Ducks Native To South Florida

Click the photo or name to see photographs and detailed information for a particular bird.

Ducks native to south florida. As of december 31 2018 there were 525 species included in the official list. Additional types of birds such as pelicans herons gulls and terns also populate florida beaches. This list of birds of florida includes species documented in the u s. It s also arguably the most common duck in the world found in europe and asia with forms found in australia new zealand and hawaii.

While most of the heron sighting are of species seen across the united states such as the great egret and the great blue heron he reddish egret is the most rare species and a great get for all tourists. Birds are organized by family with a list of families on each page at the top of each page. Of them 159 species and eight identifiable subspecies are classed as accidental 14 have been introduced to north america four are extinct and one. The muscovy duck cairina moschata is a large duck native to mexico and central and south america small wild and feral breeding populations have established themselves in the united states particularly in florida louisiana massachusetts and the lower rio grande valley of texas the big island of hawaii as well as in many other parts of north america including southern canada.

No permit is required to possess muscovy ducks. Florida mottled ducks have an intrinsic aesthetic value and are highly prized as a game bird. According to fwc biologists list this hybridization with mallards as the biggest immediate threat to the conservation of florida s mottled. They prefer brushy habitats and are often seen perching on fences snags and other vantage points.

Florida s mottled duck is an endemic species which means that it only exists in florida. These birds are native to south america and the caribbean but are rare but regular visitors in southern and central florida as well. However both florida statute 379 231 and federal regulations 50 cfr 21 25 b 8 i prohibit the release of muscovy ducks so they must be kept in a captive situation where they will not come into contact with native wildlife and will not escape captivity. Mallard ducks can inter breed with the native florida mottled ducks and create fertile hybrid offspring.

The guide to south florida birds is divided into three pages each with navigation links to the next page at the bottom. The mallard anas platyrhynchos might be the most recognizable of all north american ducks largely because it is the most common duck on the continent. Also they are a defining member of the unique suite of species characteristic of the prairie ecosystem of south florida.