9 Types Of White Birds In Florida (ID Guide With Photos In 2023)

White Birds in Florida Where Nature Meets Paradise. In the heart of Florida’s enchanting landscapes lies a realm of wonder, a world that beckons over 125 million visitors each year. Florida is more than just its pristine white-sand beaches, thrilling theme parks, vibrant nightlife, and luxurious cruising. It’s a sanctuary for birders, a dream destination boasting a staggering record of over 500 bird species across the state. In the realm of birding, Florida stands as one of North America’s preeminent territories.

You may have already crossed paths with many white birds in Florida, but the art of correct identification often remains elusive. For those yearning for clarity, this article offers a guiding light. Within its confines, we unveil ten distinct species of white birds that grace Florida’s landscapes. From the majestic Great Egret to the endearing White Ibis, each bird possesses its own unique narrative and ecological significance within Florida’s intricate tapestry.

White Birds In Florida By Season

Year-Round	Summer Visitors	Winter Guests
Great Egret, White Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Wood Stork, Rock Pigeon, Snowy Plover, White-tailed Kite	Swallow-tailed Kite, Common Tern, White-tailed Tropicbird	Ring-billed Gull, American White Pelican, Northern Gannet, Mute Swan, Whooping Crane, Snow Goose, Ross’s Goose

9 White Birds In Florida

1. Great Egret

Scientific Name: Ardea alba
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 55 to 65 inches (140 to 165 cm)
Size: Standing about 37 inches (94 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 2.2 to 3.6 pounds (1 to 1.6 kilograms)
Appearance: The Great Egret boasts a striking appearance with all-white plumage, contrasting against a long, slender black bill and legs. During the breeding season, it showcases plumes that cascade down its back and a distinct yellow patch around its eyes.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Diet: Great Egrets are carnivorous and primarily feed on fish, frogs, insects, and small mammals. They are known for their patient hunting style, waiting motionless for prey before striking with lightning speed.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 15 to 20 years.
Popular: The Great Egret is a popular subject for birdwatchers and wildlife photographers due to its elegant appearance and feeding behavior.
Location: Found throughout the Americas, they inhabit wetlands, marshes, ponds, and coastal areas across North, Central, and South America. They are especially common in the southeastern United States, including Florida.
Frequency in Florida: Great Egrets are a common sight in Florida year-round, appearing in 31% of summer checklists and 38% of winter checklists submitted by birdwatchers in the state.
Fun Fact: The Great Egret was nearly hunted to extinction due to the demand for its long white feathers, known as aigrettes, primarily used as decorations for ladies’ hats.

2. White Ibis

Scientific Name: Eudocimus albus
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 36 to 41 inches (91 to 104 cm)
Size: Standing about 22 to 27 inches (56 to 69 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 1.2 to 2.4 pounds (0.54 to 1.1 kilograms)
Appearance: The White Ibis is easily identifiable by its all-white plumage, long curved bill, and bright red facial skin. During breeding season, their bill and legs turn reddish-orange.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Diet: White Ibises are omnivorous, feeding on a varied diet that includes aquatic insects, small crustaceans, frogs, and small fish. They often probe their long bills into soft mud to find prey.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 10 to 15 years.
Popular: White Ibises are popular among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts due to their striking appearance and their habit of foraging in shallow waters.
Location: White Ibises are commonly found in the southeastern United States, including Florida, as well as in parts of Central and South America. They inhabit freshwater and saltwater marshes, swamps, and coastal areas.
Frequency in Florida: White Ibises are year-round residents in Florida, appearing in 32% of summer checklists and 36% of winter checklists.
Fun Fact: American White Ibises exhibit a unique behavior when their prey is muddy. They take the time to wash off the mud before consuming it, showcasing their adaptation to different feeding conditions.

3. Snowy Egret

Scientific Name: Egretta thula
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 37 to 41 inches (94 to 104 cm)
Size: Standing about 22 to 26 inches (56 to 66 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 13.1 to 20.1 ounces (370 to 570 grams)
Appearance: The Snowy Egret is known for its striking appearance, featuring all-white plumage, a slender black bill, and distinctive yellow feet. During breeding season, it sports elegant plumes on its back and head.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Diet: Snowy Egrets are carnivorous and primarily feed on fish, frogs, aquatic insects, and small crustaceans. They are skilled hunters, often seen wading in shallow waters and using their sharp bills to snatch prey.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 15 years.
Popular: Snowy Egrets are popular among birdwatchers and photographers due to their graceful appearance and foraging behavior.
Location: Snowy Egrets distribute themselves across the Americas, occupying wetlands, estuaries, shores, and coastal areas from North to South America. They have a common presence in Florida and other southeastern states in the United States.
Frequency in Florida: Snowy Egrets are year-round residents in Florida, appearing in 20% of summer checklists and 24% of winter checklists.
Fun Fact: The demand for their stunning white head feathers, prized as fashionable decorations for women’s hats, nearly drove Snowy Egrets to the brink of extinction.

4. Wood Stork

Scientific Name: Mycteria americana
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 60 to 65 inches (152 to 165 cm)
Size: Standing about 33 to 45 inches (84 to 115 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 4.4 to 5.3 pounds (2 to 2.4 kilograms)
Appearance: The Wood Stork is a large wading bird with distinctive features, including a bald head, long legs, and a long, thick bill that curves downward. Its plumage is mostly white with black flight feathers, and it has pink facial skin.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Diet: Wood Storks are primarily piscivorous, meaning they mainly feed on fish. They forage in shallow waters, using their sensitive bills to detect prey by touch. They may also consume amphibians, crustaceans, and insects.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 10 to 15 years.
Popular: Their unique appearance earns Wood Storks admiration, making them a subject of interest for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
Location: Commonly found in the southeastern United States, including Florida, Wood Storks also inhabit parts of Central and South America.
They inhabit wetlands, marshes, and coastal areas, often nesting in colonies.
Frequency in Florida: Wood Storks are year-round residents in Florida, with their numbers peaking from October to March. They are noted in 7% of summer checklists and 17% of winter checklists.
Fun Fact: Wood Storks were once referred to as “wood ibis” due to the resemblance of their heads to ibises. They have also been known as American Wood Storks because they are found in the Americas. This nomenclature reflects their unique characteristics and distribution across the continent.

5. Swallow-tailed Kite

Scientific Name: Elanoides forficatus
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 42 to 50 inches (107 to 127 cm)
Size: Standing about 22 to 27 inches (56 to 69 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 11.5 to 15.5 ounces (326 to 439 grams)
Appearance: Swallow-tailed Kites are striking birds with distinct features. They have long, pointed wings and a deeply forked tail, which sets them apart. Their plumage is predominantly white, with black wingtips and striking black facial markings around their eyes.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Diet: Swallow-tailed Kites are carnivorous and primarily feed on flying insects, particularly dragonflies, grasshoppers, and small vertebrates such as tree frogs and reptiles. They are known for their aerial hunting skills.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 7 to 10 years.
Popular: Their graceful flight and distinctive appearance have earned Swallow-tailed Kites the admiration of birdwatchers and raptor enthusiasts, making them favorites.
Location: Swallow-tailed Kites primarily inhabit the southeastern United States, including Florida, as well as parts of Central and South America. They inhabit wooded areas and wetlands, often nesting in tall trees.
Frequency in Florida: Swallow-tailed Kites are found in Florida during the breeding season, primarily from mid-February to September, and are noted in 9% of summer checklists.
Fun Fact: Swallow-tailed Kites are renowned for their impressive aerial acrobatics. They engage in dramatic flight maneuvers, including twisting, turning, rolling, and diving, all while flicking their distinctive forked tail. These agile movements are part of their hunting strategy as they pursue prey in the skies.

6. Northern Gannet

Scientific Name: Morus bassanus
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 66 to 72 inches (168 to 183 cm)
Size: Standing about 35 to 39 inches (89 to 99 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 6.6 to 8.8 pounds (3 to 4 kilograms)
Appearance: Northern Gannets are large seabirds with striking black wingtips and a predominantly white body. They have long, pointed bills and striking blue eyes. During breeding season, they develop yellowish hues on their heads.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Diet: Northern Gannets are piscivorous, primarily feeding on fish such as herring and mackerel. They are known for their dramatic plunge-diving behavior from great heights to catch fish.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 20 to 25 years.
Popular: Their remarkable diving skills make Northern Gannets the subject of admiration among birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, especially along coastal areas.
Location: The North Atlantic Ocean is where you’ll find Northern Gannets and breeding colonies exist in regions such as the North Sea, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and parts of the eastern United States, including Florida. They nest on cliffs and rocky islands along the coast.
Frequency in Florida: Northern Gannets are winter visitors to Florida, seen along the coast from November to May, and are recorded in 1% of winter checklists.
Fun Fact: Northern Gannets undergo a remarkable transformation as they mature. It takes them five years to fully develop into their adult physical appearance, showcasing the gradual transition from juvenile plumage to their striking adult characteristics.

7. Snowy Plover

Scientific Name: Charadrius nivosus
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 15 to 17 inches (38 to 43 cm)
Size: Standing about 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 1 to 2 ounces (28 to 57 grams)
Appearance: Snowy Plovers are small, pale shorebirds with sandy-colored plumage that provides excellent camouflage in their beach habitats. They have short bills, dark eyes, and a black band running across their foreheads.
Conservation Status: Near Threatened (IUCN)
Diet: Snowy Plovers are primarily insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates found in beach and shoreline habitats, including tiny crustaceans, insects, and marine worms.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 3 to 5 years.
Popular: Snowy Plovers are of interest to birdwatchers and conservationists due to their delicate appearance and their nesting habits in sandy coastal areas.
Location: Snowy Plovers are found along the coastlines of North and South America, including the southeastern United States, including Florida. They prefer nesting on sandy beaches and coastal dunes.
Frequency in Florida: Snowy Plovers, a near-threatened species in Florida, are year-round residents along the western coast, with peak sightings from June to September.
Fun Fact: Snowy Plovers have been classified as a threatened species since 1993 due to the challenges they face in breeding. Their open nests, often located on beaches, are vulnerable to disturbances caused by both humans and animals. This vulnerability underscores the importance of conservation efforts to protect their fragile nesting habitats.

8. Snow Geese

Scientific Name: Anser caerulescens
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 53 to 60 inches (135 to 152 cm)
Size: Standing about 25 to 31 inches (63 to 79 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 3.2 to 6.6 pounds (1.5 to 3 kilograms)
Appearance: Snow Geese come in two color morphs: white and blue. The white morph is predominantly white with black wingtips, while the blue morph is grayish-blue with a white head. Both morphs have pink bills and legs.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Diet: Snow Geese are herbivorous and primarily feed on plant matter such as grasses, sedges, and grains. During migration, they also consume aquatic vegetation.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 10 to 15 years.
Popular: Among birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, Snow Geese enjoy popularity, especially when large flocks during their impressive spring and fall migrations become observable.
Location: In North America, you can find Snow Geese, with their breeding grounds located in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Canada and Alaska.
They migrate south for the winter, with some populations wintering in the southeastern United States, including Florida.
Frequency in Florida: Snow Geese are frequently seen in Florida, primarily during the winter months from October to April.
Fun Fact: Snow Geese have a remarkable breeding behavior – they tend to choose mates with the same color morph as themselves and often form lifelong pair bonds. This preference for similar-colored partners adds an intriguing aspect to their reproductive behavior.

9. White-tailed Kite

Scientific Name: Elanus leucurus
Bird Class: Aves
Wingspan: Approximately 45 to 50 inches (114 to 127 cm)
Size: Standing about 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38 cm) tall
Average Weight: Typically between 8.8 to 14.1 ounces (250 to 400 grams)
Appearance: White-tailed Kites are striking raptors with predominantly white plumage. They have long, pointed wings, a white head, and a distinctive black patch around their eyes. Their tails are white with a black band near the end.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Diet: White-tailed Kites are carnivorous and primarily feed on small mammals, especially rodents such as voles and mice. They are skilled aerial hunters, hovering in the air as they search for prey.
Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live for about 5 to 7 years.
Popular: White-tailed Kites are popular among birdwatchers and raptor enthusiasts due to their elegant appearance and unique hunting behavior.
Location: White-tailed Kites are native to North and South America. In the United States, you can commonly find them in California and parts of the southwestern states, including Florida. They reside in open grasslands, marshes, and agricultural areas in these regions.
Frequency in Florida: White-tailed Kites are non-migratory and can be observed in the southern regions of Florida throughout the entire year.
Fun Fact: White-tailed Kites display a fascinating hunting technique called ‘kiting.’ When hunting, they hover in one position by facing the wind and fluttering their wings. This unique behavior allows them to spot and capture prey with precision.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Florida stands as a remarkable haven for a diverse array of white birds. From the iconic Great Egret to the elegant Snowy Egret, these avian wonders grace the state with their presence throughout the year. Florida’s unique blend of habitats, including wetlands, estuaries, and coastal areas, provides a welcoming home for these majestic creatures.

Florida’s commitment to preserving its natural wonders and the tireless work of conservationists ensure that these beautiful white birds continue to enchant and inspire generations to come. As we cherish the presence of these birds, we must also strive to protect their habitats and support efforts that sustain their populations for the future. Florida white birds are not only a testament to the state’s natural beauty but also a call to safeguard the delicate balance of its ecosystems.

FAQs

1. What are the threats to white birds in Florida?

White birds in Florida face threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and disturbance to nesting sites. Conservation efforts are essential to mitigate these threats and protect these species.

2. Where is the best place for birdwatching in Florida?

Florida offers numerous excellent birdwatching locations. Some popular spots include the Everglades, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and various coastal areas. Each offers unique opportunities to observe white birds and other species.

3. How can I contribute to the conservation of white birds in Florida?

You can contribute to the conservation of white birds in Florida by supporting local conservation organizations, participating in volunteer programs, and respecting bird habitats when birdwatching or visiting natural areas.