Large Birds in Florida: Pelicans, Cranes, Herons, Eagles, and More (2024)

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Florida’s diverse ecosystems are home to an impressive array of large birds.

You’ll spot American White Pelicans with their massive 9-foot wingspans and Brown Pelicans plunge-diving for fish. Wading birds like the Great Blue Heron and various egrets stalk the shallows, while Sandhill Cranes strut through grasslands.

Keep an eye out for majestic Bald Eagles soaring overhead and Turkey Vultures circling on thermals. In wetlands, you might glimpse a Wood Stork or hear the haunting call of a Great Horned Owl at dusk.

From coastal shores to inland swamps, Florida’s large birds offer an intriguing glimpse into the state’s rich avian diversity. The skies hold even more feathered wonders to discover.

Pelicans

You’ll encounter two remarkable species of pelicans in Florida: the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican. The American White Pelican stands out for its impressive wingspan and cooperative fishing behavior, while the Brown Pelican is known for its distinctive plunging dives to catch fish (Source).

American White Pelican

You’ll find the American White Pelican impressive with its wingspan reaching 110 inches. They thrive in freshwater lakes and marshes, dining mainly on fish. Known for their cooperative hunting techniques, these pelicans scoop up fish by dipping their heads underwater. Conservation efforts help protect their populations, ensuring these large birds continue to grace Florida’s landscapes (Source).

Brown Pelican

The Brown Pelican, among Florida’s most iconic large birds, thrives around coastal waters. These pelicans are known for their dramatic plunge-diving to catch fish, reflecting their piscivorous diet. They nest in colonies, often on islands or mangroves, and live around 15-25 years. Conservation efforts have been essential in recovering their populations, emphasizing their ecological importance.

Swans and Cranes

You’ll find several impressive swan and crane species among Florida’s largest birds. The Trumpeter Swan, Whooping Crane, and Sandhill Crane are notable for their towering statures and impressive wingspans, with the Trumpeter Swan reaching lengths of up to 72 inches and the Whooping Crane boasting a wingspan of nearly 90 inches.

Trumpeter Swan

You’ll be amazed by the trumpeter swan, Florida’s largest bird. These majestic creatures boast a wingspan of up to 102 inches and can weigh over 25 pounds.

While not native to Florida, they’ve been spotted during winter migrations. Conservation efforts have helped boost their numbers, but their habitat remains threatened.

Listen for their distinctive trumpet-like calls echoing across wetlands, a sound that’ll send shivers down your spine.

Whooping Crane

You’ll be amazed by the whooping crane, a rare and magnificent bird in Florida. Standing tall at 52 inches, these endangered giants are a sight to behold. Their distinctive call can be heard for miles, echoing their fight for survival. During migration, they cover vast distances, showcasing their incredible endurance. Here’s what makes whooping cranes unique:

• Striking white plumage with black wingtips
• Distinctive red crown and cheeks
• Omnivorous diet including crustaceans and plants
• Complex courtship dances
• Lifelong monogamous pairs

Sandhill Crane

You’ll spot Sandhill Cranes stalking through Florida’s wetlands and prairies. These tall, elegant birds boast a distinctive red crown and gray plumage. They’re not picky eaters, feasting on plants, small animals, and insects. During breeding season, their haunting calls echo across the landscape. While some Sandhills are year-round residents, others migrate, showcasing their impressive wingspan as they soar overhead.

Herons and Egrets

You’ll encounter several impressive heron and egret species in Florida, including the Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Reddish Egret, and Tricolored Heron. These long-legged wading birds are often seen stalking fish in shallow waters, with their distinctive plumage and elegant postures making them favorites among birdwatchers and photographers alike.

Great Blue Heron

You’ll often spot the great blue heron, Florida’s tallest wading bird, in various aquatic habitats. Its distinctive blue-gray plumage and S-shaped neck make it a striking sight. These skilled hunters use their sharp bills to catch fish, frogs, and small mammals. When you’re exploring Florida’s wetlands, keep an eye out for:

• Slow, deliberate stalking movements
• Sudden strikes at prey
• Graceful flight with neck folded
• Elaborate courtship displays
• Large stick nests in treetops

Great Egret

Explore the majestic great egret in Florida’s wetlands, a stark contrast to its blue-hued cousin. This regal bird’s pristine white plumage and yellow bill make it a captivating sight. Let’s embark on a journey into the realm of the great egret:

Aspect	Description	Fun Fact
Habitat	Wetlands, marshes	Adaptable to urban areas
Diet	Fish, amphibians	Can spear prey with lightning speed
Behavior	Patient hunter	Uses "shadow fishing" technique
Conservation	Recovering population	Once hunted for plumes in millinery trade

Snowy Egret

You’ll spot the snowy egret by its pristine white plumage and distinctive yellow feet. These elegant birds are common in Florida’s wetlands, where they hunt for small fish and crustaceans. During breeding season, they develop long, wispy plumes that were once prized for ladies’ hats.

• Snowy egrets perform elaborate courtship displays, including "dancing" and crest-raising
• They often feed in mixed flocks with other wading birds
• Unlike their larger cousins, snowy egrets are highly active foragers, frequently chasing prey

Reddish Egret

While the Snowy Egret dazzles with its white plumage, you’ll find the Reddish Egret equally alluring. This striking heron’s unique coloration and dynamic hunting style make it a standout in Florida’s mangrove habitats.

You’ll witness their elaborate courtship displays during breeding season, a spectacle that underscores their importance in coastal ecosystems.

Despite their charm, Reddish Egrets face conservation challenges, reminding us of our role in protecting these magnificent birds.

Tricolored Heron

Moving from the reddish egret, you’ll find another striking heron species in Florida: the tricolored heron. This medium-sized wader boasts a unique color pattern, with a slate-blue body, white belly, and rusty neck.

You’ll spot them stalking fish in shallow waters, their quick movements a demonstration of their hunting prowess.

During breeding season, they sport vibrant plumes, adding to their allure for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Storks

As you explore Florida’s wetlands, you’ll encounter another large bird that stands out from the herons and cranes: the wood stork. With its distinctive bald head and curved beak, this bird is unmistakable.

Wood storks are masters of adaptation, using their unique beak shape to snap up fish in shallow waters. You’ll often find them nesting in colonies high up in trees, a spectacle worth witnessing.

These birds are migratory, following food sources across the southeastern United States. Conservation efforts have helped stabilize their populations, but they still face challenges.

Wood storks primarily feast on fish, but they’re not picky eaters and will gobble up amphibians and small reptiles too.

While they may not be as graceful as pelicans or as elegant as herons, wood storks have a charm all their own.

Cormorants

You’ll find two species of cormorants in Florida: the Double-crested Cormorant and the Neotropic Cormorant. These large, dark-colored waterbirds are known for their long necks, hooked bills, and impressive diving abilities, often seen perched on rocks or branches near water with their wings spread to dry.

Double-crested Cormorant

Moving from storks, you’ll encounter another fascinating water bird: the double-crested cormorant. These sleek divers are often mistaken for their relatives, herons and pelicans. You’ll find them:

1. Diving for fish in both fresh and saltwater
2. Perching on rocks with wings spread to dry
3. Nesting in colonies alongside cranes and egrets
4. Facing conservation challenges due to habitat loss

Their distinctive silhouette and fishing prowess make them an alluring sight among Florida’s large birds.

Neotropic Cormorant

While the Double-crested Cormorant is more common, you might also spot its smaller cousin, the Neotropic Cormorant, in Florida’s southern regions.

These sleek, dark birds share similar feeding behaviors, diving for fish in both fresh and saltwater. You’ll notice their slender necks and hooked bills, perfect for catching prey.

Keep an eye out for their breeding colonies, often mixed with herons and other waterbirds, in coastal mangroves or inland wetlands.

Hawks and Eagles

In Florida, you’ll find impressive birds of prey like the Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Bald Eagle soaring through the skies. These large, powerful raptors play significant roles in Florida’s ecosystems, with the Bald Eagle standing out as a national symbol and conservation success story.

Red-tailed Hawk

While cormorants are aquatic specialists, you’ll find red-tailed hawks ruling the skies over diverse habitats. These powerful predators are masters of the hunt, soaring on thermal currents as they scan for prey. Here are three key facts about red-tailed hawks:

1. Habitat: Adaptable to forests, grasslands, and urban areas
2. Hunting: Keen eyesight and powerful talons for catching small mammals
3. Behavior: Territorial during breeding season, often seen perched on poles or trees

Red-shouldered Hawk

You’ll often spot the red-shouldered hawk soaring over Florida’s woodlands. These striking raptors boast rusty-red shoulders and a distinctive banded tail.

Their migration patterns aren’t as extensive as some hawks, with many residing year-round. Keep an eye out for their nesting sites in tall trees near water.

Their diet preferences include small mammals and reptiles.

Sadly, habitat loss threatens these majestic birds, but conservation efforts are underway to protect their future.

Bald Eagle

While red-shouldered hawks are impressive, the bald eagle truly reigns supreme in Florida’s skies. You’ll be awestruck by these majestic birds, which have made a remarkable comeback from near-extinction. Here’s what makes bald eagles so compelling:

• Massive wingspan up to 7.5 feet
• Distinctive white head and tail
• Powerful talons for snatching fish
• Keen eyesight 8 times sharper than humans
• Monogamous pairs that return to the same nest annually

Their presence symbolizes both nature’s resilience and our power to protect it.

Vultures

You’ll encounter two species of vultures in Florida: the Turkey Vulture and the Black Vulture. These large scavenging birds play an essential role in the ecosystem by cleaning up carrion, and you can often spot them soaring high in the sky or perched on roadside poles.

Turkey Vulture

You’ll often spot turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) soaring gracefully on thermal updrafts. These scavengers play a critical role in Florida’s ecosystem, cleaning up carrion with their keen sense of smell. They’re easily identified by their distinctive red heads and V-shaped wing posture during flight. Here’s a quick glance at their key characteristics:

Feature	Description	Impact
Diet	Carrion	Reduces disease spread
Habitat	Diverse landscapes	Adaptable to various environments
Behavior	Social roosting	Creates impressive gatherings

Black Vulture

You’ll often spot black vultures soaring over Florida’s landscapes. These scavengers, like their cousins the turkey vultures, play an essential role in the ecosystem.

They’re not picky eaters, feasting on carrion and occasionally small live prey. While they don’t migrate, their range is expanding northward.

Conservation efforts have helped stabilize their populations, ensuring these dark-feathered cleaners continue their important work alongside other Florida natives like the black-crowned night heron and pileated woodpecker.

Owls

You’ll find several large owl species in Florida, including the Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, and Barn Owl. These nocturnal birds of prey play vital roles in Florida’s ecosystems, controlling rodent populations and serving as indicators of environmental health.

Great Horned Owl

Shifting from vultures to nocturnal hunters, you’ll find the Great Horned Owl commanding Florida’s night skies. With a wingspan up to 57 inches and weighing up to 3.5 pounds, these powerful predators are masters of stealth.

Their distinctive "hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo" calls echo through diverse habitats, from forests to urban areas.

Great horned owls feast on a varied diet, including small mammals and birds.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting their nesting sites and preserving owl-friendly ecosystems.

Barred Owl

You’ll find the barred owl a fascinating contrast to its great horned cousin. With its distinctive face mask and "Who cooks for you?" call, this medium-sized owl is a master of camouflage.

Unlike the aggressive great horned owl, barred owls prefer dense forests and swamps. They’re opportunistic hunters, feasting on small mammals, birds, and even fish.

Keep an ear out for their unique vocalizations during your nocturnal Florida adventures.

Barn Owl

You’ll find the ghostly Barn Owl haunting Florida’s open fields and farmlands. With its heart-shaped face and silent flight, this nocturnal hunter is a master of stealth. Here are four fascinating facts about Barn Owls:

1. They’ve exceptional hearing, locating prey by sound alone
2. Their diet consists mainly of small rodents
3. They’re often mistaken for ghosts due to their white plumage
4. Conservation efforts focus on providing nesting boxes in suitable habitats

Other Notable Large Birds

You’ll find several other notable large birds in Florida besides the commonly known pelicans, cranes, herons, and eagles. These include the unique limpkin with its curved beak, the vibrant roseate spoonbill, the snake-like anhinga, and the fish-loving osprey, each contributing to Florida’s diverse avian population.

Limpkin

While owls captivate us with their nocturnal prowess, the Limpkin offers a unique daytime spectacle.

You’ll find these chestnut-brown birds with white spots in Florida’s wetlands, where they feast on apple snails. Their curved beaks are perfectly adapted for this diet.

Listen for their distinctive wailing call, which earned them the nickname "crying bird."

Conservation efforts focus on protecting their habitat, as they’re vulnerable to wetland loss.

Roseate Spoonbill

You’ll be captivated by the roseate spoonbill, a stunning pink bird with a distinctive spoon-shaped bill. These waders thrive in Florida’s shallow waters, sifting through mud for small aquatic creatures.

Their breeding habits are fascinating, often nesting in colonies. While not currently endangered, conservation efforts are essential for their protection.

Bird enthusiasts and nature lovers flock to witness these vibrant creatures, which play an important role in ecosystem balance.

Anhinga

You’ll spot the unique Anhinga, often called "snake bird," in Florida’s wetlands. With its long neck and dagger-like bill, it’s a master of underwater hunting.

Watch as it swims with just its head above water, then dives for fish.

After feeding, you’ll see it perched on branches, wings spread to dry.

This clever bird’s adaptations make it a fascinating sight in the Sunshine State.

Osprey

While the Anhinga is a skilled underwater hunter, the Osprey takes a different approach. You’ll often spot these majestic birds soaring above Florida’s waters, searching for their next meal. Ospreys are uniquely adapted for fishing, with:

1. Reversible outer toes for gripping slippery prey
2. Specialized nostrils that close underwater
3. Water-repellent plumage for efficient dives

Their impressive osprey nests, often built on man-made platforms, showcase their adaptability. Conservation efforts have helped these remarkable raptors thrive in Florida’s diverse ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)