
Males have long, dark brown fanned tails with rusty or chestnut tips. They have snoods (a fleshy flap on the bill) that expand, elongate, and change color depending on their emotions, like when they’re excited or threatened. They have red wattles hanging from their necks and throats. Their bodies look spherical and plump when they’re puffed and preening.Īdult male Wild Turkeys have small, bald, red-and-blue heads with fleshy growths called caruncles. Wild Turkeys are the ancestors of domesticated turkeys and the heaviest among Galliformes. Wild Turkeys are found in Florida all year and are spotted in 2% of summer and winter checklists. They are both territorial and aggressive when it comes to protecting their nesting area. When nesting, there is always one adult that stays with the nest. With their long necks, they are able to reach plants in deeper water, even going as far as tipping, like a dabbling duck, to get at their food.įun Fact: Trumpeter Swans generally mate for life. In water, Trumpeter Swans usually eat aquatic plants and vegetation, which they can reach with their bills underwater. They are sometimes seen on agricultural fields, too. They breed in open areas near shallow waters. You can find Trumpeter Swans in marshes, lakes, and rivers with dense vegetation. Juvenile Trumpeter Swans are mostly dusky-gray, with a pink center on their black bills. Their heads and neck may occasionally show some rust-brown coloring because of their contact with iron elements in wetland soils.
BIGGEST WINGSPAN BIRD PATCH
There is a black patch on their face, seemingly connecting their eyes to their bills. Trumpeter Swan adults are entirely white except for their black bills, legs, and feet. It is also recognized as the heaviest flying bird in the world. The Trumpeter Swan has the distinction of being the longest and heaviest living bird native to North America. Trumpeter Swans are considered rare or accidental species in Florida, but they were recently spotted around Lake Eola Park, Broward, and Palm Beach in 2022. They will hiss as a warning and will immediately chase and attack the predator if the warning is ignored.

They may also forage for food on land, feeding on grass and agricultural crops.įun Fact: Adult swans are highly protective of their young and will aggressively defend them when they sense danger or threats. They forage for underwater vegetation, and this is their staple diet when on water. Mute Swans spend most of their time floating on water.

You may also find them on shallow wetlands, rivers, and estuaries. You can find numerous Mute Swans in city parks, protected bays, and lakes. Adults look alike, although males are larger than females. They are entirely white, with long, graceful necks, orange bills with a large, black basal knob, black around the base of the bill, and black legs.

They cause problems for native wildlife and can be aggressive. They are non-native and were introduced to grace ornamental lakes and ponds but now have escaped into the wild and bred. Mute Swans are one of the largest and heaviest flying birds.

However, some can also be spotted in the state all year. Mute Swans are non-native species in Florida that can be spotted mainly from November to mid-February. Largest Birds In Florida By Wingspan 23 Large Birds In Florida: 1.
