PASSERINES
Great Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
Size: 8.5”
Season: Year-round in southern Florida, summer in northern Florida
Habitat: Open woodlands and scrub, urban areas
The Great Crested Flycatcher is a large flycatcher with a proportionately large head and full crest. The upperparts and head are olive-brown, and the throat and breast are gray with a bright yellow belly. The primaries and tail show rufous color, while the margins to the tertials and coverts are white. Both sexes and the juvenile are similar in plumage. In flight note the yellow wing linings and rufous tail. It feeds by flying from perch to perch, catching insects in flight. It is often seen erecting its crown feathers and bobbing its head. Its voice is a high-pitched, whistling wheeeerup! The illustration shows an adult.
Gray Kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis
Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
Size: 9”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Coastal regions of open woodland and scrub
Florida is the only state in which to reliably find this bird in the United States. The Gray Kingbird is a chunky, large-billed fly-catcher with a fairly long tail. It is gray above and white below with a darker ear patch and lores, contrasting with the white lower half of the face. The bill is black, and the tail is notched at the tip. In flight the light underside of the wings is visible. Gray Kingbirds spring from their perches on posts, treetops, or wires and catch insects in flight. The illustration shows an adult.
Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
Size: 8.5”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Open woodlands, agricultural and rural areas
The Eastern Kingbird is a medium-size, slender flycatcher. Upper-parts are bluish-black, and underparts are white with a pale gray breast. The dark head cap contrasts with the white lower half of the face. The tail is black with a white terminal band. It flies with shallow wing beats on wings that are mostly dark and pointed. The Eastern Kingbird perches on wires, treetops, or posts and takes flight to capture insects on the wing. Its voice is a distinctive series of very high-pitched, sputtering, zippy, psit notes. The illustration shows an adult.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus
Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
Size: 13”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Open areas with scrub and perch sites, wires, poles, treetops
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is aptly named with its incredibly long, forked tail. It has dark wings, a gray back, and pale gray underparts. The head is pale gray with black eyes and bill. It has rusty pink on the belly and undertail coverts. Females and juveniles have a shorter tail and are paler overall. In flight one can see the rusty-pink wing linings. It flycatches for insects but also eats seeds and berries when they are available. The illustration shows an adult male.
Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
Size: 9.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Open, dry country with available perches, including branches, wires, and posts
The solitary Loggerhead Shrike is raptorlike in its feeding habits. It captures large insects, small mammals, or birds and impales them on thorny barbs before tearing them apart to feed. It is a compact, large-headed bird with a short, thick, slightly hooked bill. Upperparts are gray and underparts pale. The wings are black with white patches at the base of the primaries and upper coverts. The tail is black and edged with white. There is a black mask on the head from the base of the bill to the ear area. Juveniles show a finely barred breast. Its flight is composed of quick wing beats and swooping glides. The illustration shows an adult.
White-eyed Vireo, Vireo griseus
Size: 5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Dense woodlands, thickets, shrubs
The White-eyed Vireo is a small, chunky vireo with a relatively large head and short bill. It is grayish olive-green above and pale gray below, tinged with yellow on the flanks and undertail coverts. The head is grayish with conspicuous, yellow “spectacles,” or combined lores and eye ring area. The large eye is white. On the wings are two white wing bars. The juvenile bird has a darker eye than that of the adult. This bird gleans insects, spiders, and berries from the dense vegetation. The illustration shows an adult.
Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius
Family Vireonidae (Vireos)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Woodland, urban areas with trees
The Blue-headed Vireo was once grouped with the Plumbeous and Cassin’s Vireo as one species, the Solitary Vireo. It is olive-gray above and white below, tinged with yellow on the sides and flanks. The head is blue-gray with white “spectacles” and a white chin. There are two white or pale yellow wing bars on the wing coverts. It gleans insects and berries in the upper tree canopies. Its voice consists of short, high-pitched phrases. The illustration shows an adult.
Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons
Family Vireonidae (Vireos)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Summer in northern Florida, disperses to southern Florida in migration
Habitat: High canopy in mature, moist, mixed woodlands
The Yellow-throated Vireo is a compact vireo with a short tail. It has olive and gray upperparts with a bright yellow chin and breast fading to a white belly and undertail region. Yellow “spectacles” encompass the dark eyes. There are two distinct white wing bars on the wing coverts. It gleans insects and berries from leaves high in the canopy. The illustration shows an adult.
Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus
Family Vireonidae (Vireos)
Size: 6”
Season: Summer in northern Florida, disperses to southern Florida in migration
Habitat: Areas of dense vegetation, mature deciduous forest
The Red-eyed Vireo is a sluggish, slow-moving bird that haunts the upper tree canopy picking out insects and berries. Its head appears rather flat and its tail is short. It is light olive-green above and white below with a yellow wash across the breast, flanks, and undertail coverts. It has a dark eye line, white eyebrow, and a gray-ish crown. The eye is red and the bill is fairly large with a hooked tip. Its voice is a repetitive, incessant song in single phrases. The illustration shows an adult.
Black-whiskered Vireo, Vireo altiloquus
Family Vireonidae (Vireos)
Size: 6”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Mangrove forests, coastal areas of central and southern Florida
Florida is the only area in which to reliably see this tropical vireo. The Black-whiskered Vireo is very similar to the Red-eyed, but the bill is on average slightly longer and more hooked, and the facial pattern is paler. Also, it sports a thin, dark “whisker” stripe along the outside of the chin. It gleans insects from dense vege tation in the tree canopy and sings in two-phrase segments. The illustration shows an adult.
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
Size: 11”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Woodlands, rural and urban areas
The solitary Blue Jay is a sturdy, crested jay. It is bright blue above and white below with a thick, tapered, black bill. There is a white patch around the eye to the chin, bordered by a thin, black “necklace” extending to the back of the nape. It has a conspicuous white wing bar and dark barring on wings and tail. In flight the white outer edges of the tail are visible as it alternates shallow wing beats with glides. Omnivorous, the Blue Jay eats just about anything, especially acorns, nuts, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. It is a raucous and noisy bird and quite bold. Sometimes it mimics the calls of birds of prey. The illustration shows an adult.
Florida Scrub Jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens
Family Corvidae (Jays, Crows)
Size: 11”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Open scrub oak, urban areas
The Florida Scrub Jay is a rare bird, declining in numbers with the loss of habitat. It is a long-necked, sleek, crestless jay. Upperparts are deep blue with a distinct, lighter, gray-brown mantle. Underparts are pale gray, lightly streaked with brown. The forehead is white and the throat is streaked with white above a blue “necklace” across the breast. Its flight is an undulating combination of rapid wing beats and swooping glides. Its food consists of nuts, seeds, insects, and fruit. The illustration shows an adult.
Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus
Family Corvidae (Jays, Crows)
Size: 15”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Coastal marshes, rivers, agricultural areas
The Fish Crow is virtually identical to the American Crow except that it’s smaller and restricted to the southeastern United States. It has a softer, nasal, ah-hah voice and prefers to forage on fish and crustaceans. The illustration shows an adult.
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Family Corvidae (Jays, Crows)
Size: 17.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Open woodlands, pastures, rural fields, dumps
The American Crow is a widespread corvid found across the continent voicing its familiar, loud, grating caw, caw. It is a large, stocky bird with a short, rounded tail, broad wings, and a thick, powerful bill. Plumage is overall glistening black in all stages. It will eat almost anything, often forming loose flocks with other crows. The illustration shows an adult.
Purple Martin, Progne subis
Family Hirundinidae (Swallows)
Size: 8”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Marshes, open water, agricultural areas
The Purple Martin is the largest North American swallow. It has long, pointed wings, a streamlined body, and a forked tail. The bill is very short and broad at the base. The male is dark overall with a blackish-blue sheen across the back and head, while the female is paler overall with sooty, mottled underparts. Its flight consists of fast wing beats alternating with circular glides. Purple Martins commonly use man-made nest boxes or tree hollows to nest. The illustration shows an adult male.
Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
Family Hirundinidae (Swallows)
Size: 5.75”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Variety of habitat near water and perching sites
The Tree Swallow has a short, slightly notched tail, broad-based, triangular wings, and a thick neck. It has a high-contrast plumage pattern with dark metallic green-blue upperparts and crisp white underparts. In the perched bird, the primaries reach just past the tail tip. Juveniles show gray-brown below with a subtle, darker breast band. Tree Swallows take insects on the wing but will also eat berries and fruits. Their voice is a high-pitched chirping. They often form huge lines of individuals perched on wires or branches. The illustration shows an adult male.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
Family Hirundinidae (Swallows)
Size: 6.5”
Season: Summer in northern and central Florida, southern Florida during migration
Habitat: Open rural areas near bridges, old buildings, caves
The widespread and common Barn Swallow has narrow, pointed wings and a long, deeply forked tail. It is pale below and dark blue above with a rusty orange forehead and throat. In males the underparts are pale orange, while females are pale cream below. Barn Swallows are graceful, fluid fliers, and they often forage in groups while catching insects in flight. Their voice is a loud, repetitive chirping or clicking. They build a cup-shaped nest of mud on almost any protected man-made structure. The illustration shows an adult male.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Family Hirundinidae (Swallows)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Year-round in southern Florida, summer in northern Florida
Habitat: Sandy cliffs, riverbanks, outcrops, bridges
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow flies in a smooth and even fashion with full wing beats, feeding on insects caught on the wing. It is uniformly brownish above and white below. The breast is lightly streaked with pale brown, and the tail is short and square. Juveniles show light, rust-colored wing bars on the upper coverts. These fairly solitary swallows find nesting sites in holes in sandy cliffs. The illustration shows an adult.
Cliff Swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Family Hirundinidae (Swallows)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Spring and Fall migration
Habitat: Sandy cliffs, steep streamsides, outcrops, bridges
The cliff swallow is a colonial, active swallow with a short, broad-based bill and a short, squared tail. Adults are dark above and on the wings and tail and have a contrasting buff rump. The under-parts are white with dark chestnut across the face and throat, and there is a dark-blue crown fronted by a white forehead. Juveniles are duller and lack the white forehead. Cliff swallows snatch flying insects in midair, flying rapidly with extended glides. They build rounded, vessel-shaped nests made from globs of mud extracted from nearby shores and puddles. The adult is illustrated.
Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
Family Paridae (Chickadees, Titmice)
Size: 6.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Woodlands, urban areas
The tame and curious Tufted Titmouse is a small, chunky bird with short, broad wings and a conspicuous tuft on the crest. It is gray above and pale gray below with a wash of orange along the sides and flanks. It has a small but sturdy black bill, large black eyes, and a black forehead. It often forms foraging groups with other species that flit through the vegetation picking out nuts, seeds, insects, and berries from the bark and twigs. At feeders the Tufted Titmouse prefers sunflower seeds. Its voice is a repetitive peeta peeta. The illustration shows an adult.
Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis
Family Paridae (Chickadees, Titmice)
Size: 4.75”
Season: Year-round in northern and central Florida
Habitat: Woodland areas, feeders
The Carolina Chickadee is a small, compact, active bird with short, rounded wings. It is gray above and lighter gray or dusky below with a contrasting black cap and throat patch. It is quite similar to the Black-capped Chickadee, which does not normally occur in Florida. Its voice sounds like the name, chick-a-dee, dee, dee, or a soft fee-bay. It is quite social and feeds on a variety of seeds, berries, and insects found in trees and shrubs. The illustration shows an adult.
Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla
Size: 4.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Pine woodlands
Clinging to tree trunks facing downward, the little Brown-headed Nuthatch creeps its way down the tree picking out insects, larvae, or seeds from the bark. It is a compact, short-necked, large-headed bird with a short, stubby tail. Legs are short, but toes are long to help grasp bark. The bill is long, thin, sharp, and upturned at the tip. Plumage is gray above and lighter gray or buffy below. On the head are a brown cap, a dark eye line, and a small white spot on the back of the nape. They have undulating flight and nest in cavities in the tree trunks. The illustration shows an adult.
House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
Size: 4.75”
Season: Winter
Habitat: Shrubby areas, rural gardens
The House Wren is a loud, drab wren with short, rounded wings and a thin, pointed, down-curved bill. Plumage is brown and barred above and is pale gray-brown below, with barring on the lower belly, undertail coverts, and tail. The head is lighter on the throat, at the lores, and above the eyes. House Wrens feed in the brush for insects and sing rapid, melodic, chirping songs, often while cocking their tails downward. The adult is illustrated.
Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
Family Troglodytidae (Wrens)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Understory of wooded and brushy areas, swamps
The Carolina Wren is a vocal but cryptic bird, usually hidden among dense foliage close to the ground. It lurks in vegetation picking out insects, seeds, or fruit, emitting a musical song or a harsh, quick call. The body is plump with a short, rounded tail and a thin, slightly down-curved bill. It is dark rusty-brown above, buffy below, and has a long, white superciliary stripe extending to the nape. Wings and tail are thinly barred with black. This bird habitually holds its tail in a cocked-up position. The illustration shows an adult.
Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris
Family Troglodytidae (Wrens)
Size: 5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Marshes, reeds, stream banks
The Marsh Wren is a small, cryptic, rufous-brown wren with a normally cocked-up tail. The tail and wings are barred with black, and the chin and breast are white. There is a well-defined white superciliary stripe below a uniform brown crown, and the mantle shows distinct black-and-white striping. The bill is long and slightly decurved. Marsh Wrens are vocal day and night with quick, repetitive, cheeping. They are secretive but inquisitive, and glean insects from the marsh vegetation and water surface. The illustration shows an adult.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
Family Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
Size: 4.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Deciduous or pine woodlands, thickets
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a tiny, energetic, long-tailed bird with a narrow, pointed bill and thin dark legs. It is blue-gray above and pale gray below with white edges to the terials creating a light patch on the middle of the folded wing. The tail is rounded and has black inner and white outer feathers. The eye is surrounded by a crisp white eye ring. Males are brighter blue overall and have a darker surpraloral line. To forage, gnatcatchers flit through thickets and catch insects in the air. They will often twitch and fan their tail. Their voice is a high-pitched buzzing or cheep sound, which sometimes sounds like the call of other birds. The illustration shows an adult male.
Red-whiskered Bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus
Size: 7”
Season: Year-round in the southern tip of Florida
Habitat: Suburban gardens, parks with shrubs, agricultural areas
Introduced from Asia, the Red-whiskered Bulbul is a stocky bird with a long tail, an obvious pointed crest tuft, and a boldly patterned face. It is brown above and white below with light brown sides and flanks. A dark arc crosses the breast and a thin dark stripe borders the lower face. Bright red “whiskers” emerge from behind the eye, and the undertail coverts are bright orange-red. Its flight is uneven with short, rounded wings. It forages on berries, fruit, and small insects. The illustration shows an adult.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
Size: 4”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Mixed woodlands, shrubbery
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny, plump songbird with a short tail and diminutive, thin bill. It has a habit of nervously twitching its wings as it actively flits through vegetation gleaning small insects and larvae. It may also hover in search of food. Plumage is pale olive-green above, paler below, with patterned wings of pale wing bars on the upper coverts. There are white eye rings or crescents around the eyes. The bright red crest of the male bird is faintly noticeable unless the crest is raised. Its voice is a very high-pitched, whistling seeee. The illustration shows an adult.
Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis
Size: 7”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Open woodland, pastures, fields
The Eastern Bluebird is a member of the thrush family that travels in small groups, feeding on a variey of insects, spiders, and berries and singing a series of musical chur-lee notes. It is a stocky, short-tailed, and short-billed bird that often perches in an upright posture on wires and posts. The male is brilliant blue above and rusty-orange below with a white belly and undertail region. The orange extends to the nape making a subtle collar. The female is paler overall with a white throat and eye ring. Juveniles are brownish-gray with extensive white spotting and barred under-parts. Man-made nest boxes have helped this species increase in numbers throughout its range. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
Family Turdidae (Thrushes)
Size: 7”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Woodlands, brushy areas
The Hermit Thrush is a compact, short-tailed thrush that habitually cocks its tail. It forages on the ground near vegetative cover for insects, worms, and berries and voices its song of beautiful, flutelike notes. It is reddish to olive-brown above with a rufous tail. Underparts are white with dusky flanks and sides and black spotting on the throat and breast. The dark eyes are encircled by a complete, white eye ring. In flight the pale wing lining contrasts with the dark flight feathers. The illustration shows an adult.
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
Family Turdidae (Thrushes)
Size: 10”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Widespread in a variety of habitats; woodlands, fields, parks, lawns
Familiar and friendly, the American Robin is a large thrush with a long tail and legs. It commonly holds its head cocked and wing tips lowered beneath its tail. It is gray-brown above and rufous below with a darker head and contrasting white eye crescents and loral patch. The chin is streaked black and white and the bill is yellow mixed with darker edges. Females are typically paler overall, and the juvenile shows spotting of white above and dark below. Robins forage on the ground, picking out earthworms and insects, or in trees to find berries. Their song is a series of high, musical phrases like cheery, cheeruup, cheerio. The illustration shows an adult male.
Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
Family Mimidae (Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Thrashers)
Size: 8.5”
Season: Year-round in northern Florida, winter elsewhere
Habitat: Understory of woodland edges, shrubs, rural gardens
The solitary Gray Catbird is long-necked and sleek with a sturdy, pointed bill. It is uniformly gray except for its rufous undertail coverts, black crown, and black, rounded tail. It is quite secretive and spends most of its time hidden in thickets close to the ground, picking through the substrate for insects, berries, and seeds. Its call includes a nasal, catlike meew from which its name is derived, although it will also mimic the songs of other birds. To escape danger, it will often choose to run away rather than fly. The illustration shows an adult.
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Family Mimidae (Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Thrashers)
Size: 10.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Open fields, grassy areas near vegetative cover, suburbs, parks
The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of Florida. It is constantly vocalizing, and its scientific name, polyglottos, means “many voices,” alluding to its amazing mimicry of the songs of other birds. It is sleek, long-tailed, and long-legged. Plumage is gray above with darker wings and tail and off-white to brownish-gray below. There are two white wing bars, a short, dark eye stripe, and a pale eye ring. In flight note the conspicuous white patch on the inner primaries and coverts, and white outer tail feathers. Like other mimids, it forages on the ground for insects and berries, intermittently flicking its wings. The illustration shows an adult.
Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
Family Mimidae (Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Thrashers)
Size: 11”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, urban gardens, orchards
The Brown Thrasher is primarily a ground-dwelling bird that thrashes through leaves and dirt for insects and plant material. It has a long tail and legs with a medium length, slightly decurved bill. Plumage is rufous-brown above, including the tail, and whit-ish below, heavily streaked with brown or black. There are two prominent, pale wing bars and pale outermost corners to the tail. Its eye is yellow to orange. Its voice is a variety of musical phrases, often sung from a conspicuous perch. The illustration shows an adult.
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Size: 8.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Found almost anywhere, particularly rural fields, gardens, dumps, urban parks
Introduced from Europe, the European Starling has successfully infiltrated most habitats in North America and competes with native birds for nest cavities. It is a stocky, sturdy, and aggressive bird that is overall glossy black with a sheen of green or purple. The breeding adult has a yellow bill and greater iridescence, while the winter adult is colored a more flat black with a black bill and numerous white spots. Its tail is short and square. European Star-lings form very large, compact flocks and fly directly on pointed, triangular wings. Their diet is highly variable and includes insects, grains, and berries. Their voice consists of loud, wheezy, whistles and clucks and imitations of other bird songs. The illustration shows a breeding adult.
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
Family Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
Size: 7”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Woodlands, swamps, urban areas near berry trees
The Cedar Waxwing is a compact, crested songbird with pointed wings and a short tail. Plumage is sleek and smooth, overall brownish-gray with paler underparts, a yellowish wash on the belly, and white undertail coverts. The head pattern is striking with a crisp black mask thinly bordered by white. The tail is tipped with bright yellow. Tips of the secondary feathers are a unique, red, waxy substance. Cedar Waxwings will form large flocks and devour berries from one tree, and then move on to the next. They may also flycatch for small insects. Their voice is an extremely high-pitched, whistling seee. The illustration shows an adult.
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Family Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
Size: 6.25”
Season: Year-round across North America
Habitat: Urban environments, rural pastures
Introduced from Europe, the House Sparrow is ubiquitous in almost every city in the United States and is often the only sparrow-type bird seen in urban areas. It is stocky, aggressive, and gregarious, and has a relatively large head and a short, finchlike bill. Males are streaked brown and black above, and pale below. The lores, chin, and breast are black, while the crown and auricu-lars are gray. There is a prominent white wing bar at the median coverts. In winter the male lacks the dark breast patch. Females are drab overall with a lighter bill and a pale supercilium. House Sparrows have a highly varied diet, including grains, insects, berries, and crumbs from the local cafe. Their voice is a series of rather unmusical chirps. The illustration shows a breeding male, below, and a female, above.
House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus
Size: 6”
Season: Year-round in the northern half of Florida
Habitat: Woodland edges, urban areas
The House Finch is a western species that has been introduced to eastern North America and is now common and widespread here, especially in urban areas. It is a relatively slim finch with a longish, slightly notched tail and a short, conical bill with a down-curved culmen. The male is brown above with streaking on the back, and pale below with heavy streaking. An orange-red wash pervades the supercilium, throat, and upper breast. The female is a drab gray-brown with similar streaking on the back and underside and no red on the face or breast. House Finches have a variable diet that includes seeds, insects, and fruit, and they are often the most abundant bird visiting feeders. The voice is a rapid, musical warble. The illustration shows an adult male.
American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis
Family Fringillidae (Finches)
Size: 5”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Open fields, marshes, urban feeders
The American Goldfinch is a small, cheerful, social finch with a short, notched tail and a small, conical bill. In winter it is brownish- gray, lighter underneath, with black wings and tail. There is bright yellow on the shoulder, around the eyes, and along the chin, and there are two white wing bars. In breeding plumage, the male becomes light yellow across the back, undersides, and head and develops a black forehead and loral area. Also, the bill becomes orange. Females are similar to the winter males. They forage by actively searching for insects and seeds of all kinds, particularly thistle. Their voice is a meandering, musical warble, including high cheep notes. The illustration shows a breeding male, below, and a nonbreeding male, above.
Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Family Passerellidae (Sparrows)
Size: 8”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Thickets, suburban shrubs, gardens
The Eastern Towhee is a large, long-tailed sparrow with a thick, short bill and sturdy legs. It forages on the ground in dense cover by kicking back both feet at once to uncover insects, seeds, and worms. It is black above, including the head and upper breast, and it has rufous sides and a white belly. The base of the primaries is white as are the corners of the tail. Eye color ranges from red to white, depending on the region. Females are like the males but brown above. Its song is a musical drink-your-teee. The Eastern Towhee was once conspecific with the Spotted Towhee as the Rufous-sided Towhee. The illustration shows an adult male.
Bachman’s Sparrow, Peucaea aestivalis
Family Passerellidae (Sparrows)
Size: 6”
Season: Year-round
Habitat: Scrub or grass in open pine woodlands
The Bachman’s Sparrow is named after a friend of Audubon who was a Charleston minister. It is large and chunky, with a thick, relatively long bill for a sparrow. The sexes are similar, with upperparts that are streaked gray, brown, and black, while the underparts are pale buff with a white belly and no streaking. The head is buff-gray with a reddish lateral crown stripe and eye lines. The legs are pale pink. In flight one can notice the somewhat rounded tail. Bachman’s Sparrows stay close to the ground or may sing from a conspicuous perch with a song consisting of rapid series of monotone chip or tseet notes. The adult is illustrated.
Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
Family Passerellidae (Sparrows)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Dry fields, woodland edges, gardens
The Chipping Sparrow is a medium-size sparrow with a slightly notched tail and a rounded crest. It is barred black and brown on the upperparts with a gray rump and is pale gray below. On the head are a rufous crown, a white superciliary stripe, a dark eye line, and a white throat. The bill is short, conical, and pointed. Sexes are similar, and winter adults are duller and lack rufous on the crown. Chipping Sparrows feed from trees or open ground in loose flocks, searching for seeds and insects. Their voice is a rapid, staccato chipping sound. The illustration shows a breeding adult.
Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
Family Passerellidae (Sparrows)
Size: 5”
Season: Year-round
Habitat: Grassland with scrub
The Grasshopper Sparrow has a large, flattened head and a short tail. It is streaked brown, white, and black above and unstreaked buff below. The head is plain buff with a darkish spot on the cheek and dark crown stripes between a light medial stripe. The sexes are similar, while juveniles show noticeable streaking across the breast and flanks. Grasshopper Sparrows feed in grasses or on the ground for grasshoppers (of course!), other insects, and seeds, and may sing from a conspicuous perch a drawn-out, thin, buzzy song and short chip notes. They often run when alarmed, or fly in erratic, weak spurts. The adult is illustrated.
Saltmarsh Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus
Family Passerellidae (Sparrows)
Size: 5.25”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Salt- or freshwater marshes, grasslands
The Saltmarsh Sparrow is a ground-dwelling, thick-necked sparrow with a flatish crown. Its tail is short with pointed feathers. Plumage is streaked brownish above with contrasting white streaks, while the underside is white, heavily streaked, with an orange wash on the sides. The nape is gray, and the crown and auriculars are dark, surrounded by an orange superciliary stripe, ear patch, and malar area. This bird stays low to the ground, even in flight, and quickly dives for cover. It was once considered conspecific with the Nelson’s Sparrow, as the Sharp-tailed Sparrow. The illustration shows an adult.
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
Family Passerellidae (Sparrows)
Size: 6”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Thickets, shrubs, woodland edges near water
One of our most common sparrows, the Song Sparrow is fairly plump with a long, rounded tail. It is brown and gray with streaking above, and white below with heavy dark streaking that often converges into a discreet spot in the middle of the breast. The head has a dark crown with a gray medial stripe, a dark eye line, and a dark malar stripe above the white chin. Song sparrows are usually seen in small groups or individually foraging on the ground for insects and seeds. Their call is a chip, chip, chip, which is more commonly heard than its song during winter. The illustration shows an adult.
Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 9.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Open fields, grasslands, meadows
The Eastern Meadowlark is a chunky, short-tailed icterid with a flat head and a long, pointed bill. It is heavily streaked and barred above, and yellow beneath with dark streaking. The head has a dark crown, a white superciliary stripe, a dark eye line, and a yellow chin. On the upper breast is a black, V-shaped necklace that becomes quite pale during winter months. Meadowlarks gather in loose flocks to pick through the grass for insects and seeds. They often perch on telephone wires or posts to sing their short, whistling phrases. The illustration shows a breeding adult.
Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 7”
Season: Spring and fall during migration through Florida
Habitat: Lush prairies, grassland, agricultural areas
Florida is a stopover region for the Bobolink, which migrates from the northern United States to South America. It is shaped like an elongated sparrow with pointy wings and exhibits quite different plumage between males and females. The female and winter male are buffy brown overall, paler below, with streaking along the back and sides. On the face is a thin, dark crown and eye stripe. The breeding male is white above and black below with a two-toned head that is black in front and light yellow in back. The voice is a playful, jumbled melody that some compare to its name, bobolink-bobolink. The illustration shows a breeding male, below, and female, above.
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 8.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Marshes, meadows, agricultural areas near water
The Red-winged Blackbird is a widespread, ubiquitous, chunky, meadow dweller that will form huge flocks during the nonbreeding season. The male is deep black overall with bright orangered lesser coverts and pale median coverts that form an obvious shoulder patch in flight but may be partially concealed on the perched bird. The female is barred tan and dark brown overall with a pale superciliary stripe and malar patch. They forage the marshland for insects, spiders, and seeds. The voice is a loud, raspy, vibrating konk-a-leee given from a perch atop a tall reed or branch. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 12.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Pastures, open woodlands, urban parks
The Common Grackle is a large blackbird but smaller than the Boat-tailed Grackle. The body is elongated with a long, heavy bill and long tail, which is fatter toward the tip and is often folded into a keel shape. Plumage is overall black with a metallic sheen of purple on the head and brown on the wings and underside. The eyes are a contrasting light yellow color. Quite social, Grackles form huge flocks with other blackbirds and forage on the ground for just about any kind of food, including insects, grains, refuse, and crustaceans. The voice is a high-pitched, rasping trill. The illustration shows an adult male.
Boat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 14–16”; males larger than females
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Salt- or freshwater marshes, pastures, urban parks
The Boat-tailed Grackle is larger than the Common Grackle and less likely to form large flocks. It has long legs and a long, broad, spatula-shaped tail that is often folded in a keel shape. The male is black overall with a metallic, blue-green sheen over the head and body. The female is smaller with a shorter tail, is brownish overall, and has a lighter head with dark striping along the eye line, under the crown, and along the malar area. The eyes of northern birds are light yellow, while those in southern Florida have darker, brown eyes. They pick the ground for insects, seeds, and crustaceans. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and a female, above.
Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 7.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Woodland edges, pastures with livestock, grassy fields
The Brown-headed Cowbird is a stocky, short-winged, and short-tailed blackbird with a short, conical bill. The male is glossy black overall with a chocolate-brown head. The female is light brown overall with faint streaking on the underparts and a pale throat. They often feed in flocks with other blackbirds, picking out seeds and insects from the ground. The voice is a number of gurgling, squeaking phrases. Cowbirds practice brood parasitism, whereby they lay their eggs in the nests of other passerine species that then raise their young. Hence, their presence often reduces the populations of other songbirds. The illustration shows an adult male.
Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 7”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Orchards, open woodlands, parks
The Orchard Oriole is a small oriole with a relatively thin, short bill, and a short tail that it often tilts sideways. The male is black above with a red rump and a black, hooded head. The underside is reddish or orange-brown with a similarly colored shoulder patch. The lower mandible is light blue-gray. Females are markedly different, being greenish-gray above and bright yellow below with two white wing bars. The juvenile is similar to the female but has a black chin and lores. Orchard Orioles feed in trees for insects, fruit, and nectar, and emit high, erratic, musical whistles and chirps. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Spot-breasted Oriole, Icterus pectoralis
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 9”
Season: Year-round in southeastern Florida
Habitat: Woodland edges, urban gardens
The introduced, tropical Spot-breasted Oriole is the only oriole to breed in Florida. It is medium-size with a thin, pointed bill and striking black-and-orange plumage. The body is golden-orange overall with black wings, tail, and mantle. A black patch extends from the lores to the chin to the upper breast, which becomes spotted into the lower breast and sides. There are white edges to the tertials and the base of the primaries, and there is an orange shoulder patch. Sexes are similar, but the female is a bit duller overall. They eat insects, fruit, and nectar in the canopy of large trees. The illustration shows an adult.
Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles)
Size: 8.5”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, suburban gardens, parks
The Baltimore Oriole is a somewhat stocky icterid with a short, squared tail and a straight, tapered bill. The male is bright yellow-orange with a black hood. Wings are black with white edging the flight feathers and coverts, and a yellow-orange shoulder patch. The tail is orange with black along the base and down the middle. The female is paler along the sides with a white shoulder patch and a mottled, yellow-and-brown head and plain tail. It forages for insects, fruit, and nectar from the leafy canopy. It is sometimes considered with Bullock’s Oriole as one species, the Northern Oriole. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Wooded swamps
Also known as the Golden Swamp Warbler, the Prothonotary Warbler is a fairly large warbler with a short tail, a relatively large head, and a long, sharp bill. The head and underparts are a rich yellow to yellow-orange, and the undertail coverts are white. The wings and tail are blue-gray and there is an olive-green mantle. Females and juveniles are paler overall with an olive cast to the head. Prothonotary Warblers forage through the understory for insects. The illustration shows an adult male.
Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Low vegetation near water, swamps, fields
The Common Yellowthroat scampers through the undergrowth for insects and spiders in a somewhat wrenlike manner. It is a plump little warbler that often cocks up its tail. Plumage is olive-brown above, pale brown to whitish below, with bright yellow undertail coverts and breast/chin region. The male has a black facial mask trailed by a fuzzy white area on the nape. Females lack the facial mask. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Hooded Warbler, Wilsonia citrina
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5”
Season: Year-round except midwinter in Florida
Habitat: Moist woodlands, swamps
The Hooded Warbler lurks in the woodland understory picking out insects while continually flicking its tail and singing its high, musical weeta-weeta-weeta-toe. Plumage is olive-green above and bright yellow below. The male has a full, black hood encompassing the face and chin, while the female has a fainter, partial mask with a yellow chin. In the fanned tail, one can see white inner vanes to the outer tail feathers. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Open mixed woodlands in early succession
The constantly active, frenetic American Redstart often fans its tail and wings in display while perched. It is long-tailed, and the plumages of males and females are markedly different. The male is jet black above, white below, with a fiery red patch at the side of the breast, and a paler, peachy-red wing bar and sides of the tail. The female is gray-green above with a slatey-gray head and white chin and breast. The colored areas are located in the same areas of the male but are yellow. Redstarts eat insects gleaned from branches and bark, or they flycatch for insects. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Northern Parula, Parula americana
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 4.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Treetops in mossy woodlands
The Northern Parula is a tiny, stubby warbler with a short, sharp bill, short tail, and a relatively large head. Upperparts are slatey blue with a greenish mantle. Below there is a white belly and undertail, a yellow chin and breast, and a rufous breast band. Above and below the eyes are white eye arcs, and the lower mandible is yellow. The wing shows two bold white wing bars. The female is bordered above the breast band with gray. Northern Parulas forage for insects and caterpillars in trees. The illustration shows an adult male.
Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5”
Season: Year-round in the southern tip of Florida
Habitat: Willows and alders near streamsides, rural shrubbery, gardens
The Yellow Warbler is a widespread warbler of North America with a musical voice of sweet-sweet-sweet. It is overall bright yellow with darker yellow-green above and reddish-brown streaking below. The black eyes stand out on its light face, and the bill is relatively thick for a warbler. Clean, yellow stripes are evident on the fanned tail. The female is paler overall with less noticeable streaking on the breast and sides. They forage among the brush for insects and spiders. The illustration shows an adult male.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler), Dendroica coronata
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Deciduous and coniferous woodlands, suburbs with wax myrtle
Two races of this species occur in North America. In Florida we have the “Myrtle” form, and east of the Rockies there is the “Audubon’s” form. The Myrtle Warbler is blue-gray above with dark streaks, and white below with black streaking below the chin and a bright yellow side patch. There is a black mask across the face bordered by a thin superciliary stripe above and white throat below. The nonbreeding adult and female are paler with a more brownish cast to the upperparts. The longish tail has white spots on either side and meets with the conspicuous yellow rump. It prefers to eat myrtle berries and insects. The illustration shows a Myrtle breeding male.
Pine Warbler, Dendroica pinus
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Year-round in central and northern Florida
Habitat: Pine and mixed-pine woodlands
The Pine Warbler creeps along pine branches picking insects from the bark. It is a rounded, long-winged warbler with a relatively thick bill. Plumage is olive-green above with gray wings, and yellow below streaked with olive. Belly and undertail coverts are white. The yellow of the chin extends under the auricular area; a faint “spectacle” is formed by the light lores and eye ring, and there are two clearly marked white wing bars. The female is paler overall, and the juvenile lacks yellow on the chin and underparts. The outer tail feathers show white patches. The illustration shows an adult male.
Yellow-throated Warbler, Dendroica dominica
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5.25”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Coniferous and mixed woodlands near water
The Yellow-throated Warbler is an elongated, long-billed warbler that forages high in the tree canopy picking insects from the bark. Its plumage is slate-gray above and white below, heavily streaked with black, and it has a clean yellow chin and breast. There is a bold face pattern with a white supercilium and lower eye arc bordered by a black eye stripe and auricular area. Behind the ear is a distinctive white patch. The dark back contrasts with two white wing bars. The outer tail feathers show patches of white. The illustration shows an adult male.
Prairie Warbler, Dendroica discolor
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 4.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Mangroves, early succession forests, shrubs
The Prairie Warbler is a small, plump, long-tailed warbler with a rising, buzzy song, sometimes sung from a treetop perch. It is olive-green above and bright yellow below with black streaking along its sides topped by a distinct spot just behind the bottom of the chin. A dark half-circle swoops underneath the eye, and sometimes rusty streaking is seen on the mantle. The female is slightly paler overall. The outer tail feathers are white. Prairie Warblers forage through low branches of the understory for insects and spiders. The illustration shows an adult male.
Palm Warbler, Dendroica palmarum
Family Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Thickets near spruce bogs, open grassland
The Palm Warbler forages on the ground for insects while constantly bobbing its tail. It is brownish above with darker streaking, and pale brown-gray below with dark streaking. Chin and under-tail coverts are bright yellow. The head has a dark eye stripe, a pale superciliary stripe, and a dark, rufous crown. Nonbreeding adults are paler with a gray chin and brown crown. Outer tail feathers show small white patches and contrast with an olive-yellow rump. Two races of this species occur in Florida: the “yellow” with a yellow underside, and the “brown” with a pale gray belly and brown streaking. The illustration shows a breeding adult, “brown” form.
Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra
Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Buntings)
Size: 7.75”
Season: Summer in Florida, year-round in southern Florida
Habitat: Mixed pine and oak woodlands
The Summer Tanager lives high in the tree canopy, where it voices a musical song and forages for insects and fruit. It is a relatively large, heavy-billed tanager with a crown that is often peaked in the middle. The male is variable shades of red over the entire body, while the female is olive or brownish-yellow above and dull yellow below. Juveniles are similar to the females but have a patchy red head and breast. The illustration shows an adult male.
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Buntings)
Size: 8.5”
Season: Year-round in Florida
Habitat: Woodlands with thickets, suburban gardens
The Northern Cardinal with its thick, powerful bill eats mostly seeds but will also forage for fruit and insects. It is often found in pairs and is quite common at suburban feeders. It is a long-tailed songbird with a thick, short, orange bill and a tall crest. The male is red overall with a black mask and chin. The female is brownish above, dusky below, crested, with a dark front to the face. Juveniles are similar to the female but have a black bill. The voice is a musical weeta-weeta or woit heard from a tall, exposed perch. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Blue Grosbeak, Guiraca caerulea or Passerina caerulea
Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Buntings)
Size: 6.5”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Woodland edges, thickets, fields
Grosbeaks are named from the French word gros, meaning large, which refers to their massive, conical bills. The male Blue Gros-beak is azure blue overall with a rufous wing bar and shoulder patch, black at the front of the face with a horn-colored bill. The female is brown overall, and paler below with lighter wing bars and lores. The similar Indigo Bunting is smaller, smaller-billed, and lacks the rufous color on the wings. Blue Grosbeaks eat seeds, fruit, and insects in open areas, and habitually flick their tails. They often perch and sing for extended periods with a meandering, warbling song. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Painted Bunting, Passerina ciris
Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Buntings)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Winter in Florida
Habitat: Edges of woodlands, brushy areas, gardens
Like a rainbow on wings, the Painted Bunting is one of our most colorful birds. It is similar in shape to other buntings, and the plumage is markedly different between the sexes. The male has a green mantle and wings, red-orange to rusty underparts and rump, and a brilliant blue head with a red eye ring. The female is yellowish-green above and pale yellow-green below with a pale eye ring. Often secretive and difficult to find, Painted Buntings scamper in the low understory or on the ground for insects, seeds, and fruit. However, they may also visit feeders. The illustration shows an adult male, below, and female, above.
Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea
Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Buntings)
Size: 5.5”
Season: Summer in Florida
Habitat: Brush, open woodlands, fields
Often occurring in large flocks, the Indigo Bunting forages mostly on the ground for insects, berries, and seeds. It is a compact, small songbird with a short, thick bill. The male is entirely blue; the head is a dark purplish-blue and the body is a lighter sky blue. The female is brownish-gray above, duller below, with faint streaking on the breast meeting a white throat. The winter male is smudged with patchy gray, brown, and white. They perch in treetops voicing their undulating, chirping melodies. The illustration shows a breeding male, below, and female, above.