Park guide · Florida
Best time to visit the EvergladesWhen to catch northbound songbirds and shorebirds at Flamingo and winter birding at Flamingo
At Flamingo in the Everglades, December through March is the best time for birding, with few mosquitoes. Most northbound songbirds and shorebirds pass through in April and May, and summer is best for hard-to-find residents like the Mangrove Cuckoo.
Checked against 3 official sources · How we check →
About the Everglades
- What it is
- A national park in Florida
- Before you go
Year-round(3 tips)
- Tours: An hour-and-a-half boat tour, or a rented canoe or kayak, can give excellent views of seabirds you can't reach by land.
- Trails: At Flamingo, the one-mile Guy Bradley Trail follows the bay shoreline and the Eco Pond Trail is a half-mile loop with coastal prairie views.
- Access: The Guy Bradley Trail, Flamingo Visitor Center and campground are wheelchair and stroller accessible; pets aren't allowed on walking trails, except service animals.
Winter birding at Flamingo · December through March(1 tip)
- Bugs: In summer, bring bug spray, long sleeves and a bug jacket; some areas may call for a full head net.
Northbound songbirds and shorebirds at Flamingo · in April and May(1 tip)
- Photography: Resident prairie warblers forage on the Guy Bradley Trail alongside other warblers and vireos stopping over on their flights north.
Sources (1)
RIGHT NOW · OCT 4
- Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
- This weekend (NWS)Sat chance showers and thunderstorms, 86°F · Sun mostly sunny, 87°F
- Park alerts2 current NPS alerts: Current Alerts and Conditions
When are you going?
Fall at the Everglades
Next peak here after fall
Winter at the Everglades
Next peak here after winter
Spring at the Everglades
Summer at the Everglades
Next peak here after summer
Month by month
| Month | What to see | |
|---|---|---|
| January–February | ||
| March | ||
| April–May | ||
| June–August | ||
| December | ||
Where to go at the Everglades
Visitor points on this map: Guy Bradley Visitor Center (at Flamingo) (0 mi) · Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (27.6 mi)
What you'll see here
Best spots
Guy Bradley Trail
Best spot
Resident prairie warblers forage here alongside other warblers and vireos stopping over on their way north; a one-mile accessible trail from the visitor center to the campground
Good for: Northbound songbirds and shorebirds at Flamingo · Winter birding at FlamingoNational Park Service ↗
Flamingo boat tour
Best spot
An hour-and-a-half boat tour, or a rented canoe or kayak, reaches coastal areas you can't walk to
Good for: Northbound songbirds and shorebirds at FlamingoNational Park Service ↗
Eco Pond Trail
Best spot
A mowed-grass half-mile loop around Eco Pond, with coastal prairie views
Good for: Winter birding at FlamingoNational Park Service ↗
Next 7 days at the Everglades
- TodayMostly Sunny87° / 77°10% rain
- MonMostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms87° / 76°23% rain
- TueMostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms86° / 78°26% rain
- WedChance Showers And Thunderstorms85° / 77°46% rain
- ThuChance Showers And Thunderstorms85° / 77°47% rain
- FriChance Showers And Thunderstorms86° / 78°27% rain
- SatChance Showers And Thunderstorms86° / –32% rain
Heads up: Park closure: Current Alerts and Conditions.
Today: sunrise 7:18 a.m., sunset 7:09 p.m., light until 7:31 p.m. · moon waning crescent, 33% lit (our calculation)
Plan your visit
Entrance
Every visitor pays an entrance fee: $35 for a private vehicle, good for 7 consecutive days at all park entrances. The park doesn't accept cash.
Official page ↗Boat tours
No reservation is needed to go birding at Flamingo, but booking a boat tour ahead is recommended, especially in the busy winter months.
Official page ↗Things to do
- Guy Bradley Visitor CenterFlamingo's visitor center, open year-round, with displays, brochures and a bookstore; the campground, boat ramp, marina store and hiking and canoe trails are close by.
- Flamingo boat tour, canoe or kayakAn hour-and-a-half boat tour, or a rented canoe or kayak, reaches coastal areas you can't get to by land, with good views of seabirds.
- Bear Lake Road and TrailRent a bicycle at Flamingo to reach the Bear Lake Road and Trail, next to the bridge at the Flamingo entrance.
Around the Everglades
Next season here: Winter birding at Flamingo, December through March, at one spot.
Towns nearby
- Homestead, FL · 37 miFrost is rare
- Boca Raton, FL · 99 miFrost is rare
- West Palm Beach, FL · 121 miFrost is rare
- Cape Coral, FL · 123 miFrost is rare
First frost: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at each town's nearest station; where the usual first and last frosts fall within two weeks of each other, frost is rare.
Questions people ask
When is the best birding season in the Everglades?
At Flamingo, December through March, when mosquitoes are low. Birds are active there all year, and most northbound songbirds and shorebirds pass through in April and May.Source: National Park Service, Birding at Flamingo ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I see rare birds in the Everglades in summer?
Yes: summer is the best time at Flamingo to look for hard-to-find residents like the Mangrove Cuckoo and Black-whiskered Vireo, which breed in the mangroves. Mosquitoes are at their worst then, so bring bug spray, long sleeves and a bug jacket.Source: National Park Service, Birding at Flamingo ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How much does it cost to enter the Everglades?
$35 for a private vehicle, good for 7 consecutive days at all park entrances. On foot, by bike or by paddlecraft it's $20 per person, and under-16s go free; the park doesn't accept cash.Source: National Park Service, Everglades fees and passes ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How far is Flamingo from the Everglades entrance?
38 miles: Flamingo sits at the very end of the Main Park Road from the Homestead entrance. Look for the pink buildings of the visitor center and marina store.Source: National Park Service, Birding at Flamingo ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What time of day is best for birds at Flamingo in the Everglades?
Early morning for songbirds. Wading birds can be seen all day, but they move with the tides, so check the Flamingo Visitor Center for tide predictions.Source: National Park Service, Birding at Flamingo ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How we know
- Oct 2Park ServiceBirding at FlamingoSource (opens National Park Service, Birding at Flamingo in a new tab)
- Oct 3Park ServiceAll visitors pay an entrance fee; private vehicle $35, good for 7 consecutive days at all park entrances; no cashSource (opens National Park Service, Everglades fees and passes in a new tab)
- Sep 30Park ServiceOfficial NPS record for Everglades National ParkSource (opens National Park Service, Everglades National Park in a new tab)
- National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.