There are several species of black-and-white birds found in Florida that have red heads. The most common of these are the wood stork, the red-headed woodpecker, and the black skimmer. These striking birds stand out with their distinctive plumage patterns of black and white contrasting with vibrant red heads.
In the opening paragraphs, it’s important to provide quick answers to the question asked. So to directly answer – the black-and-white birds found in Florida with red heads are:
- Wood stork
- Red-headed woodpecker
- Black skimmer
Below we will go into more detail on each of these species, including their scientific names, physical descriptions, ranges, habitat, diet and behavior. This article will also look at the conservation status of these birds and some of the threats they face in Florida.
Wood Stork
The wood stork (Mycteria americana) is a large wading bird that is found from the southeastern United States down through Central and South America. It has a distinctive appearance with a bald, black head and a long, thick, slightly downward curving bill that is a dark grayish color.
Description
Wood storks stand around 33-47 inches tall, with a wingspan in the range of 60-65 inches. Their plumage is mostly white, with black flight feathers and tail. As juveniles, they have gray or brownish heads and necks. Adult wood storks have distinctive bright red-orange coloration on their heads that extends down their necks. Their skin is black and rough in texture.
The long legs of the wood stork are dark gray to blackish. Their toes are also blackish with yellowish webbing between them. The eyes are dark brown.
Range and Habitat
In the United States, wood storks are found from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Their range extends through Central America down into South America to Argentina and Brazil.
Wood storks inhabit both freshwater and saline wetland habitats like marshes, swamps, lagoons, ponds, flooded fields and ditches. They nest colonially in flooded forests, mangrove swamps or cypress domes.
Diet
These large wading birds forage mainly on small fish such as sunfish, shad and catfish. They also consume insects, amphibians, reptiles, small birds and mammals.
Wood storks feed in a distinctive manner, using their sense of touch to find prey in the water. They open and close their beaks rapidly, stirring up water to alert fish which can be captured by their specialized bill shape.
Breeding
Wood storks build nests high up in trees near water. Their nests are large platforms constructed from sticks lined with moss, leaves and litter.
Breeding takes place from late winter into summer. Females lay around 3-5 eggs that hatch after an incubation period of 30-35 days. Both parents share brooding and feeding duties for the young. Chicks leave the nest at around 60 days old but continue to be fed by the parents for some time after.
Conservation Status
Wood storks declined significantly in Florida and elsewhere in the southeastern U.S. due to loss of wetland habitat. Their populations rebounded after they gained legal protection with the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1984. Though recently upgraded to Threatened status in 2014, wood storks still face threats from wetlands destruction and degradation in Florida.
Red-Headed Woodpecker
The red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a medium-sized woodpecker marked by a striking solid red head and neck. They are residents year-round in Florida.
Description
These woodpeckers reach 9-11 inches in length and have a wingspan of around 17 inches. Adults have black backs and tails, with large white patches on their wings and bellies. Their plumage pattern gives them a bold black and white appearance.
As their name denotes, adult red-headed woodpeckers sport vibrant solid red heads, necks and throats. The bill, eyes and feet are also black. Juveniles initially have gray heads that gradually take on more red in their first fall and winter.
Range and Habitat
Red-headed woodpeckers are found throughout the eastern half of the United States, west to the Great Plains. Their range extends from southern Canada to Florida and the Gulf Coast in the south.
These birds inhabit open woodlands, forest edges, river groves, swamps, orchards, parks and rural areas. They nest in tree cavities excavated in dead trees or branches. Red-headed woodpeckers are frequently seen perched conspicuously at the top of bare branches or utility poles.
Diet
The diet of the red-headed woodpecker consists mainly of insects like beetle larvae, ants, wasps and bees. They also eat fruits, berries, seeds and nuts. These woodpeckers forage primarily by gleaning and probing on tree trunks and branches as well as flying out to capture aerial insects.
Red-headed woodpeckers are known to cache food like nuts and seeds in the crevices of tree bark for later retrieval. They will also take advantage of bird feeders for suet, seed mixes and even hummingbird nectar.
Breeding
In Florida, nesting activity for red-headed woodpeckers takes place between March and June. They excavate a new nest cavity each year, usually in a dead or diseased tree. The nest is located 10-60 feet high up on a trunk or branch.
Females lay 4-5 white eggs and incubate them for 12-13 days. Both parents care for the young, which leave the nest after about 26-31 days. Red-headed woodpeckers will commonly double brood, raising 2 clutches in one breeding season.
Conservation Status
With declining populations tied to loss of habitat and competition for nest cavities, red-headed woodpeckers are considered Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Maintaining dead trees and snags with potential nesting sites can help provide habitat for these woodpeckers.
Black Skimmer
The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a tern-like waterbird with unique physical adaptations that allow it to skim the water’s surface with its bill open to catch fish. They are a locally abundant species along Florida’s coastlines.
Description
Black skimmers have blackish plumage on their heads and backs with white undersides. Their wings have white stripes and black tips. As juveniles they are browner with some speckling.
These birds have black legs and a stout red and black bill. The black skimmer’s lower mandible is longer than the upper, giving their bill a unique uneven shape. Their eyes are also red. They have a wingspan of around 45 inches.
Range and Habitat
In the U.S., black skimmers are found along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts. They breed from New Jersey to Florida, Texas and California.
Black skimmers nest on open beaches or islands, often in mixed colonies with terns. They forage for fish in shallow coastal waters including estuaries, bays, harbors and river mouths.
Diet
Fish make up the majority of the black skimmer’s diet. They enjoy small fish like anchovies, silversides and killifish. They forage uniquely by skimming along just above the water with their lower mandible in the water to snap up prey. They may also occasionally eat shrimp and other small invertebrates.
Breeding
In Florida, breeding takes place from April through August. Black skimmers nest in small scrapes or depressions directly on sandy beaches, gravel bars or shell islands. Females lay about 3 eggs which are incubated by both parents for around 23 days. The precocial chicks can walk and swim soon after hatching. They are fed by the parents until they can fly after about 4 weeks.
Conservation Status
The black skimmer has a large range but declining populations in parts of that range. Habitat loss and degradation are major threats. They are considered a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List but a species of Special Concern in Florida due to threats to beach nesting habitat. Protection of breeding areas is important for conservation of black skimmer populations.
Observing Black and White Red-Headed Birds in Florida
The best places to look for these uniquely patterned birds in Florida include:
- Freshwater marshes – Look for wood storks feeding in wetlands across central and south Florida.
- Everglades National Park – All three species can be found in protected wetlands.
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge – Home to wood stork colonies and wintering black skimmers.
- Dead trees or snags – Scan for red-headed woodpeckers in open woods statewide.
- Beaches – Black skimmers and wood storks feed along coasts.
Some key sites and birding festivals featuring these species include:
- Wakodahatchee Wetlands – A man-made wetland where wood storks regularly feed.
- St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge – Contains coastal habitat for black skimmers.
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park – Open wetlands where wood storks may be seen.
- Florida Birding & Nature Festivals – Many of these celebrate wood storks and other wetland species.
The winter and early spring are ideal times to observe the striking plumage of these red-headed black and white birds feeding and nesting in Florida.
Major Threats Facing Black and White Red-Headed Birds in Florida
Though the wood stork, red-headed woodpecker, and black skimmer have different habitat needs and behaviors, they face some of the same key threats in Florida:
Wetland Drainage
– Destruction of freshwater marshes, swamps and wetlands removes vital feeding and nesting areas for wood storks. More than 50% of Florida’s original wetlands have been drained and converted.
Coastal Development
– Beach renourishment, recreational use, vegetation planting and development encroach on the shoreline habitat required by nesting black skimmers.
Loss of Dead Trees
– Red-headed woodpeckers need open woods with dead snags for nesting and feeding. Removal of dead trees and modern forestry practices reduce habitat.
Pesticides
– Chemicals sprayed to control mosquitoes and other insects may accumulate in prey eaten by wood storks and red-headed woodpeckers.
Disturbance of Colonies
– Wood stork and black skimmer colonies are highly sensitive to disturbance which may lead birds to abandon nests. Monitoring and protection is important during breeding season.
Climate Change
– Rising sea levels will impact important coastal nesting areas. Altered rainfall and water cycles threaten inland wetland habitats.
Species | Major Threats in Florida |
---|---|
Wood Stork | Wetland drainage, climate change, colony disturbance, pesticides |
Red-Headed Woodpecker | Loss of dead trees, pesticides |
Black Skimmer | Coastal development, disturbance of colonies, climate change |
Conservation Efforts to Protect Red-Headed Black and White Birds
A number of conservation actions help protect these unique red-headed black and white birds by preserving key habitats in Florida:
Wetlands Restoration
– Conservation groups work to restore drained wetlands, benefiting wood storks.
Protected Areas
– Parks, wildlife refuges and reserves safeguard wood stork colonies and coastal nesting grounds.
Nesting Area Stewardship
– Careful monitoring and management maintains undisturbed nesting colonies.
Reducing Disturbance
– Closures, barriers and education minimize human impacts to sensitive nesting sites.
Sustainable Forestry
– Selective logging and prescribed burning maintains dead trees needed by red-headed woodpeckers.
Habitat Improvement
– Planting native vegetation stabilizes beaches and provides nesting structure for black skimmers.
Monitoring & Research
– Tracking populations identifies threats and guides effective conservation actions over time.
Community Involvement
– Engaging the public through birding events fosters appreciation and support for conservation.
Conclusion
Florida is home to three visually striking bird species marked by black and white plumage with bright red heads – the wood stork, red-headed woodpecker and black skimmer. These interesting birds face a range of threats related to habitat loss in both coastal and inland wetland areas. A variety of conservation measures focused on ecosystem restoration, protected areas, stewardship practices, and community education and engagement can help ensure the future of these unique species in Florida and beyond. Increased public awareness and participation in bird monitoring and conservation initiatives plays an important role in protecting these red-headed black and white birds into the future.