As many of you bird lovers are aware that Florida is one of the safest bird havens not only in the USA, but across the world due to specific preservation policies.
Out of many birds that are native to the region, white birds in Florida with long beaks are prominent occurrences if you pay close attention.
Even if you didn’t pick up on this fact and the unique detail these birds have shared all these time, it’s never too late to pick up on those to widen your learning.
My article today is a tribute to these birds of Florida, most of which are native while a couple of species have found a safe habitat there during migration.
Contents
White Birds with Long Beaks in Florida
In this section, you’ll be able to learn a great deal about white birds that live in Florida and carry a long beak for certain endeavors!
American White Ibis
Source: @levonclarkphoto
- Scientific Name: Eudocimus albus
- Size: 53 to 70 cm (21 to 28 in)
- Locality: North America, Caribbean Islands, parts of South America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: February to October
Although the status of American White Ibis is still at Least Concerned, excessive amounts of chemical waste thrown into water seems to have tampered with the behaviors of this bird. Lower reproduction rate as well as altered behavior during nesting season are leading to a reduction in number all through America.
Recognition
This species is usually medium sized and recognized through their bright white feathers, however the black wings can be made apparent in full flight. An excessively long, orange beak enables it to catch fishes and other food resources from water. Interbreeding with scarlet Ibis in Florida has resulted in a change of their tone.
Habitat
The American White Ibis can be found all through North America. Out of all the habitats, Florida remains as their most common and comfort zone. The influx of this species to Florida began in the 1940s. Even on the present day, you can find up to 30,000 birds per breeding colony in the Floridan coastal marshes and wetlands.
Wood Stork
Source: @matt_murphy_photography
- Scientific Name: Mycteria americana
- Size: 83 to 115 cm (33 to 45 in)
- Locality: South America, Central America and parts of the USA
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: October to June
In the past, Wood Stork was mistaken as the Wood Ibis, assuming a lineage between the other members of the Ibis family. Despite its Least Concern status, the scenario in America doesn’t reflect it. Due to vulnerabilities from prey animals and ecotourism by humans, this species is declining rapidly in the country.
Recognition
Unlike most Ibis, the Wood Stork embodies a naked head and neck with no feather to cover them. The rest of the body is mostly white with accents of greenish and purple-ish tones. The bill on this bird is mostly toward a darker color, greatly resembling shades of black.
Habitat
It might come to you as a surprise, but it’s the only stork to breed in America, in parts of Florida, California and Georgia. These birds live mostly in the tropical and subtropical wetlands but the nests are usually planted on higher levels with a water body underneath.
Masked Booby
Source: @oahudofaw
- Scientific Name: Sula dactylatra
- Size: 75 to 85 cm (30 to 33 in)
- Locality: Tropical oceans, except for eastern Atlantic & eastern Pacific
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Loosely seasonal
Four subspecies of Masked Booby has been detected up until now and all of these are spreaded across the world. There used to be a time when Masked Boobies were made pets by sailors on long voyages. These majestic creatures are prone to different vulnerabilities, leading to a reduced number and inability to fly because of diseases.
Recognition
Masked Boobies oddly resemble penguins due to their colors. An aerodynamic, white body hosts a long neck and a complementary long, yellow beak before a black face. Latter halves of the wings are black and the tail feathers follow the same shades.
Habitat
This species is still regarded as one of the most common birds in the coasts of Florida and the Caribbean Islands. Their reign expands between the 30 degree Northern axis to 30 degree Southern. Despite spending much time on water, their breeding colonies are formed on surrounding islands.
Least Tern
Source: @jeo126
- Scientific Name: Sternula antillarum
- Size: 22 to 24 cm (8.7 to 9.4 in)
- Locality: North America and northern South America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Spring
The ‘Tern’ family is quite a huge one, and a lot of their species can be found in the coastal areas of Florida. Of the Old World birds, Least Tern shows the most sizable beak holding in contrast to its body size. Three subspecies exist for this bird, showing little to no visible difference.
Recognition
This species isn’t snow white all across as the wings and back are concealed in gray. The belly and the neck region are a lighter shade of that color. A black cap and white face patch pave the way for the orange-ish yellow beak that aids them in capturing their food.
Habitat
Whether you go to St. Augustine or Lake Jackson in Florida, you’ll find Least Terns in abundance. This species is native to North American coastal areas since that’s their preferred habitat for breeding. During winter, they migrate to Central America and return in Spring.
Great Blue Heron
Source: @ssigafoos
- Scientific Name: Ardea herodias
- Size: 91 to 137 cm (36 to 54 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: March to May
Among the herons in America, the Great Blue Heron is ranked as the largest one, and only two other herons have outsized them on the international scale. These prominent fish-catchers can swallow their food entirely, which has resulted in choking hazard in many accounts.
Recognition
Great Blue Herons aren’t completely blue, rather their feathers reside in the whiter side of gradients. A mixture of gray and azure comprise most of the color with a rusty-gray toned, long neck. The beak is quite long and is colored in a pale yellow, but it turns orange during mating season.
Habitat
Out of the 5 subspecies, 4 of them are native to Florida. Any wetland can be inhabited by this species if it’s within their natural territory. They show signs of migration during winter, extending as far up to Canada or Alaska. But a lot of the birds show resilience by surviving through winter at their original home.
Willet
Source: @jules_bbbb_birds
- Scientific Name: Tringa semipalmata
- Size: 31 to 41 cm (12 to 16 in)
- Locality: North America and the West Indies
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: May to July
If you find yourself near a Willet area, their territorial vocalization should make them heard from afar. They can be found in large numbers all through North America, but since the 1960s, the quantity has started to decline. It leaves them prone to nearing Threatened or Endangered species should there be no actions taken for preservation.
Recognition
Willets hold a grayish-golden color on the back which extends to their wings as well. Some of the wings as well as the tail are draped in black with an existence of a long, white band. The neck and the abdomen are marked white, leaving the long beak in a solid black matching the color of their eyes.
Habitat
As there exists two subspecies for Willets, they don’t share a similar habitational pattern when it comes to nesting. In Florida, you’ll locate the western subspecies breeding around marshlands and prairies. As per the eastern subspecies, these are found in salt marshes. However, both of these prefer rocky and dryer areas to habitat during winter.
Great Egret
Source: @ashevillephototours
- Scientific Name: Ardea alba
- Size: 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in)
- Locality: Europe, Americas, Afrida, Southeast Asia and Oceania
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April to September
When you’re driving past the coastal areas of Florida, running yourself into a fabulous view of Great Egrets should be a common factor. This magnificent species had faced challenges of decline due to their plumes being sold as hat decorators, preservation measures seem to have mitigated these and allowed them to grow in number.
Recognition
The defining characteristic for Great Egret is their very long, white neck and the equally beautiful plumage on the lower half of the body. The legs are long and black with a visible, long beak colored in orange with black accent. There exists a green patch right over the bill which separates it from other herons.
Habitat
Great Egrets are known for sharing their habitat with other birds of similar species. As they’re found worldwide, their concentration at temperate and tropical regions isn’t unknown to most. Their colonies are formed in trees near any water body where they plant nests with sticks for breeding and incubation.
Whooping Crane
Source: @each_moment_the_universe
- Scientific Name: Grus americana
- Size: 1.24 to 1.6 m (4 ft 1 in to 5 ft 3 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Endangered
- Breeding Season: late April or early May
Although the breeding season for Whooping Cranes lasts only a very small window at almost every habitat, Florida seems to be their comfort zone with a period between January to May. This shows how much Florida has taken care of their preservation with the concern for bringing them back from the Endangered status.
Recognition
In North America, Whooping Cranes are arguably the tallest birds native to the region, and can rank among the top 5 all across the world. Their gigantic size, white feathers, long, orange beak with accents of black and brown mark them truly unique. Black face, wing ends and tails are paired with a red crown.
Habitat
Apart from Florida, Whooping Crane habitats expand over midwestern America to northern Mexico. Their preferred locality is within marsh lands on a slightly higher altitude. Due to their weight, the nests are created on the ground and Oklahoma remains as their most preferred migratory state.
American White Pelican
Source: @lenscapeimages
- Scientific Name: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Size: 50–70 in (130–180 cm)
- Locality: North America and Costa Rica
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: late March to early May
Of all the white birds in Florida with long beaks, the American White Pelican has probably been the most victimized to poaching. The Pelican preservation acts aspire to save this species from decline. Apart from Florida, California is adamant on granting them preservation zones to allow them safe habitats.
Recognition
American White Pelicans contain flaps like ducks which allows them to swim effortlessly. The white feathers are accented with a large patch of black on the wings and it’s visible once they’re in full flight. Top part of the long, orange beak is flat with a sac on the underlying section, allowing them to hold larger fishes before consumption.
Habitat
Most of these species are spreaded across North America and find their habitation zone near freshwater lakes. Each of the colonies host a few hundred couples of pelicans. Winters push them toward the southern areas of America and they are seen avoiding the ocean due to lower temperatures.
Tundra Swan
Source: @tbluebird7
- Scientific Name: Cygnus columbianus
- Size: 115 to 140 cm (45 to 55 in)
- Locality: Tundra arctic & subarctic and parts of the USA
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late May to late June
As the name suggests, you’ll be able to locate this species in the tundra zones on earth. Due to human settlement expansion, these birds have been declining in number for the past century. Apart from manmade calamities, their local habitats pose many threats that contribute to their reduction as well.
Recognition
Tundra Swans are snow white in color with a long neck of the same tone. They utilize their long, orange beak with a black base to catch fishes and collect food from the ground in the shape of grains and crops. Their black legs are quite different to regular swans’ orange ones which makes it easier to identify.
Habitat
The arctic and subarctic areas are the natural habitats for Tundra Swans. They migrate to other parts of the world including Florida, Alaska, Oregon, parts of southeast Asia and similar territories that contain grass and marsh lands.
Thoughts
Now that we’re at the end of our identification, habitat zone analysis and discussion on 10 of the most common white birds in Florida with long beaks, there are a few factors to consider.
You might have noticed that a lot of these enlisted birds are prone to various threats due to a number of reasons – reduction in habitat zone, vulnerability to prey and an overall alteration of the weather pattern.
While many of the states, including Florida and California, have taken measures to establish conservation zones and preservation policies, not all of the places on earth share the same enthusiasm.
So, as admirers of our feathered friends, we must take up some responsibilities of keeping them out of harm. It can start with observing them from afar by maintaining at least a 100 meter gap.
Similar Post:
- Green Birds In Florida: 22 Species In Mother Nature
- 22 Black Birds In Florida (Including 4 Blackbird Species)
- 6 Pink Birds In Florida You’ll Find All Year-Round
Audio Credits: xeno-canto, wikimedia
