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Florida

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

USA

USA bird books

Florida Birding: A Guide to the Best Birding Locations in the Sunshine State

Mark B. Smith

"If you want to maximize your time finding birds in Florida, this book is for you. Avid birder and wildlife photographer Mark Smith discloses 19 of his favorite birding locations that span the entire state. While 19 locations might not seem like that many, many of the destinations in this book can take days or weeks to fully explore. There are enough locations to keep you happily viewing a very wide range of birds for a very long time."

Field Guide to Birds of Florida

Bill Pranty

American Birding Association

Scott & Nix Inc

2015

"Written by expert birder Bill Pranty and filled with crisp, gorgeous color photography, the American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Florida is the perfect companion for anyone learning more about the natural history and diversity of the state’s birds and when and where to see them. 545 beautiful color photographs featuring 300 bird species in natural habitats. Clear and concise introduction, identification, and habitat text. Tips on when and where to see species. Organized by type of bird from waterfowl to finches. Table of birding sites and habitats. Complete state bird checklist, detailed state map, index, and quick index."

The Robertson and Woolfenden Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List

Jon S. Greenlaw, Bill Pranty, Reed Bowman

Florida Ornithological Society

2015

A 440 page annotated checklist of birds recorded in Florida with information on status, occurrence, distribution, frequency, habitat, and recent change.

Abundance and Distribution of Mangrove Landbirds in Florida

John D. Lloyd and Gary L. Slater

Fish And Wildlife Service

US Department Of The Interior

2014

From the abstract:

Florida’s mangroves provide habitat for an eclectic mix of bird species, including five taxa rarely found elsewhere in North America. Little is known of the natural history of any of these birds, which poses an obstacle to effective conservation. To help fill some of the basic gaps in our understanding of this avifauna, we conducted extensive surveys in Florida’s mangroves during 2008–2011, with the goals of quantifying distribution and estimating breeding-season abundance of mangrove landbirds. We detected 80 species in the mangroves during the breeding season; most were species in Passeriformes ( n = 29), but other important taxa included Ciconiiformes ( n = 13) and Charadriiformes ( n = 12). We focused our analysis on the 18 landbird species (including members of Falconiformes, Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Piciformes, and Passeriformes) that had . 90 detections and that were detected at . 5% of the survey points. The landbird avifauna of Florida’s mangroves is lower in both species richness and total number of individuals than other vegetation types of southern Florida.

Birding Hot Spots in Sarasota and Manatee Counties

Naomi Deutsch, Mark Leggett, Stuart Hills, Jeanne Dubi

6th edition

2013

"It lists some 70 great places to bird with a site index and information on parking, restrooms, fees, and handicapped accessibility."

Southern Birds: Backyard Guide

Bill Thompson III

2013

"Inside, you'll find profiles of the 55 most common birds in the South, complete with large color photos, gender-specific physical descriptions, nesting and feeding information, bird call particulars, and interesting stories about each species. Thompson also introduces the reader to the basics of bird watching: essential gear, bird-friendly food and plantings, housing tips, and observational techniques. This guide covers North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and eastern Texas."

Ecology of the Cooper's Hawk in North Florida

Brian A. Millsap, Timothy F. Breen and Laura M. Phillips

Fish And Wildlife Service

US Department Of The Interior

2013

From the abstract:

We studied adult Cooper's hawks Accipiter cooperii on two study areas in north Florida from 1995 to 2001, an area dominated by large plantations managed for northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus and an area of mixed farmland and woods with no direct bobwhite management. We monitored 76 Cooper's hawk nesting attempts at 31 discrete nest areas, and radio-tagged 19 breeding males and 30 breeding females that we radio-tracked for up to 5 y. Nesting density (565 to 1,494 ha per occupied nest area) was comparable but productivity (1.8 and 2.8 young fledged per occupied and successful nest area, respectively) was lower than for the species elsewhere. Prey may have been more limiting than in other areas studied because chipmunks Tamias striatus , an important prey elsewhere, were absent. Annual Cooper's hawk survival averaged 84% for males and 81% for females, except in 1998 when survival was substantially lower.

Birds of Florida

Todd Telander

Falcon Press

2012

"Each Falcon Field Guide to birds introduces the 180 most common and sought-after species in a state. Conveniently sized to fit in your pocket and featuring full-color, detailed illustrations, these informative guides make it easy to identify birds in a backyard, favorite parks, and wildlife areas. Each bird is accompanied by a detailed listing of its prominent attributes and a color illustration showing its important features. Birds are organized in taxonomic order, keeping families of birds together for easy identification. This is the essential source for the field, both informative and beautiful to peruse."

A Field Guide to the Southeast Coast & Gulf of Mexico: Coastal Habitats, Seabirds, Marine Mammals, Fish, & Other Wildlife

Noble S. Proctor & Patrick J. Lynch

2011

"This superb book, with its unique focus on the entire marine coastal environment, is the most comprehensive and up-to-date field guide available on the southeastern Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast. Not just for beachgoers, the book is essential for birders, whale watchers, fishers, boaters, scuba divers and snorkelers, and shoreline visitors. Features of the guide include: entries on 619 coastal and ocean species; more than 1,100 color illustrations; 450 up-to-date range maps; and overviews of key ecological communities, including mangroves, salt marshes, beaches, sand dunes, and coral reefs; special attention to threatened and endangered species; and discussions of environmental issues, including such catastrophic events as Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon blowout."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of Southern Florida: Including The Everglades, The Keys, Sanibel and Captiva Islands

G. Michael Flieg and Allan Sandler

2nd edition

2011

"A pocket-size photographic guide covering a selection of 248 species, including some of the introduced species, as well as most resident and migrant species. Shows birds most likely to be seen by bird watchers in the region, as well as some of the rarer, more interesting, or more spectacular species that might be encountered. Includes a map of the best places to see birds."

Life Along the Inner Coast: A Naturalist's Guide to the Sounds, Inlets, Rivers, and Intracoastal Waterway from Norfolk to Key West

Robert L. Lippson and Alice Jane Lippson

2009

"This dense system of waterways contains an incredible range of salinity levels, from fresh to brackish to oceanic, and is host to flora and fauna that have adapted to both specific and broad ranges of ecological habitats. The Lippsons explore each habitat, from wooded wetlands, broad marshes, and sandy beaches, to the hundreds of piers and pilings thrusting into the waters, to the vast shallow waters rich in populations of fish, crabs, mollusks, and myriad other marine creatures. They describe more than 800 species that are beautifully illustrated with meticulous ink drawings and photographs and organized according to habitat type and geographic region. Ranging from the busy commercial harbor at Norfolk through vast expanses of marshlands of the mid-Atlantic to the tropical mangrove islands of Florida, "Life along the Inner Coast" offers readers a rich understanding of the relationships between organisms and where they live. It is a valuable resource for naturalists, students, and anyone who lives or vacations along the Atlantic Inner Coast."

Birding Hot Spots in Sarasota and Manatee Counties

Mark Leggett, Stuart Hills, Jeanne Dubi

4th edition

2008

A guide to birding locations with bird, site and travel information.

Backyard Birds of Florida: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds

Bill Fenimore

2007

"Backyard Birds is an exciting series of books that explores the top twenty-five backyard birds most commonly found in each state. It includes a profiled size scale that allows the reader to quickly identify the correct bird, and each bird entry is accompanied by a stunning color photograph and specific description, including identification marks, behavior, habitat, and nesting style-even the song the bird makes! As an added feature, author Bill Fenimore also provides expert tips for building the ultimate backyard bird sanctuary, from creating birdbaths and planting proper foliage to offering a bird's favorite foods."

Birding Florida: More Than 200 Prime Birding Sites

Brian Rapoza

Falcon Press

2007

"This long-awaited new volume in the acclaimed "Falcon Guide Birding" series provides detailed information - including maps, descriptions, and photographs - on 120 prime birding locations, and over 300 viewing sites throughout Florida. "Birding Florida" is an easy-to-use field guide to all the birds you can expect to see in each season, from flamingos and pelicans, to magnificent sea eagles. This is an ideal companion for anyone holidaying in Florida at any time of year."

Bobwhite Quail in Florida: Ecology and Management

William M. Giuliano, James F. Selph and Brandon J. Schad

2007

Provides current information on quail biology, ecology, population status, and habitat requirements. Readers will find detailed descriptions of the habitat necessary for quail to breed, nest, forage, take shelter, and ultimately thrive. The authors offer useful management practices for farms, rangelands, and forests, including the use of prescribed fire and other disturbances, artificial feeding, predator management, restocking with wild or pen-raised birds, and the roles that harvest and hunting play in maintaining quail populations. This book makes it possible for Florida's landowners and managers, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts to be informed and active participants in the recovery of this magnificent bird.

Birds of Florida

Bill Pranty, Kurt Radamaker and Gregory Kennedy

2006

"Two renowned Florida birders share their expertise and passion in this wonderful field guide to more than 300 species of birds found in the Sunshine State. Each account features comprehensive information on the species and full-color illustrations."

A Guide to the Birds of the South-eastern States: Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi

John H. Rappole

2006

"No other region in America offers such a stunning abundance of birdlife (including an overwhelming number of exotic species) as the southeastern United States. "A Guide to the Birds of the Southeastern States" is the only single-source reference to this area's fascinating variety of birds, and if you want to find these feathered friends, veteran birdlife researcher John Rappole reveals the best places to look - from the tropical hammocks and cypress bays of the Everglades to the rugged peaks of the north Georgia Appalachians and the Gulf Coast beaches of Alabama and Mississippi. More than 190 sites are covered, including national parks, wildlife refuges, nature centers, and public access sites. Specific information is provided for 376 individual species, all accompanied by a species photograph and distribution map, as well as information on the bird's appearance, voice, habits, habitat, regional abundance and distribution, and its world range. Rappole rounds out the coverage by explaining issues surrounding climate, physiology, and habitat, and provides photographs of all major habitats, including more than 30 of the most intriguing natural areas in the Southeast."

A Birdwatcher's Guide to Alachua County, Florida

Rex Rowan and Mike Manetz

128 page guide to birdwatching sites.

The Breeding Birds of Florida

G.E.Woolfenden, W.B. Robertson, J.A. Cox

Florida Ornithological Society

2006

Florida's Birds: A Field Guide and Reference

David S. Maehr, Herbert W. Kale

Pineapple Press

2nd edition

2005

"The Second Edition of Florida's Birds is a major event for Florida birders, new and old. Each section of the book is updated, and 30 new species are added. Also added are range maps for certain species and color coded guides to months when the bird is present and/or breeding in Florida. Now with color throughout, each bird is illustrated three times: with the text about the bird, in the index listing, and on a plate with similar species for help in identification. Thus, Florida's Birds is now an even better field guide. Unlike the other books available on the birds of Florida, Florida's Birds is also a reference that goes beyond its usefulness in the field. Sections on bird study and bird feeding provide practical advice for enjoying Florida's birds; and sections on bird habitats, threatened and endangered species, exotic species, and bird conservation will assist the reader in understanding the ecological and cultural landscapes that have created one of the world's unique avifaunas."

Field Guide to Birds: Florida

Editor: Mel Baughman

2005

"This series of pocket-size bird field guides launches with titles for America's two most popular birding hotspots: California and Florida. The ultimate migration ground that draws birds from around the world. The books are designed for use by novices to experienced birders who want to take only the guide for the state or region they're visiting. Each guide will be 256 pages and will feature about 125 birds. Their handy trim and can easily fit in a backpack or pocket for easy access. Rather than alphabetically, the birds are featured by family, as supported by the American Ornithological Association. A quick reference alphabetical guide on the inside of the back cover lets you find a name quickly. Once you've spotted the bird and need to identify it quickly, the clean, straightforward layout makes it a snap. Each entry has a vivid photograph on the left page showing the bird in its habitat. On the right page is a list of bulleted points called field identification clues to confirm at a glance the bird's identity, including size, color, beak and wing shape, markings, song, flight pattern, habitat, and hotspots in which to find them. A special field fact at the bottom of each entry gives an additional highlight to look for in the bird's behavior. In selected cases, artwork will illustrate the field fact or introduce a relative of the featured bird."

Birds of Florida: Field Guide

Stan Tekiela

2005

"Learn about and identify birds using Stan Tekiela's state-by-state field guides. The full-page, color photos are incomparable and include insets of winter plumage, color morphs and more. Plus, with the easy-to-use format, you don't need to know a bird's name or classification in order to easily find it in the book. Using this field guide is a real pleasure. It's a great way for anyone to learn about the birds in your state."

A Birder's Guide to Florida

Bill Pranty

American Birding Association

5th edition

2005

"For international birders Florida offers an accessible, comfortable introduction to subtropical birding. North American birders savor Florida as the place to see species not found elsewhere in the US and Canada, such as Snail Kite, Short-tailed Hawk, Black-hooded Parakeet, Mangrove Cuckoo, Black-whiskered Vireo, or Florida Scrub-Jay. These are but a few of the Florida specialties that make a trip to the Sunshine State such an exciting adventure for all birders. Bill Pranty, with the help of dozens of the state's birders, has now rewritten his acclaimed 4th edition. More than 330 birding sites are described, and more than 400 species accounts are now included. A Birder's Guide to Florida's comprehensive introduction helps birders to understand seasonal bird distribution in Florida's various habitats. Whether you are hoping to see fairly common birds such as White-crowned Pigeon, or are searching for elusive birds such as Black Rail, or wish to be surprised by the discovery of an unconventional bird such as Scaly-headed Parrot, this birdfinding guide and your field guide are the only books you'll need."

Florida Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide

Bill Thompson III and The Staff of Bird Watcher's Digest

2004

"The birds that frequent the backyards of Florida differ from the birds that frequent the backyards of Tennessee. In addition to unique descriptions, each bird profile includes a range map to identify the each bird's North American distribution. One hundred birds are profiled, each with a color photograph, to ensure accurate identification. A seasonal section informs the reader of: migrating birds that can be seen during that season; the foods and plants that can attract those birds; and where to go to view year-round and migrating birds."

Endangered and Threatened Animals of Florida and Their Habitats

Chris SCott

University of Texas Press

2003

"This fully illustrated book is a comprehensive, yet convenient and easy-to-understand guide to Florida's endangered and threatened animals and the habitats that support them. Chris Scott covers all 71 species, subspecies, or populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, insects, corals, and mollusks. His species accounts describe each animal's listed status, identifying characteristics, historical and current distribution, biology, current threats, and conservation efforts. To make the crucial link between animals and their habitats, Scott also includes extensive discussions of Florida's natural regions; human impacts on the environment, including habitat destruction, pollution, and the introduction of invasive, nonnative species; and ongoing efforts to conserve and restore native plant and animal communities."

Birds of Florida

Fred J. Alsop III

Dorling Kindersley

2002

Guide to the Great Florida Birding Trail: East Section

Editor: Susan Cerulean and Julie A. Brashears

2002

"This easy-to-follow guidebook spans 18 counties in eastern Florida to showcase 136 birding sites from the Georgia border to Lake Okeechobee, including the Jacksonville and Orlando metropolitan areas. The sites, organized into clusters of five to ten, are all within an hour's drive of one another and are identified on individual as well as regional maps. Each site is described from a birder's point of view and includes directions, hours of operation, seasonal birding opportunities, and other information essential for a successful outing. Unique to the book are 27 essays written by state experts to round out the reader's understanding of issues specific to species and habitats. The conservation needs of each area, bird-watching ethics, and resources for additional information are also covered. The Great Florida Birding Trail project, sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, seeks to unify existing and new birding sites on a 2,000-mile trail through the state. It will combine special highway signs identifying Birding Trail sites with a detailed map."

Common Coastal Birds of Florida and the Caribbean

David W.Nellis

2002

"This book is for those who enjoy that precarious and ever-changing zone where the sea meets the land and want to understand the birds that frequent this special habitat in Florida and the islands to the south. Author David Nellis reveals the birds found along the beaches, among the mangroves, even up the rocky Caribbean cliffs. From the many birds that may be encountered along the coast, Dr. Nellis has selected 72 of the most common ones, including a few that, though less abundant, capture our interest. Each bird has its own ecological niche - manifested by its nesting, feeding, roosting, and migration habits - and territorial competition between species is a constant."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of Southern Florida

G. Michael Flieg and Allan Sandler

1st edition

2001

"This compact, easy-to-use identification guide is designed to suit any birdwatcher visiting Florida, whose rich diversity of habitats, ranging from the wetlands of the Everglades to the marine islands of the Keys, supports a broad range of species. The book contains photographs, tips and maps."

Birds of the Gulf Coast

Photographs: Brian K. Miller

Text: William R. Fontenot

2001

"The moist, sultry northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico hosts a remarkably diverse bird community of more then three hundred species. Waders and seabirds, waterfowl, hummingbirds, warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers, larks, blackbirds, sparrows, and finches all thrive in the various ecosystems of the Gulf Coast and swirl in and out with the seasons. Featuring 170 color photographs by nature photographer Brian K. Miller and essays by natural history expert William R. Fontenot, Birds of the Gulf Coast depicts the mystery and majesty of these beautiful creatures and highlights the importance of the region to the bird's conservation. Fontenot introduces the conditions peculiar to each season on the temperate Gulf Coast, and Miller's images are arranged by the calendar. The waterfowl, raptors, and seabirds of winter; the songbirds and shorebirds of spring and fall; and the wading birds of summer - their numbers peak and wane on schedule, and the chapters vividly reflect the dramatic variation in the bird population throughout the year. Miller captures sights that thrill human eyes - the stately gaze of a bald Eagle; the splendor of an Osprey in full flight; the quiet concentration of a Sora studying his reflection in the marsh. His vibrant portraits illustrate the brilliant hues of nature: the dazzling pinks and reds of the Roseate Spoonbill, the rainbow plumage of the Painted Bunting, the bright splash of the Yellow-throated Warbler."

Florida

Fiona Sunquist, Mel Sunquist, Les Beletsky

Academic Press

2001

"This title contains color illustrations and photos of more than 620 of Florida's most common insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and plants - the species you are most likely to see. It contains information for identifying and locating these animals as well as their ecology, behavior, and conservation. Florida is an easy-to-carry, entertainingly written, and beautifully illustrated book."

The Birds of Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties, Florida

Robert Duncan and Lucy Duncan

2nd edition

2000

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida

Peter Alden, Rick Cech, Gil Nelson

1998

"In this concisely detailed volume you'll become acquainted with the state's geologic origins, natural history, and diverse habitats (salt marshes, mangrove swamps, prairies, and woodlands). A field guide assists in the identification of some of the region's wildflowers, trees, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, mammals, and birds, including the elusive manatee, three species of dolphin, and the rare snail kite. An extensive sampling of the area's best parks, preserves, beaches, forests, islands, and wildlife sanctuaries, with thorough descriptions and visitor information on 50 destinations, is also included. For instance, the section on Everglades National Park includes information on wildlife viewing possibilities, driving directions, and popular touring attractions inside the park (such as Shark Valley, where a 15-mile loop via foot, rental bike, or tram affords close views of alligators, anhingas, and wading birds). Lesser-known areas such as Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and Withlacoochee State Forest are also featured. More than 1,300 color photographs heighten the quality of this handy compilation."

A Birdwatching Guide To Florida

Derek Moore

1997

A guide to birdwatching sites mainly near Orlando and Miami.

A Birder's Guide to Florida

Bill Pranty

American Birding Association

4th edition

1996

Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida: Volume V: Birds

James A. Rodgers Jr., Herbert W. Kale II, Henry T. Smith

1996

"This volume contains accounts of 66 bird species and subspecies that the Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals recognizes as in decline or in danger. It also includes accounts of six species that have been already extirpated in Florida or are now extinct. The species accounts are arranged by family within each status category - recently extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, rare, species of special concern, and status undetermined. Each account contains detailed sections on taxonomy, description, population size and trend, habitat requirements and trend, vulnerability of species and habitat, causes of threats, responses to habitat modification, demographic characteristics, key behaviors, and conservation measures taken and proposed for the species. Each also includes a range map, an extensive section of literature cited, and a synthesis and discussion of the ecology, habitat requirements, and anthropogenic factors affecting the species' survival, especially in Florida. In addition, 61 photographs and 4 drawings accompany the species accounts. Much of the information on the Florida population status is presented here for the first time and is based on previously unpublished research."

The Birdlife of Florida

Henry M. Stevenson, Bruce H. Anderson

1994

905 pages with accounts of 665 species.

Birds of Florida

Frances W. Hall

1994

At Water's Edge: The Birds of Florida

Roger Bansemer with Bill Renc

1993

Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List

William B. Robertson Jr and Glen E. Woolfenden

Florida Ornithological Society

1992

260 page annotated checklist that includes information on status, distribution, frequency, habitat and life history.

Florida Bird Records In American Birds and Audubon Field Notes (1947-1989): Species Index and County Gazetteer

R.W. Loftin, G.E.Woolfenden, J.A. Woolfenden

Florida Ornithological Society

1991

Florida's Birds: A Handbook and Reference

David S. Maehr, Herbert W. Kale

Pineapple Press

1990

Second edition published in 2005.

Florida's Fabulous Birds: Land Birds: Their Stories

Winston Williams

1988

88 page guide.

Status and Distribution of the Florida Scrub Jay

Daniel Mckinley

Florida Ornithological Society

1987

The Carolina Parakeet in Florida

Daniel Mckinley

Florida Ornithological Society

1985

Florida's Fabulous Waterbirds: Their Stories

Winston Williams

1983

64 page guide.

Species index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon Field Notes and American Birds, Volumes 1-30, 1947-1967

M.C. Bowman

Florida Ornithological Society

1978

Seashore and Wading Birds

Patricia E. Pope

1974

44 page identification guide with colour plates of coastal and wading birds found in Florida.

The Birds of Florida

Harold H. Bailey

Williams & Wilkins

1925

140 pages with 76 color plates and a fold-out map.