Flamingos in Florida
in the Wild and Best Attractions
Flamingos in Florida can be seen both in the wild and in many attractions. We’ve listed our favorite locations, if you’re a nature enthusiast with a keen interest in viewing flamingos in their natural habitat.
But keep in mind, flamingos in Florida are migratory and aren’t easy to find in the wild. So we’ve also listed our favorite places to see flamingos with 100% certainty!
Want more information and fun facts about Flamingos like… do flamingos swim? Do they make good pets? How many types of flamingos are there? Check out “Do Flamingos Fly and Other Flamingo Fun Facts” here.
Finding Flamingos in Florida... in the Wild
To spot a flamingo in the wild, you’ll be looking primarily for the Caribbean Flamingo (also known as the American Flamingo). It’s native to Mexico, the Caribbean and northern tip of South America. Because flamingos are migratory and will fly thousands of miles in search of a good place to eat and breed… they are occasionally spotted in Florida. Here are the places where flamingos have been most commonly reported:
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1. Everglades National Park
For a truly immersive experience with ‘real Florida’, visiting the Everglades is a must! This vast and unique ecosystem is home to a diverse range of wildlife including alligators, turtles, bears, panthers, fox, raccoons, opossums, hundreds of species of birds and so much more. Explore the park’s wetlands, mangrove forests, and shallow bays to catch a glimpse of the many birds and yes, possibly a flamingo! For the best chances of spotting them, head to the southern regions of the park, such as Flamingo, Snake Bight, or Florida Bay. Here are some of our tips on Visiting Everglades National Park and what to expect.
2. Big Cypress Nature Preserve
Big Cypress National Preserve is located between Everglades National Park and the Gulf of Mexico. It’s larger than the state of Rhode Island, 729,000 acres! It’s a vast wilderness filled with all kinds of wildlife and diverse ecosystems. From expansive wet prairies to cypress swamps, this preserve provides a diverse range of habitats where flamingos have been occasionally spotted. There are many eco-tours you can take including canoes and kayaks, plus airboat rides and hiking. The pink Spoonbill is another bird that lives here that is a little more common to spot than the flamingo. Check out the official Big Cypress Nature Preserve website here.
3. Corkscrew Swamp Santuary
Close to Naples in Southwest Florida, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is another fantastic destination for observing flamingos in their natural habitat. This sanctuary is home to one of the largest remaining stands of old-growth Bald Cypress forests and provides a haven for various bird species, including the captivating roseate spoonbill. Explore the sanctuary’s boardwalk trails and embrace the serenity of this remarkable environment. Here’s more information from Audubon Florida’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and what to expect when visiting, here.
4. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island is a barrier island east of Orlando, and shares some space with NASA and Cape Canaveral. Occasional flamingo sightings have been reported here, though not common. Still, this is a wonderful place to visit to see lots of other very-Florida wildlife in their natural habitats. This refuge has saltwater estuaries, freshwater impoundments, and marshes. December to April is the recommended timeframe for an increased chance of a flamingo sighting, since they are migratory birds and they also love visiting Florida in the winter (like the millions of other tourists!). Here’s the official Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for more information on planning a visit and what to expect.
5. Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is located in Southwest Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a barrier island known for its pristine beaches and clear blue water, shells and fantastic wildlife. While flamingo sightings are not as frequent as other birds, their occasional visits add an extra layer of excitement to any visit here. This area, and specifically the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, is famous for migratory bird populations. Even if you don’t get a chance to spot a flamingo while visiting this vast undeveloped mangrove ecosystem, it’s likely you’ll see lots of other birds and wildlife. Drive through the 4 mile tract, walk, hike, take the tram or canoe here! Here’s the official website for more information or to plan a visit to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Best Florida Attractions to See Flamingos
Apart from experiencing flamingos in the wild, several popular attractions in Florida offer opportunities to see these captivating birds up close with 100% certainty (and some with perfect photo ops!). Here are our favorite Florida attractions to see flamingos:
1. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory: surround yourself in butterflies! This place is small, but it’s in the heart of all the Key West fun and so worth the visit. Inside you’ll find a lush tropical setting with butterflies and small birds everywhere. And you WILL see flamingos here… because the stars of this attraction are famous: Rhett and Scarlett, a Caribbean Flamingo couple will come and great you if you sit in the gazebo next to their lagoon.
But make sure to visit the official website and book your greeting with this famous couple in advance! Here’s the official Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory website here, to help you plan your visit and book a special sitting with Rhett and Scarlett! Tip: we’ve found it best to visit early; they open at 9am each morning and are open 365 days a year!
2. Jungle Island (formerly Parrot Jungle) in Miami
Situated on an island in the heart of Downtown Miami, Jungle Island is an interactive zoological park that offers engaging encounters with exotic animals, including flamingos (and lemurs too!).
The park is fairly small, but is jam packed with habitats and wildlife, educational shows and interactive experiences. It’s even got a zip-line adventure above the park and animals called “Treetop Trekking” which makes the experience even more of an adventure.
Check out the official Jungle Island website here for planning a visit, what to expect, and purchasing tickets for the special animal encounters.
3. Flamingo Gardens near Fort Lauderdale
Flamingo Gardens was established in 1927 and is located in Davie, near Fort Lauderdale. It’s a delightful combination of a botanical garden, wildlife sanctuary and 1930’s home-museum.
With a significant population of birds including flamingos, the gardens provide a serene setting to observe these elegant birds in nature while strolling through lush greenery. Visit the official Florida Gardens website to help plan a visit!
4. Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park
Zoo Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida, popular destination for animal lovers of all ages. Alongside a diverse array of wildlife, the zoo features dedicated areas where flamingos can be observed, providing a unique and educational experience.
5. Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami is, in our opinion, the best value for the money. Tickets are less than $25 per adult (some other zoos are nearly twice that amount for a lot less to do and see!). Yes, there are flamingos, lots of them.
Famously, these flamingos (or their relatives) survived inside the women’s restroom during Hurricane Andrew back in 1992! One of the first picturesque spots when you enter the park is a big lagoon with Caribbean flamingos.
It’s easy to spend a full day at this zoo, here’s the official Zoo Miami website to help plan your visit.
6. Brevard Zoo in Melbourne
The Brevard Zoo offers visitors an immersive wildlife experience. This is less of an “attraction” and more of an adventure, and a favorite zoo for those who love the Florida outdoors.
If you’ve never kayaked, THIS is the place to start! Do some kayaking, then feed the giraffes, let the kids ride the train then head over to see the Chilean Flamingos.
There’s also a Treetop Trek zip-line adventure. Check out the official Brevard Zoo website here to help plan your visit.
7. Palm Beach Zoo
The Palm Beach Zoo is 23 acres and located in the heart of West Palm Beach. This zoo has a beautiful big shallow lagoon which is home to lots of American Flamingos.
The cafe food is exceptionally good (for a zoo), there’s a kid’s carousel, many fantastic animal exhibits and a snack bar that serves cocktails and craft beer. Check out the official Palm Beach Zoo website for more information and help to plan a visit.
8. Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee
Drive through 7 main habitats and see herds of big animals up close. Then park and head over to Adventure Park which includes all kinds of fun including a water park, train, carousel and rides, pontoon boating, petting zoo, gem mining and giraffe feeding.
And yes, FLAMINGOS are living their best life along Lake Shanalee in the center of the park near the carousel. Visit their official Lion Country Safari website for more helpful information on planning a visit.
9. Jacksonville Zoo
This zoo is full of shady, beautiful lush gardens making it such an enjoyable zoo to visit. The exhibits are so well done, and there’s lots of activities besides animal viewing. There are plenty of opportunities to eat and snack, and the gift stores are great! And yes, Jacksonville Zoo has a beautiful natural lagoon for their flamingos.
10. Gulf Breeze Zoo in Florida's panhandle (near Destin and Pensacola)
This is a vast 50 acre wildlife sanctuary with a fantastic train ride through 30 acres of natural habitat. There’s good animal encounter and feeding opportunities and yes… there’s a flamingo lagoon! Visit the official Gulf Breeze Zoo website for more information on planning a visit!
Finding Flamingos in Florida is... Fantastic!
These attractions offer diverse experiences, and opportunities to watch flamingos in Florida in their natural habitat. If you’re super adventurous, spend some time immersed in the Everglades by taking eco-tours, paddling, camping so you’re really in the environment and have a better chance of spotting flamingos naturally.
If you’re less outdoorsy or adventurous (we get it, there ARE mosquitoes and alligators to avoid out there) the zoos and sanctuaries we’ve listed here are our favorites and all worth visiting, each with an opportunity to watch the beautiful pink flamingos wading in shallow waters, eating shrimp and tiny crustaceans and napping on one leg.