U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
St. Vincent
National Wildlife Refuge
Bird List
photo: Monica Harris
Great Egret
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge includes the 12,300
acre, undeveloped, St. Vincent Island and an 86 acre
mainland tract in Franklin County, Florida, as well as the
45 acre Pig Island in St. Joe Bay, Gulf County, Florida.
The diversity in habitats fosters a diversity of bird
species. The triangular-shaped St. Vincent Island is wider
(four miles) than most other barrier islands in the area.
The nine miles of Gulf beaches are good for observation
of shorebirds, gulls, terns, and fish eating raptors such as
Bald Eagles and Ospreys.
Large expanses of both salt and fresh water marshes and
bayous provide good viewing of many species of water
birds, including divers, waders, shorebirds and ducks.
The interior ridge and swale system provides habitat for
a wide variety of passerines and raptors. The oak ridges
along the Gulf provide excellent habitat for neotropical
migrants. In addition, the refuge represents the western
limit of breeding range for American Oystercatchers,
Scott’s Seaside Sparrows and Boat-tailed Grackles in
Florida.
The seasons bring about marked changes in both species
and abundance of birdlife. Best opportunities for
observing the greatest variety and number of birds occur
during the fall and spring. Waterfowl are most easily seen
on the refuge from mid-November through late
December. Shorebirds are most common during late
spring and early fall.
photo: Monica Harris
Bald Eagle and shorebird nesting areas are posted and
closed to the public. Please honor these signs. Enjoy your
visit!
Willet
photo: Monica Harris
Common Moorhen
Seasonal appearance
SP-Spring:
March - May
S-Summer:
June - August
F -Fall:
September - November
W -Winter:
December - February
Seasonal abundance
a-abundant
A common species which is very
numerous
c-common
Certain to be seen or heard in suitable
habitat
u-uncommon
Present, but not certain to be seen
o-occasional
Seen only a few times during a season
r-rare
Seen at intervals of 2 to 5 years
x-accidental
Generally considered out of species
normal range
*
Has nested on refuge
+
No longer occur on refuge
@
Exotic species not native to the area
SP
F
W
u
r
a
u
u
r
o
r
c
u
o
c
o
u
u
o
c
o
o
o
c
u
c
c
o
o
r
a
u
u
o
u
r
u
u
o
c
o
u
u
o
c
u
u
u
c
u
c
c
o
Gallinaceous birds (Quails, Turkeys, and Allies)
Wild Turkey*
r
r
Northern Bobwhite*
r
r
r
r
r
r
Loons
___Red-Throated Loon
___Common Loon
c
r
u
r
c
Grebes
Pied-billed Grebe*
Horned Grebe
u
u
r
r
o
o
u
u
Gannets, Pelicans, and Allies
Brown Booby
Northern Gannet
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga*
Magnificent Frigatebird
u
u
a
a
c
o
x
r
r
a
c
c
o
o
o
a
a
c
o
u
u
a
a
c
Herons, Egrets, and Allies
American Bittern
Least Bittern*
Great Blue Heron*
o
c
c
r
c
c
o
u
c
o
r
c
Waterfowl
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Wood Duck*
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Mottled Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
r
c
u
u
r
o
c
u
o
c
o
u
u
o
c
u
u
u
c
u
u
c
o
S
c
r
u
r
o
o
SP
F
W
a
a
c
c
o
c
c
c
u
S
x
a
a
c
c
u
c
c
u
u
a
a
c
c
u
c
u
u
r
a
a
c
c
o
r
u
c
r
Ibises, Spoonsbills, and Storks
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis*
Roseate Spoonbill
Wood Stork
u
o
r
u
u
o
r
u
u .u
c o
r
u o
Vultures, Hawks, and Allies
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey*
American Swallow-tailed Kite*
Mississippi Kite
Bald Eagle*
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk*
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk*
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel*
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
o
c
c
u
r
c
u
o
o
c
o
u
r
u
o
r
o
c
c
u
r
u
r
r
r
c
o
u
o
c
u
Rails, Gallinules, Coots and Cranes
Yellow Rail
Black Rail*
Clapper Rail*
King Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Purple Gallinule*
Common Moorhen*
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
r
o
c
u
u
c
o
c
c
r
Shorebirds
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden Plover
Snowy Plover*
Wilson’s Plover*
c
r
u
o
Great White Heron
Great Egret*
Snowy Egret*
Little Blue Heron*
Tricolored Heron*
Reddish Egret
Cattle Egret*
Green Heron*
Black-crowned Night-Heron*
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron*
r
c
u
r
u
a
o
u
u
o
r
c
u
u
u
c
u
c
r
u
o
o
o
c
o
c
u
u
o
c
c
r
u
o
o
r
c
u
u
c
o
a
c
o
o
c
u
u
c
r
o
c
o
c
r
u
o
c
u
r
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Killdeer
American Oystercatcher*
Black-necked Stilt*
American Avocet
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet*
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Baird’s Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Wilson’s Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson’s Phalarope
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Laughing Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Gull-billed Tern*
Caspian Tern*
Royal Tern
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Forster’s Tern
Least Tern*
Sooty Tern
Black Tern
Black Skimmer
Pigeons and Doves
Rock Pigeon*@
Eurasian Collared-Dove*@
White-winged Dove
SP
c
o
u
u
o
o
u
u
o
c
u
o
r
o
c
u
c
u
u
c
o
r
o
c
o
o
u
o
o
r
S
u
r
r
u
o
o
o
o
o
c
u
o
a
u
c
u
r
o
u
c
u
u
c
c
a
r
u
u
c
o
o
c
r
r
r
o
r
o
r
F
c
o
u
u
o
o
u
u
o
a
u
o
r
o
c
u
c
u
c
c
o
W
c
o
u
u
o
u
o
o
o
u
o
r
r
c
r
o
o
a
o
c
u
o
c
o
u
c
c
u
c
c
x
u
u
o
u
c
u
u
c
u
x
o
c
r
o
r
r
o
r
r
o
o
o
o
o
a
o
r
r
r
u
u
c
o
c
r
u
o
o
c
u
c
u
r
u
u
r
r
c
c
r
o
o
Mourning Dove*
Common Ground-Dove*
Cuckoos
Black-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo*
Groove-billed Ani
SP
u
u
S
u
u
F
c
u
W
u
u
r
u
r
u
r
u
r
r
r
u
u
r
Owls
Barn Owl*
Eastern Screech-Owl*
Great Horned Owl*
Barred Owl
r
u
u
r
r
u
u
r
r
u
u
r
Nightjars
Lesser Nighthawk
Common Nighthawk*
Chuck-will’s-widow*
Whip-poor-will
u
c
o
u
c
u
u
o
Swifts and Hummingbirds
Chimney Swift*
Ruby-throated Hummingbird*
u
u
u
o
u
u
Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher
c
u
c
c
Woodpeckers
Red-headed Woodpecker*
Red-bellied Woodpecker*
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker*
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker*
o
c
u
u
r
+
u
u
o
c
u
r
+
o
u
o
c
u
u
r
+
u
u
o
c
u
u
r
+
u
u
u
o
r
u
u
o
u
o
c
r
c
r
c
r
c
r
o
r
c
r
r
r
r
r
Flycatchers
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Vermilion Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher*
Western Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird*
Gray Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Shrikes
Loggerhead Shrike
r
c
u
c
r
r
r
SP
S
F
W
Vireos
White-eyed Vireo*
Blue-headed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo*
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo*
Black-whiskered Vireo
c
u
u
r
c
r
c
u
u
u
c
u
u
c
c
Jays and Crows
Blue Jay*
American Crow
Fish Crow*
u
o
c
u
o
c
u
u
c
u
u
u
Martins and Swallows
Purple Martin*
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow*
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow*
Cave Swallow
Barn Swallow*
u
a
o
o
r
r
c
u
u
o
o
r
o
a
o
o
r
o
a
r
c
c
r
Chickadees and Titmice
Carolina Chickadee*
Tufted Titmouse*
c
u
c
u
c
u
c
u
Nuthatchers
Brown-headed Nuthatch*
u
u
u
u
Creepers
Brown Creeper
r
Wrens
Carolina Wren*
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren*
c
o
u
u
Kinglets and Gnatcatchers
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher*
r
c
c
Bluebirds, Thrushers, and Robins
Eastern Bluebird*
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
u
u
o
o
o
u
a
c
u
c
u
u
c
c
u
u
c
c
r
c
c
r
c
u
u
u
u
u
u
o
c
u
r
r
u
a
SP
S
F
W
Mimicthrushes
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird*
Brown Thrasher*
c
c
u
c
u
a
c
c
c
c
u
Starlings
European Starling*@
o
o
o
o
o
r
u
u
Pipits
American Pipit
Waxwings
Cedar Waxwing
Warblers
Blue-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Northern Parula*
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler*
Pine Warbler*
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler*
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat*
Hooded Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat*
Tanagers
Summer Tanager*
Scarlet Tanager
u
r
r
u
a
o
r
r
u
o
a
o
r
c
a
u
u
r
u
u
o
u
o
o
u
r
c
u
r
u
u
c
o
c
a
o
r
c
a
o
o
r
u
r
r
r
c
u
r
u
u
a
o
o
u
o
a
o
o
u
a
u
u
u
o
u
u
o
u
u
u
r
c
u
r
r
c
o
u
o
a
.
o
a
r
u
o
r
c
r
Sparrows
Eastern Towhee*
Bachman’s Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow*
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Cardinals and Grosbeaks
Northern Cardinal*
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
SP
S
F
W
a
u
u
u
r
r
u
u
a
u
a
o
u
u
c
u
c
u
o
r
u
u
u
c
u
o
o
a
o
u
u
r
r
u
u
r
u
u
c
u
o
o
c
u
c
c
r
c
c
u
u
u
r
Blackbirds, Crackles, Cowbirds, adn Orioles
Bobolink
u
Red-winged Blackbird*
a
Eastern Meadowlark
u
Common Grackle*
c
Boat-tailed Grackle*
a
Shiny Cowbird
r
Brown-headed Cowbird*
c
Orchard Oriole*
c
Baltimore Oriole
r
Finches
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
r
o
r
r
u
u
u
o
a
o
c
a
r
u
u
o
a
u
c
a
c
a
u
c
a
u
o
u
u
r
o
r
o
Ethics for Birdwatching
Take care not to disturb nesting birds, exposing eggs and
young to extreme temperatures and predation.
Disturb wintering wildlife as little as possible,
particularly during critical feeding and resting periods.
They need all of their energy reserves to withstand the
stresses of harsh weather and migration.
Do not litter! Many birds die when they become
entangled in fishing lines, six-pack rings and other trash,
or when they mistake garbage for food.
Sighting Notes
Name of Observer:
Species:
Number:
Location:
Habitat:
Distance to Bird(s):
Date/Time Seen:
Weather:
Other Observers:
Signature:
Address:
NOTES: Description of bird, calls, behavior, optical
equipment, experience, etc.
We appreciate your help in updating our records by
reporting any rare, accidental, unlisted birds, or other
notable observations to the refuge office.
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
P. O. Box 447
Apalachicola, FL 32329-0447
Phone: 850/653 8808
Email: saintvincent@fws.gov
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1 800/344 WILD
August 2006
This list is in accordance with the American
Ornithological Union Checklist as amended. It includes
269 species and was prepared by Robin Rickel Vroegop
and Thomas E. Lewis. We thank reviewers Jack Dozier,
John Murphy, Barbara Stedman, and Richard West.
We dedicate this brochure in memory of Jack Dozier, one of
Florida’s finest birders.
