Florida is the habitat of many predator birds and they tend to hunt small animals or birds. Though they might not attack humans, it is always advised to maintain safe distances as part of precaution. Here, in this guide, we have a checklist of 17 birds of prey in Florida.
Exploring 17 Florida Raptors – Birds of Prey of Sunshine State
Let’s get to know about the majestic creatures that adorn the skies of Florida either being a native or a migrant bird.
1. Golden Eagle
Golden Eagles are commonly found in the Everglades National Park and the Everglades in Florida. They are also used as a national symbol in five countries. These birds have a brown body and head with powerful talons. These birds have golden brown plumage and have a keen eyesight to spot the prey. They have a perfect sharp beak to catch prey and their wings spread to 7 feet. They are also known as ‘The King of the Skies’.
2. Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles are mostly found around the river and coastal areas of Florida. They have a brown body with white heads and yellow beaks. They have sharp talons and their wings spread up to 7.5 feet. These birds were once endangered species but recently had made a great recovery. They are an American Symbol of Freedom.
3. Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcons are commonly found around the coastal region and they are identified by their dark body with white chests. These birds have heavy markings of vertical black stripes on the chest which fade as they get mature. They take a flight to reach a height of 240 miles per hour and have the ability to capture prey mid-air. These birds are commonly known as The Speed Demon.
4. Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged hawks are smaller in size and popularly found in Florida during the winter months. When these birds mature, they develop brown and deep red feathers and have dark brown stripes on their tail feathers. They are also known as the Migratory Marvel due to their mass migration style.
5. Merlin
Merlin is found in woodlands during the summer and in grasslands or coastal areas during the winter. They are recognized by their gray-blue feathers and have silver patterning with speckled chests. These birds are the size of a pigeon and are also called Miniature Falcon.
6. Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vultures resemble turkeys and are found near pastures and wooded areas where they can get their food easily. They have darker shades on the body, with a red face. Being a scavenger, they are also known as nature’s clean-up crew as they help to maintain an ecological balance.
7. Black Vulture
Black Vultures are also found in Florida and around the pastures and wooded areas. They are black in color and often vary from light to dark gray. They are seen as Bold Opportunities and fearless. These birds have white patches on the under wingtip and the bare skin on the head is black. They are usually found in flocks.
8. American Kestrel
American Kestrels are known to be the smallest falcon in North America. They are commonly found throughout Florida. They have light brown feathers at the back and a white chest and are known for their stunning color. They display a wide variety of plumage, ranging from rusty red, white, blue, and gray. A distinct blue mark can be found on the wings of the male. They have keen eyesight and are locally called the Colorful Raptor.
9. Swallow-Tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed kites are typical of Florida and are counted among the migratory birds for the period of February and March. These birds are black and white in color with a forked tail. They also have a sharp contrast of bright white heads and wings that appear to be gleaming black. The young ones have a duller color and as they mature the color gets deeper. They have been named the Aerial Acrobat
10. Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawks are one of the smallest hawks and comparatively, the males are smaller than females. They are commonly found in the forest region of Florida. These birds have rounded wings with long tails and striped dark and light brown feathers. They are also known as Woodland Ambusher.
11. Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk are mostly found near wooded areas and they are identified by their long round tail. They have broad chests and round-spread wings. They have a color combination of blue, gray, and silver on the back and red and white on the chest. These birds are known as The Bird Feeder Bandit.
12. Short-tailed Hawk
Short-tailed hawks are commonly found in Florida’s swamps and wooded areas. They have amber-colored wings and dark back and head feathers with a white chest. As these birds mature they change from being light brown to darker shades. These birds are also known as color-changing raptors as they have changing plumage.
13. Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawks are one of the largest hawks and are mostly found in the northeastern parts of Florida. They have brown feathers with dark brown wingtips. These birds have broad chests with rounded wings and small red tails. They are commonly called the scream of the wild as they have a distinct shrill call.
14. Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawks are a lighter color and are found around Southern Florida. They are cream-colored and have light brown and red markings on their body. These birds have smaller tail feathers, and rounded wings with broad shoulders. They are called the Wetland Sentinel.
15. Snail Kite
Snail Kites are found in the Everglades of Florida. They have a broad chest and tails. These birds have a special diet and are known as Specialist feeders. Both males and females have red eyes and they spend most of their time in large flocks. These birds have an orange shade at the base of the bill and feet. Otherwise, the feathers are darker brown with a white eyebrow line.
16. White-tailed Kite
White-tailed Kites are distinctive due to their white tails and also have white patterns on the wings while the tips of the wings are darker. They have black shoulders and red eyes with rounded tails. These birds are found around the marshes of Florida. They are also known as Hovering Hunters due to their hunting style.
17. Gyrfalcon
Gyrfalcon are mostly found to inhabit the Arctic and subarctic regions. They migrate to Florida during winter and are known to be Powerful Hunters. These birds are of medium size and have a striking white plumage. They have powerful hooked beaks and impressive hunting abilities. These birds are found in shades of white, dark brown, and gray. The mature birds have a barred on the back and spotted underparts. with darker wings and tails
What is the Most Common Bird of Prey in Florida?
The most common bird of prey in Florida is the Red-Tailed Hawk. They are known for their hunting skills and rusty red body color. They have darker bodies, black beaks with a yellow spot, and wings spread up to 3 and a half feet.
