If you are near our dense, swampy woods in habitat dominated by bald cypress and old-growth oak, you are likely to hear, hoo-hoo-to-hoo-ooo, hoo-hoo-hoo-to-whooo-ooo or “Who cooks for you?” – the melodious call of the Barred Owl. Less likely seen than heard, the Barred Owl hunts most actively at night, mainly just after dusk and…

Read more

Warblers, though tiny, are often brightly colored and sing wonderfully as they flit through the trees.  Although Florida is a great flyway for migrating birds, sadly for us, most warblers pass through, reserving their most beautiful songs until reaching and defending their northern breeding grounds.  Small birds like warblers are more likely to leave the…

Read more

The Florida Scrub-jay, found only in Florida (endemic), deserves to be our Florida State Bird, yet our State chose the Northern Mockingbird. The Mockingbird, found in all lower 48 United States and introduced into Hawaii, is beloved and known to everyone, singing gaily, cheering us up. Bob Montanaro’s photograph shows this Mockingbird is an early…

Read more

The most vocal raptor, the Red-shouldered Hawks’ “Kee’-ah” Kee’-ah! Kee’-ah!” can be heard far away. They loudly announce their territory or give alarm when other males or predators (e.g. Great Horned Owls) are in their territory. Common in human habitats with nearby woodlands, they usually are seen on an open perch or telephone wire overlooking…

Read more