Over the previous few years, our household has been to Disney World in Florida A LOT.
However as an avid birder from Ohio, going to Disney World doesn’t simply imply footage with Mickey or using Pirates of the Caribbean. It means we’re heading someplace with a lot of new birds to see and observe!!
However is it attainable to see WILD birds whereas visiting Disney World?
The quick reply is YES! When you keep alert and concentrate, there are extra birds round than most individuals would anticipate. Beneath, you will discover an inventory of 25 totally different WILD birds I’ve personally seen over my years visiting Disney. And no, Donald and Daisy Duck DO NOT depend. 🙂
- Many birds beneath are simply seen hanging out round individuals on the parks. Nevertheless, another species might be more durable to find, and chances are you’ll have to get up early to stroll across the waterways and quieter areas close to the resorts.
#1. Home Sparrow
Home Sparrows are an invasive species (initially from the Center East) and are actually one of the crucial plentiful and widespread birds in Florida (and the world)! They owe their success to their skill to adapt and reside close to people. Not like most different birds, they LOVE grains and are generally seen consuming human meals, corresponding to Mickey pretzels and popcorn.
Home Sparrows are seen in all places in Disney, serving to clear up the parks as they scoop up leftover meals. Whilst I sort this within the foyer of the Seashore Membership resort, I can see two Home Sparrows on the garden. 🙂
#2. Frequent Grackle
Just like the Home Sparrow, these daring birds are seen in all places inside Disney World. I’ve even seen them raiding parked strollers in search of meals!
Frequent Grackles are one of the crucial resourceful birds present in Florida. Their favourite meals are grains, corresponding to corn and rice, and they’re recognized to collect in monumental flocks in farm fields rising these crops. As well as, additionally they eat all kinds of seeds, acorns, fruits, bugs, spiders, frogs, fish, mice, different birds, and even rubbish!
#3. Boat-tailed Grackle
When you go to Disney World, it helps to be taught to determine the variations between a Frequent Grackle and Boat-Tailed Grackle, as each of those birds are widespread right here. Essentially the most vital giveaway is the massive V-shaped tail of the Boat-Tailed Grackle and the way totally different the females look from the male.
Boat-tailed Grackles readily reap the benefits of people for meals and safety from predators. For instance, when our household visits Disney World, I see them in giant numbers, hanging out round busy meals areas trying to scavenge leftover popcorn, pretzels, and french fries.
#4. Fish Crow
Fish Crows are one of the crucial widespread birds I see each time we go to Disney World. They get pleasure from consuming human meals, so you may see them scavenging at lodges and parks for each stray snack.
Fish Crows are smaller than the American Crow, however this may be laborious to distinguish. The first method for me to determine a Fish Crow is their nasally calls and sounds, which differ from the American Crow. And belief me, you shouldn’t have any drawback listening to these loud and noisy birds, particularly within the mornings!
#5. Mallard
My guess is that you’re already aware of the Mallard. These geese are one of the crucial widespread birds discovered at Disney World!
Each lake or physique of water appears to have a number of Mallards swimming round. We even discovered them by the pool at our resort. Most of those geese are very courageous round individuals and can even sit beneath your desk as you eat, ready for bread or popcorn to fall.
#6. Limpkin
These water birds are extremely entertaining, particularly as they “run” throughout the land to get to the water. Limpkins are pretty vocal and loud and feast on apple snails.
The easiest way to see these birds at Disney is to get up early and stroll alongside the canals and water areas. I’ve seen them typically across the lake on the Seashore and Yacht Membership, and the Boardwalk Space.
#7. Mourning Dove
Mourning Doves are widespread at just a few of the parks and lodges, however you’ll almost definitely have to look on roofs or hear for his or her singing within the early night. They’re additionally generally seen on the bottom in quieter areas, the place they do most of their feeding.
#8. Nice Egret
Nice Egrets are one of the crucial gorgeous birds discovered round Disney World.
They particularly placed on a present throughout breeding season after they develop lengthy feathery plumes referred to as aigrettes, held up throughout courtship shows. These lovely white birds are widespread within the many waterways that move by Disney. I all the time see them flying overhead too.
#9. Turkey Vulture
As soon as what to search for, it’s straightforward to identify these vultures whereas they’re flying round Disney. Search for a big raptor hovering within the sky making wobbly circles, whose wings are raised excessive sufficient to seem like the letter “V.” It’s thought that this flying model helps them glide at low altitudes, which retains them near the bottom to scent for meals.
Each time we go to Magic Kingdom, I all the time see at the very least one Turkey Vulture within the sky. One time, there have been 8 circling the fort at Magic Kingdom. I used to be slightly fearful one thing occurred to Cinderella since these vultures use their sense of scent to detect carrion!
#10. White Ibis
These social water birds don’t wish to be alone. Along with feeding, they nest collectively in giant colonies, fly in flocks, and even take group baths! White Ibises usually forage collectively in shallow wetlands, in search of crustaceans and bugs.
These birds are “Goofy” wanting however very entertaining to observe. I see them often across the parks and resorts. If you’re at Animal Kingdom within the night, you may spot them roosting collectively alongside the waterways.
#11. Northern Cardinal
Undoubtedly, the Northern Cardinal is without doubt one of the hottest birds round. However they’re shyer than many different birds on this checklist, so that you in all probability gained’t see them on the parks or through the day when many individuals are round.
If you wish to see a Northern Cardinal, it is best to get up early and stroll across the resorts, because it’s widespread to see them flying from shrub to shrub or singing from a excessive vantage level.
#12. Northern Mockingbird
These charismatic birds are NOT straightforward to overlook at Disney!
First, Northern Mockingbirds LOVE to sing, they usually nearly by no means cease throughout sure occasions of the yr. As well as, Northern Mockingbirds have daring personalities. For instance, they generally harass different birds by flying slowly round them after which approaching with their wings up, displaying off their white wing patches.
I’ve seen many Northern Mockingbirds at Disney by waking up and strolling across the resorts within the morning.
#13. Pink-Bellied Woodpecker
Pink-bellied Woodpeckers are simply noticed round Disney World within the mornings round a few of the larger bushes and wooded areas. One other nice approach to discover these birds is to be taught their calls! Pay attention for a rolling “churr-churr-churr.”
Pink-bellied Woodpeckers are certainly one of my FAVORITE birds to see. I believe they’re beautiful with their black and white barred backs. However this woodpecker’s identify might be complicated since their bellies don’t include a lot crimson coloring apart from an vague crimson wash.
#14. Osprey
If you consider an Osprey, it is best to consider fish as a result of that’s what these birds eat 99% of the time. Even Osprey’s talons are tailored for catching fish. When you take an in depth look, you will note they’re extraordinarily curved and intersect when absolutely closed, which makes them excellent for holding onto slippery fish!
Due to their specialised food plan, you’ll nearly all the time discover Ospreys residing, breeding, and elevating their younger round water at Disney World. They’re particularly energetic within the mornings!
#15. Blue Jay
Some individuals dislike Blue Jays, however I like their daring personalities. Their excessive intelligence makes them attention-grabbing to watch, to not point out their plumage is gorgeous.
These birds are seen most frequently in Disney World within the mornings close to barely wooded areas. And since Blue Jays are additionally very noisy, make sure that to hear for them! The most typical vocalization I hear is their alarm name, which sounds prefer it’s saying “jeer.”
#16. Double Crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorants look distinctive, with many individuals considering they look like a cross between a loon and a goose. These skilled divers eat nearly completely fish, which they catch underwater with their completely tailored hooked payments.
One of many BEST methods to seek out these water birds round Disney is to search for them on land with their wings unfold out. Since Double-crested Cormorants don’t have waterproof feathers, they need to dry them after swimming.
#17. Nice Blue Heron
Nice Blue Herons are straightforward to see in Disney World since there may be a lot water!
More often than not, they are going to both be immobile or shifting very slowly by the water, in search of prey. However watch them carefully as a result of when a possibility presents itself, these herons will strike rapidly and ferociously to seize one thing to eat. Frequent meals embody fish, frogs, reptiles, small mammals, and different birds.
Additionally, make sure that to observe the skies in Disney for a flying Nice Blue Heron. Search for a LARGE fowl that folds its neck into an “S” form and has its legs trailing straight behind.
#18. Pink-shouldered Hawk
Pink-tailed Hawks are in all probability probably the most seen raptor round Disney World, together with the Osprey. These birds of prey are primarily forest dwellers. Their favourite locations are woods with an open higher cover since this additional house permits them to hunt extra effectively.
It’s widespread to listen to a Pink-shouldered Hawk earlier than you see one. Pay attention for a loud name that seems like “kee-ahh,” which is commonly repeated a number of occasions.
#19. Snowy Egret
Snowy Egrets are widespread in Florida, however I often have a tough time discovering them round Disney. However I nearly ALWAYS see them hanging out on the hippo enclosure at Animal Kingdom.
Curiously, these water birds will breed with different heron species, corresponding to equally sized birds like Tricolored Herons, Little Blue Herons, and Cattle Egrets. So in the event you see a heron that you may’t appear to determine, it might be a hybrid!
#20. Tricolored Heron
With all of the water surrounding Disney, wading birds just like the Tricolored Heron are widespread. Though I all the time appear to have hassle discovering Tricolored Herons. However, similar to the Snowy Egret, I usually see them by the hippo enclosure at Animal Kingdom.
#21. Swallow-tailed Kite
These birds are unmistakable when flying round Disney World!
First, seeing the massive forked tail is a lifeless giveaway that you just’re watching a Swallow-tailed Kite. As well as, these raptors are extremely acrobatic and carry out all types of aerial turns, rolls, and dives!
Sadly, Swallow-tailed Kites are usually not in Florida lengthy. After just a few months of elevating their younger throughout summer season, they migrate again to South America for the winter.
#22. Inexperienced Heron
This small water fowl is discovered round Disney World in any moist habitat that features a lot of vegetation, which gives locations for them to remain hidden. You’ll typically see them foraging at daybreak or nightfall, as they like to remain out of sight throughout many of the day.
Inexperienced Herons are extra secretive than another wading birds, however with a lot water round, they are often noticed alongside the shores. Taking one of many boat transportation rides is an effective way to search for them.
#23. Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpeckers are one of the crucial widespread birds in Florida! You in all probability acknowledge them, as they’re seen in most backyards throughout North America.
When you get up early and stroll round a few of the wooded areas round Disney World, you shouldn’t have any issues discovering certainly one of these woodpeckers.
#24. European Starling
European Starlings are generally discovered round individuals. With that being mentioned, that Disney World is an ideal spot to seek out these birds! Their skill to adapt to human growth and eat virtually something is uncanny to nearly no different species.
However do you know starlings aren’t even native to Florida? Again in 1890, 100 starlings have been introduced over from Europe and launched in New York Metropolis’s Central Park. The remaining is historical past as starlings simply conquered the continent and out-competing a lot of our lovely native birds.
#25. Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle might be probably the most recognizable fowl at Disney World!
The most effective locations to seek out them are round giant our bodies of water, corresponding to Bay Lake. The explanation for that is that Bald Eagles largely eat fish!
What birds have you ever seen at Disney World?
These 25 birds are only a begin, as many extra dozens of species have been noticed round Disney. For instance, on our final journey, I noticed a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in some bushes close to the Seashore Membership!
Please make sure that to depart a COMMENT beneath, letting us know which species you will have seen and WHERE?