Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated July 18, 2026

Please post updates for these sightings on eBird or on our Facebook Bird Board. Providing the specific location where the bird was seen is always appreciated.

Recent Reports

Scopoli’s Shearwater

Offshore, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County: Last reported July 18 (eBird) Photo Directions: Several birds have been seen offshore between Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach. Map

Bahama Mockingbird

Garden Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Monroe County: Reported July 18 (eBird) Photo Directions: Click here for Dry Tortugas ferry information. No specific location has been provided for this sighting. Map

Smooth-billed Ani

L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported July 17 (eBird) Photo Directions: From US 1 and Florida’s Turnpike in Florida City, drive south to Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). Turn right and drive west 1.6 miles to SW 192 Avenue. Turn left and drive south 2 miles to SW 376 Street (FL 9336). Turn right and drive west 5 miles (becomes SW 392 Street) to the L-31W Canal. Walk north about 1.5 miles along the unpaved road on the east side of the canal to where the canal bends to the west. Up to three birds have been seen in marshes along the unpaved road that leads east from the bend in the canal. Map

Red-footed Booby

Dry Tortugas National Park, Monroe County: Last reported July 15 (eBird) Photo Directions: Click here for Dry Tortugas ferry information. Up to two birds have been seen among the frigatebird colony on Bush/Long Key. Map

Common Eider

Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach, Lee County: Last reported July 13 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Bonita Springs, exit at Bonita Beach Road (CR 865, Exit 116). Drive west 12.5 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 8 AM to sunset). The bird has been seen along the beach anywhere from New Pass to Big Carlos Pass. Map

Older Reports

Red-billed Tropicbird

Offshore, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County: Reported July 11 (eBird) Photo Directions: The bird was seen 13.5 miles offshore from West Palm Beach. Map

Neotropic Cormorant

Green Cay Wetlands, Palm Beach County: Reported July 11 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From Florida's Turnpike, exit at Atlantic Avenue (Exit 81). Drive east 0.7 miles to Hagen Ranch Road. Turn left and drive north 2.2 miles to the entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). No specific location has been provided for this sighting. Map

Yellow-green Vireo

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo, Monroe County: Last reported July 10 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, continue south 1 mile on US 1 to Card Sound Road (FL 905A). Turn left and drive south, then east 16.5 miles to CR 905. Turn right and drive south 2 miles to power pole #117. The bird has been seen near this power pole. Map

Arctic Tern

Sanibel Causeway, Lee County: Last reported July 6 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Ft. Myers, take Alico Road (CR 840, Exit 128) west 3.6 miles to US 41 (Tamiami Trail).  Turn right and drive north 2.7 miles to Gladiolus Drive (CR 865). Turn left and drive west 1.2 miles to Summerlin Road (CR 869). Turn left (flyover) and drive west 8.2 miles to the Sanibel Causeway (toll). The bird has been seen on the north side of the easternmost island along the causeway. Map

Smooth-billed Ani

Brown’s Farm Road, Belle Glade, Palm Beach County: Reported July 5 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 13.5 miles to CR 880. Turn left and drive west 14.7 miles to Browns Farm Road (FL 827). Turn left and drive south 9.6 miles to an unpaved farm road on the south side of a canal. Turn right and drive west 1 mile. The bird was seen in this area. Map

South Florida as defined here includes the following counties: Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach. Only sightings at publicly accessible locations are listed here. Click on each county to view that county’s eBird Rare Bird Alert.

Click here for locations to see regularly occurring south Florida specialties. Click here for directions to those locations. 

Banner photo: White-tailed Tropicbird by Daniel Gribbin