Last updated on October 7th, 2022 at 03:57 pm
The Phoenicopterus ruber is one of the six species of flamingos found in the world. This large pink wading bird’s common name is Caribbean flamingo, but the species is also known as American flamingo, which might be found in Florida.
Flamingos are found in Florida, both as captives and migrating in the wild. The American flamingo is considered a native to Florida, and the species is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. But the American flamingo isn’t an endangered or threatened species.
Where Flamingos Are Found in Florida
Flamingos are a migratory species.
Historically, the birds migrated to Florida from the Bahamas, but rampant hunting almost led to the species extinction in the United States.
There were very few flamingos in Florida by the early 1900s, which prompted initiatives to import and conserve the species in captivity.
A successful example of such efforts is the Hialeah Park sanctuary.
However, flamingos weren’t solely migratory in Florida, as specimens of eggs collected from the state in the 1800s indicate that the species nested and bred here.
Yet, the bird wasn’t classified as a native species in Florida until recently.
Both captive and wild flamingos are currently found in Florida.
Those in captivity are a breeding species, such as the flocks in Hialeah Park’s infield lake and racetrack.
The flamingos in zoos and conservatories are year-round residents, of course, but the wild flamingos are migratory.
The migratory American flamingos found in Florida breed in various regions, including:
- Cuba
- Mexico
- The Bahamas
The Caribbean flamingo also breeds in:
- Bonaire
- Ecuador
- Galapagos Islands
- Venezuela
- Virgin Islands
Most of the flamingos found in Florida are in the following places:
- Biscayne National Park
- Everglades National Park
- Florida Bay
- Florida Keys
- Hialeah Park Casino and Racetrack
- Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
Migrating or wild flamingos have been spotted in many parts of Florida, including:
- Big Torch Key
- Calusa Keys
- Cape Canaveral
- Fort Myers
- The Panhandle
The American flamingo is a social wading bird, so they usually congregate in large groups. But, a pair or a solitary flamingo in the wild isn’t rare.
Some of the largest flocks of flamingos reportedly found in Florida in recent years were in the following regions:
- Biscayne Bay
- Florida Bay
- Florida Turnpike
- Garfield Bight
- Matheson Hammock Channel
- NW 74th, Miami
- Palm Beach County (Stormwater Treatment Area 2)
- Rural Palm Beach County (Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4)
- Snake Bight
- Soldier Key
Observed sightings, including citizens’ reports and analyses of different contemporary trends, suggest that the number of American flamingos found in Florida has been on a steady rise over the past seven decades.
When Are Flamingos Found in Florida?
When flamingos are found in Florida depends on where you are or intend to see them.
If you decide to visit the Everglades National Park, you should go to the Flamingo Visitor Center of the park within its hours of operation on specific dates:
- May 1, 2022, to October 30, 2022: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Wednesday through Sunday
- November 2, 2022, to April 30, 2023: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Weekdays and Weekends
- Selected Mondays: May 30, June 20, July 4, September 5, and October 10, 2022
If you want to see flamingos at any time of the year, your best bet is the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory.
The enclosed conservatory is open daily throughout the year, and its normal hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
However, you can’t visit at any time of the day if you wish to interact with the flamingos, Rhett and Scarlett.
The conservatory allows only 6 visitors per day for a meet and greet session with the celebrity flamingos from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Also, guests must attend the orientation before entering the Flamingle to take photos with Scarlett and Rhett.
If you want to spot flamingos in the wild, the best times are when the gorgeous birds migrate to one of the havens.
You can go to the Biscayne National Park, where dozens of bird species enthrall visitors, including the American flamingo.
The observed trends over the last decade suggest that flamingos are found in Florida during the following times every year:
- Approx. 110 days in the spring: March to May
- Around 30 days in the summer: June and July
- 15 days in autumn or fall: October and November
- Almost 100 days in winter: December to February
This multiseason presence of around 250 days a year implies that Florida is a natural habitat for the American flamingo.
The century-old evidence further bolsters that the species used to nest and breed in the state.
You don’t need special equipment, such as binoculars, to spot flamingos in the wild unless you are too far from these large, unmistakable birds.
However, you should have the appropriate gear if you wish to photograph the 5-feet tall flamingos wading around in Florida.
If you have a Canon camera, something like this Gosky 20-60×80 Spotting Scope with Tripod is a suitable tool.
Not only to conveniently watch flamingos but also to capture the finest pictures.
This spotting scope has an SLR mount compatible with Canon cameras.
Check also our article on tripods that are tall enough for spotting scopes.
How Many Flamingos Are Found in Florida?
As per the latest assessment of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global population of the Caribbean or American flamingo is up to 205,000.
The IUCN report also notes that this population is stable and increasing, including the extant numbers in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) estimates around 1% of the global population of the American flamingo is temporary or year-round residents of the state.
But this number turns out to be around 2,050 using the IUCN’s global population data.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a weekly bar chart documenting observations of various bird species.
The data for observed flamingos in Florida is 2,770, but the population is growing without being fragmented.
This explains why flamingos are of least concern, according to the IUCN.
The increasing population also explains the Cornell Lab’s data being higher than the estimate of the FWC. The FWC’s estimate isn’t as recent as IUCN’s or Cornell’s.