Black Birds in Florida

Black birds are common in Florida and can be found everywhere from wetlands and coastal areas to urban areas. These birds come in a variety of species, each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors.

Many of these black bird species are migratory, spending time in Florida before moving on to other parts of the United States or even South America. The diverse range of habitats in Florida, from wetlands to forests and coastlines, provides a variety of environments in which these birds can live and thrive.

Whether you’re a bird enthusiast or simply enjoy the beauty of these creatures, Florida is an excellent location for viewing black birds in their natural habitat.

The Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, and Rusty Blackbird are among the most common black bird species in Florida. These birds all belong to the blackbird family and are distinguished by their dark plumage and distinct calls.

List of Black Birds in Florida

• Common gallinule
• Shiny cowbird
• Brewer’s blackbird
• White-crowned Pigeon
• Swallow-tailed Kite
• Snail Kite
• Smooth-billed Ani
• Rusty Blackbird
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
• Common Grackle
• American Coot
• American Crow
• Anhinga
• Boat-tailed Grackle
• Brewer’s Blackbird

Common Gallinule

• Common Name: Common Gallinule
• Scientific Name: Gallinula galeata
• Length: 13-15 inches
• Weight: 6-8 ounces
• Wingspan: 21 inches
• Lifespan: Around 6 years
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish.

The Common Gallinule, also known as the Common Moorhen, is a medium-sized bird found in wetlands across the Americas. Their body is mostly dark grey or brown with a white undertail and a distinctive red beak and forehead shield.

The Common Gallinule swims well and has long toes that allow it to walk on lily pads and other floating vegetation. They are well-known for their distinct call, which is frequently heard in the early morning and late evening.

These birds are typically 12-15 inches long and weigh about 5 ounces. Their wingspan is 21-24 inches, and they live for about 7 years. Common Gallinules are omnivorous, eating a wide range of plants, seeds, insects, and other animals.

Shiny Cowbird

• Common Name: Shiny Cowbird
• Scientific Name: Molothrus bonariensis
• Length: 7 inches
• Weight: 1.3 ounces
• Wingspan: 11 inches
• Lifespan: Around 5 years
• Diet: Insects, seeds, and fruit.

The Shiny Cowbird is a small, blackbird-like bird from South America. The male has a shiny black plumage with a blue or purple sheen, whereas the female has a dark brown plumage with a lighter belly.

This bird is a brood parasite, which means it lays its eggs in other bird species’ nests, often displacing the host eggs or chicks. Shiny Cowbirds primarily consume insects, fruits, and nectar. They are typically 7 inches long and weigh about 1 ounce.

Brewer’s Blackbird

• Common Name: Brewer’s Blackbird
• Scientific Name: Euphagus cyanocephalus
• Length: 9-11 inches
• Weight: 2-3 ounces
• Wingspan: 14-16 inches
• Lifespan: Around 8 years
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, seeds, and fruit.

Brewer’s Blackbird is a medium-sized bird found across much of North America. They have iridescent black plumage and a bright yellow eye. Brewer’s Blackbirds frequently consume insects, fruits, and seeds.

They have also been observed scavenging for food in urban areas and near agricultural fields. These birds typically measure 9-11 inches in length and weigh 2.5-3.5 ounces.

White-crowned Pigeon

• Common Name: White-crowned Pigeon
• Scientific Name: Patagioenas leucocephala
• Length: 11-13 inches
• Weight: 7-9 ounces
• Wingspan: 20-24 inches
• Lifespan: Around 15 years
• Diet: Fruits and seeds.

The White-crowned Pigeon is a large ground bird found in the Caribbean and southern Florida. They have a white crown on their heads and a dark, iridescent body. The White-crowned Pigeon eats mostly fruits and seeds, but it will also eat small insects and crustaceans.

These birds typically measure 13-15 inches in length and weigh 12-16 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 26-30 inches, and they live for approximately 10-15 years.

Swallow-tailed Kite

• Common Name: Swallow-tailed Kite
• Scientific Name: Elanoides forficatus
• Length: 23-27 inches
• Weight: 12-20 ounces
• Wingspan:4-4.5 feet
• Lifespan: Around 10 years
• Diet: Primarily eats small mammals like rodents, lizards, and frogs.

The Swallow-tailed Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey found in the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. They are distinguished by their black and white plumage and a deeply forked tail. Swallow-tailed Kites eat mostly small mammals, reptiles, and insects.

These birds are typically 24 to 26 inches long and weigh 13 to 18 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 4-4.5 feet, and they live for approximately 10 years.

Snail Kite

• Common Name: Snail Kite
• Scientific Name: Rostrhamus sociabilis
• Length: 15-18 inches
• Weight: 11-16 ounces
• Wingspan: 41-47 inches
• Lifespan: Around 8 years
• Diet: Primarily eats snails, but will also eat other aquatic invertebrates.

The Snail Kite is a small raptor found in wetlands across Central and South America, as well as in southern Florida. They have dark brown plumage and a hooked beak designed for feeding on snails. Insects, fish, and crustaceans are also known to be eaten by the Snail Kite.

These birds are typically 14-16 inches in length and weigh 13-19 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 3.5-4 feet, and they live for approximately 5-7 years.

Smooth-billed Ani

• Common Name: Smooth-billed Ani
• Scientific Name: Crotophaga ani
• Length: 12-14 inches
• Weight: 2.5-3.5 ounces
• Wingspan: 17-19 inches
• Lifespan: Around 7 years
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruits, and small vertebrates.

The slender-billed The Caribbean, Central America, and South America are home to the Ani, a medium-sized bird. They are distinguished by their black plumage and long, curved beak.

The slender-billed Ani primarily consumes insects, fruits, and seeds, but it may also consume small lizards and snakes.

These birds are typically 14-16 inches in length and weigh 3-4 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 20-22 inches, and they have a lifespan of approximately 7 years.

Rusty Blackbird

• Common Name: Rusty Blackbird
• Scientific Name: Euphagus carolinus
• Length: 8-9 inches
• Weight: 1.5-2 ounces
• Wingspan: 14-15 inches
• Lifespan: Around 4 years
• Diet: Insects, seeds, and fruit.

The Rusty Blackbird is a medium-sized bird found throughout much of North America in wetlands and wooded areas. Their plumage is dark, with rusty brown feathers on their wings and tail. The Rusty Blackbird primarily feeds on insects, seeds, and small mammals.

These birds typically measure 9-10 inches in length and weigh 2.5-3 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 14-16 inches, and they have a lifespan of approximately 10 years.

Red-winged Blackbird

• Common Name: Red-winged Blackbird
• Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus
• Length: 7-9 inches
• Weight: 1.4-2.3 ounces
• Wingspan: 12-16 inches
• Lifespan: Around 4 years
• Diet: Insects, seeds, and fruit.

The Red-winged Blackbird is a medium-sized bird found throughout much of North America in wetlands and agricultural areas. The male has a prominent red and yellow shoulder patch, whereas the female has a more subdued brown plumage.

The Red-winged Blackbird mainly feeds on insects, seeds, and grains. These birds are typically 7-9 inches long and weigh around 2-3 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 12-15 inches, and they live for approximately 8-10 years.

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

• Common Name: Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
• Scientific Name: Leuconotopicus borealis
• Length: 7-9 inches
• Weight: 1.4-1.9 ounces
• Wingspan: 14-16 inches
• Lifespan: Around 12 years
• Diet: Insects, spiders, and wood-boring beetle larvae.

The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker is a small woodpecker found in the United States’ southeastern states. Their plumage is black and white, with a distinctive red spot on the male’s head. The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker primarily feeds on insects and spiders, as well as pine tree sap.

These birds are typically 7-8 inches long and weigh about 1-1.5 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 14-16 inches, and they live for approximately 10-15 years.

Common Grackle

• Common Name: Common Grackle
• Scientific Name: Quiscalus quiscula
• Length: 12-13 inches
• Weight: 2.5-5 ounces
• Wingspan: 14-18 inches
• Lifespan: Around 9 years
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, seeds, fruit, and small vertebrates.

The Common Grackle is a medium-sized bird native to much of North America. They have a long, keel-shaped tail and dark, iridescent plumage. The Common Grackle primarily feeds on insects, seeds, and grains, but it may also consume small animals and urban waste.

These birds typically measure 12-13 inches in length and weigh 3-5 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 18-20 inches, and they live for approximately 8 years.

American Coot

• Common Name: American Coot
• Scientific Name: Fulica americana
• Length: 13-15 inches
• Weight: 1-2 pounds
• Wingspan: 25-27 inches
• Lifespan: Around 8 years
• Diet: Aquatic plants, insects, and small aquatic animals.

The American Coot is a small waterbird found in much of North America. Their bill is distinctively white, and they have dark plumage with a white undertail. The American Coot primarily feeds on aquatic plants and small animals like snails and insects.

These birds are typically 12-15 inches long and weigh about 1-2 pounds. Their wingspan is approximately 23-25 inches, and they have a lifespan of approximately 10 years.

American Crow

• Common Name: American Crow
• Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Length: 16-21 inches
• Weight: 11-21 ounces
• Wingspan: 3-4 feet
• Lifespan: Around 7 years
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, small mammals, carrion, fruits, and seeds.

The American Crow is a large, all-black bird that can be found across North America. They are known for their intelligence and adaptability, as well as their distinct cawing call. The American Crow primarily feeds on insects, small animals, and carrion, but it will also consume seeds and fruits.

These birds are typically 16-21 inches in length and weigh 1-2 pounds. Their wingspan is approximately 35-39 inches, and they live in the wild for approximately 7-8 years.

Anhinga

• Common Name: Anhinga
• Scientific Name: Anhinga anhinga
• Length: 33-37 inches
• Weight: 2-4 pounds
• Wingspan: 42-45 inches
• Lifespan:Around 10 years
• Diet: Fish and other aquatic animals.

The Anhinga is a large waterbird found across much of the Americas. They have dark plumage, a long, pointed bill, and a snake-like neck. The Anhinga primarily feeds on fish, but it may also consume insects and amphibians.

These birds are typically 35-37 inches long and weigh around 2-3 pounds. Their wingspan is approximately 43-47 inches, and they live for approximately 10-15 years.

Boat-tailed Grackle

• Common Name:Boat-tailed Grackle
• Scientific Name: Quiscalus major
• Length: 14-18 inches
• Weight: 3-6 ounces
• Wingspan: 18-20 inches
• Lifespan: Around 8 years
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruits, and small vertebrates.

The Boat-tailed Grackle is a large, all-black bird found along the southeastern coast of the United States. They have a long, curved bill and a keel-shaped tail. The Boat-tailed Grackle primarily feeds on insects, seeds, and grains, but it may also consume small animals and urban waste.

These birds are typically 14-18 inches in length and weigh 4-7 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 21-23 inches, and their lifespan is approximately 8-12 years.

Brewer’s Blackbird

• Common Name: Brewer’s Blackbird
• Scientific Name: Euphagus cyanocephalus
• Length: 9-11 inches
• Weight: 2-3 ounces
• Wingspan: 14-16 inches
• Lifespan: Around 8 years
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, seeds, and fruit.

Brewer’s Blackbird is a medium-sized bird found across much of North America. They have dark plumage and a bright yellow eye. The Brewer’s Blackbird primarily feeds on insects, seeds, and grains, but it may also consume small animals and urban waste.

These birds are typically 9-11 inches long and weigh around 2-3 ounces. Their wingspan is approximately 14-16 inches, and they live for approximately 6-8 years.

 

What are the Best Places to See Black Birds in Florida?

The state of Florida is home to a wide variety of black bird species, each with its own set of habitat preferences and migration patterns. Here are a few of the best places in Florida to see black birds:

1. Everglades National Park:  The Everglades National Park is a vast wetland ecosystem that is home to several black bird species, including the Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, and Red-winged Blackbird. While exploring the park’s many trails and waterways, visitors can observe these birds in their natural habitat.

2. Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive: Lake Apopka in Central Florida is one of the best places in the state to see black birds. The wildlife drive allows visitors to see a variety of bird species such as the Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, and Boat-tailed Grackle.

3. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Located on Florida’s east coast, this refuge is ideal for birdwatching. Visitors can see several black bird species, including the Rusty Blackbird, Common Grackle, and Boat-tailed Grackle.

4. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: Located in southwest Florida, this sanctuary is home to numerous bird species, including several black bird species such as the Red-winged Blackbird and the Common Grackle. Visitors can observe these birds up close by walking through the sanctuary on a boardwalk.

5. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park: Located in north-central Florida, this park is home to many bird species, including several black bird species such as the Common Grackle and the Boat-tailed Grackle. Visitors can observe these birds in their natural habitat by exploring the park’s trails and observation decks.