South Florida & The Keys - April 2025
Dates: April 19 - 27, 2025
Leader: Rafael Galvez
E-bird
Total Species: 145 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
Our 2025 South Florida & The Keys tour kicked off in Key West with a downpour of migratory warblers of several species, including a vagrant Townsend’s Warbler and dozens of Cape Mays. It then took us up the peninsula to find many more birds through a wide diversity of habitats, and ended back where we started with another vagrant, the highly coveted Bahama Mockingbird!
Making our rounds through a variety of native habitats, from mangrove forests to hardwood hammocks, swamps, and sawgrass prairies, we eventually found several of the challenging regional species that make South Florida so distinctive, including Gray Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, White-crowned Pigeon, Mangrove Cuckoo, Antillean Nighthawk, and more. Our time spent crisscrossing the region’s suburban sprawl was also rewarding, yielding Spot-breasted Oriole, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Egyptian Goose, and six species of parakeets. Our group of adventurous birders was great fun, with many sharp eyes and enthusiasm.
After leaving Key West, we set off to explore the Florida Keys, one of the continent’s hotspots for bird migration. Hopping from island to island while fine-tuning our “feelers” for migrants, we managed to find many species. The core of the birds we saw were warblers, primarily Cape May in all its permutations, from stunning adult males to drab, streaked younger birds. Just having arrived at our first location, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, we had barely stepped out of the vans into the parking lot when the canopy overhead was buzzing with birds. American Redstart, Black-and-white, Palm, Prairie, and Blackpoll Warblers were all immediately present. However, the most surprising of them all was the vagrant male Townsend’s—potentially only the second record for Key West!
Before leaving the Keys, we became acquainted with other breeding specialties that had recently returned from wintering grounds in the Caribbean, including White-crowned Pigeon and Gray Kingbird. We scored beautifully in the Lower Keys with another Florida star, the Short-tailed Hawk, which has typically left for breeding grounds in Central Florida by this time of year. Two flew over us at close range in the Saddlebunch Keys. At that same location, we made our first of four efforts for the most challenging bird on the tour, the Mangrove Cuckoo. Surprisingly, it was apparently still early for Black-whiskered Vireos, and we would have to wait until later in the tour to enjoy one.
The Mangrove Cuckoo is among the most sought-after birds in South Florida. Anyone birding here should not expect to readily see one unless persistence and patience are added to the mix. When we finally encountered one on the 21st, we had already tried three other locations. That day was one of contrasts, divided into three chapters that took us to very different locations exemplifying the region’s dynamics. We started off at a beautiful red mangrove forest along the southeasternmost point of the peninsula. Mangroves are the first line of defense against erosion and storm surges, particularly during hurricanes. The second part of the day took us into one of the fastest-growing, most densely developed urban corridors in the country to search for birds in Miami. The third part of the day was spent overlooking the serenity of the sawgrass prairie that once dominated the interior of the state.
After being again ignored by Mangrove Cuckoos, this time along Biscayne Bay, we tried farther south along the coast at a stand of mature trees, and before long, a beautiful cuckoo came into full view. It truly could not have been a better look at this stunning, reclusive bird—and it was a lifer for many in our group! Feeling triumphant, we headed north into neighborhoods where we found Red-whiskered Bulbuls and Spot-breasted Orioles. We then continued to the Biltmore Hotel golf course in Coral Gables, where we caught up with Egyptian Geese and several species of psittacids, including Mitred, Red-masked, Yellow-chevroned, and White-winged Parakeets. Lunch was delightful in the Cuban enclave of “Calle Ocho,” at the renowned La Carreta restaurant. To top off our individual orders, we also had an assortment of appetizers including platanitos fritos, tostones, fried yuca, and classic mamey shakes made from the delicious “marmalade tree.” We toasted with coladas, Cuban-style espresso shots.
Finally, the afternoon of the 21st took us westward along Tamiami Trail, on the northern boundary of Everglades National Park toward Big Cypress, surrounded by vast expanses of sawgrass prairie. Raised stretches of highway allowed views for miles across the wetlands. We stopped to admire a slough with alligators, dozens of wading birds including Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, and herons of various species, as well as Swallow-tailed Kites overhead.
On the 22nd, the day we visited Everglades National Park, we arrived at daybreak, when the palette of subtle greens and golds over the “river of grass” glistens in early morning light. The Everglades is a place of subtleties, where habitats shift with the slightest changes in elevation—from pinelands to freshwater sloughs and flooded cypress, eventually giving way to brackish marshes and mangrove coast. Flamingo, at the end of Highway 9336, was once a remote trading post, and we drove campground roads finding a Shiny Cowbird, along with Brown-headed Cowbirds. We also enjoyed close views of Common Ground Doves, extimus Red-shouldered Hawks, and the endangered American Crocodile. On the outskirts of the Everglades, we encountered White-tailed Kite, Burrowing Owls, Loggerhead Shrikes, Eastern Meadowlarks, and our third cowbird species of the day—Bronzed.
Back in the glades that evening, we visited the Pine Rocklands, where we found Pine Warbler, “White-eyed” Eastern Towhee, and Common Nighthawks in close view, engaged in their impressive booming displays. The highlight of the evening, however, came at a secluded fire road in a deeper sector of the pinelands, where we found a very territorial Chuck-will’s-widow. Like a stealthy giant moth, it put on quite a display upon discovering us on its turf, grunting loudly as it circled and landed nearby, then performing a protest stomp with its small feet while glaring at us with enormous eyes.
After leaving Homestead and Miami-Dade County, we relocated to Palm Beach, where we visited wonderful sites that were among the favorites of the tour. We spent one morning at the bountiful Wakodahatchee Wetlands—a reclaimed water facility converted into highly successful marsh colonies with boardwalks, allowing incomparably close views of nesting Wood Storks, Anhingas, Tricolored and Great Blue Herons, Great and Cattle Egrets, Glossy Ibises, and more. There were so many highlights that it is difficult to decide where to begin. Parent Wood Storks shading their fuzzy young, which made nasal begging calls, were mesmerizing. We could have spent hours watching them and the young at various stages of growth. Young Tricolored Herons and Great Egrets were at arm’s reach from the boardwalk. Mother Mottled Ducks and Common Moorhens tended their chicks in the shallows, while Gray-headed Swamphens foraged with their enormous feet and head shields. We also found Purple Gallinules and cooperative Least Bitterns, along with countless other species. One of the most memorable moments was observing two Limpkin parents with their newly hatched chick, fuzzy and dark, struggling to keep up as they foraged along a canal. The parents erupted in excitement when the chick managed to climb the steep embankment to join them, running back to encourage it as they reunited on the berm. These behaviors told a deeper story and helped us see Limpkins as kindred spirits to cranes.
The following morning, we continued north toward Martin County, visiting Jonathan Dickinson State Park. This is the southernmost location on the east coast with remaining oak scrub habitat still inhabited by Florida Scrub-Jays and pine flatwoods inhabited by Bachman’s Sparrows. In the flatwoods, we heard Bachman’s Sparrows singing readily—a faint song that can resemble Eastern Towhee to the untrained ear. After walking through beautiful slash pine forest with Saw Palmetto understory, we pinpointed a pair of competing Bachman’s Sparrows and had one bird just a few feet away as it burst into full song.
The “pinewoods” sparrow was a great addition and a new species for most of the group, so we continued to the oak scrub, a quickly diminishing habitat highly valued for development. Before long, we were among Florida’s only endemic bird species, the charismatic Florida Scrub-Jay, watching them forage for acorns and arthropods.
That afternoon, we visited Green Cay, another wetland boardwalk site. Florida Softshell Turtles and Yellow-bellied Cooters were abundant, while Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and Double-crested Cormorants rested on railings. We encountered herons and gallinules, with highlights including young Least Bitterns and an Eastern Screech-Owl tucked into a Cabbage Palm. We also visited Loxahatchee, where countless herons, egrets, spoonbills, and Anhingas moved between rookeries as we watched from a tower over the Everglades.
After a stellar time in northern sites, it was time to return to the Keys. One of our vans developed mechanical problems, so we rented a smaller vehicle to Miami, where we exchanged it for a larger van. Although the process was efficient, it caused some delays in traffic.
We spent the final day traveling from the Middle Keys to Key West, stopping at Long Key, Windley Key State Park, Plantation Key Hammock Preserve, and Fort Zachary Taylor. The bridges between keys provided excellent vantage points for Magnificent Frigatebirds, Royal and Least Terns, and other waterbirds. The water shifted to deep aqua and viridian hues as we traveled. We stopped at a salt pan where we found Black-necked Stilts, including nesting birds, along with Yellowlegs, Stilt, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, and more. This proved one of the best stops for Reddish Egret and the Great White Heron. In Big Pine, Sandy quickly spotted a Key Deer, which we paused to admire.
The day ended with a major surprise. A Bahama Mockingbird had been reported earlier at Fort Zachary Taylor. After several days without sightings, we searched the hammocks alongside other birders who had also been unsuccessful. Eventually, we tried a different area on the northern end of the park. Soon after, the Bahama Mockingbird appeared in the treetops, offering prolonged views only minutes before sunset on our final day. A perfect finale.
During our final dinner in Old Key West, we celebrated a journey through a region of contrasts, where preserved wilderness persists alongside urban development, offering extraordinary birding diversity. We marked several milestones, including Ida reaching 600 ABA lifers. We also celebrated Suzi’s birthday, gathering as friends old and new, already hoping to meet again on another birding adventure.
VOTED FAVORITES BY OUR GROUP:
Florida Scrub-Jay
Green Cay and Wakodahatchee
Bachman’s Sparrow
Spot-breasted Oriole and Red-whiskered Bulbul
Chuck-will’s-widow
White-crowned Pigeon
Burrowing Owl
Bahama Mockingbird
Mangrove Cuckoo
Red-masked Parakeet
Honorable mentions: The nesting colony at Wakodahatchee, especially the close views of Wood Storks and herons. Mangrove Cuckoo was consistently a highlight. Townsend’s Warbler was only the second ever photographed in Key West. Cape May Warblers were ubiquitous and stunning.
Day-by-Day Summary
April 19 – Once in Key West, our group met at the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort at 5 p.m. After a nice oceanside dinner at La Trattoria, we headed to Boca Chica Beach for some sunset birding. We spent the night in Key West at the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort.
April 20 – After breakfast and with our bags packed into the van, we started our journey northeast through the Keys, stopping first at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. We then visited the Saddlebunch Keys along Sugarloaf Boulevard. Lunch was in Marathon at the Island Fish Company. Afterward, we stopped at a productive location for waders and shorebirds in Grassy Key, followed by Plantation Key Hammock Preserve. After checking in at the TownePlace Suites in Homestead, we went to dinner and spent the night in Homestead.
April 21 – After an early breakfast at Sam’s Country Kitchen, we left for Biscayne National Park in search of Mangrove Cuckoo. We then headed north from Homestead into Miami through the Kendall neighborhood, where we successfully searched for bulbuls at King’s Creek. From there, we continued to the Biltmore Hotel Golf Course in search of parrots. After lunch at La Carreta Cuban restaurant, we headed west on Tamiami Trail toward Big Cypress National Preserve, driving along the northern boundary of Everglades National Park and reaching our westernmost destination nearly halfway across the peninsula. We made a stop in the Westchester area for Spot-breasted Orioles before returning to Homestead. We had dinner at Bangkok Cuisine and spent the night in Homestead.
April 22 – After an early breakfast at Sam’s Country Kitchen, we headed into Everglades National Park and the Pa-Hay-Okee region west of Mahogany Hammock. We continued making stops along Hwy. 9336 toward the old outpost of Flamingo, including the campgrounds and marina. We left the park for lunch at the lovely White Lion Café. After a mid-afternoon rest, we visited the regional airport and found Burrowing Owls. Back in the Everglades, we saw Pine Rockland specialties, including Pine Warbler. At dusk, we visited the domain of Chuck-will’s-widows. We returned to Homestead for the night.
April 23 – We left Homestead with bags packed for Palm Beach County, arriving at the impressive nesting colonies at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. Lunch was at the excellent Prime Catch in Boynton Beach, followed by an early check-in at the TownePlace Suites. After a mid-afternoon rest, we visited Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, including the boardwalk and the overlook tower by the canal. Dinner was at Agliolio Italian Restaurant, and we spent the night in Boynton Beach.
April 24 – We headed north to Martin County to visit Jonathan Dickinson State Park, where we spent time in scrub oak and pine flatwoods in search of Florida Scrub-Jays and Bachman’s Sparrows. We stopped at Pine Glades for a Crested Caracara before lunch. In the afternoon, we visited the Green Cay Nature Center back in Boynton Beach for a beautiful sunset over the marsh. Dinner was at the wonderful Driftwood Restaurant, and we spent the night in Boynton Beach.
April 25 – We left Boynton Beach after breakfast at the hotel and visited Loxahatchee NWR one more time. We then stopped at the Fran Reich Preserve before continuing south to Miami-Dade County for lunch. We continued into the Florida Keys, eventually stopping at Marathon Airport at sunset. We spent the night in Marathon.
April 26 – Already in the Keys, we visited Long Key and Windley Key State Parks in the morning. After lunch at Lazy Days in Islamorada, we continued toward Key West and checked into the DoubleTree Resort. After a brief rest, we went directly to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, where we spent time enjoying migratory songbirds—eventually finding the Bahama Mockingbird. We capped the night with our final dinner at First Flight Restaurant and returned to the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort.
April 27 – Departures back home for those not continuing on to the Dry Tortugas extension.
Wildlife Seen:
BIRDS:
WATERFOWL
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Wakodahatchee, Green Cay.
Egyptian Goose ( I ) – Kendall suburb of Miami, Biltmore.
Muscovy Duck ( I ) – Miami, the Keys and Palm Beach.
Wood Duck – Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Blue-winged Teal – The Keys, Wakodahatchee.
Mottled Duck – Palm Beach.
PHEASANTS, GROUSE and ALLIES
Northern Bobwhite – Jonathan Dickinson SP.
Red Junglefowl ( I ) – The Keys.
Indian Peafowl (I) – Jupiter.
PIGEONS and DOVES
Rock Pigeon ( I ) – Seen daily.
White-crowned Pigeon – The Keys and the Everglades.
Eurasian Collared-Dove ( I ) – Seen daily.
Common Ground-Dove – The Keys, in the Everglades and in Jonathan Dickinson SP.
White-winged Dove – Seen nearly daily, often on the wing.
Mourning Dove – Seen daily at various locations.
CUCKOOS
Mangrove Cuckoo – A challenging species to find due to much of its habitat being inaccessible by land, and its skulking behavior. Biscayne National Park.
NIGHTJARS and ALLIES
Common Nighthawk – Best at Long Pine Key, Everglades. Also Homestead, Keys.
Chuck-will’s-widow –Pine Rocklands of the Everglades, Long Pine Key.
SWIFTS
Chimney Swift – Seen over Kendall.
RAILS, GALLINULES and COOTS
Clapper Rail –Boca Chica.
Common Gallinule –Miami, Wakodahatchee, Green Cay. Close views of families with multiple young.
Purple Gallinule –Wakodahatchee, Green Cay.
Gray-headed Swamphen ( I ) – Wakodahatchee, Green Cay.
LIMPKIN
Limpkin – Delray Beach (a pair with chick), Fran Reich Preserve.
STILTS and AVOCETS
Black-necked Stilt – Grassy Key, Wakodahatchee.
PLOVERS and LAPWINGS
Black-bellied Plover – The Keys.
Killdeer – Various locations in the mainland.
Semipalmated Plover – Grassy Key, Long Key SP.
SANDPIPERS and ALLIES
Short-billed Dowitcher – Grassy Key and Boca Chica.
Solitary Sandpiper – Green Cay.
Greater Yellowlegs – Grassy Key, Pine Glades Natural Area.
Willet – All “Western” Willets – We saw a few along the Keys and in the Everglades.
Lesser Yellowlegs – Grassy Key.
Ruddy Turnstone – Grassy Key, Long Key SP.
Red Knot – Grassy Key.
Stilt Sandpiper – Grassy Key.
Sanderling – Long Key SP.
Semipalmated Sandpiper – Grassy Key, Long Key SP.
Least Sandpiper – Grassy Key, Long Key SP, Loxahatchee.
Spotted Sandpiper – Seen in the Saddlebunch Keys, and in the Everglades.
GULLS, TERNS, and SKIMMERS
Laughing Gull – Seen nearly daily.
American Herring Gull – Lazy Days Islamorada.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Key West, Black Point.
Least Tern – Seen at various locations, in the Keys, in Boynton Beach and elsewhere.
Roseate Tern – Fort Zachary Taylor SP.
Royal Tern – The Keys.
GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe – Wakodahatchee, Green Cay.
STORKS
Wood Stork – Fortymile Bend, Everglades, Wakodahatchee, Loxahatchee, Pine Glades NA. It was quite a treat to see many Wood Storks in all stages of growth at incredibly close range in their breeding colony at Wakodahatchee.
FRIGATEBIRDS
Magnificent Frigatebird – Throughout the Keys.
ANHINGAS
Anhinga – Seen nearly daily, even in the Keys where they tend to recede to the few freshwater holes. Anhingas with young in their nests were seen at Wakodahatchee – the chicks looking quite peculiar with their pink gular pouches.
CORMORANTS
Double-crested Cormorant – At various locations.
IBISES and SPOONBILLS
White Ibis – Seen daily.
Glossy Ibis – Wakodahatchee, Loxahatchee, Pine Glades, Green Cay. It was enjoyed best and closely at Wakodahatchee, adults and nestlings.
Roseate Spoonbill – Fortymile Ben, Loxahatchee, Grassy Key.
HERONS, EGRETS and BITTERNS
Least Bittern – Adults at Wakodahatchee, with young at Green Cay.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron – Boca Chica, Green Cay.
Black-crowned Night Heron – Fortymile Bend, Wakodahatchee, Loxahatchee, Green Cay.
Great Blue Heron – The “blue” form of this species migrates and winters in the lower counties and breeds north of the Everglades.
(Great White Heron) – This distinctive heron is a marine and estuarine specialist.
Great Egret – Seen daily.
Snowy Egret – Seen at various locations throughout the tour, less frequently than other herons.
Little Blue Heron – Palm Beach Co., and in the Keys. At Wakodahatchee, where a Pond Apple clump hosted a small colony.
Tricolored Heron – Nearly daily. A highlight was seeing them nesting with chicks, the adults with bright sky-blue bills.
Reddish Egret – Boca Chica, Everglades, and best in Grassy Key.
Western Cattle-Egret – Seen daily. Some were nesting with chicks at Wakodahatchee. The bills of breeding adults are spectacular.
Green Heron – Various locations.
PELICANS
American White Pelican –Everglades NP.
Brown Pelican – Throughout the Keys.
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Black Vulture – This species was seen regularly in the mainland.
Turkey Vulture – Seen daily.
OSPREY
Osprey – Seen nearly daily.
HAWKS, EAGLES, and KITES
Swallow-tailed Kite – Arguably the most graceful raptor in flight! Various locations.
White-tailed Kite – Southern Everglades C111 Canal.
Cooper’s Hawk – Founders Park, Delray Beach.
Bald Eagle – Layton.
Red-shouldered Hawk – South Florida’s (B. l. extimus) population is quite distinctive.
Broad-winged Hawk – The Keys.
Short-tailed Hawk – Saddlebunch Keys.
Red-tailed Hawk – Loxahatchee.
OWLS
Eastern Screech-Owl – Green Cay.
Great Horned Owl – Long Pine Key.
Burrowing Owl –Homestead Regional Airport.
Barred Owl – Loxahatchee.
KINGFISHERS
Belted Kingfisher – Boca Chica, Grassy Key.
WOODPECKERS
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Nearly daily.
Downy Woodpecker – Black Point, Fran Reich Preserve.
Pileated Woodpecker – Flamingo, best at Loxahatchee.
Northern Flicker – Black Point, Long Pine Key, Jonathan Dickinson SP.
FALCONS and CARACARAS
Crested Caracara – Pine Glades Natural Area.
American Kestrel – Boca Chica.
Merlin – At various locations in the Keys, best at Long Key SP.
PARROTS
Monk Parakeet ( I ) – Loxahatchee.
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet ( I ) – Biltmore.
White-winged Parakeet ( I ) – Biltmore.
Nanday Parakeet ( I ) –Delray Beach.
Mitred Parakeet ( I ) – Biltmore.
Red-masked Parakeet ( I ) – Biltmore, Westchester.
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Great Crested Flycatcher – The Keys, Everglades, Big Cypress, Palm Beaches.
Gray Kingbird – We saw this superb regional flycatcher throughout the Keys.
VIREOS
White-eyed Vireo – Biscayne National Park, Fortymile Bend, Flamingo.
Black-whiskered Vireo – Flamingo, Forth Zachary Taylor.
SHRIKES
Loggerhead Shrike – Westchester, Homestead Airport, Jonathan Dickinson, Green Cay.
CROWS and JAYS
Blue Jay – Miami, Palm Beaches, Loxahatchee.
Florida Scrub-Jay ( E ) – Florida’s sole endemic bird species.
American Crow –Seen in the Everglades and along Tamiami Trail.
Fish Crow – At various coastal regions.
SWALLOWS
Purple Martin –Wakodahatchee, Loxahatchee, Green Cay.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow – Green Cay.
Barn Swallow – Migrants were seen during several days of the tour.
Cliff Swallow – Quarry Lake.
Cave Swallow – “Caribbean” Cave Swallow (P. f. fulva) is different from its western relatives.
BULBULS
Red-whiskered Bulbul ( I ) – The subdivision of Kings Creek in Kendall.
GNATCATCHERS
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Fortymile Bend.
MYNAS and STARLINGS
European Starling – Seen nearly every day.
Common Myna (I) – Key West, Flamingo, Miami, Jupiter.
MOCKINGBIRDS and THRASHERS
Gray Catbird – Flamingo, Loxahatchee, Green Cay, Long Key, Fort Zachary Taylor.
Bahama Mockingbird – Fort Zachary Taylor. One of the highlights. Lifer for all participants!
Northern Mockingbird – Seen daily.
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow – Mainland.
NEW WORLD SPARROWS
Bachman’s Sparrow – One of the few U.S. endemics Jonathan Dickinson SP.
Eastern Towhee – At Long Pine Key on the 22nd within Everglades NP we had excellent encounters with the “White-eyed” Towhee, subspecies P. e. alleni, distributed throughout the southern portion of Florida, contrasting with northern congeners that have red eyes.
TROUPIALS and ALLIES
Eastern Meadowlark – Homestead Regional Airport, C111 Canal.
Red-winged Blackbird – Seen daily.
Shiny Cowbird – One of the most sought-out Florida specialties.
Brown-headed Cowbird – Founders Park, Flamingo, Long Key.
Bronzed Cowbird – We caught up with this species in Homestead, for a cowbird trifecta!
Common Grackle – Seen every day. The Florida race is a colorful version of the “Purple.”
Boat-tailed Grackle – Seen at many locations in the. The westoni subspecies, with dark eyes.
NEW WORLD WARBLERS
Northern Waterthrush – Grassy Key, Black Point, Fort Zachary Taylor.
Black-and-white Warbler – Fort Zachary Taylor, Long Key, Windley Key.
Common Yellowthroat –Several at breeding sites in the Sawgrass Prairies of the Everglades.
American Redstart – Fort Zachary Taylor, Long Key, Windley Key.
Cape May Warbler – One of the most abundant migratory warblers seen during this tour.
Northern Parula – The Keys to the Palm Beaches. We heard it singing from Loxahatchee.
Yellow Warbler – Fort Zachary Taylor.
Blackpoll Warbler – Fort Zachary Taylor, Windley Key.
Black-throated Blue Warbler – Fort Zachary Taylor, Windley Key.
Palm Warbler –The “Western” Palm warbler, common in winter and migration.
Pine Warbler –Rocklands of Everglades NP.
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Fort Zachary Taylor.
Prairie Warbler – The singing birds are of the endemic paludicola subspecies.
Townsend’s Warbler – A vagrant, only documented once before from Key West, though elsewhere in the Keys. It was a fantastic surprise to find one at Fort Zachary Taylor during our first morning of birding!
CARDINALS and ALLIES
Northern Cardinal – Seen daily.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – Fort Zachary Taylor.
Indigo Bunting – Fort Zachary Taylor.