Home 5 Cape Coral Wildlife 5 Birds of Cape Coral

Birds of Cape Coral

Learn more about the many species of birds that can be spotted in Cape Coral and how to identify some of them.

Cape Coral is home to a wide variety of birds thanks to its diverse habitat. Our city is surrounded by salt water, has numerous fresh water ponds and canals and has wetland and upland habitats.

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron

Green Heron

White Ibis

White Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Anhinga

Anhinga

Cormoran

Cormoran

Mottled Duck

Mottled Duck

Osprey

Osprey

Eagle

Bald Eagle

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Below is a list of  birds that have been seen in recent years. (The list is by no means complete).

This list has been amended from the Florida Ornithological Society bird list. Checked birds have been seen in Cape Coral.

GEESE, DUCKSSANDPIPERS, ALLIESCHICKADEES, TITMICE
 xBlack-bellied Whistling-DuckxSpotted SandpiperCarolina Chickadee
Fulvous Whistling-Duck xSolitary SandpiperTufted Titmouse
Greater White-fronted GoosexGreater YellowlegsNUTHATCHES
Snow GoosexWilletWhite-breasted Nuthatch
Canada Goose xLesser YellowlegsBrown-headed Nuthatch
xMuscovy DuckUpland SandpiperCREEPERS
 xWood DuckxWhimbrelBrown Creeper
GadwallLong-billed CurlewWRENS
 XEurasian WigeonxMarbled GodwitCarolina Wren
xAmerican WigeonxRuddy Turnstone xHouse Wren
American Black DuckRed KnotSedge Wren
xMallardxSanderlingMarsh Wren
xMottled Duck xSemipalmated PloverGNATCATCHERS
xBlue-winged Teal xWestern SandpiperxBlue-gray Gnatcatcher
Cinnamon TealxLeast SandpiperBULBULS
 xNorthern Shoveler xWhite-rumped SandpiperRed-whiskered Bulbul
 xNorthern PintailKINGLETS
xGreen-winged TealGolden-crowned Kinglet
xCanvasbackxDunlinRuby-crowned Kinglet
 xRedheadxStilt SandpiperTHRUSHES, ALLIES
xRing-necked DuckBuff-breasted SandpiperxEastern Bluebird
Greater ScaupRuffVeery
xLesser ScaupxShort-billed DowitcherGray-cheeked Thrush
Surf ScoterxLong-billed DowitcherSwainson’s Thrush
White-winged Scoter xWilson’s SnipeHermit Thrush
Black Scoter xAmerican WoodcockWood Thrush
Long-tailed Duck xWilson’s PhalaropexAmerican Robin
BuffleheadRed-necked PhalaropeMOCKINGBIRDS, ALLIES
Common GoldeneyeGULLS, TERNS, SKIMMERxGray Catbird
xHooded MerganserxBonaparte’s GullxNorthern Mockingbird
xRed-breasted MerganserxLaughing GullBahama Mockingbird
xRuddy DuckFranklin’s GullxBrown Thrasher
 xRing-necked DuckxRing-billed GullSTARLINGS, MYNAS
TURKEY, QUAIL xHerring GullxEuropean Starling
 xWild Turkey xLesser Black-backed GullCommon Myna
xNorthern BobwhiteGreat Black-backed GullPIPITS
LOONSBrown NoddyAmerican Pipit
Red-throated LoonBlack NoddySprague’s Pipit
xCommon LoonSooty TernWAXWINGS
GREBESBridled TernxCedar Waxwing
xPied-billed Grebe xLeast TernWARBLERS
 xHorned GrebeOvenbird
Eared Grebe xCaspian TernWorm-eating Warbler
FLAMINGOESBlack TernLouisiana Waterthrush
American FlamingoRoseate Tern xNorthern Waterthrush
SHEARWATERSCommon TernGolden-winged Warbler
Cory’s Shearwater xForster’s TernBlue-winged Warbler
Great ShearwaterxRoyal TernxBlack-and-white Warbler
Audubon’s Shearwater xSandwich TernProthonotary Warbler
STORM-PETRELSxBlack SkimmerSwainsonʼs Warbler
Wilson’s Storm-PetrelJAEGERSTennessee Warbler
WOOD STORKPomarine JaegerOrange-crowned Warbler
xWood StorkParasitic Jaeger
FRIGATEBIRDSRAZORBILLNashville Warbler
 xMagnificent FrigatebirdRazorbillConnecticut Warbler
BOOBIES, GANNETSPIGEONS, DOVESMourning Warbler
Masked Booby xRock PigeonKentucky Warbler
Brown BoobyWhite-crowned PigeonxCommon Yellowthroat
xNorthern GannetxEurasian Collared-DoveHooded Warbler
CORMORANTSxWhite-winged DoveAmerican Redstart
xDouble-crested CormorantxMourning DoveCape May Warbler
ANHINGAxCommon Ground-DoveCerulean Warbler
xAnhingaPARAKEETSNorthern Parula
PELICANSBudgerigarxMagnolia Warbler
xBrown PelicanxMonk ParakeetBay-breasted Warbler
 xAmerican White Pelican xNanday ParakeetBlackburnian Warbler
HERONS, EGRETS xYellow-throated Warbler
American BitternCUCKOOS, ANISChestnut-sided Warbler
xLeast Bittern xYellow-billed CuckooBlackpoll Warbler
xGreat Blue Heron xMangrove CuckooBlack-throated Blue Warbler
xGreat EgretSmooth-billed AnixPalm Warbler
xSnowy EgretxPine Warbler
xLittle Blue HeronxYellow-rumped Warbler
 xTricolored HeronOWLSPrairie Warbler
xReddish EgretBarn OwlBlack-throated Gray Warbler
 xCattle EgretxEastern Screech-OwlBlack-throated Green Warbler
xGreen HeronxGreat Horned OwlCanada Warbler
 xBlack-crowned Night-HeronxBurrowing OwlWilsonʼs Warbler
xYellow-crowned Night-HeronxBarred OwlYellow-breasted Chat
IBIS, SPOONBILLSSPINDALIS
xWhite IbisNIGHTHAWKS, NIGHTJARSWestern Spindalis
Scarlet IbisLesser NighthawkSPARROWS
xGlossy IbisxCommon NighthawkBlack-faced Grassquit
xRoseate SpoonbillChuck-will’s-widow xEastern Towhee
VULTURESEastern Whip-poor-willBachman’s Sparrow
xBlack VultureChipping Sparrow
xTurkey VultureSWIFTSClay-colored Sparrow
OSPREY xChimney SwiftField Sparrow
xOspreyHUMMINGBIRDSVesper Sparrow
KITES, HAWKS, EAGLESxRuby-throated HummingbirdLark Sparrow
 xSwallow-tailed KiteBlack-chinned HummingbirdSavannah Sparrow
White-tailed KiteRufous HummingbirdGrasshopper Sparrow
 xSnail KiteKINGFISHERSHenslow’s Sparrow
Mississippi KitexBelted KingfisherLe Conte’s Sparrow
xBald EagleWOODPECKERSNelson’s Sparrow
xNorthern HarrierxRed-headed WoodpeckerSaltmarsh Sparrow
 xSharp-shinned HawkxRed-bellied WoodpeckerSeaside Sparrow
xCooper’s HawkxYellow-bellied SapsuckerFox Sparrow
xRed-shouldered HawkxDowny WoodpeckerSong Sparrow
xBroad-winged HawkxHairy WoodpeckerLincoln’s Sparrow
 xShort-tailed HawkRed-cockaded Woodpecker xSwamp Sparrow
Swainson’s HawkxNorthern FlickerWhite-throated Sparrow
 xRed-tailed HawkxPileated WoodpeckerWhite-crowned Sparrow
FALCONSHouse Sparrow
FLYCATCHERSJUNCOS
xAmerican KestrelEastern Wood-PeweeDark-eyed Junco
xMerlinAcadian FlycatcherTANAGERS
 xPeregrine FalconAlder FlycatcherSummer Tanager
RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTWillow FlycatcherScarlet Tanager
Black RailLeast FlycatcherWestern Tanager
xClapper RailxEastern PhoebeCARDINALS, BUNTINGS
King RailVermilion FlycatcherxNorthern Cardinal
xVirginia RailxGreat Crested FlycatcherRose-breasted Grosbeak
xSoraBrown-crested FlycatcherBlue Grosbeak
xPurple GallinuleLa Sagra’s FlycatcherLazuli Bunting
xCommon GallinuleTropical KingbirdxIndigo Bunting
 xAmerican CootCassin’s KingbirdPainted Bunting
LIMPKINWestern KingbirdDickcissel
xLimpkinEastern KingbirdBLACKBIRDS, ALLIES
CRANESGray KingbirdBobolink
xSandhill CraneLoggerhead Kingbird xRed-winged Blackbird
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherxEastern Meadowlark
PLOVERSFork-tailed FlycatcherYellow-headed Blackbird
xBlack-bellied PloverSHRIKERusty Blackbird
American Golden-PloverxLoggerhead ShrikexCommon Grackle
 xSnowy PloverVIREOSxBoat-tailed Grackle
xWilson’s PloverWhite-eyed VireoShiny Cowbird
 xSemipalmated PloverBell’s VireoBronzed Cowbird
 xPiping PloverYellow-throated VireoBrown-headed Cowbird
xKilldeerBlue-headed VireoOrchard Oriole
OYSTERCATCHERPhiladelphia VireoSpot-breasted Oriole
xAmerican OystercatcherRed-eyed VireoxBaltimore Oriole
STILTS, AVOCETSBlack-whiskered VireoFINCHES, ALLIES
 xBlack-necked StiltJAYS, CROWSPurple Finch
 xAmerican Avocet xBlue JayxHouse Finch
xFlorida Scrub-JayPine Siskin
xAmerican Crow xAmerican Goldfinch
xFish CrowEvening Grosbeak
MARTINS, SWALLOWSOLD-WORLD SPARROWS
xPurple MartinHouse Sparrow
xTree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Cave Swallow
Barn Swallow
Unusual Sightings
x Yellow-billed Cuckoo
 x Eurasian Wigeon
 x Swan Goose

Browse more Cape Coral Wildlife

burrowing owl blurb

Burrowing Owl

Cape Coral, Florida: Home to Florida's largest population of Burrowing Owls, charming and tiny, these owls reside in underground burrows.

gopher tortoise blurb

Gopher Tortoise

The Gopher Tortoise is a native, keystone species that is listed as threatened due to severe habitat loss. 

bald eagle blurb

Bald Eagle

The American Bald Eagle is protected by both federal and local laws. Their nests are typically found in old growth pine tree stands.

scrub jay blurb

Florida Scrub Jay

The Scrub Jay is endemic to Florida, meaning it is not found anywhere else in the wild. It is another species under grave threat due to severe habitat loss.

purple martin blurb

Purple Martin

The Purple Martin is a migratory bird species that stops in Southwest Florida each year. CCFW volunteers have provided important habitat and monitoring.

butterfly blurb

Cape Coral Butterflies

Florida was named for its plethora of flowers. The pollinators they support, such as butterflies and skippers, are just as numerous and eye-catching!

cats blurb

Cats

Domestic and feral cats are not wildlife, but outdoor cats can have a terrible impact, often hunting and killing other species we care about.

manatee blurb

Manatee

The lovable, docile manatee can be spotted relatively easily in the warm waters around Southwest Florida and Cape Coral.

alligator blurb

Alligators

Alligators can be dangerous and should be treated with respect, but there have been no fatal encounters in Cape Coral's history.

anole blurb

Brown/Green Anole

What the heck are all these lizards running around? Learn to identify the most common anoles and geckos.

coyote blurb

Coyotes

As in many parts of the country, coyotes are extending their range into urban areas as they are driven out of their native habitats.

bees blurb

Bees

Bees and their pollination work are widely viewed as one the most critical building blocks in every ecosystem.