Roger's Birds Catalog: Florida and Beyond

Male American Kestrel, Orlando Wetlands, February 2024.

American Avocets, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2024.

American Avocets, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2024.

American Bittern, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

American Bittern, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, December 2023.

An American Coot swims along at Orlando Wetlands in March 2023.

American Coots at Orlando Wetlands Park.

American Crow, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

American Flamingo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, June 2024.

American Flamingos, Indian River Lagoon, December 2023.

American Flamingos and a Roseate Spoonbill overhead, Indian River Lagoon, December 2023.

American Goldfinch, my backyard, March 2024.

American Goldfinch, my backyard, March 2024.

A pair of American Goldfinches visit my backyard in March 2023.

American Kestrel, Orlando Wetlands, February 2024.

American Kestrel, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024.

An American Oystercatcher looks for food in a lagoon at Fort DeSoto Park’s North Beach in May 2023.

An American Oystercatcher mom, named AE, looks for food for two of her three chicks, who wait impatiently nearby, at Fort DeSoto Park’s North Beach in May 2023.

Male American Redstart, UCF Arboretum, May 2024.

A female American Redstart visits the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in October 2023.

American Robin, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

An American Robin at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in February 2023.

This American Robin at the UCF Arboretum in November 2023 may be a juvenile or leucistic.

A pod of American White Pelicans descends to a pond along Scrub Ridge Trail at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

American Wigeon duck, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024.

American Wigeon duck, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, February 2024.

An Anhinga helps the staff at the Orlando Wetlands with measurement in August 2023.

An Anhinga is having a bad hair day as it dries out in the sun after a swim at the Orlando Wetlands Park.

Anna’s Hummingbird, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Anna’s Hummingbird, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Anna’s Hummingbird, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

An Australian Black Swan poses next to Lake Eola in downtown Orlando in June 2023.

Bald Eagle, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, February 2024.

Bald Eagle, Lake Davis in downtown Orlando, December 2023.

Baltimore Oriole, Mead Garden in Winter Park, April 2024.

Baltimore Oriole, Mead Garden in Winter Park, April 2024.

A Bananaquit looks for some berries in a tree at Coco Cay in the Bahamas in August 2023.

A juvenile Bananaquit hides in the bushes on Coco Cay in the Bahamas in May 2023.

Bank Swallow, Hyde Park in London, June 2024

Barn Swallow, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, July 2024.

Barn Swallow, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, June 2024.

Barn Swallows, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, June 2024.

A Barred Owl at Orlando Wetlands Park in May 2023.

Barred Owl owlets, Orlando Wetlands, April 2024.

Male Belted Kingfisher, Orlando Wetlands, November 2024.

Belted Kingfisher, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

Male Black-and-white Warbler, my backyard, November 2023.

Female Black-and-white Warbler, Ferndale Preserve in Lake County, September 2024.

Male Black-and-white Warbler, outside my house, April 2023.

A Black-bellied Plover stands guard in the water at North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

A group of Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks flies around Orlando Wetlands Park./

Black-bellied Whistling Duck parents with 16 (!) of their ducklings at Orlando Wetlands in August 2023.

This is the first adult Black-Crowned Nigh-Heron I have seen at the Orlando Wetlands in months. I love the red eyes. Taken October 2023.

A Black-Crowned Night-Heron flies over Orlando Wetlands Park in May 2023.

Black-headed Gull, Richmond area of London on River Thames, May 2024.

Black-headed Gull, Richmond area of London on River Thames, May 2024.

Black-necked Stilts, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2024.

A Black-Necked Stilt fishes around for something to eat in a pond at Orlando Wetlands Park.

A Black-necked Swan, easy to identify because of its black neck, swims in Lake Eola in downtown Orlando in June 2023.

Black Skimmer, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, February 2024.

Black Skimmers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2024.

Black Skimmers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024.

A Black Tern visits Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.

A Black Tern flies over Orlando Wetlands in September 2023.

Black-throated Blue Warbler, Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, October 2024.

Black-throated Blue Warbler, Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, October 2024.

Black-throated Green Warbler, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, October 2024.

Black-throated Green Warbler, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, October 2024.

Black-throated Green Warbler, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, October 2024.

A Black Vulture at Orlando Wetlands in August 2023 seems to be asking, “Hey, who are you looking at?”

A Blue Vulture looks for its next meal at Orlando Wetlands Park.

Male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Orlando Wetlands, March 2024.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Orlando Wetlands, November 2023.

Blue Grosbeak, Orlando Wetlands, April 2023.

Female Blue Grosbeak, Orlando Wetlands, October 2023.

Blue Jay, Lake Davis in Orlando, July 2024.

Blue Jay, my backyard, January 2024.

Blue Tit, Water of Leith Walkway in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Blue Tit, Water of Leith Walkway in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

A Blue-Winged Teal duck, photographed at Orlando Wetlands Park.

Blue-winged Teal, Orlando Wetlands Park, February 2023.

Boat-tailed Grackle, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

Boat-tailed Grackle, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, December 2023.

Bonaparte’s Gull, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024. A new-to-me bird.

A Brown-headed Nuthatch hangs upside down from a pine tree at the UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

A Brown Pelican soars over North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

A Brown Thrasher lands in a fig tree in my backyard in March 2023.

Bufflehead, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Bufflehead, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Canada Goose, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

Canada Geese, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

Cape May Warbler, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, October 2024.

Cape May Warbler, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, October 2024.

Caribbean Dove, The Retreat Garden in Nassau, Bahamas, August 2024.

Caribbean Dove, The Retreat Garden in Nassau, Bahamas, August 2024.

Carolina Chickadee, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

Carolina Chickadee, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

Carolina Wren, my backyard, June 2024.

A Carolina Wren greets the new day with a song just after sunrise at UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

Carrion Crow, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Carrion Crow, Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

A Caspian Tern soars over a pond at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023. AllAboutBirds.org says, “During migration, Caspian Terns frequent just about any large freshwater body or river inland where they can forage and rest.”

A pair of Caspian Terns explore the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.

One member of a flock of Cedar Waxwings that visited my home in March 2023.

A flock of Cedar Waxwings visit a tree in my front yard in March 2023.

Male Chaffinch, Scottish Highlands, May 2024.

Female Chaffinch, Scottish Highlands, May 2024.

Male Chaffinch, Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Some Chinese Geese swim in a lake in a downtown Orlando neighborhood in May 2023. They can be very aggressive toward people walking around the lake.

Coal Tit, Scottish Highlands, May 2024.

A Common Gallinule greets the rising sun in a pond at Orlando Wetlands in August 2023.

A Common Gallinule walks near a pond at the Orlando Wetlands in June 2023.

Common Grackle, my backyard, January 2024.

A Common Grackle rummages around in the grass at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando and gets chewing gum stuck on its head in June 2023.

A Common Ground Dove shows off its wings to chase away a squirrel in my backyard in October 2023.

A Common Ground Drove walks along a trail after a storm at Orlando Wetlands Park in April 2023.

Common Merganser, Water of Leith Walkway in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Common Merganser, Water of Leith Walkway in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Common Nighthawk, Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County, July 2024.

Common Nighthawk, Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County, July 2024.

Common Wood Pigeon, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Common Wood Pigeon, Amsterdam in Netherlands, May 2024.

Common Wood Pigeon, Edinburgh in Scotland, May 2024.

A colorful male Common Yellowthroat jumps around in brush next to the Cypress Boardwalk at Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.

A female Common Yellowthroat checks out the scene along Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island in October 2023.

Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, South Orlando, July 2024.

Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, South Orlando, July 2024.

Crested Caracara, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

Crested Caracara, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

A white Domestic Goose walks along the pathway at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando in June 2023.

Double-crested Cormorant, Merritt Island National Wildlife, Refuge, December 2023.

A Double-Crested Cormorant checks out the scene at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive in August 2023.

Downy Woodpecker, my backyard, February 2024.

A young Downy Woodpecker needs to clean its beak after having breakfast in a pine tree at the UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

A male Eastern Bluebird is watching the area at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County in May 2023.

Eastern Kingbird, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, June 2024.

An Eastern Kingbird takes a break atop a trail sign at the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.

Eastern Meadowlark, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

Eastern Meadowlark, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

A little Eastern Phoebe sings its distinctive song at Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.

A Eastern Phoebe stretches its wings along the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive in October 2023.

For a little bird, the Eastern Towhee can make a lot of noise and its flits around the ground feeding, like this one at the UCF Arboretum in July 2023.

A male Eastern Towhee on Scrub Ridge Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in March 2023.

An Egyptian Goose prowls around the grassy area next to Lake Eola in downtown Orlando in June 2023.

A group of An Egyptian Geese walk along the shore of Lake Eola in downtown Orlando in June 2023.

Eurasian Blackbird, Greyfriers Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Eurasian Blackbird, Greyfriers Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Eurasian Blackbird, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Eurasian Collared Dove, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

Eurasian Collared Dove, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

Eurasian Coot, Amsterdam in Netherlands, May 2024.

Eurasian Jackdaw, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

Eurasian Jackdaw, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

Eurasian Jackdaw, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

Eurasian Magpie, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

Eurasian Magpie, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

Eurasian Magpie, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Eurasian Moorhen, Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Eurasian Moorhen, Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Eurasian Wren, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Eurasian Wren, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Eurasian Wren, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

A European Starling walks around in the grass at Orlando Wetlands Park.

A European Starling peeks out of a home carved into a palm by a woodpecker at Orlando Wetlands Park.

Fish Crow, Lake Davis in Orlando, July 2024.

Fish Crow, Lake Davis in Orlando, July 2024.

Florida Scrub-Jay, Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary in Brevard County, July 2024.

Forster’s Tern, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, February 2024.

Forster’s Tern, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, February 2024.

A Fulvous Whistling-Duck rests in a pond on the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive in May 2023.

This Glossy Ibis transforms its body into a heart shape while it preens along Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island in September 2023.

This Glossy Ibis shows off its impressive colors in the mid-morning sunlight at Orlando Wetlands in July 2023.

Gray Catbird, Orlando Wetlands, March 2024.

Gray Catbird, Mead Garden in Winter Park, April 2024.

Gray-headed Swamphen, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.

Gray-headed Swamphen, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, December 2023

A Gray Kingbird sits on a fence on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean in May 2023.

Gray Wagtail, Richmond area of London on River Thames, May 2024.

Gray Wagtail, Richmond area of London on River Thames, May 2024.

A Great Blue Heron strikes a sinister pose at the Orlando Wetlands park.

A Great Blue Heron grabs a large banded water snake for a meal at the Orlando Wetlands in April 2023.

Great Cormorant, IJpromenade in Amsterdam, May 2024.

Great Cormorant, IJpromenade in Amsterdam, May 2024.

Great Crested Flycatcher, Mead Garden in Winter Park, April 2024.

A Great Crested Flycatcher rests on a tree at the UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

A Great Crested Flycatcher takes fight while its mate stays behind at the UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

Great Crested Grebe, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Great Crested Grebe, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

A frog tries to escape from a Great Egret at Orlando Wetlands Park by using a little extra pee-power in April 2023.

Great Egret chicks and parent, Orlando Wetlands, April 2024.

Great Horned Owl mom and owlet, Osceola County, February 2024.

Great Horned Owl mom and owlet, Osceola County, February 2024.

Great Horned Owlet, Osceola County, February 2024.

Great Tit, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Great Tit, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Great Tit with baby, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Great White Heron, near Marvin Key in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.

Great White Heron, near Marvin Key in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.

Great White Heron, near Marvin Key in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.

Greater Yellowlegs, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.

Greater Yellowlegs, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2024.

Green Finch, Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Green Finch, Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Green Finch, Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Green Heron, Orlando Wetlands, July 2024.

A little Green Heron snacks on a fish it caught at Orlando Wetlands Park.

Green-winged Teal ducks, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Green-winged Teal ducks, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Grey Heron, Hyde Park in London, May 2024.

Grey Heron, Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Greylag Goose, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

Greylag Geese, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

A hermit Thrush basks in post-sunrise light at Mead Gardens in Winter Park in October 2023.

A pair of colorful male Hooded Mergansers visit a pond in Oviedo in November 2023.

A female Hooded Merganser returns to Central Florida for the winter, making a temporary home at a pond in Oviedo in November 2023.

House Finch, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

A pair of House Finches, female at the top and male at the bottom, take break in a pine tree at the UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

This House Sparrow is 6-inches and was introduced from Europe to Central Park in NYC in the 1850s. This one was seen, in of all places, on the roof of a Dunkin Donuts near my home.

House Wren, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, December 2023.

A House Wren looks over the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive in October 2023. House Wrens can be found across the Western Hemisphere.

Indigo Bunting, Orlando Wetlands, April 2024.

Indigo Bunting, Orlando Wetlands, April 2024.

Indigo Bunting, Orlando Wetlands, April 2024.

A Killdeer, which isn’t really a threat to deer. wads in a marsh at the Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island in July 2023.

A Killdeer, such as this one at Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island, is easy to ID because it’s the only shorebird with two black neck bands.

A pair of Laughing Gulls walk along the beach at Coco Cay in the Bahamas in May 2023.

This male Least Bittern is in hunting mode in a pond next to the Apopka Wildlife Drive in July 2023.

A Least Bittern hides out among the reeds at Orlando Wetlands Park in April 2023.

A little Least Flycatcher sits at the very top of a tree at the entrance to the Oak and Palm Hamock trails at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in October 2023.

Least Sandpiper, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, August 2024.

A Least Tern checks out North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

Least Tern, Viera Wetlands, July 2024.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Hyde Park in London, June 2024.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Water of Leith Walkway in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2024.

Lesser Scaups, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, December 2023.

Lesser Scaup, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, March 2023.

Lesser Yellowlegs, like this one at Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island in 2023, return to marshy areas for nesting after spending the summer elsewhere.

Lesser Yellowlegs, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, December 2023.

Limpkin, Orlando Wetlands, November 2024.

A Limpkin mom with a Limpkin chick in a pond at Orlando Wetlands Park in May 2023.

Little Blue Heron, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.

Juvenile Little Blue Heron in morph mode, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, June 2024.

Loggerhead Shrike, Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in Viera, August 2024.

Loggerhead Shrike, Brownie Wise Park in Kissimmee, September 2024.

A pair of Loggerhead Shrikes share a grasshopper on a power line in Osceola County in May 2023.

Long-billed Dowitcher, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.

A juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird is seen flying over Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

A male Mallard duck sits by a lake in a downtown Orlando neighborhood in May 2023.

Male Mallard, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

Marsh Wren, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

A little Marsh Wren hangs out amid the cattails near a pond at Orlando Wetlands in April 2023.

Merlin, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, February 2024.

Merlin, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.

A momma Mottled Duck and her ducklings paddle around one of the ponds at Orlando Wetlands Park in May 2023.

This Mourning Dove appears to be acting coy as it sits in a tree in my backyard in February 2023.

A male Muscovy Duck is seen in a neighborhood pond in east Orange County.

A female Muscovy Duck takes a break along the shore of Lake Eola in downtown Orlando in June 2023.

A Nanday Parakeet, seen at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

Male Northern Bobwhite, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, July 2024.

Female Northern Bobwhite, Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County, September 2024.

Northern Cardinal, my yard, April 2024.

A female Northern Cardinal heads for a birdfeeder in my backyard in September 2023.

Juvenile Northern Cardinal, my backyard, June 2024.

A pair of male Northern Flickers fight for control of a dead scrub pine tree on the Pine Flatwoods Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Northern Flicker, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, December 2023.

Northern Harrier, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2024.

Northern Harrier, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, March 2024.

This Northern Mocking bird displays its yellow and black eyes and is showing a little attitude at the UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

A Northern Mockingbird fledgling peeks out from the branches of a cedar tree in August 2023.

Northern Parula, Orlando Wetlands, March 2024.

Northern Pintail, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024.

Northern Pintail, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024.

A male Northern Shoveler is seen at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Orange-crowned Warbler, Mead Garden in Winter Park, October 2024.

Osprey and its catch, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, December 2023.

This is a Bahamas subspecies of the Osprey we’re used to seeing in Florida. Spotted at Coco Cay in the Bahamas in May 2023.

Ovenbird, Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, October 2024.

Male Painted Bunting, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024.

Male Painted Bunting, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, September 2024.

Female Painted Bunting, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024.

Palm Warbler, my backyard, January 2024.

A Palm Warbler takes a quick break from darting among branches at the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.

Peafowl peacock, Magnolia Park in Apopka, June 2024.

Peafowl peacock, Magnolia Park in Apopka, June 2024.

Peafowl peahen with a chick, Magnolia Park in Apopka, June 2024.

Peafowl chick, Magnolia Park in Apopka, June 2024.

Peregrine Falcon with Common Gallinule for breakfast, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, November 2024.

Peregrine Falcon, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, November 2024.

Peregrine Falcon, Orlando Wetlands, November 2024.

A Pie-Billed Grebe floats along merrily in the water next to the Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island.

This Pileated Woodpecker at the UCF Arboretum in September 2023 doesn’t have a red mustache, so it’s a female, of course.

This male Pileated Woodpecker, with its red mustache, checks out the area at the UCF Arboretum in September 2023.

Pine Warbler, my backyard, January 2024.

Pine Warbler, my backyard, January 2024.

A Prairie Warbler enjoys some breakfast at the Hal Scott Regional Preserve in October 2023.

A Prairie Warbler rests on a branch at Hal Scott Regional Preserve in October 2023.

A Prairie Warbler looks up toward the sky at the Hal Scott Regional Preserve in October 2023.

Prothonotary Warbler, Ferndale Preserve in Lake County, September 2024.

Prothonotary Warbler, Volusia County, August 2024. (Heavily cropped)

The early morning light highlights the colors of this Purple Gallinule at the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.

A Purple Gallinule is one of the more colorful birds at Orlando Wetlands Park.

A Purple Gallinule mother and newly hatched chick at Orlando Wetlands Park in May 2023.

Purple Martin, UCF, May 2024.

Purple Martin, UCF, May 2024.

Raven, Grand Canyon West in Arizona, February 2024.

Raven, Grand Canyon West in Arizona, February 2024.

Raven, Grand Canyon West in Arizona, February 2024.

A Reb-bellied Woodpecker uses its long tongue to looks for food under the bark of a Slash Pine Tree at the UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker pays a visit to Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

Red-breasted Mergansers, Fort DeSoto Park in St. Pete Beach, February 2024.

Reddish Egret, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.

Reddish Egret (White Morph), near Marvin Key in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.

Reddish Egret (White Morph), near Marvin Key in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.

Reddish Egret (White Morph), near Marvin Key in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, October 2024.

Red-eyed Vireo, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

Red-eyed Vireo, Hal Scott Regional Preserve, September 2023.

Male Redhead ducks, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Female and male Redhead ducks, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Red-headed Woodpecker, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, May 2024.

A Red-headed Woodpecker looks down from a tree at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.

Red Junglefowl, Key West, October 2024.

Red-legged Thrush, The Retreat Garden in Nassau, Bahamas, August 2024.

Red-legged Thrush, The Retreat Garden in Nassau, Bahamas, August 2024.

This Red-shouldered Hawk at the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023 seems to be in the fall spirit by blending in well with changing leaves.

Red-tailed Hawks, like this one at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive in October 2023, can be found year-round across most of America.

A Red-tailed Hawk soars over the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive in October 2023.

Male Red-winged Blackbird, Orlando Wetlands, September 2024.

Female Red-Winged Blackbird, Orlando Wetlands, April 2023.

Ring-billed Gull, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, February 2024.

Ring-billed Gull, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, January 2024.

Ring-necked Duck, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, December 2023.

Ring-necked Duck, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, December 2023.

A colorful Rock Pigeon roams around in the grass at Lake Eola Park in Orlando in June 2023.

Rock Wren, Grand Canyon West in Arizona, February 2024.

Rock Wren, Grand Canyon West in Arizona, February 2024.

Roseate Spoonbill, Orlando Wetlands, March 2024.

Roseate Spoonbill, the pink “Barbie” of the Orlando Wetlands, visits in November 2023.

Juvenile Roseate Tern, Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, October 2024.

Juvenile Roseate Tern, Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, October 2024.

Male Rose-ringed Parakeet, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, May 2024.

Female Rose-ringed Parakeet, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, May 2024.

A Royal Mute Swan poses next to a lake in downtown Orlando in May 2023.

A baby Royal Mute Swan, called a cygnet, rests by a lake in a downtown Orlando neighborhood in May 2023.

Royal Tern, Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore, March 2024.

A Royal Tern flies over North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet visits Mead Gardens in Winter Park in October 2023.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Orlando Wetlands, August 2024.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Orlando Wetlands, July 2024.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Orlando Wetlands, July 2024.

Male Ruddy Duck, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Female Ruddy Duck, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

A Ruddy Turnstone is on the prowl at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

Ruddy Turnstone, Indian River at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.

A Sanderling in breeding colors walks among the foam from the waves at North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

Sandhill Cranes, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, February 2024.

This family of Sandhill Cranes march along together at the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023. The youngest crane was born at the Wetlands back in March.

Savannah Sparrows, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, March 2024.

A Savannah Sparrow, named for the Georgia town in the 19th Century, visits to the Orlando Wetlands in October 2023.

Say’s Phoebe, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Say’s Phoebe, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Sedge Wren, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

Sedge Wren, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

A cute Semipalmated Plover walks along the sandy shore at Fort DeSoto Park’s North Beach in May 2023.

A Semipalmated Plover walks around North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

A Snowy Egret preens in the early morning light at Fort DeSoto’s North Beach in May 2023.

A Snowy Egret shows off its catch from the lake adjacent to the Orlando Wetlands Park Cypress Boardwalk in March 2023.

Snowy Plover, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.

Solitary Sandpiper, Orlando Wetlands, September 2024.

Song Sparrow, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

Song Sparrow, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

Stork, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

Mother and baby Stork, Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in Netherlands, May 2024.

Swainson’s Thrush, Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, October 2024.

Swainson’s Thrush, Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, October 2024.

Swallow-tailed Kite, Volusia County, August 2024.

Swallow-tailed Kite, Orlando Wetlands, April 2024.

Swallow-tailed Kite, Orlando Wetlands, April 2024.

Swamp Sparrow, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

A Swamp Sparrow pauses for a second on some rushes during a November 2023 morning at the Orlando Wetlands.

Tennessee Warbler, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, October 2024.

Tennessee Warbler, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, October 2024.

Tree Swallows, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, February 2024.

A tiny Tree Swallow darts across the sky at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in February 2023.

Tricolored Heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.

Tricolored Heron, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, July 2024.

Adult and juvenile Tricolored Heron, July 2024, Viera Wetlands. Young bird is pestering its parent for a meal.

A Trumpeter Swan glides along in the water of Lake Eola in downtown Orlando in June 2023.

Male Tufted Duck, Hyde Park in London. May 2024.

Male and female Tufted Ducks, Hyde Park in London. May 2024.

A Tufted Titmouse hangs out in my backyard in August 2023.

A juvenile Tufted Titmouse pauses for a moment on an oak tree at the UCF Arboretum in June 2023.

A Turkey Vulture keeps a watchful eye on the Orlando Wetlands in the morning in July 2023.

A Turkey Vulture keeps a watchful eye on the Orlando Wetlands in November 2023.

Verdin, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Verdin, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Male Vermilion Flycatcher, Orlando Wetlands, November 2024.

Male Vermilion flycatcher, Orlando Wetlands, October 2024.

Western Cattle Egret, Orlando Wetlands, April 2024.

A Western Cattle Egret looks majestically into the sun along LAWD in July 2023.

Western Grebe, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

Western Grebe, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

White-breasted Nuthatch, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

White-breasted Nuthatch, Lake Junaluska, N.C., December 2023.

White-crowned Pigeon, Old Town in Key West, October 2024.

White-crowned Pigeon, Old Town in Key West, October 2024.

White-crowned Sparrow, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

White-crowned Sparrow, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

White-crowned Sparrow, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve outside Las Vegas, February 2024.

A White-eyed Vireo, a great little song bird, perches in the branches of a small tree at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.

A tiny White-eyed Vireo tries to hide out in the branches of a small tree at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.

A White Ibis stands on guard at the Orlando Wetlands in August 2023.

This White Ibis at the Orlando Wetlands has bright blue eyes but also a dirty beak from digging around for food. Taken August 2023.

That’s not the Aflac duck walking around Lake Eola in Orlando in June 2023. It’s a White Pekin duck – the same type used in the TV commercials.

A Whooper Swan sits on its nest near the shore of Lake Eola in downtown Orlando in June 2023.

Wild Turkey, Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, January 2024.

A Wild Turkey walks across a pasture near the entrance to Orlando Wetlands Park in May 2023.

A Willet pokes around below the water looking for a snack at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023.

Wilson’s Plover, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.

A Wilson’s Plover checks out North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in May 2023. According to AllAboutBirds.org, “Ornithologist George Ord named Wilson’s Plover for his friend, Alexander Wilson, often called ‘the father of American ornithology.'”