Birds that migrate? What necessitates this? When the climate changes and it gets colder, food becomes scarce, which is the primary drive for migrators to find grounds further south where food is more abundant.
They don’t just get up and fly randomly but use flyways, which have set routes over decades that help them travel at high speeds to reach their destination. In this case, Florida has a sub-tropical climate, and the coastal regions are slightly warmer.
The seas surrounding Florida also bring rich and diverse marine life. It is also home to wetlands and mangrove forests and has long sandy beaches.
In this article, we look at a few bird species that go through an arduous and tiring journey in winter to survive.
These birds are seen in Florida during the winter months. They usually arrive during the fall and leave during the start of spring, which is different for all species but will vary between October and April.
When you see them, they will mostly be in their non-breeding plumage for most of the time. It makes it a lot more difficult for birders to recognise them. However, you may be lucky to spot them in partial breeding plumage as they leave.
Warblers
Palm Warbler, Setophaga palmarum
Palm Warblers breed primarily in Canada. You can find them in open fields and forest edges.
They have a rusty cap, and most of their bodies are yellow. They have a yellow eyebrow with a light brown wash through their eyes to their back.
What is noticeable is the yellow undertail, which you pick up immediately as they forage for food, fluttering their tails to flush out insects.
They are always the first warblers to return to their breeding grounds.
The non-breeding male is a paler yellow.
- Average Length: 13 cm
- Habitat: Open Woodlands
- Diet: Insects and berries
- Conservation: Low concern
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata
There are a few forms of Yellow-rumped Warbler, but Florida is home to the Myrtle form. They get their name from their yellow rump and have been nicknamed “butter-butt.”
They are abundant with a slaty grey head and back and a small yellow cap with yellow patches on the side. They have a black mask with a white eyebrow and a yellow rump. The non-breeding colours vary by being nearly mousy brown with a slight yellow chin but retaining the yellow side patch.
- Average Length: 14 cm
- Habitat: Open areas with shrubs or scattered trees
- Diet: Bayberries and Insects
- Conservation: Low concern
Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotilta varia
Warblers, as the name suggests, are very black-and-white birds. They have a white head and body with heavy black streaks or visa-versa. The only area without streaks is on their pale bellies.
Non-breeding males are a bit duller but have a pale wash from their bill down their belly.
This somewhat combative bird has heavier legs with an extra-long back claw that allows them to creep around branches in search of insects and spiders.
- Average Length: 12 cm
- Habitat: forest.
- Diet: Insects, berries and nectar
- Conservation: Low concern
Orange-crowned Warbler, Leiothlypis celata
The Orange-crowned Warbler is primarily yellow-olive all over. You ask, where is the orange crown? It is there, but a lot of the time, it is concealed and very difficult to see, but it is there. The non-breeding male is a little duller.
- Average Length: 19 cm
- Habitat: Forest with dense shrubbery and low trees.
- Diet: Insects
- Conservation: Low concern
Waterbirds
Anhinga, Grus canadensis
The Anhinga belongs to the darter family and is closely related to the Darters in Africa. They spend much of their time underwater, as much as 6 minutes, and as they have no oil in their feathers, they can manoeuvre much better “spearfishing” their prey.
The name Anhinger comes from the Tupi Indians of Brazil, meaning “devil bird” or “snake bird.”
They are slender, long birds, almost black with white secondary coverts and white streaked primary feathers. They seem like some snake gliding on top of the water with a long beak. Seeing them in the water reminds me of a mythical creature moving around in the lake.
When out of the water, the Anhingers need to dry their wings. I have seen them standing, majestically, on a rock or branch, spreading their wings open to dry.
- Average Length: 89 cm
- Habitat: Marshes.
- Diet: Fish, which it spears
- Conservation: Low concern
Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa
These long-legged shorebirds, the Marbled Godwit, are in the same family as the Sandpiper but are much taller.
They have a light brown wash underneath and marbled backs and heads. They have a long upward curving two-tone bill—pink with a wide black tip. The non-breeding male are very similar but have a paler wash on their bellies.
They would typically dig and jab in sandy beaches and mud flats, sometimes right up to their eyes, searching for their meals.
- Average Length: 50 cm
- Habitat: Mostly marshes.
- Diet: Aquatic Invertebrates
- Conservation: Declining
Gull-billed Tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
Birders will not be able to see the breeding plumage. It has a stunning little black cap that runs from the bill to its back. It is a bit harder to identify out of season, although it has a slight dark line running from its eye. It has black legs and a black bill. It does have a streak of black on the tips of its wings.
It is named Gull-billed Tern because its bill is slightly larger than usual. It relies on more than just fish. It will swoop down and grab a crab or similar. They have eaten chicks of other Terns.
- Average Length: 42 cm
- Habitat: Shorelines and brushy areas.
- Diet: Insects and amphibians.
- Conservation: Low concern.
Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres
You will find the Ruddy Turnstone around rocky shores or estuaries. There are no other birds that you can confuse it with. They are very noticeable with their stocky bodies and short orange legs.
They have dark plumage on the upper parts and their heads. They have two black bibs with a white belly. Their heads are usually white, with a black stripe from the top of the bill through the eyes and a circle under the bills.
The non-breeding males have a brown head with faint black stripes.
- Average Length: 24 cm
- Habitat: Shorelines.
- Diet: Aquatic Invertebrates.
- Conservation: Declining.
Winter Migrating Ducks
Moulting in a duck’s life is imperative, and this usually happens twice a year. One, they will moult into their breeding feathers, and the next, when winter is almost upon them, they shed these to gain drab colours to help them camouflage until the next breeding season.
The feathers play an essential role in keeping the ducks warm while, at the same time, being designed to keep them afloat in the water.
Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
The male Northern Pintail is an elegant dabbling duck that develops a long central tail feather during the breeding season, giving rise to the Pintail name.
They have a blue bill. Their heads are chestnut with a white stripe running down the side. They have a black speculum bordered with white at the rear and rufous at the front.
The non-breeding colours are light brown with a darker cap but retain the upper wing patterns.
- Average Length: 28 cm
- Habit: Marshes.
- Diet: Winter, mostly plant life.
- Conservation: Low concern
Greater Scaup, Aythya marila
The Greater Scaup dive for their meals below the surface and can stay submerged for nearly 20 seconds.
The male has a dark head and neck, white underneath, and yellow eyes. They have a blue bill, hence sometimes called “bluebill.” They have a white speculum.
The non-breeding colours are nearly identical, except the paler colours are buffy grey.
- Average Length: 55 cm
- Habit: Lakes and ponds.
- Diet: Aquatic Invertebrates.
- Conservation: Common birds are in steep decline.
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
The Red-breasted Merganser gets their name from their cinnamon-coloured breast. Mind you, looking at this bird with all its different colours, it could have been called several things. But just above the breast, you have a white ring around its neck, a black head, red eyes, and what can only be said to be the untidiest crest I have seen. The female also has this style of crest.
But this is where they differ significantly from other ducks; they have a long red serrated saw-like bill to hold their fish once caught.
They dive underwater to catch their meals.
It is one of the few ducks to migrate from clear water lakes to seawater in sunny Florida.
- Average Length: 64 cm
- Habit: Lakes and ponds.
- Diet: Fish.
- Conservation: Low concern.
Northern Shoveler, Spatula clypeata
The Northern Shoveler are a dabbling duck with a noticeable spade-like bill that helps it filter out crustaceans. The male are easily visible with their green heads, yellow eyes, white chests, and brown bellies. Their scapula are green.
The non-breeding male has a brown head with a lighter body and coarse brown markings.
- Average Length: 48 cm
- Habit: Marshes.
- Diet: Omnivore
- Conservation: Low concern.
Redhead, Aythya americana
The Redhead are a pochard and are diving ducks. The males have reddish heads with steepish foreheads and yellow eyes. They have a black breast and greyish body.
The non-breeding males have a lighter head with a soft brown colour to the rest of their bodies.
The female is known to lay eggs in other species’ nests, even their own. (brood parasitism)
- Average Length: 18 cm
- Habit: Lakes and Ponds.
- Diet: Plants
- Conservation: Low concern.
Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris
The diving Ring-necked Duck have a black head with a slight tuft. They have a thin brown ring around their necks, hardly distinguishable. They also have two rings around their black bills. They are white beneath and have a black back.
Non-breeding males have lighter heads with grey-brown sides. They have one white ring near the tip of their bills.
Birders will find these ducks in shallow waters and ponds.
- Average Length: 18 cm
- Habit: Lakes and Ponds.
- Diet: Plants
- Conservation: Low concern.
Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
The Blue-winged Teal are among the first dabbling ducks to leave their breeding grounds and the last to return. They are potent fliers as they cross oceans looking for a suitable area.
They have striking features with black faces and broad crescent-shaped white stripe running in front of their eyes. Their bodies are light brown with blackish dots and have black backs. They have green speculums and blue wing coverts.
The non-breeding males are primarily golden brown with a slight dark stripe through their eyes.
The female also parasitises other species of ducks. (brood parasitism)
- Average Length: 40 cm
- Habit: Lakes and Ponds.
- Diet: Omnivore.
- Conservation: Low concern.
American Wigeon, Mareca americana
What a snazzy-looking dabbling duck with its green eye patch, white crown, and blacked-tipped pale short blue bill. It has a brown side and white belly with brown and black wings. In flight, you can see the distinctive white patch of the upper wing and green secondaries. They also have white stripes under their wings.
The non-breeding male American Wigeon have reddish-brown bodies with darker heads and even darker smudges around their eyes. They still have the white patch and green secondaries, which are not always visible.
- Average Length: 59 cm
- Habit: Lakes and Ponds.
- Diet: Plants.
- Conservation: Low concern.
Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca
This dabbling Green-winged Duck is considered one of the smaller ducks.
They have a beautiful green eyepatch that reaches towards their backs. Their caps are a cinnamon colour, washing down around the front of their eyes through to their cheeks. They have a vertical stripe on the side of their chest.
They also have grey sides and wings with a pale-yellow rear end. They have a green speculum.
The non-breeding males have a small stripe at the back but remain drab brown.
- Average Length: 39 cm
- Habit: Marshes.
- Diet: Seeds.
- Conservation: Low concern.
Conclusion
Migration is complicated for these birds in today’s climate. We still need to find out with 100% certainty how exactly they follow the migratory paths that they do. Their challenges are immense, from changes in weather patterns due to the ever-changing climate to new artificial hazards lying in wait, predation, and hunting, and there is the stress of the journey itself.
And yet we see them appear miraculously year after year. Let’s get out there and spend some time with them before they embark on their subsequent journeys!
