Native Birds of Florida

Cormorant - Has a body length of 30-35 inches and a wingspan of 50” (dries wings by spreading because it has no oil glands). It feeds by diving & swimming to catch fish. It nests in colonies on rocky islets or trees. It has a lifespan of 25 years.

Osprey * - Has a body length of 21 - 24 inches and a wingspan of 54 - 72 inches. It feeds by hunting 30 - 100 ft. above water, then diving for fish and grabbing prey with feet. It nests on platforms, poles, rocks, in colonies or singularly. It has a lifespan of 35 years.

Brown Pelican - Has a weight of 4 - 6 pounds and a wingspan of 5 - 6 feet. It feeds by diving for small fish near the surface of water, eating 3 - 4 lbs. per day. It nests in mangrove trees surrounded by water; both males and females incubate eggs. The lifespan is 30 years, if not in contact with humans

Great Blue Heron * - Has a body length of 39 - 52 inches and a wingspan of 7 feet. It feeds at the water’s edge or in shallow water for fish, frogs, lizards or insects. It nests in colonies or singularly on the ground, ledges or in trees. It has a lifespan of 20 years.

Great White Egret - Stands about 33 - 40 inches tall. It feeds at water’s edge for fish, frogs, water snakes, and insects. It nests in trees, ledges about 20 - 40 feet above ground, near marshes, lakes, and wooded swamps.

Roseate Spoonbill * - Has a body length of 26 - 31 inches. It feeds at the water’s edge for small water creatures

Presented as a public service by Pelican Mans Bird Sanctuary, 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota • 941-388-4444, Photos by Alice Mayo Shaw, Compiled by Karen Bigner.crustaceans, insects, larvae, and small fish. It nests in colonies near marshy terrain, with plenty of aquatic vegetation. It has a lifespan of 20 years.