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The Top 5 Most Beautiful Birds You Will See in Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
The Top 5 Most Beautiful Birds You Will See in Naples, Florida
The diverse ecosystems of Naples, Florida create a perfect habitat for the birds that populate the sunny beaches and lush forests of the area. Visitors come from all over the world to see Florida’s diverse bird population, with hundreds of species finding their homes in the swampy inlets or sandy beaches of the coastline. These birds are as majestic as they are unique, with specific characteristics adapted to their habitats. Here are some of the most beautiful birds you will find in Naples, Florida.
1. The Great Egret
Florida’s plentiful wetlands are the perfect habitat for majestic wading birds of all kinds, and one of the most beautiful is the Great Egret. Part of the heron family, this bird can be found year-round in inlets and swamps around Naples, wading and hunting for small fish in the shallow water.
The Great Egret’s close relatives the Great Blue Heron and the Snowy Egret can also be spotted wading in the tall grass of the coastline and catching fish on the beaches.
2. Roseate Spoonbill
The Roseate Spoonbill is one of the most distinctive birds in Florida, resembling a flamingo in coloring, but with a long, spoon-shaped bill from which it gets its name. Like the flamingo, the light pink coloration of the Roseate Spoonbill comes from its diet of shrimp, crayfish and sand beetles.
This tall, wading bird is actually a closer relative to the ibis than the flamingo, and occupies a similar habitat to the ibis, frequenting marshes and shallow, muddy waters.
3. American White Pelican
These unique sea-faring birds are one of the largest bird species in America, with a wingspan that can reach almost 10 feet. Unlike the brown pelican, the American White Pelican is a migratory bird, and adults can only be spotted in Florida in the winter, as they spend the summer at their breeding grounds in the Great Lake region of the U.S. and Canada.
The American White Pelican is usually found in flocks, flying in v formations low on the water. These birds fish by floating on the water instead of diving, and scooping their heads below the surface to catch fish in their large bills.
4. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common native hummingbird in Florida. The tiny birds are only 3 inches long and weigh as little as a penny (one quarter of an ounce). They can be found year-round in Naples, although some birds migrate south and winter over in Mexico or Central America.
The tiny hummingbirds are drawn to the brightly colored tropical flowers of southwestern Florida, and many locals plant specific flowers like hibiscus to entice hummingbirds to their yards. Other species of hummingbird can be found in Florida, including the Rufous Hummingbird, and the Calliope Hummingbird.
5. Osprey
The iconic Osprey, also known as the sea hawk or fish hawk, is one of the largest raptors found in the U.S. With a white underbelly and brown wings, these birds are sometimes mistaken for bald eagles, and, though slightly smaller, they are just as powerful predators. Osprey are expert anglers, and are actually even more successful fishers than bald eagles. Their five- to six-foot wingspan makes them an impressive force in the air, and their precipitous dives are even more impressive.
Osprey nests dot the Gulf Coast of Florida, and a pristine nesting grounds can be found at nearby Delnor-Wiggins State Park.
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