Orlando, Florida is a great place for bird watching. As a popular tourist destination, Orlando offers a variety of habitats that attract many different bird species. From city parks to protected wetlands, there are plenty of opportunities for birders to spot local and migratory birds throughout the year.
Some key questions for finding the best bird watching spots in Orlando include:
What are the top birding locations in Orlando?
The top locations for bird watching in Orlando include Lake Apopka, Orlando Wetlands Park, Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, Lake Jesup Wilderness Area, Lake Lotus Park, Bill Frederick Park, Lake Baldwin Park, and Mead Botanical Garden. Each location offers unique habitat that attracts different species.
What birds are commonly seen in Orlando?
Over 300 species of birds have been recorded in the Orlando area. Commonly seen birds include great blue herons, white ibises, anhingas, belted kingfishers, ospreys, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, several species of ducks, grebes, American coots, and common moorhens. Orlando also attracts warblers, vireos, swallows, and more during migration seasons.
What is the best time of year to go birding in Orlando?
Central Florida offers great birding year-round. The spring and fall migration seasons are excellent times to spot passing warblers, vireos, and other songbirds. Winter brings migrating waterfowl and summer showcases nesting wading birds and songbirds.
Where are the hot spots to see specific birds in Orlando?
Here are some of the top locations to spot specific birds in Orlando:
- Lake Apopka – American white pelicans, bald eagles
- Orlando Wetlands Park – wading birds, waterfowl, marsh birds
- Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve – Eastern bluebirds, woodpeckers, wild turkey
- Lake Jesup Wilderness Area – migrating shorebirds, gulls, terns
- Mead Botanical Garden – hummingbirds, woodpeckers, songbirds
Top Bird Watching Locations in Orlando
Here are some of the best places to go birding in the Orlando area:
Lake Apopka
Lake Apopka, located northwest of Orlando, is a large shallow lake that is excellent for viewing water birds. After restoration efforts, the lake has rebounded and now draws huge numbers of ducks, grebes, American white pelicans, and other species. Bald eagles nest along the lake and are frequently seen hunting over the open waters. The north shore of Lake Apopka has several access points with trails for bird observation.
Some birds to look for at Lake Apopka: American white pelican, bald eagle, wood stork, ducks, coots, grebes, herons, egrets
Orlando Wetlands Park
This park in east Orlando offers one of the best birding experiences in Central Florida. A variety of habitats including marshes, sloughs, ponds, and wooded areas attract a diversity of birds. Wading birds like roseate spoonbills, wood storks, and great blue herons feed in the wetlands. Keep an eye out for ducks, purple gallinules, limpkins, white ibis, and more.
Some birds to look for at Orlando Wetlands Park: roseate spoonbill, wood stork, white ibis, purple gallinule, anhinga, limpkin
Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve
This 430-acre nature preserve north of Orlando provides excellent birding opportunities. Habitats include oak hammocks, pine flatwoods, and open prairies. Eastern bluebirds, palm warblers, wild turkeys, red-shouldered hawks, and bobwhite quail frequent the preserve. The boardwalk and trails provide access to spot birds in the varied environments.
Some birds to look for at Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve: Eastern bluebird, palm warbler, wild turkey, red-shouldered hawk
Lake Jesup Wilderness Area
This 16,000 acre wilderness area contains a mix of wetland, hammock, and pine flatwoods habitat. A variety of trails and boardwalks provide excellent access for birding around the lake. During winter migration, thousands of ducks, geese, and other waterfowl stop at Lake Jesup. Shorebirds and wading birds are abundant. Bald eagles nest near the lake.
Some birds to look for at Lake Jesup Wilderness Area: ducks, geese, sandhill crane, shorebirds, wading birds, bald eagle
Lake Lotus Park
Located in Altamonte Springs, this 146-acre park includes the beautiful Lake Lotus. Birders enjoy spotting herons, egrets, ospreys, and purple gallinules around the lake shoreline. The mixed forest, open meadows, and brushy fields provide habitat for woodpeckers, warblers, thrushes, and sparrows.
Some birds to look for at Lake Lotus Park: purple gallinule, osprey, warblers, woodpeckers, thrushes, sparrows
Bill Frederick Park
Bill Frederick Park is a city park in southwest Orlando featuring oak hammocks, pine flatwoods, open fields, and Lake Estelle. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, brown thrashers, and warblers frequent the woods while the lake attracts birds like limpkins, herons, egrets, and kingfishers. The park offers excellent hiking trails through varied habitat for birding.
Some birds to look for at Bill Frederick Park: woodpeckers, nuthatches, thrashers, warblers, limpkin, herons, egrets
Lake Baldwin Park
This 150-acre park in Orlando contains Lake Baldwin which provides habitat for water birds. The forests and fields surrounding the lake attract songbirds like chickadees, titmice, wrens, blue jays, mockingbirds, thrushes, and more. Lake Baldwin Park has several short hiking trails that birders can explore.
Some birds to look for at Lake Baldwin Park: chickadees, titmice, wrens, blue jays, mockingbirds, thrushes
Mead Botanical Garden
Mead Botanical Garden is an oasis of gardens and natural areas with excellent birding. Butterfly gardens, flowering plants, and fruiting trees attract many small songbirds. Several woodpecker species feed on the trees and you may spot green herons along the ponds. Mead Garden’s diversity of habitat makes it one of the best spots for finding Orlando’s songbirds.
Some birds to look for at Mead Botanical Garden: woodpeckers, hummingbirds, tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, blue-gray gnatcatcher
Birds Commonly Seen in Orlando
Orlando hosts an impressive diversity of resident and migratory birds throughout the year. Here are some of the commonly seen birds in Orlando:
Wading Birds
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Egret
- Snowy Egret
- Little Blue Heron
- Tricolored Heron
- Cattle Egret
- Green Heron
- Black-crowned Night-Heron
- White Ibis
- Glossy Ibis
- Wood Stork
Wading birds are abundant around Orlando lakes, marshes, streams, and wetlands. The variety of herons, egrets, ibises, and storks feed in shallow waters.
Waterfowl
- Mallard
- Mottled Duck
- Blue-winged Teal
- Lesser Scaup
- Hooded Merganser
- Pied-billed Grebe
- American Coot
Orlando lakes attract a variety of resident and migrating ducks, grebes, and coots. The best spots to find ducks include Lake Jesup, Lake Apopka, Lake Lotus, and Lake Baldwin.
Other Water Birds
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Anhinga
- American White Pelican
- Brown Pelican
- Belted Kingfisher
Cormorants, anhingas, pelicans, and kingfishers frequent Orlando area lakes and waterways. Anhingas are commonly seen perching with outstretched wings to dry.
Birds of Prey
- Osprey
- Bald Eagle
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- American Kestrel
Orlando parks and natural areas provide nesting and hunting grounds for birds of prey like ospreys, eagles, hawks, and falcons. Lake Jesup has a high density of nesting bald eagles.
Common Songbirds
- Northern Cardinal
- Blue Jay
- Tufted Titmouse
- Carolina Wren
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Northern Mockingbird
- Brown Thrasher
Orlando parks, gardens, and residential areas attract a variety of permanent resident songbirds as well as wintering species and passage migrants.
Other Notable Species
- Sandhill Crane
- Killdeer
- Mourning Dove
- Common Grackle
- Eastern Bluebird
- Palm Warbler
- Painted Bunting
Sandhill cranes are often spotted striding across Orlando fields. Other interesting species to look for include noisy grackles, brightly colored Painted Buntings, and palm warblers rustling through brush.
Best Time of Year for Birding in Orlando
Central Florida offers outstanding bird watching opportunities year-round. Here is an overview of the top times to go birding in Orlando:
| Season | Key Highlights |
|---|---|
| Spring Migration | Warblers, vireos, thrushes passing through in April and May |
| Summer | Nesting season – wading birds, songbirds, bald eagles with young |
| Fall Migration | Warblers, flycatchers, tanagers moving through September-October |
| Winter | Waterfowl, sparrows, wintering songbirds in the area |
Spring Migration
April and May bring spring migration through Florida, with impressive numbers of warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other songbirds. Orlando’s parks and natural areas come alive with migratory birds in breeding plumage stopping to rest and feed on their journeys north. Some spotted migrants include: palm warbler, black-throated blue warbler, hooded warbler, ovenbird, scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak.
Summer
In summer, Orlando lakes are filled with nesting wading birds like wood storks, herons, and egrets raising chicks. Songbirds are busy feeding fledglings. Bald eagles can be spotted tending to eaglets in huge nests near lakes and waterways. Painted buntings and other exotic species nest in Central Florida.
Fall Migration
The fall migration starts in September as birds begin moving south through Florida. Some notable migrants passing through Orlando include: magnolia warbler, Blackburnian warbler, American redstart, Philadelphia vireo, ruby-throated hummingbird, chimney swift. Fall migration extends through October.
Winter
While Orlando winters are relatively mild, the area still hosts a variety of wintering birds. Waterfowl and other water birds arrive to spend the season on Central Florida lakes. Sparrows, juncos, yellow-rumped warblers, and other species visit Orlando yards and parks throughout the winter. Bald eagles are actively nesting in winter.
Hot Spots for Specific Birds
Here are some of the top locations around Orlando to spot certain sought-after bird species:
| Bird Species | Top Spot in Orlando |
|---|---|
| Painted Bunting | Lake Lotus Park |
| Limpkin | Lake Jessup Wilderness Area |
| Purple Gallinule | Orlando Wetlands Park |
| Red-cockaded Woodpecker | Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Lake Apopka North Shore |
| American White Pelican | Lake Apopka |
| Roseate Spoonbill | Orlando Wetlands Park |
Painted Bunting
The brilliantly colored Painted Bunting is a special find for Florida birders. Male buntings have an unmistakable blue head, red underparts, and green back. Listen for their metallic chip note in thickets around Lake Lotus Park.
Limpkin
This unusual wetland bird has a long downcurved bill adapted for snatching apple snails. Limpkins are often heard before they’re seen, with their loud wailing cries echoing across marshes. Lake Jesup is a reliable spot to find limpkins foraging along the shoreline.
Purple Gallinule
This exotic looking rail has glossy purple-blue plumage, a bright red bill, and oversized yellow feet. Gallinules walk atop floating vegetation in Orlando marshlands. Orlando Wetlands Park is a great place to see these striking water birds.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
This endangered woodpecker makes its home in mature pine forests. Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve’s pine flatwoods habitat hosts a colony of red-cockaded woodpeckers, making it one of the most reliable places to find this unusual species.
Swallow-tailed Kite
This graceful raptor is an incredible sight as it soars and acrobatically plucks insects from the air. Lake Apopka North Shore is a top spot to witness swallow-tailed kites floating over the marshes and lake on summer days.
American White Pelican
With giant wingspans of nearly 10 feet, American white pelicans are elegant fliers often seen soaring in formation over Florida lakes. Hundreds of white pelicans overwinter on Lake Apopka, making it the best place to admire these huge water birds.
Roseate Spoonbill
The roseate spoonbill’s distinctive pink plumage and spatula-shaped bill make it one of Florida’s iconic birds. These striking waders feed in the wetlands of Orlando Wetlands Park, especially in early morning and evening when they’re most active.
Conclusion
Orlando provides world-class bird watching with its diversity of habitats that are home to over 300 local and migratory species. Top birding locations include excellent parks and preserves like Lake Apopka, Orlando Wetlands Park, Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, Lake Jesup Wilderness Area, and Mead Botanical Garden. The city’s lakes, wetlands, forests, and fields attract iconic species ranging from bald eagles to colorful painted buntings. The mild climate makes Orlando a birding hotspot year-round. Spring and fall migrations bring warblers, vireos, tanagers, and other songbirds flitting through the parks. Large wintering populations of ducks, pelicans, and other waterfowl gather on the lakes. And summer showcases nesting wading birds, raptors, and songbirds across the area. With this variety of birdlife and excellent birding locations, Orlando provides endless opportunities for bird enthusiasts to explore and discover new species. So grab your binoculars and field guide and start spotting birds in Orlando!
