St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife Sanctuary · United States

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Photo © Sarahbethburg

Photo © Sarahbethburg — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons

Where the Apalachee Bay begins to define the Florida coastline, salt marshes and freshwater impoundments merge into one of the southeastern United States' most productive wildlife sanctuaries. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge spans nearly 100,000 acres of coastal habitat, where subtropical warmth and year-round moisture sustain a landscape of remarkable ecological diversity. The refuge encompasses tidal marshes dominated by salt-tolerant grasses, shallow brackish pools edged with tupelo and bald cypress, pine flatwoods rising just above sea level, and hardwood hammocks that provide refuge during storm surge. This mosaic of wetland, scrub, and woodland creates ideal conditions for wading birds, dabbling ducks, and diving waterfowl that exploit the refuge's rich invertebrate communities and fish populations. Migratory shorebirds funnel through during spring and autumn passage, while year-round resident raptors hunt across the open marshes. Small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians thrive in the transition zones where fresh and salt water meet, creating a complete predator-prey food web that sustains birds of prey, owls, and other carnivores throughout the seasons.

Photographers and birdwatchers are drawn to St. Marks for the spectacle of convergence: the meeting of two water systems creates predictable concentrations of wildlife that few other refuges can match. The best viewing comes during winter months, when migratory populations swell and visibility across the marshes is clearest, though the subtropical climate ensures year-round activity. The refuge's extensive trail system and observation platforms grant intimate access to the marsh edge without disturbing sensitive nesting birds, while the nearby lighthouse and coastal dunes add landscape variety. Morning light transforms the open water into a mirror for backlighting waterfowl and wading birds, and the refuge's minimal light pollution means dawn and dusk—when feeding activity peaks—reward early risers with unforgettable scenes. For those seeking to witness the coordinated dance of migratory populations across two continents in a single, intimate setting, few sanctuaries deliver the reliability and scenic grandeur of this Gulf Coast treasure.

Website fws.gov/refuge/st_marks

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Branta canadensis

Anser caerulescens

Spatula cyanoptera

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Mareca strepera

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Anas platyrhynchos

American Black Duck

Northern Pintail

Aythya valisineria

Aythya americana

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Melanitta perspicillata

Melanitta americana

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Bucephala albeola

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

Oxyura jamaicensis

Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

Meleagris gallopavo

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Chuck-will's-widow

Antrostomus carolinensis

Chaetura pelagica

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Zenaida macroura

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Rallus crepitans

Rallus limicola

Porzana carolina

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Fulica americana

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Antigone canadensis

Aramus guarauna

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Podiceps auritus

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Pluvialis squatarola

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Charadrius vociferus

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Gallinago delicata

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Tringa semipalmata

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Calidris canutus

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Onychoprion fuscatus

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Hydroprogne caspia

Chlidonias niger

Sterna forsteri

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus maximus

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

Leucophaeus atricilla

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Larus glaucoides

Red-throated Loon

Mycteria americana

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Anhinga anhinga

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Plegadis falcinellus

White-faced Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Egretta rufescens

Butorides virescens

Great Blue Heron

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Pelecanus occidentalis

Coragyps atratus

Pandion haliaetus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

American Barn Owl

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus borealis

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Sayornis phoebe

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Tyrannus dominicensis

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Vireo olivaceus

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitarius

White-eyed Vireo

Cyanocitta cristata

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Corvus ossifragus

Bombycilla cedrorum

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

Riparia riparia

Tachycineta bicolor

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Hirundo rustica

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa

Cistothorus palustris

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Dumetella carolinensis

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Toxostoma rufum

Eastern Bluebird

Hylocichla mustelina

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Catharus guttatus

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

Catharus fuscescens

Turdus migratorius

Anthus rubescens

Haemorhous mexicanus

American Goldfinch

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallida

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Pooecetes gramineus

Seaside Sparrow

Ammospiza maritima

Nelson's Sparrow

Ammospiza nelsoni

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Ammospiza caudacuta

Henslow's Sparrow

Centronyx henslowii

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

Melospiza melodia

Melospiza georgiana

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Icterus spurius

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Molothrus bonariensis

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Brown-headed Cowbird

Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinus

Brewer's Blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Quiscalus quiscula

Boat-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major

Seiurus aurocapilla

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Orange-crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis celata

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

Setophaga citrina

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Cape May Warbler

Setophaga tigrina

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescens

Setophaga palmarum

Setophaga pinus

Setophaga coronata

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Prairie Warbler

Setophaga discolor

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Spiza americana

Passerina caerulea

Passerina cyanea

Anser cygnoides

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Cygnus columbianus

Cairina moschata

White-winged Scoter

Melanitta deglandi

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Antrostomus vociferus

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Amazilia yucatanensis

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Coturnicops noveboracensis

Charadrius melodus

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Long-billed Curlew

Numenius americanus

Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

American Woodcock

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Calidris subruficollis

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Sternula antillarum

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Great Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Great Shearwater

Northern Gannet

Sula leucogaster

Aquila chrysaetos

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Short-eared Owl

Eastern Screech Owl

Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Myiopsitta monachus

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Hammond's Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

Black-whiskered Vireo

Vireo altiloquus

Eastern Warbling Vireo

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Petrochelidon fulva

Troglodytes hiemalis

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis

Certhia americana

Oreoscoptes montanus

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Passer domesticus

Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Haemorhous purpureus

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Bachman's Sparrow

Peucaea aestivalis

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

Chondestes grammacus

Calamospiza melanocorys

Red Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca

Dark-eyed Junco

LeConte's Sparrow

Ammospiza leconteii

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Yellow-breasted Chat

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera

Swainson's Warbler

Limnothlypis swainsonii

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Cardellina canadensis

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Laterallus jamaicensis

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

West Indian Manatee

Trichechus manatus

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Mexican Long-nosed Armadillo

Dasypus mexicanus

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

Sylvilagus palustris

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Hispid Cotton Rat

Sigmodon hispidus

North American River Otter

Lontra canadensis

Northern Raccoon

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Northern Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Eurasian Wild Pig

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