Birds of Florida — A Visual Field Guide to 20 Common Species

Florida is home to more bird species than any other state east of the Mississippi River, with more than 500 species recorded across its forests, coasts, springs, and skies. This poster introduces 20 of the most commonly seen — the birds you’ll meet on a school field trip, a backyard birdwatch, or a weekend visit to a Florida state park. From the bright red Northern Cardinal that Floridians chose as the state bird, to the only bird species found exclusively in Florida — the Florida Scrub Jay — every species on this poster is one a young birdwatcher in Florida can realistically hope to spot.

The selection deliberately spans Florida’s full range of habitats. Wading birds (Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork) live in the shallow waters of marshes and tidal flats. Birds of prey (Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl) hunt across forests and wetlands. Shorebirds (Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher) patrol the beaches. Songbirds and backyard birds (Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, two warbler species) bring colour and song to suburban yards and forest edges. The Florida Scrub Jay and Sandhill Crane represent species that have become symbols of Florida conservation. The Limpkin’s haunting nocturnal call is one of Florida’s most distinctive natural sounds.

This poster is part of the Natives of Nature kids’ series, designed as an accessible entry point for classroom teachers, homeschool families, parents, and young birdwatchers. For more advanced field-guide posters covering Florida’s birds by habitat — wading birds, birds of prey, coastal birds, and endemic specialties — visit the Natives of Nature visual resources library. The poster is free to share with attribution under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0.