Everglades National Park

National Park · United States

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Photo © Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States

Photo © Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States — CC0 1.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where freshwater marsh meets subtropical sky, the Everglades sprawls across southwestern Florida as one of North America's most expansive wetland ecosystems. Spanning over 13,000 square kilometers, this landscape defies the conventional notion of wilderness—a sawgrass prairie dotted with hardwood hammocks, mangrove-lined waterways, and shallow sloughs that shift between wet and dry seasons in a rhythm as ancient as the continent itself. The park protects a mosaic of habitats: deeper ponds and lakes where aquatic predators cruise through tea-colored water, cypress swamps draped in Spanish moss, coastal bays fringed with salt marsh, and wet prairies where wading birds wade through inches of open water. The wildlife community here is defined by adaptation to water—migratory waders and wading birds congregate in their thousands during the dry season when prey becomes concentrated, raptors hunt across open expanses and wooded canopy edges, small mammals navigate the hummocks and tree islands, and reptiles of remarkable diversity thrive in both freshwater and brackish zones. This is a landscape shaped by water as much as by geology, where the movement of a slow river through grass has created an ecological engine unlike any other on the continent.

For the wildlife photographer and nature traveler, the Everglades present an exceptional theatre of seasonal abundance and behavioral spectacle. The dry season, roughly November through April, transforms the park into a concentration of wildlife activity unmatched elsewhere in the region—thousands of wading birds, raptors riding thermals, and crocodilians basking in accessible waters create predictable, accessible opportunities for observation and capture. The light here is extraordinary: early morning mist rising from sawgrass, afternoon storms building across the open marsh, and golden hour reflections across mirror-still waters reward photographers who time their visits wisely. Access ranges from boardwalk and trail systems that bring visitors close to the landscape without disturbance, to canoe routes that penetrate deeper wetlands where solitude and intimate wildlife encounters reward the paddler. Spring migration adds another dimension, drawing transient species through the park's corridors. Whether you arrive with binoculars, camera, or simply the desire to witness one of Earth's most dynamic wetland ecosystems, the Everglades offer a masterclass in tropical and subtropical wetland ecology conducted on a staggering natural scale.

Website nps.gov/ever/index.htm

Anhinga anhinga

Great Blue Heron

Pandion haliaetus

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

Red-shouldered Hawk

Butorides virescens

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Coragyps atratus

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Pelecanus occidentalis

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Dumetella carolinensis

Sayornis phoebe

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

Western Cattle Egret

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Fulica americana

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

Charadrius vociferus

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

White-crowned Pigeon

Patagioenas leucocephala

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Brown-headed Cowbird

Seiurus aurocapilla

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

Acridotheres tristis

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Zenaida macroura

Eastern Screech Owl

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Western Sandpiper

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Antigone canadensis

Toxostoma rufum

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Cyanocitta cristata

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Corvus ossifragus

Aramus guarauna

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Plegadis falcinellus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Setophaga coronata

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Tachycineta bicolor

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Hirundo rustica

Tyrannus dominicensis

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

Pluvialis squatarola

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Mycteria americana

Leucophaeus atricilla

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Setophaga palmarum

Hydroprogne caspia

Roseate Spoonbill

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Boat-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

White-eyed Vireo

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Thalasseus maximus

Prairie Warbler

Setophaga discolor

Tringa semipalmata

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Setophaga pinus

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Quiscalus quiscula

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Egretta rufescens

Calidris alpina

Molothrus bonariensis

Chuck-will's-widow

Antrostomus carolinensis

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Antrostomus vociferus

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Northern Pintail

Cape May Warbler

Setophaga tigrina

Sterna forsteri

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescens

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Bucephala albeola

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

Oxyura jamaicensis

Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

Meleagris gallopavo

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Mangrove Cuckoo

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Rallus crepitans

Podiceps auritus

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Wilson's Plover

Anarhynchus wilsonia

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

American Woodcock

Gallinago delicata

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Botaurus exilis

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

American Barn Owl

Athene cunicularia

Falco columbarius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

La Sagra's Flycatcher

Myiarchus sagrae

Vireo olivaceus

Black-whiskered Vireo

Vireo altiloquus

Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitarius

Bombycilla cedrorum

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Cistothorus stellaris

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Eastern Bluebird

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Catharus guttatus

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

Passer domesticus

Anthus rubescens

American Goldfinch

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallida

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Ammospiza caudacuta

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Melospiza georgiana

Yellow-breasted Chat

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Orange-crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis celata

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Passerina caerulea

Passerina cyanea

Black-faced Grassquit

Melanospiza bicolor

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Branta bernicla

Branta canadensis

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Cairina moschata

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Aythya valisineria

Aythya americana

Melanitta perspicillata

Melanitta americana

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Chaetura pelagica

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

Smooth-billed Ani

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Key West Quail-Dove

Geotrygon chrysia

Rallus limicola

Porzana carolina

Grey-headed Swamphen

Porphyrio poliocephalus

Charadrius melodus

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Long-billed Curlew

Numenius americanus

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Calidris canutus

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Calidris subruficollis

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Onychoprion fuscatus

Sternula antillarum

Chlidonias niger

Sterna paradisaea

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Great Black-backed Gull

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Northern Gannet

Sula leucogaster

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Short-eared Owl

Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus borealis

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Nymphicus hollandicus

Myiopsitta monachus

White-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris versicolurus

Nanday Parakeet

Aratinga nenday

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Mitred Parakeet

Psittacara mitratus

Red-masked Parakeet

Psittacara erythrogenys

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Melopsittacus undulatus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Eastern Warbling Vireo

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Florida Scrub Jay

Aphelocoma coerulescens

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

Riparia riparia

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Petrochelidon fulva

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Corthylio calendula

Cistothorus palustris

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

Hylocichla mustelina

Catharus fuscescens

Turdus migratorius

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Haemorhous mexicanus

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Bachman's Sparrow

Peucaea aestivalis

Chondestes grammacus

Spizella pusilla

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Pooecetes gramineus

Seaside Sparrow

Ammospiza maritima

Nelson's Sparrow

Ammospiza nelsoni

Melospiza melodia

Western Spindalis

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Icterus spurius

Brewer's Blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera

Swainson's Warbler

Limnothlypis swainsonii

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

Connecticut Warbler

Oporornis agilis

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Setophaga citrina

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Setophaga nigrescens

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Cardellina canadensis

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Spiza americana

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Blue-crowned Parakeet

Thectocercus acuticaudatus

West Indian Manatee

Trichechus manatus

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Northern Raccoon

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

North American River Otter

Lontra canadensis

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops erebennus

Eurasian Wild Pig

Northern Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

Sylvilagus palustris

Hispid Cotton Rat

Sigmodon hispidus

Perimyotis subflavus

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Florida Bonneted Bat

Eumops floridanus

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