Backyard Birds of Florida
Florida’s backyards, from tiny patios to sprawling estates, provide a haven for a dazzling array of feathered residents in this southern state.
Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or a curious newcomer, attracting these beautiful creatures can bring hours of entertainment and ecological benefits.
This guide will give you with the knowledge to identify and attract Florida’s most common backyard birds, creating a vibrant little ecosystem right outside your window!
Top 10 Backyard Birds of Florida with Photos
The Sunshine State boasts a diverse range of birds across its different regions. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common visitors you might encounter in your backyard:
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal is one of the most recognizable backyard birds of Florida with their vibrant red coloring and distinct melodic calls. They are familiar sight across all regions of Florida.
Tufted Titmouse
The Tufted Titmouse is an energetic acrobat with a distinctive black, white, and rusty brown plumage. It flits between branches, searching for insects. Commonly found in North and Central Florida.
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Mourning Dove
Mourning Doves are gentle birds with distinct mournful coos and one of the most common birds found throughout all regions in Florida and most any backyard or park.
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadees are energetic songbirds with a black cap and throat. Provide a bird feeder with seeds and suet and you’ll probably attract these common birds within days. Commonly found in North and Central Florida.
Blue Jay
Blue jays are bold and noisy, and the colorful males are very easy to spot. They are very pretty bright blue birds with white chests and black accents. They are found all throughout Florida and appreciate Florida backyards with bird feeders and water fountains.
Northern Mockingbird
A talented mimic, the Northern Mockingbird entertains with its diverse repertoire of songs. Found throughout Florida, particularly in Central Florida.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler is a tiny roundish bird with a yellow rump and black back, and easily attracted to backyards with bird feeders, especially in Central Florida.
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Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler is a very small year-round resident, and easily spotted with its yellow streaking on its breast. They typically frequent pine forests and backyards with feeders, particularly in North Florida.
Fish Crow
Fish Crows are similar to the American Crow but smaller. These vocal birds are common near water sources and backyards, especially in Central and South Florida.
Gray Kingbird
Gray Kingbird is a slender-looking gray bird with a white belly and is known for being a prolific insect hunter, making them a welcome sight for gardeners, especially in South Florida.
While these are some of the most common birds you might see, Florida has a diverse bird population. With a little patience and the right setup, you might attract many other feathered friends to your backyard!
Best Free Apps to Help Identify Your Birds
Here are 3 free popular apps to help you identify your backyard birds of Florida. Install on your phone to help identify the birds you’re hearing or seeing!
- Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab of Ornithology: This free app is a top-rated bird identification tool. Here’s the Merlin Bird ID website for the link to their app.
Note: I use this app, and my favorite feature is the “Sound ID”. You hit the record button and it will identify the bird songs or calls in trees where you can’t see the bird, but you can hear them. Then it returns a picture of the bird and information on them.
Here’s a screenshot of my South Florida backyard in the morning, using the Merlin ID app sound ID function:
- Song Sleuth by Audubon Society is a free app that focuses on bird call identification and allows you to record your own sightings to identify later, plus it includes information about bird behavior and habitat use. Visit the Song Sleuth website for the app link.
- iNaturalist: This is a very popular all-around nature app that can be used to identify birds, plants, insects, and other wildlife. There’s image recognition which makes identifying things in nature very easy.
There’s also a vast networking component where other user’s photos of things in nature (birds, snakes, bugs, plants etc.) are available to see with information. Visit the iNaturalist website to see how it works.
Best Backyard Bird Feeders
Attract a wider variety of birds with the right feeders:
- Black Oil Sunflower Seed Feeder: A favorite amongst many birds, black oil sunflower seeds attract cardinals, chickadees, finches, and jays.
- Suet Feeder: Suet, a high-energy food made from rendered fat, is perfect for attracting woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees in winter.
- Hummingbird Feeder: Attract these dazzling jewels with a feeder filled with sugar water.
Best Way to Capture the Action? Trail and Nest Cams!
Want to see your backyard birds up close? Interested in sharing all that wildlife activity in your backyard… on social media?
Consider a wildlife camera. They are relatively inexpensive, hold up to rain and the elements, and can take photos and/or video at night too!
- Trail Cameras: These motion-activated cameras capture stunning photos and videos of birds visiting your feeders or birdbaths.
- Nest Cameras: Monitor the fascinating process of raising young by installing a camera near an active nest (be sure to place it carefully so as not to disturb the birds). Or buy a bird house WITH a solar powered camera attached (which make GREAT GIFTS!).
Other Ways to Attract More Birds in your Backyard
Even a small balcony can attract birds! Here are some tips:
- Provide Food: Offer a variety of feeders and fresh water sources.
- Plant Native Plants: Native plants provide natural food sources like fruits, seeds, and insects that birds love.
- Offer Shelter: Shrubs and trees provide birds with places to perch, preen, and nest.
Advantages of Birds in your Backyard
Having birds in your backyard goes beyond birdwatching fun. Here are some benefits:
- Pest Control: Birds like chickadees and wrens readily consume insects that could damage your plants.
- Pollination: Hummingbirds and butterflies attracted to your bird-friendly yard help pollinate flowers and vegetables.
- Stress Relief: Studies show that watching birdsonging birds can lower stress and promote relaxation.
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