The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in Florida This Week

Q: What rare birds are in Florida this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Miami, then the whole state. Each species is checked against five years of confirmed sightings, and the most unusual come first.

Q: How many bird species are seen in Florida?

560 bird species in 910,929 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 78 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the state, so a new one of them is news.

Q: What counts as rare in Florida?

Near Miami or your own ZIP, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings within 25 miles in five years, or one that is seen there but almost never in these weeks of the year. On the statewide list, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings anywhere in Florida.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in Florida?

The Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee. From its page: “Review species should be documented when detected in Florida and submitted to the FOSRC for review.”

Q: How do I see rare birds near me in Florida?

Enter your ZIP on the rare bird alert for a list around your own spot, and check it each week in spring and fall migration, when most strays turn up. Each bird links to its iNaturalist species page with photographs and a range map.

Q: Are needs ID sightings included?

Yes, for this week only, because confirmation takes days and a rare bird may be gone by then. The five year record the week is checked against counts research grade sightings only.

Florida logged 910,929 confirmed bird sightings across 560 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 78 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Miami covers 25 miles around the city. The Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Miami

Rare birds near Miami this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Miami in the last seven days, with the ones that are rare there, out of season or uncommon first and the reason for each.

Reading this week's bird sightings within 25 miles of Miami from iNaturalist.

Somewhere else in Florida? Enter your ZIP for the circle around it.

Florida birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

910,929

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

560

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in Florida

Species seen 3 times or fewer

14 percent of the state list, the birds that make news

25 mi

Live circle

around Miami, or any ZIP you enter

Counted from iNaturalist’s research grade bird records in Florida from October 9, 2021 to October 1, 2026, read October 9, 2026.

Across Florida

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in Florida in the last seven days, checked against the state’s own five year record: Rare here means 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the whole state.

Reading this week's bird sightings across Florida from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in Florida

560 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in Florida over five years, and 78 of them were confirmed 3 times or fewer. A sighting of one of those is the kind a state records committee reviews before it joins the official list.

Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in Florida.

“Review species should be documented when detected in Florida and submitted to the FOSRC for review.”

Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee, read October 9, 2026.

Nine birders and photographers on a wooden boardwalk over a marsh, with long lenses, a spotting scope and binoculars all pointed to the left, under spring trees — Birders and photographers setting up on an overlook. Word of an unusual bird travels this way: one person posts a photograph, and the people nearby go and look. “Birdwatchers stop to set up equipment at overlook”, Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain

Florida rare bird questions

What rare birds are in Florida this week?

How many bird species are seen in Florida?

What counts as rare in Florida?

Who confirms rare bird records in Florida?

How do I see rare birds near me in Florida?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for Florida birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.Florida fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.Florida hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.Florida sandhill crane migrationWhere the cranes stage and when.Florida winter birdsWhat comes to the feeder when it snows.Florida duck migrationWhen the ducks come through.

Rare birds in other states

Sightings and records from iNaturalist, read live for this week. The lists are built from counts per species, and each bird links to its species page. For your own spot, enter a ZIP on the rare bird alert.