Articles & Destinations

Snowy egret

Sometimes mistaken for other white wading birds in Florida, the snowy egret has distinctive yellow feet and a black bill.

An unusual-looking Florida raptor, the crested caracara is Mexico’s national bird. They are members of the falcon family, but their heads look very parrot-like—a red face and a thick curved bill offset their black-and-white plumage.

Great egret

The largest of the white-colored wading birds in Florida, the great egret is frequently seen in wetlands areas and along waterways.

Great blue heron

A distinctive sight along Florida’s waterways, the great blue heron is the tallest of the blue-hued wading birds you’ll see hunting along the shorelines.

Golden orb spider

Especially in fall, you'll encounter these massive spiders stringing sticky yellow webs everywhere - including right across the hiking trails.

Florida cooter

The most common turtle you’ll see basking on logs along rivers and lakes, the Florida cooter is one of Florida’s largest freshwater turtles, up to a foot long or more.

Gray Nickerbean

Flowering mounds of gray nickerbean are found along the tropical coastal habitats of Florida. The beans float away with the tide and are polished by the waves, appearing as "sea beans" on other shores.

Cabbage Palm

The state tree of Florida, the cabbage palm (also called sabal palm) is an iconic symbol found in almost every habitat in Florida, although it is less frequently seen in upland areas.

Dog Fennel

Eupatorium capillifolium

Bald Cypress

A giant among trees, the bald cypress is an imposing sight. Unlike its relative the pond cypress, it prefers growing along water in motion, such as rivers, streams, and sluggish swamps.

Saltwort

The thick succulent leaves of saltwort are commonly seen along coastal fringes and mangrove forests. Used as a medicinal herb and as a tea, saltwort is thought to relieve asthma, constipation, and gout

Red Maple

Also known as the swamp maple, the red maple is one of the more common large trees found in Florida's floodplain forests. It's by far the most colorful, too, sporting bright crimson leaves in late fall and early winter.