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Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated January 2, 2026

Please post updates for the following on eBird (providing the specific location where the bird was seen is always appreciated) or on either of our Bird Boards (website and Facebook):

Recent Reports

Vermilion Flycatcher

  • Paul Rardin Park, Belle Glade, Palm Beach County: Last reported January 1 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 33 miles to FL 715. Turn right and drive north 1.8 miles to the park (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen around the water control structure at the south end of the park. Map

  • C-111 Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 31 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). 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 4 miles to the C-111 Canal. The bird has been seen on the fence surrounding the water control structure on the west side of the canal. Map

Tropical Kingbird

  • L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported January 1 (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. Turn right and drive west 5 miles (becomes SW 392 Street) to the L31W 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. The bird has been seen near the bend in the canal. Map

  • Belle Glade Marina and Torry Island, Palm Beach County: Last reported January 1 (eBird) Photo Directions: From SR 80 in Belle Glade, drive west 3.6 miles on CR 717 to the marina and campground. The bird has been seen around the observation tower. Map

  • Paul Rardin Park, Belle Glade, Palm Beach County: Last reported January 1 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 33 miles to FL 715. Turn right and drive north 1.8 miles to the park (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen on fences and power lines around the park. Map

  • Atlantic Mill Road, Palm Beach County: Last reported January 1 (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 4 miles to Atlantic Mill Road. Turn left and drive 0.7 miles to Sem-Chi Rice Mill. Up to two birds have been seen on power lines near the rice mill, or at Atlantic Sugar Mill, 3 miles farther south. Please bird from the road and don't trespass onto the mill property. Map

  • Everglades Holiday Park, Broward County: Last reported December 30 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75, exit at Griffin Road (Exit 13). Drive west 5.7 miles to the park entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen around the water control structure east of the park entrance. Map

Cassin’s Kingbird

Paul Rardin Park, Belle Glade, Palm Beach County: Last reported January 1 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 33 miles to FL 715. Turn right and drive north 1.8 miles to the park (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen in trees around the water control structure at the south end of the park Map

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County: Last reported January 1 (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 4 miles to Atlantic Mill Road. Turn left and drive 0.7 miles to the rice mill. Several birds have been seen in cattails along the canal at the south end of the mill. Please bird from the road and don't trespass onto the mill property. Map

Rufous Hummingbird

Seacrest Scrub Natural Area, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 30 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at Woolbright Road (Exit 56). Drive east 0.4 miles to Seacrest Blvd. Turn right and drive south 1.4 miles to the entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been frequenting a firebush tree at the end of the paved trail. Map

Smooth-billed Ani

  • L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 30 (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. 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 along the unpaved road that leads east from the bend in the canal. Map

  • Cutler Wetlands, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida's Turnpike, exit at SW 112 Avenue (Exit 9). Drive north to Coconut Palm Drive (SW 248 Street). Turn right and drive east 1.5 miles to SW 97 Avenue. Turn left and drive north 1.2 miles to the wetlands parking lot on the west side of SW 97 Avenue. The bird has been seen in a grassy area south of the parking lot on the east side of SW 97 Avenue. Map

Common Eider

  • Manatee Lagoon Education Center, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County: Reported December 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at 45 Street (Exit 74). Drive east 2.3 miles to Broadway (US 1). Turn left and drive north 0.7 miles to 59 Street. Turn right and drive east 0.2 miles to N Flagler Drive. Turn right, then left to the entrance and parking area. The bird was seen offshore from the education center. Map

  • Boynton Beach Inlet Park, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95 in Boynton Beach, exit at Woolbright Road (Exit 56). Drive east 1 mile to SR A1A. Turn left and drive north 2 miles to the inlet. Free parking is available at Ocean Inlet Park, just south of the inlet on SR A1A. The bird has been seen flying past the inlet. Map

  • Gulfstream Park, Palm Beach County: Reported December 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at Woolbright Road (Exit 56). Drive east 1 mile to Ocean Drive (A1A). Turn right and drive south 0.7 miles to the park entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird was seen flying north offshore. Map

  • Big Carlos Pass, Fort Myers Beach, Lee County: Reported December 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Bonita Springs, exit at Bonita Beach Road (CR 865, Exit 116). Drive west about 12.5 miles to the parking area for Big Carlos Pass, at the north end of Lovers Key State Park. The bird was seen in Big Carlos Pass. Map

Groove-billed Ani

L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 29 (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. 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. The bird has been seen along the unpaved road that leads east from the bend in the canal. Map

American Flamingo

Guy Bradley Visitor Center, Everglades National Park, Monroe County: Last reported December 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street) and drive west 1.6 miles. Turn left on SW 192 Avenue and drive south 2 miles. Turn right on SW 376 Street (SR 9336) and drive west 5 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 24 hours). From the fee station, continue west 38 miles to Flamingo. Over 40 birds have been seen offshore in Florida Bay from the Guy Bradley Visitor Center. This area of Florida Bay is also accessible by canoe/kayak; launch from the Flamingo marina (canoe/kayak rentals available). Map

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area, Hendry County: Last reported December 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 (Alligator Alley) in Broward County, Exit at Snake Road (CR 833, Exit 49). Drive north 33.2 miles to CR 846. Turn right and continue north 2.6 miles on CR 833 to the entrance at Dinner Island Grade (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). No specific location has been provided for this sighting. Map

Western Tanager

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike, exit at Atlantic Avenue (FL 806, Exit 81). Drive west 2 miles to US 441. Turn right and drive north 3 miles to Lee Road. Turn left and drive west to the entrance (fee, open sunrise to sunset). Turn right after the entrance station to enter the visitor center parking area. The bird has been seen in oaks around the visitor center parking area and butterfly garden. Map

Yellow-headed Caracara

Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at FL 826 E (NW 163 Street, Exit 12). Drive east 3.6 miles to US 1. Turn left and drive south 0.8 miles to NE 151 Street. Turn right and drive east 1.2 miles to the campus entrance. The bird can appear anywhere on campus; the most recent sightings have been around the MAST@FIU building, located between parking lots 4 and 5, or around the swimming pool, located between the Wolfe University Center and Chaplin School of Hospitality buildings. This bird has also been seen at adjacent Oleta River State Park as well as at Haulover Park on Miami Beach. Map

Older Reports

Long-billed Curlew

San Carlos Bay/Bunche Beach Preserve, Lee County: Reported December 26 (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 5.7 miles to John Morris Road. Turn left and drive south 1.2 miles to the beach parking area (fee, open 7AM - 6PM). No specific location has been provided for this sighting. Map

Tropical Kingbird

  • Stormwater Treatment Area 1E, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 22 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 11.5 miles to the entrance (no fee, open from sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen at the easternmost cell along the public levee. Map

  • Sawgrass Recreational Park, Broward County: Last reported December 20 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Broward County, exit at US 27 (Exit 23). Drive north 2 miles to the entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). Up to two birds have been seen on wires in the park. Map

  • Harold Campbell Public Use Area, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 20 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Broward County, exit at US 27 (Exit 23). Drive north 15 miles to Holey Land Road, immediately south of the Palm Beach County line. Turn left and drive west 5.5 miles to the entrance to Harold Campbell Public Use Area (no fee, open Friday-Monday from sunrise to sunset). Turn right and drive north to the parking area and boat ramp. The bird has been seen around the parking 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

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