Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park boasts a grand variety of waterfowl including brown pelicans, mallard ducks, wood ducks, ruddy ducks and fulvous whistling tree ducks. These birds are common on waterways throughout the southeast. Wild wood ducks and mallards can also be viewed from the Long River bridge. The park has many birds in its care, most of which have permanent wing injuries. The birds have been divided into the following categories: birds of prey, wading birds and shore birds. Wading Birds and Shore Birds are listed on this page below. For information on Birds of Prey, visit our "Birds of Prey" section.
Wading Birds, Click Here | Shore Birds, Click Here
Photos Below, Click Here.
Wading Birds
Sandhill Crane
Scientific Name: Grus canadensis pratensis
Sandhill cranes are found in wet prairies, marshy lake margins, low-lying improved cattle pastures, sparsely vegetated marshes and shallow flooded open areas throughout southern Georgia and Florida. They generally avoid forests and areas of high human populations.
Wood Stork
Scientific Name: Mycteria americana
These birds are found in cypress swamps, marshes, ponds and lagoons in fresh, brackish and salt water habitats from South Carolina to Florida. In 1984 the Wood Stork was listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Federal Endangered Species Act. It is also listed as endangered by the State of Florida.
American Flamingo
Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus
This bird is found in salt flats and saline lagoons thorughout the West Indies, Yucatan, Galapagos Islands and along the Florida coast. The Flamingo is a well known bird, easily recognized by its long legs and neck and of course their bright pink color.
Roseate Spoonbill
Scientific Name: Ajaia ajaja
These birds can be found from the U.S. gulf states south to Chile and Argentina. They are found in Florida from Charlotte Harbor to Cape Sable throughout coastal marshes, lagoons, mudflats and mangrove keys. Roseate Spoonbills are seen throughout history dating back to crude images found on the walls of Neolithic caves in Spain 6,000 to 8,000 years ago. They are also found in tombs of kings from ancient Egypt in Thebes and carvings from the Han Dynasty.
Shore Birds
Purple gallinule
Scientific Name: Porphtrula martinica
These birds are found in the coastal wetlands from the southeast U.S. to northern South America. This brilliantly colored bird is easily identified by its purple neck and chest. The plumage fades to green over the wings and tail and a light blue shield covers the forehead with a red beak tipped in yellow. This bird also has extremely large feet which allow them to walk along pond lillies and other aquatic vegitation.
Other Shorebirds
The ruddy turnstone, black-necked stilt, sanderling and black-bellied plover are all shore birds as well. With the exception of the black-necked stilt, they are quite similar in appearance. All of these birds prefer wetlands such as marshes and tidal flats and are often seen running up and down the beaches of the east coast. Some recent surveys have shown a decline in many migratory shorebirds including the sanderling, ruddy turnstone and black-bellied plover.
Below are some photographs of the various Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park waterfowl.
The small photographs below are for your selection of larger photos. When you click on one of the photographs below, you will view a larger, more detailed photograph of the picture you clicked on. |
