Birds in pink are quite a rarity in parts of Florida because such pigments aren’t often endowed upon these feathered creatures by mother nature.
Six species have been identified to regard as the pink birds in Florida available for spotting and observation at different times of the year.
One of these six is a visitor and can’t always be found in the coastal regions of the state, so you’d need some luck to trace down that species.
Out of the rest, two aren’t exclusively pink, rather have pink patches on their chests or parts of feathers which ranks them our list as borderlines.
Only three are completely native to Florida, are colored in pink throughout their feathers and solidly boost the motion forward for your satisfaction!
Contents
6 Types Of Pink Birds In Florida
Some of the bird experts might try to pass red birds to be pinks but we’re not walking that way. The 6 species I’ve enlisted are either draped in pink or glazed in this color with the strike of sunlight.
Roseate Spoonbill
Source: @normgrant12
- Scientific Name: Platalea ajaja
- Size: 71 to 86 cm (28 to 34 in)
- Locality: Texas, Florida, Louisiana, parts of Central and South America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: March to June
Roseate Spoonbills are sea-shore birds that are very often located in the state of Florida and exclusively admired due to their spoon-shaped bill. As plume-hunting used to be a thing a couple of decades ago, these birds with their attractive, pink plumes fell victim to these in large numbers. However, present day preservation laws have managed to revive their numbers back to a normal state.
Recognition
Identifying a Roseate Spoonbill in the wild shouldn’t be too tough for you since it has a very eccentric look with vibrant colors. Mostly, the body consists of white feathers on the chest and long neck, the green head paves way for the long, spooned, gray bill. Rest of the feathers are shades of pink – the intensity of the color depends on diet, sexual maturity and age.
Habitat
This species is fairly local in Florida and spotting one isn’t much of a challenge at all. You can easily hop onto your car and drive past the coastal roads of Florida Bay to see these birds flying around in search of food. Their nests are planted a few miles inland from these coastal areas, mostly around freshwater bodies. Much detail on their nesting is yet to be discovered by ornithologists.
American Flamingo
Source: @daddy_outdoorsy
- Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus ruber
- Size: 120 to 145 cm (47 to 57 in)
- Locality: Tropical North America and South America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Depends on rainfall
While you may find quite a few species of flamingos living natively in North America, American Flamingo is the only species that settles in naturally. Their biological breakdown of excessive salt consumption is highly interesting! The way they can consume ocean water, retain high water levels and expel excessive sodium from the salt is truly an occurrence of natural adaptation.
Recognition
American Flamingo was initially known as Rosy Flamingo in the locality due to its color. Their feather patches of red and white combine together into an effect of pink-colored plumage. The beak remains pink with a black cap on top. Legs too are quite long and draped in pink. Thin neck, curved beak, fluffy white wings and red & pink color – your identification should be a piece of cake with such unique characteristics!
Habitat
The species in concern is native to South Florida and the Florida Keys in the state, marking it as their northernmost extent in the continent. Their nesting pattern is unique which is done in trios or quartlets. These nests are usually created adjacent to the water bodies in the muddy areas. Mounds formed with muds with holes for planting and incubation is how these birds go about their habitation.
Greater Flamingo
Source: @flamingosave
- Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus roseus
- Size: 110 to 150 cm (43 to 59 in)
- Locality: Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, southern Europe and subtropical America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Spring
Many ornithologists considered Greater Flamingo and American Flamingo to be the same species, but closer inspection revealed differences that contributed to the classification. In the entire world, this species is the largest group of flamingos in the entire world with maximum extent across continents. These birds have a fairly long lifespan of around 30-40 years on average.
Recognition
The difference in tones is quite apparent if you pay close attention to the Greater Flamingo. Pink on the feather is more faded, the red underneath the white plumes isn’t as punchy and the head holds an orange-ish face. Legs in this bird too are more prone toward orange than pink. Beaks are similar with the black cap, but the light pink separates this species to be an authentic one for identification.
Habitat
Despite its natural distribution ranging between southeast Asia to southern Europe, cases of sighting in the Florida region have been recorded on numerous occasions. They were found in the coastal and subtropical regions in the state where muddy areas take prominence, like swamplands. Whether these migrated or set loose from the zoos, it’s a matter up for debate.
Purple Finch
Source: @teachertombirds
- Scientific Name: Haemorhous purpureus
- Size: 4.7 to 6.3 in (12 to 16 cm)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April to August
Due to its widespread availability in the state, New Hampshire upholds Purple Finch as the state bird of that locality. It’s one of the three American Rosefinches that are native to the country as well as the continent of North America. The genus Haemorhous derives from hermo in Greek, interpreted into “blood” due to the raspberry red or pink tones around the top part of the body.
Recognition
As sexual dimorphism exists for this species, only the male birds fit the description of ‘pink bird in Florida’ because their counterparts highly resemble brown sparrows. The pink-ish tones are highly apparent in the lower abdomen region because the upper body is a concentration of scarlet. Brown wing accents as well as longer tails size up this tiny passerine for easy spotting.
Habitat
Alongside the US pacific coast, these birds have established a territory where they can comfortably inhabit and breed. These areas include the likes of Florida and California among other states. Coniferous and wooden regions are among their favorites for easy foraging. They even migrate from the northern parts of Canada toward the eastern coasts for a comfortable winter.
Roseate Tern
Source: @matncathy
- Scientific Name: Sterna dougallii
- Size: 33 to 36 cm (13 to 14 in)
- Locality: Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late April to early May
Although it’s often misrecognized as a red-chested bird due to the scarlet accent on the upper abdomen region, the excessive white often makes it look pink to naked eyes. Back in the days, their plumages were raw materials to be docked into hats, which saw a huge decline of numbers from the natural habitats. Despite its Least Concern status worldwide, it’s considered to be Endangered in the northeastern USA.
Recognition
These birds look completely snow white at first glance, but if you take some time for closer inspection, the other features can be perceived. A black hat, black beak tip and similar toned upper tail accents are identified for the species. Wings of gray render the orange beak and legs very much striking. And the cherry on top is the pink-ish chest region which brought it under this category.
Habitat
Since it’s a seabird, their colonies are mostly formed around the oceanic areas for easy fish hunting and breeding. In southeastern parts of the USA, a few lagoons are visited by the species at particular times of the year. Out in the open coast, Caribbean Islands used to be a common area for their habitation, but relentless killings in the island has marked them Threatened in that area.
House Finch
Source: @ignacioqg_photo
- Scientific Name: Haemorhous mexicanus
- Size: 12.5 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: March to August
House Finch is actually a cousin to the Purple Finch under the broader American Finch group. This species too shares the Haemorhous genus for its reddish markings on the plumes. In Florida, these birds have reduced in number due to parasitic infections in large numbers, dropping the total population of the entire North America. Current conditions have improved and they’re out of danger territory for now.
Recognition
House Finches look much like any other typical finch from the foot to the chest area. After that, the variance starts to surface with shades of red, ranging between punchy scarlet to vibrant pink that consumes the neck, face and chest. Here, sexual dimorphism is identified due to the absence of the pink in the female birds and they’re much smaller than the males as well.
Habitat
These pink birds of Florida weren’t actually native to the state, rather were introduced from parts of Mexico and western America. Currently, it won’t be too difficult to find a bird of this species in the urban or suburban parts of Florida almost any time of the day. Otherwise, open areas beside low-density forests are their comfort zones as well. They’re known for migration during winter toward the south.
FAQ
The FAQ section considers the backdrop of pink birds in Florida in mind and addresses questions that are asked toward birds of other color in the same state.
Q: Are there any green birds in Florida?
A: Yes! There exist around 22 authentic birds that resemble the color of leaves in Florida. If you consider their extended family and cousins who look similar, then the number would go up much higher!
Q: Apart from pink birds, how many black birds are there in Florida state?
A: Over 20 species of black birds have been traced in Florida who are either native in the locality or visit there during winter. Such dark toned birds convey different meanings which call for interpretations connected to the depths of human lives.
Thoughts
With all our considerations, identification marks and analysis, the point to turn the page on our pink birds in Florida discussion has arrived.
These pink creatures are significantly pleasant to look at due to their delightful tones of feather and the majestic manner with which these are carried around.
Most of the species in my list contain white feathers as the foundation upon which the remaining colors are painted by nature.
A majority of these belong to the water bodies due to being sea-birds, with the finches being the only exceptions of passerines living around urban areas.
Such unique birds in Florida must be paid attention to, not only because of their beauty, but also for the fact that some of the species are in decline. Only us, human beings, have the key for remedy.
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Audio Credits: xeno-canto, wikimedia
