The Binocular Site
Florida Keys, Florida
The Florida Keys consist of an archipelago of approximately 1700 islands, which together form a barrier around the southern-most tip of Florida.
The Keys are made up of limestone, and first developed on the exposed portions of massive ancient coral reef.
These subtropical islands extend from the Biscayne National Park, starting with Elliot Key around to the south west, and into the Gulf of Mexico, ending with the group of islands known as the Dry Tortugas.
There are over 200 hundred species of birds to be seen throughout the Florida Keys and around 60 species of birds breed here. Traveling by boat between the Keys offers a great chance for some pelagic birding, and you can expect to see Boobies, Bridled Terns, and Audubon's Shearwater.
You may also see exceptional numbers of songbirds and raptors during the seasonal migrations. Be sure to check out the airport at Marathon in summer to see if you can spot an Antillean Nighthawk. Keep your eyes on the sky for soaring Magnificent Frigatebirds as the Keys are the only place they nest in all of North America.The official Florida state bird is the Northern Mockingbird and you can find a checklist for bird watching in Florida here.
Photo credit to Allie Caulfield, used with permission under the creative commons license. You can learn more about the the islands that make up the Florida Keys and even see live webcam footage of the Keys here.
If you've visited the Florida Keys, please take the time to share your experience and any tips or insight you have about this Florida bird watching location below.
Check out more birdwatching spots.
Average User Rating - None
Add Your Own Review