Birds of the Garden

This peaceful habitat already provides food and shelter to a large number of birds, including the Mangrove Cuckoo and the endangered White-crowned Pigeon. Bobolinks have been spotted, stopping in to refuel during the long autumn migration from breeding grounds in southern Canada or northern USA, to their southern South American winter range.

Not all neotropical migrants (birds that breed in North America and spend their winters in the Caribbean, Central and South America) stop on their southbound journey. Most Blackpoll Warblers, for example, take off from the northeast coast of the United States and fly nonstop for 70-80 hours to the north coast of South America. This is the equivalent to a human running for 80 hours nonstop, at the pace of a 4-minute mile! This songbird only weighs as much as a quarter and flies at an altitude of 15,000 feet. It is seen more often during its spring migration, as it moves north and west from Florida following its insect food.

The smallest bird in Florida, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, breeds from Southern Canada to the Gulf States. Some birds winter in Florida, but most travel to Mexico or Central America. This tiny, solitary migrant flies over 600 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico in fall and spring.

Chimney Swifts are strong, fast fliers that spend all day on the wing, even feeding in flight! They migrate to eastern Peru for the winter, traveling in flocks during the day. They breed in a wide range across eastern North America, living in communities lie the Purple Martin. Among the fastest birds on earth is the White-rumped Sandpiper. This bird has been clocked at 100 mph traveling between Argentina and the Arctic North.

Migration routes
diagram courtesy of Robertson Adams

Migration is a dangerous and arduous business, so why do billions of birds do it? Why do warblers fly at night, but raptors travel during the day? And what happens if, after traveling thousands of miles to their breeding (or wintering) grounds, they find their habitat destroyed? Condominiums, cattle, and crops have taken the place of forests, prairies, and wetlands.

Birds represent 90% of all wildlife extinctions, and habitat loss tops the list of causes for decline in bird populations worldwide. Florida's feathered migrants number more than 400 species of birds and may be found at different times of the year. Some migrants winter in Florida. Some come for the summer. Others stop in for rest and a meal during their journey.

As you observe the birds and wildlife in this protected area, consider what you could do in your own garden to provide food and shelter for birds. At Attracting Birds to Your Garden you will find suggestions for planting trees, shrubs and groundcovers that attract birds and butterflies as they beautify your garden.

Birds of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Checklist (draft)

Frequency of observation
Species	Type	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Compiled using the observations of Dick Cunningham supplemented by the staff and volunteers of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. We are still in the process of compiling a complete list. Your suggestions for additions and corrections will be appreciated.
Turkey Vulture	Bird of Prey	Uncommon		Uncommon	Common
Black Vulture	Bird of Prey	Rare
Osprey	Bird of Prey	Uncommon		Common	Common
American Swallow-tailed Kite	Bird of Prey		Common
Bald Eagle	Bird of Prey				Uncommon
Northern Harrier	Bird of Prey			Uncommon
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Bird of Prey	Uncommon			Uncommon
Cooper's Hawk	Bird of Prey	Uncommon
Red-shouldered Hawk	Bird of Prey	Common	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Short-tailed Hawk	Bird of Prey	Uncommon		Uncommon	Uncommon
Red-tailed Hawk	Bird of Prey			Uncommon	Uncommon
American Kestrel	Bird of Prey	Uncommon	Uncommon		Uncommon
Pied-billed Grebe	Water Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Double Crested Cormorant	Water Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Anhinga	Water Bird	Common		Common	Common
Magnificent Frigatebird	Water Bird	Rare	Rare	Rare	Rare
Great Blue Heron	Water Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Great Egret	Water Bird	Common			Common
Snowy Egret	Water Bird	Uncommon			Uncommon
Little Blue Heron	Water Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Tri-colored Heron	Water Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Cattle Egret	Water Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Green-backed Heron	Water Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Black-crowned Night Heron	Water Bird	Uncommon
Yellow-crowned Night Heron	Water Bird	Uncommon		Uncommon	Uncommon
White Ibis	Water Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Wood Duck	Water Bird			Uncommon	Uncommon
Blue-winged Teal	Water Bird	Uncommon		Uncommon	Uncommon
Red-breasted Merganser	Water Bird				Uncommon
Common Moorhen	Water Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
American Coot	Water Bird	Common			Common
Killdeer	Water Bird	Uncommon	Common	Common	Common
Black-necked Stilt	Water Bird		Common
Common Snipe	Water Bird	Uncommon
Royal Tern	Water Bird			Uncommon
Belted Kingfisher	Water Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon	Common	Uncommon
Laughing Gull	Water Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Ring-billed Gull	Water Bird			Uncommon	Uncommon
White Crowned Pigeon	Land Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon		Uncommon
Mourning Dove	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Eurasian-collared Dove	Land Bird	Common
Canary-winged Parakeet	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Mangrove Cukoo	Land Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Yellow-billed Cukoo	Land Bird	Uncommon		Uncommon
Eastern Screech Owl	Land Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Common Night Hawk	Land Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon
Chimney Swift	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Land Bird	Uncommon		Uncommon	Common
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Land Bird	Uncommon			Uncommon
Downey Woodpecker	Land Bird	Common	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Pileated Woodpecker	Land Bird	Uncommon		Uncommon
Great-crested Flycatcher	Land Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Purple Martin	Land Bird	Common	Common
Barn Swallow	Land Bird	Uncommon		Common
Blue Jay	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
American Crow	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Fish Crow	Land Bird	Common	Common
House Wren	Land Bird			Rare
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Land Bird			Rare	Rare
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Land Bird	Common		Common	Common
Gray Catbird	Land Bird	Common		Uncommon	Common
Northern Mockingbird	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Brown Thrasher	Land Bird	Uncommon		Uncommon	Uncommon
Cedar Waxwing	Land Bird	Common
European Starling	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Hil Myna	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Black-whiskered Vireo	Land Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon
Northern Parula	Land Bird	Uncommon		Common	Common
Cape May Warbler	Land Bird	Rare		Rare
Black-throated Blue Warbler	Land Bird	Common		Common	Common
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Land Bird	Uncommon			Common
Black-throated Green Warbler	Land Bird				Uncommon
Yellow-throated Warbler	Land Bird			Common
Prairie Warbler	Land Bird	Common	Uncommon	Common	Uncommon
Palm Warbler	Land Bird	Common		Common	Common
Blackpoll Warbler	Land Bird	Rare
Black-and-white Warbler	Land Bird	Uncommon		Uncommon	Uncommon
American Redstart	Land Bird	Common		Common
Ovenbird	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Northern Waterthrush	Land Bird	Rare			Rare
Common Yellowthroat	Land Bird	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Common
Northern Cardinal	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Bobolink	Land Bird			Rare
Red-winged Blackbird	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Boat-tailed Grackle	Land Bird	Common	Common	Common	Common
Common Grackle	Land Bird	Common		Common	Common
Eastern Phoebe	Land Bird			Uncommon

Keys Coastal Habitat

Birds of the Garden

Birds of Fairchild Tropical Botanic GardenChecklist (draft)

Birds of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Checklist (draft)