be seen from the boardwalk at the end of Snake Bight Trail. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE These beautiful raptors arrive in Florida in late February and return to their wintering grounds in South and Central America by September. Look for them anywhere along the main park road in Everglades National Park, as well as at Royal Palm Hammock, Long Pine Key, Paurotis Pond, W est Lake and the Flamingo area. Swallow-tailed Kites may also be seen in suburban Miami-Dade, especially the South Miami area. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

WHITE-TAILED KITE W hite-tailed Kites are occasionally seen in Southwest Miami-Dade. Places to check include over fields, around Lucky Hammock on Aerojet Road, the C-357 sparrow fields on SW 168 Street and along SW 237th Avenue, in the East Everglades near the Chekika Unit of Everglades National Park. In the main portion of the national park they are most often found in the restoration area at the end of Research Road. They seem to prefer prairie-like areas, including some farm fields. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SNAIL KITE Throughout the year but especially during winter, Snail Kites can be found on the north side of U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) near the Shark Valley section of Everglades National Park. Good vantage points are the parking lot of the Miccosukee Indian Restaurant (across from the Shark Valley entrance), and the abandoned airboat concession just across the road from the Everglades Tower Motel, a mile west of Shark Valley. Snail Kites can also be found in the W ater Conservation Area west of Markham Park in Broward County, and can be common at Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (STA-5) in Hendry County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BALD EAGLE Bald Eagle may be seen soaring overhead anywhere in Everglades National Park, but are more likely in the Flamingo area. They are often seen over Dump Marsh and Cutler W etlands. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

GREAT BLACK-HAWK Although not ABA-countable, Great Black-Hawks of unknown origin have been seen in the Miami area since the 1970's. In recent years, most sightings have been on Virginia Key. Robin Diaz has provided a detailed summary of the situation. Return to birdlist.

SHORT-TAILED HAWK During winter, Short-Tailed Hawks can be most reliably seen in Everglades National Park. They are seen regularly over Royal Palm Hammock (watch for them among kettles of vultures), along Research Road, at W est Lake, Nine Mile Pond and Eco Pond in Flamingo. They can also be seen occasionally over suburban Miami-Dade. Pic/ID Return to birdlist. http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/specialty.html#grbh 3 / 11 Finding South Florida's Specialty Birds 4/13/2014

CRESTED CARACARA The closest reliable location for Crested Caracara is along Snake Road (CR 833) in Broward County and Pole Crossing Road (CR 846) in Hendry County. The southern terminus of Snake Road is at Exit 49 of Alligator Alley (I-75). Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BLACK RAIL Black Rails are rarely seen, but during winter, they can sometimes be heard at dawn or dusk along the Coastal Prairie Trail in Flamingo, Everglades National Park. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

KING RAIL King Rails are more often heard than seen; your best bet is to visit Shark Valley, in Everglades National Park, early in the morning. They are also regularly seen in the East Everglades, along SW 237th Avenue (follow the signs toward Chekika). Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

PURPLE SWAMPHEN This introduced species is common at Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (STA-5) in Hendry County and STA1-E, STA1-W and Harold Campbell Day Use Area (STA3/4) in Palm Beach County. Swamphens can still be found at several locations in Broward County, including the City Furniture wetlands on Hiatus Road between McNab Road and Commercial Boulevard, the wetlands near Southeast Regional Library, on the north side of Sheridan Street, 1.2 miles west of I-75 in Pembroke Pines, Silver Lakes North Park, on the south side of Sheridan Street, 0.3 mile west of the library, Chapel Trail Nature Preserve, 2 miles west of Silver Lakes North Park and at W ater Conservation Area 2-A, accessed from Markham Park. In Miami-Dade, swamphens can be found in wetlands surrounding Dolphin Mall at Florida's Turnpike and the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836). Return to birdlist.

PURPLE GALLINULE Look for Purple Gallinule at Anhinga Trail and at Shark Valley (especially in the canal along the west side of the loop road) in Everglades National Park, and at W akodahatchee W etlands, Green Cay W etlands and Loxahatchee National W ildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

LIMPKIN Limpkins can reliably be found at Shark Valley, along Snake Road (CR 833) in Broward County and at W akodahatchee W etlands, Green Cay W etlands, W ellington Environmental Preserve, and Loxahatchee National W ildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SNOWY PLOVER Snowy Plover nests in small numbers on Gulf Coast beaches. Reliable locations in south Florida include Tigertail Beach on Marco Island (Collier County) and Big Carlos Pass and Bunche Beach near Ft. Myers Beach (Lee County). Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Lesser Black-backed Gulls are regular at Crandon Beach on Key Biscayne and in the Crystal Lakes area around Pompano Beach landfill in Broward County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BROWN NODDY Brown Noddies are easy to see during spring and summer in the Dry Tortugas, their only nesting location in North America. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BLACK NODDY Black Noddies are rare but almost annual spring visitors to the Dry Tortugas. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SOOTY TERN Sooty Terns are easy to see during spring and summer in the Dry Tortugas, their only nesting location in North America. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

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Roseate Terns breed during summer in the Florida Keys. One location where they have nested in recent years is on the roof of the Government Center buildings, at mile marker 48.5 in Marathon. They may also be seen perched on channel markers in the Dry Tortugas. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON W hite-crowned Pigeons are most common in the Florida Keys. Look for them at Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site, and in Key W est. They may also be perched on wires anywhere along US 1 from Key Largo to Key W est. They can often be seen in Everglades National Park, as well as in the Lucky Hammock area, just outside the park. Good areas within the park include Royal Palm Hammock, Paurotis and Nine Mile Ponds (scan the treetops on the far side of the ponds), and along Snake Bight Trail. Finally, they may be found in suburban south Miami-Dade. Check wires in South Miami and around Baptist Hospital, as well as at A.D. Barnes, Matheson Hammock and Kendall Indian Hammocks Parks. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

ZENAIDA DOVE Zenaida Doves are resident throughout the Caribbean, but are only occasionally seen in Florida. The last verified sighting was from Key Largo in 2009. Return to birdlist.

KEY WEST QUAIL-DOVE Key W est Quail-Doves are resident in the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, but are only occasionally seen in Florida. Recent sightings include from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, both in 1999, and from Elliot Key, Biscayne National Park, in 2002. Return to birdlist.

RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE Ruddy Quail-Doves are resident throughout the Caribbean (except the Bahamas), but are only occasionally seen in Florida. The most recent sighting was from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in 2002. Return to birdlist.

MANGROVE CUCKOO Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site has been a reliable location for this secretive species, especially during spring. Other locations worth trying include Black Point Marina, and Snake Bight and Bear Lake Trails in Everglades National Park. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SMOOTH-BILLED ANI W hile still common in the Bahamas, this species has almost disappeared as a breeding bird in Florida. In recent years, a reliable location was south of Ft. Lauderdale International Airport. One or more anis were regularly seen on Old Griffin Road, about 0.2 miles west of US 1. More recently, a single bird was seen in an overgrown field on the north side of the canal that parallels Old Griffin Road, just west of the railroad tracks that cross the road. Previously, anis could be reliably found on the fence along the perimeter road on the south side of the airport. This area is best accessed from Greenbelt Park. The park entrance is on Griffin Road. Anis are still occasionally seen in and around Everglades National Park and may also continue in Loxahatchee National W ildlife Refuge and in the Everglades Agricultural Area of Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BURROWING OWL Burrowing Owls reside at a number of local airports, including Kendall/Tamiami Executive Airport (SW 137 Avenue, between SW 120 and SW 136 Street), Homestead General Aviation Airport (SW 217 Avenue, north of SW 296 Street), Opa- Locka Airport (NW 135 Street, between NW 37 and NW 57 Avenue) and Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport (NW 21 Avenue, north of Commercial Boulevard). Burrowing Owls can also be found at Brian Piccolo Park, on Sheridan Street in Cooper City (Broward County)), on golf courses and in residential areas in Marathon (Monroe County), and on Marco Island (Collier County). Burrows at all of these locations are usually marked with stakes, orange cones or t-bars. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

“ARAWAK” (SHORT-EARED) OWL The Arawak Owl is the Antillean race of Short-eared Owl. It is resident in Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico and is an almost annual visitor to the Dry Tortugas. Individuals are sometimes found at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park in Key W est. The http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/specialty.html#grbh 5 / 11 Finding South Florida's Specialty Birds 4/13/2014

Antillean race is buffier than the continental race, itself an occasional winter visitor to the Florida mainland. Return to birdlist.

LESSER NIGHTHAWK Lesser Nighthawk winters in small numbers in south Florida. Reliable locations include Dump Marsh, the Lucky Hammock area on Aerojet Road and around Eco Pond in Flamingo, Everglades National Park. ID Return to birdlist.

ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK Antillean Nighthawks can be found during spring and summer over Marathon and Key W est airports in the Florida Keys, and occasionally in Key Largo and at Long Pine Key campground in Everglades National Park. Common Nighthawks are also likely at these locations, so learn to distinguish them by call ("pity-pit-pit" for Antillean, "peent" for Common). ID Return to birdlist.

CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW Chuck-will's-widows are most likely to be seen during spring and fall migration, when they perch on tree limbs in hardwood hammocks and often flush when approached. Good locations during migration include A.D. Barnes Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. During spring and summer, Chuck-will's-widows may be heard just before sunrise around pinelands and hammocks in Everglades National Park. Reliable locations include the pinelands around the entrance station and the Royal Palm Hammock parking area. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BAHAMA WOODSTAR Bahama W oodstars are endemic to the Bahamas, but are very rarely seen in Florida. The last verified sighting was from Homestead in 1981. Return to birdlist.

RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER Red-cockaded W oodpeckers nest in Big Cypress National Preserve as well as in J W Corbett W ildlife Management Area in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, but in locations inaccessible to birders or heavily used by hunters. This species has been recently introduced to DuPuis Management Area in Martin and Palm Beach Counties; accessible nest clusters can be found along the management area's auto tour road. They also nest at Babcock W ebb W ildlife Management Area, in Charlotte County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist. Parrots Over 75 species of parrots have been introduced to Florida; of these, at least 20 species are now breeding in the state. Only four are currently ABA-countable in Florida; of these, three are countable in the Miami area:

MONK PARAKEET Monk Parakeet: W hile parrots introduced to Florida typically nest in tree cavities, Monk Parakeets are the only species that builds communal stick nests. These large, bulky nests can be found throughout suburban southeast Florida, sometimes in trees but also on power poles and other man-made structures. Reliable locations in Miami-Dade include Miami Shores, Miami Springs (around the Fair Haven Nursing Home), Key Biscayne, Baptist Hospital and Kendall Indian Hammocks, A D Barnes and Matheson Hammock Parks. The parakeets are often found around shopping centers along SW 88 Street (Kendall Drive); stick nests are conspicuous on power poles where North Kendall Drive crosses SW 127 Avenue. Return to birdlist.

WHITE-WINGED PARAKEET Canary-winged Parakeet has been split into Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) and W hite-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus). Currently, only the W hite-winged Parakeet is ABA-countable. W hite-winged and Yellow-chevroned Parakeets are widespread in the Miami area and may be seen almost anywhere. W hite-winged Parakeets are more common in Broward and the Miami Shores area of north Miami-Dade, while Yellow-chevroned is dominant in Miami Springs, Coral Gables, Kendall and South Miami. In recent years, W hite-winged Parakeets have been frequently seen near the intersection of NW 42 Avenue (LeJeune Road) and NW 7 Street, south of Miami International Airport. Both species have been seen at Baptist Hospital; look in trees around the ponds at the front of the hospital. Other locations include A D Barnes and Matheson Hammock Parks. Pic/ID Return to birdlist. http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/specialty.html#grbh 6 / 11 Finding South Florida's Specialty Birds 4/13/2014

NANDAY PARAKEET In southeast Florida, Nanday Parakeets are most often seen in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Reliable locations in Broward include Tall Cypress Natural Area and around the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame on Griffin Road, just west of I-95. Boynton Inlet in Boynton Beach is a reliable location in Palm Beach. Nandays can sometimes be found in Miami-Dade (Biscayne Gardens, Miami Shores and the ZooMiami area are reliable locations). Nandays are common in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.

OTHER PARROTS Budgerigar: The only locations in Florida where countable Budgerigars may be found are in Pasco and Hernando Counties, north of Tampa. The following areas in Miami-Dade can be good for finding a variety of parrots: Biscayne Gardens: the neighborhoods east of I-95, between NW 151 Street and NW 135 Street, especially along South Biscayne River Drive. Monk, W hite- winged, Yellow-chevroned, Black-hooded, Blue-crowned, Mitred, Red-masked, Crimson-fronted and W hite-eyed Parakeets; Chestnut-fronted Macaw; W hite- fronted, Orange-winged and Red-crowned Parrots. Miami Shores: the neighborhoods east of I-95, between NE 103 Street and NE 95 Street, east to Miami Shores Country Club. Monk, W hite-winged, Yellow- chevroned, Black-hooded, Blue-crowned, Mitred, Red-masked, Crimson-fronted and W hite-eyed Parakeets; Chestnut-fronted Macaw; W hite-fronted, Orange- winged and Red-crowned Parrots. Miami Beach: the neighborhoods around Muss Park (on Chase Road) and Pine Tree Park (on Pine Tree Road); both parks are just north of Arthur Godfrey Road (accessed from the mainland via I-195/Julia Tuttle Causeway). Monk, Blue- crowned, Mitred. amd W hite-eyed Parakeets, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Scaly- headed Parrot. Miami Springs: the neighborhood around Fair Haven Nursing Home on Curtiss Parkway, as well as the neighborhood around the intersection of W ren Avenue and Apache Street. Monk, Yellow-chevroned, Blue-crowned, Green, Mitred, Scarlet-fronted, Red-masked, Crimson-fronted, W hite-eyed and Dusky-headed Parakeets; Blue-fronted, Orange-winged, Red-crowned and Yellow-crowned Parrots. Key Biscayne: neighborhoods in the village of Key Biscayne, plus Crandon Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Monk Parakeets. South Miami: the neighborhoods between SW 56 Street (Miller Drive), SW 72 Street (Sunset Drive), SW 67 Avenue (Ludlam Road), and SW 57 Avenue (Red Road). Monk, W hite-winged, Yellow-chevroned, Mitred and Red-masked Parakeets, Blue-and-yellow and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, W hite-fronted, Blue- fronted, Orange-winged, Red-crowned, Lilac-crowned, Yellow-crowned, Yellow- headed and Mealy Parrots. A D Barnes Park: entrance is on SW 72 Avenue, north of SW 40 Street (Bird Road). Monk, W hite-winged, Yellow-chevroned and Mitred Parakeets, Blue-and- yellow and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Orange-winged Parrot. Baptist Hospital area: the neighborhoods between US 1 (South Dixie Highway) and SR 874 (Don Shula Expessway), SR 878 (Snapper Creek Expressway) and SW 88 Street (North Kendall Drive). Monk, W hite-winged, Yellow-chevroned and Mitred Parakeets. Kendall Indian Hammocks Park: entrance is on SW 107 Avenue, north of SW 88 Street (North Kendall Drive). Monk Parakeets. Matheson Hammock Park: entrance is on Old Cutler Road, south of SW 88 Street (North Kendall Drive). Monk, W hite-winged, Yellow-chevroned and Red- masked Parakeets, Blue-and-yellow Macaw,Lilac-crowned Parakeet. Metrozoo/Larry and Penny Thompson Park: west of Florida's Turnpike; the entrance to Metrozoo is on SW 152 Street (Coral Reef Drive), the entrance to Larry and Penny Thompson Park is on SW 184 Street (Eureka Drive). Monk and Black-hooded Parakeets. The most reliable way to locate parrots in residential neighborhoods is by driving side streets with the windows down, listening for squawking. Early morning and late afternoon are most productive. As always when birding in urban areas, common sense is essential. Avoid birding alone. Lock car doors and secure valuables out of sight. Do not trespass on private property. Return to birdlist.

CUBAN PEWEE Cuban Pewees, sometimes called Crescent-eyed Pewees, are resident in the Bahamas and Cuba. The last sighting in Florida was from Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park, in 2010. Return to birdlist.

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Alder Flycatchers can be found annually during late August and September in “The Annex” area along Aerojet Road. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

VERMILION FLYCATCHER Vermilion Flycatchers now winter almost annually in Florida. Since 2011, one or two have wintered along the C-111 Canal where it crosses SR 9336, east of the entrance to Everglades National Park. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER A few Brown-crested Flycatchers are seen annually during winter. The best locations to find them are in and around Everglades National Park, including Lucky Hammock, Royal Palm, and Long Pine Key. Listen for their big “whit” call. Keep in mind that they are substantially outnumbered by Great Crested Flycatchers. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

TROPICAL KINGBIRD Tropical Kingbirds now winter almost annually in south Florida. Several were in south Miami-Dade during the winter of 2012-13, including along SR 9336 outside the entrance to Everglades National Park and at the C-357 sparrow fields on SW 168 Street. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

LA SAGRA'S FLYCATCHER La Sagra's Flycatchers are resident in the Bahamas and Cuba, but are seen in Florida almost annually, typically at coastal locations. Return to birdlist.

GRAY KINGBIRD Gray Kingbirds are common and conspicuous during spring and summer in suburban Miami and throughout the Keys; they can usually be found around shopping centers. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne is another reliable location; they often perch on wires near the lighthouse. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

LOGGERHEAD KINGBIRD Loggerhead Kingbirds are resident in the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The first verified sighting in Florida was from Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in 2007, with a repeat visit in 2009. Return to birdlist.

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, along with W estern Kingbirds, can often be found in Flamingo, Everglades National Park, during winter. Check along the main park road from the visitor center to Eco Pond. Near the park entrance, check the wires and fences along SR 9336 and around Lucky Hammock on Aerojet Road. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

THICK-BILLED VIREO Thick-billed Vireos are resident in the Bahamas, but are only occasionally seen in Florida. The most recent sightings are from Crandon Park on Key Biscayne in 2010, Matheson Hammock Park in 2011, and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in 2013. Return to birdlist.

BELL'S VIREO Bell's Vireo winters almost annually in south Florida. A good location is the Lucky Hammock area on Aerojet Road. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO During spring and summer, Black-whiskered Vireos are easiest to find in the Florida Keys, where they sing incessantly throughout the day. Good locations include Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site and . During spring migration, Black-whiskered Vireos are often seen and heard at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Matheson Hammock Park and in hammocks throughout Everglades National Park. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

FLORIDA SCRUB-JAY The closest reliable locations for Florida Scrub-Jay, the only bird endemic to Florida,

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are Jupiter Ridge Natural Area, in Palm Beach County, and Jonathan Dickinson State Park, in Martin County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BAHAMA SWALLOW Bahama Swallows are endemic to the Bahamas, but are very rarely seen in Florida. The last verified sighting was from the Cutler Ridge Cave Swallow roost in 1992. Return to birdlist.

CAVE SWALLOW At dawn and dusk during spring and summer, look for Cave Swallows of the W est Indian race under the Florida Turnpike bridge over Black Creek, just north of Southwest 216th Street in Cutler Ridge; they may be also seen at Cutler W etlands and Dump Marsh. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH Brown-headed Nuthatch has been reintroduced to pine rocklands in Everglades National Park, and can be seen in and around the Long Pine Key picnic area and campground, as well as in pinelands along Research Road. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

RED-WHISKERED BULBUL Red-whiskered Bulbuls are often seen in the neighborhood just north of Baptist Hospital on SW 88 Street (Kendall Drive), the Kendalwood neighborhood on SW 82 Street, west of SW 87 Avenue, as well as in the native planting area at Kenwood Elementary (SW 79 Avenue, 0.2 miles south of Kendall Drive). Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BAHAMA MOCKINGBIRD Bahama Mockingbirds are resident in the Bahamas, Jamaica and on islands off the northern coast of Cuba, but are seen almost annually in Florida, typically at coastal locations. Return to birdlist.

COMMON MYNA Common Mynas can be found around shopping centers and fast-food restaurants throughout Miami and the Keys. Return to birdlist.

HILL MYNA Hill Mynas prefer tropical hardwood hammocks and are easiest to find at Matheson Hammock Park. Other good locations are around Baptist Hospital on North Kendall Drive, and at A D Barnes and Kendall Indian Hammocks Park. Return to birdlist.

CUBAN GOLDEN WARBLER This W est Indian subspecies of the Yellow W arbler breeds in mangrove forests in the Keys and Everglades National Park. A reliable location is around the Card Sound Bridge tollbooth on Card Sound Road; the bridge connects Key Largo to the mainland. Return to birdlist.

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER Prothonotary W arblers are at the southern end of their range in south Florida. Here they breed in cypress swamps such as those in Big Cypress National Preserve. A reliable location is at Sweetwater Strand, on Loop Road in Big Cypress. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT Yellow-breated Chat winters annually in south Florida. A good location is the Lucky Hammock area on Aerojet Road. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BANANAQUIT The Bananaquit is easy to find in the Bahamas. In south Florida, it is an occasional visitor during fall, winter, and spring. It is most likely to show up in the keys or within a few miles of the coast. Return to birdlist.

WESTERN SPINDALIS

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W estern Spindalis are resident in the Bahamas and Cuba, but are seen almost annually in Florida, typically at coastal locations. In 2009, a pair successfully nested at Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park, the first North American breeding record for this species. Return to birdlist.

YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT Yellow-faced Grassquits are resident in Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Jamaica, but are rarely seen in Florida. The most recent sightings were from Fort Zachary Tayler in Key W est in 2009, the Dry Tortugas in 2002 and Eco Pond in Everglades National Park in 2001. Return to birdlist.

BLACK-FACED GRASSQUIT Black-faced Grassquits are resident throughout the Caribbean (though rare and local in Cuba), but are rarely seen in Florida. The most recent sightings were from Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park in 2003 and Jupiter Ridge Natural Area in 2004. Return to birdlist.

BACHMAN'S SPARROW Bachman's Sparrows are year-round residents of pinelands with a saw palmetto understory, but are easiest to find when males are singing. Try the Kitching Creek Trail at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, in Martin County, or Babcock-W ebb W ildlife Management Area, in Charlotte County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS Both Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows (Nelson's predominates) can sometimes be found during winter around Flamingo, in Everglades National Park. Check the Coastal Prairie Trail, which starts at the end of the campground, or coastal prairie habitat behind Eco Pond. Saltmarsh Pic/ID Nelson's Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SEASIDE SPARROW The Cape Sable race of Seaside Sparrow, once considered a separate species, is most easily found during the breeding season (late winter/early spring), when they are singing. The most reliable location is in Everglades National Park, in sawgrass prairie beginning about 0.5 mile past the Mahogany Hammock turnoff. SS Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

PAINTED BUNTING Painted Buntings come to feeders during winter at Castellow Hammock and Bill Sadowski Parks in Miami Dade, as well as Green Cay W etlands and Okeeheelee Nature Center in Palm Beach. Also look for Painted Buntings in brushy areas around Lucky Hammock and the Annex in Southern Glades W EA, and along Snake Bight and Coastal Prairie Trails in Everglades National Park. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SHINY COWBIRD Shiny Cowbirds can sometimes be found among flocks of Brown-headed Cowbirds, feeding in grassy areas around the Flamingo Visitor Center parking lots in Everglades National Park. They also come to seed feeders in the Homestead area, such as at Castellow Hammock Nature Center. Shiny Cowbirds have been recently reported at feeders around the visitor center at Green Cay W etlands, in Palm Beach County. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

BRONZED COWBIRD Bronzed Cowbirds have recently become regular denizens of south Florida. Bronzed Cowbirds have been regularly found in Hialeah, at Flamingo in Everglades National Park, and Eagle Lakes Park in Naples, but could be found anywhere. Check any cowbird flock you see for both Bronzed and Shiny Cowbirds. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

SPOT-BREASTED ORIOLE Spot-Breasted Orioles can be found throughout the suburbs of southeastern Florida, most often in areas with exotic flowering trees. Check neighborhoods in Biscayne Gardens, Miami Shores, Miami Springs, South Miami and around Baptist Hospital on Kendall Drive. The oriole has also been found at A.D. Barnes, Kendall Indian Hammock and Bill Sadowski Parks. Pic/ID Return to birdlist.

http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/specialty.html#grbh 10 / 11 Finding South Florida's Specialty Birds 4/13/2014 References Herbert Raffaele et al., “A Guide to the Birds of the W est Indies,” Princeton University Press, 1998. W illiam B. Robertson, Jr. and Glen E. W oolfenden, “Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List,” Florida Ornithological Society, 1992. Henry M. Stevenson and Bruce H. Anderson, “The Birdlife of Florida,” University Press of Florida, 1994

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