Evergrene Club, Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Evergrene Club, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Birds of Evergrene

Evergrene takes great pride in having so many different species of birds living within the community and sharing in its green Audubon environment. There are 107 species of backyard birds and water birds in Evergrene, an impressive amount for a single neighborhood. The birds of Evergrene live the good life here, swimming and fishing, singing, and dancing, building homes, and raising youngsters. Evergrene maintains a habitat of wooded preserves and quiet lakes and ponds and offers the perfect environment for its wildlife. Pictures of every species are not yet included here but check out the 75 different species that our residents have taken pictures of on their own or in our special Bird Watching Classes. Photographers are given credit underneath each image, and Greg Braun, Evergrene’s Sustainable Ecologist, wrote each bird fact and description. Here is a list of all the bird species that have been documented in Evergrene. Photos of the highlighted birds are included here, and those not highlighted have not yet been photographed! Residents who would like to, may share their pictures of birds taken at Evergrene, by sending them over to [email protected] to have them added to the website!

Water & Wetland Birds

American Coot

Mostly seen on the lake, but they may be found in other open-water areas, where they are often seen foraging on aquatic plants. Noisy, chicken-like swimmer, but not a duck. Known by its white bill. Excellent diver, awkward flier. An omnivore but will steal meals from other birds. Lives in flocks. Migratory. Males are pugnacious and territorial.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Anhinga Male

Males have a showy black-&-white back, and turquoise eye make-up during the mating season. Often seen perching with its wings spread out to dry. Finds its food in the water, actively stalking fish, and spearing them with a long sharp bill.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Anhinga Female

Females appear similar to the males but have brown feathers on their heads and necks.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

A relatively uncommon, new-comer to Evergrene, whistling ducks get their name from the characteristic call that is made while in flight, most often in the evenings as they fly to overnight roots. A large duck with a bright red-orange bill.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Brown Pelican

Brown pelicans are large, stocky seabirds with thin necks and very long bills. They soar above the water looking for prey. When they spot a fish, they dive down. As they hit the water’s surface, the impact of their large bodies stuns the fish, which they scoop up in their expandable throat pouches. Brown pelicans are year-round residents in Florida, but they are more often seen in coastal salt-water areas than in fresh waters. When not foraging for food, pelicans stand near the water, such as on the pier at Lake Dorothy.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Cattle Egret

Unlike other egrets that are wetland wading birds, the all-white cattle egrets forage for lizards, grasshoppers and other prey in open, upland areas. Having gotten their name due to their habitat of following cattle to catch the prey that become visible as cattle graze, in highly urbanized south Florida, they are now more well-known for following along behind lawn mowers!
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Double-Crested Cormorant

The Canada geese decoys in the lake provide areas to perch for several species, including this Double-Crested Cormorant. Somewhat similar in appearance to the male Anhinga, a close look will differentiate the two – Cormorants have a down-turned hook at the end of their beak, while the Anhinga’s beak is straight.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Glossy Ibis

The long, sturdy, down-curved bill of the glossy ibis is the perfect tool for probing into wetland soils for crabs, crayfish, and other aquatic organisms.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Great Blue Heron

Stately Great Blue Herons are frequently observed along the shoreline of Evergrene’s wetlands. They are year-round residents here, but so far, no evidence of nesting has been found. They are as tall as 4 feet, with a 6-foot wingspan. Grayish blue, a plume of black above the eyes. S-shaped neck. Expert fishers but will strike like lightening to grab a mouse or frog.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Great Egret

Great Egrets are one of several species of white herons and egrets that are most often seen silently stalking for aquatic prey along the shorelines of Evergrene’s lakes, ponds, and canals. The snow-white plumage is the same in both males and females. Tall, white and dazzling. Yellow bill, black stick-like legs. Once hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Green Heron

Uncommon year-round resident. Often secretive. Stealthy hunter.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Least Bittern

One of our smallest, and most secretive wading birds, least bitterns are mostly tawny brown. Their habitat is emergent shoreline vegetation, where they search for aquatic prey among plant stalks.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Least Tern

Migrant that spends the summers in Florida. Typically arrives in March from southerly latitudes, nests April-July on the ground – on mostly-barren sandy patches, but may nest on flat roof-tops when natural habitats are not available or suitable, then returns south by Fall.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Lesser Scaup

The striking black, gray and white plumage of adult male lesser scaup distinguish them from the more pervasive brown plumage of most of our other ducks. Preferring large bodies of open water, at Evergrene, individuals of this migratory species are most often observed in the Lake from fall through spring, after which they migrate north to nesting sites across Canada to Alaska.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Limpkin

Dark brown feathers flecked with white. Primarily eats apple snails. Population in Florida has been increasing in recent years. Once over-hunted, now protected. Piercing cries, primarily at dawn and dusk, but also in the middle of the night during the spring-time courtship & nesting season.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Little Blue Heron

Our only small, all bluish-gray wading bird. Year-round resident. Beak and face also turn blue during the summer-time breeding season. Males undistinguishable from females. Young little blue herons are snowy white until 2-3 years of age. Occasionally seen splotched with white, blue and gray during molt to adult plumage.
-Photographed by Joyce Soucy

Moorhen

Year-round residents at Evergrene, moorhens’ nest in the late spring and early summer in the dense emergent vegetation along wetland and lake shores. Also called the Common Gallinule, Florida Gallinule, and swamp chicken. Duck-like with a red forehead and yellow-tipped bill. Long legs and toes, often seen on lily pads. A better swimmer than flier.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Mottled Duck

Evergene’s most common duck. Typically seen in family groups of 2 to 10 individuals. Non-migratory, often called the Florida duck. A close relative of the Mallard threatened by crossbreeding with them. Urbanization and draining of wetlands have reduced their available habitat.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Pied-Billed Grebe

Small, black, white and gray, duck-like birds that appear to have no tail. Often dive underwater searching for prey of crustaceans and small fish.
-Photographed by Joyce Soucy

Ring-Billed Gulls

Often seen gathering on the deck near the Clubhouse, these gulls get their name from the dark ring around their otherwise yellow-colored bill. They migrate here from fall through spring.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Ring-necked Duck

Closely related to Scaup, small rafts of these migratory waterfowl are also occasionally seen on Lake Dorothy during the winter. They are best differentiated from scaup by the white ring around the bill; a scaup’s bill is entirely gray.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Roseate Spoonbill

The most colorful of the wading birds, Roseate Spoonbills have been seen with increasing regularity in recent years, foraging along the shores of Evergrene’s wetlands and waterways.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy ducks are small, compact ducks with stout, scoop-shaped bills and long stiff tails that are often pointed upward. They dive to feed on aquatic invertebrates, mostly at night. You might see them sleeping during the daytime as they float on the lake with their heads tucked backward under a wing.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Sandhill Crane

Hard to miss. Big and grey with a red crown. Loves to dance, and not just in courtship. Males and females sing loudly together. Among the oldest living species of birds.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret’s long, thin, straight, black bill differentiates it from the larger, yellow-billed Great Egret and the smaller, yellow-billed Cattle Egret. Thought by some to be the most beautiful of North American Egrets and Herons.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Tricolored Heron

Feathers of gray, purple and white give this species its common name. Long toes give it the ability to walk on the large leaves of the White Waterlily (Nymphaea Odorata).
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

White Ibis

Highly social birds; flocks of White Ibis are commonly seen along Evergrene’s wetland edges. Very long reddish bill. This is a shallow-water wader, also seen on lawns in search of insects. Frequently coos softly while foraging; Highly sociable, feeding in flocks, and nesting in colonies.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Wood Duck Male

Not your average Duck. Males have a red eye and a green and purple head, and a white cheek patch. Frequent spring-time occupant of several of Evergrene’s strategically placed nest boxes, including the highly visible one near the traffic circle.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Wood Duck Female

Females are less flamboyant. Nests in tree cavities and nest boxes. Lays up to about a dozen round, golf-ball size eggs during the spring-time nesting season. Occasionally lays eggs in the nest of others.
- Photographed byAlan Rubin

Wood Stork

Recently re-classified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from endangered to threatened. Wood Storks have been seen with increasing regularity at Evergrene in recent years. Big, mostly white, bald-headed wader. Holds its long bill underwater until a fish is felt, then slams it shut like a mousetrap. Nests on tree-tops and in colonies.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Land Birds

American Redstart

Yellow panels on the side of the female’s tail feathers distinguish this small migrant from all the other warblers. Here Fall-Spring, then nests from Georgia to northern Canada.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Black and White Warbler

The only all black and white warbler in FL. Often gleans insects from trees with rough bark (e.g., oaks) while climbing upside-down on trunks and branches. Migrant, here fall-spring, then nests north to central Canada.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

At less than 5” in length, this is one of our smallest birds. Most abundant from fall-spring. More often heard than seen, but it’s call note is recognizable, even when the bird is out of view.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Blue Jay

Common, year-round resident. Raucous calls. Males indistinguishable from females. At less than 5” in length, this is one of our smallest birds. Most abundant from fall-spring. More often heard than seen, but it’s call note is recognizable even when the bird is out of view.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Boat-tailed Grackle Male

The long, keel-shaped tail of the male led to the common name of this very abundant black-colored bird. Caution – don’t feed them, that’s why they are so common around the clubhouse.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Boat-tailed Grackle Female

Females are primarily brown and their tail is not as large and keel-shaped as the male.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Brown Thrasher

Slightly larger than a mockingbird, this secretive, year-round resident at Evergrene is mostly rusty brown with streaked undersides.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Cardinal Male

A year-round resident species that nests at Evergrene. Male Cardinals have a characteristic song in the springtime.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Cardinal Female

Female cardinals have the same distinctive crest and red beak, but have a duller plumage, to help them be inconspicuous while sitting on eggs.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Cedar Waxwing

An infrequently-seen, hip, new-age looking migrant, cedar waxwings have a black mask, noticeable crest, bright red tips on their wings and a bright yellow band at the end of the tail.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Collared Dove

The collared dove gets its name from the black half-collar at the nape of its neck. Collared doves are larger than mourning doves, with broad wings and squared-off tails.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Common Grackle

Adult at right, juvenile at left. Common, year-round resident. Distinguished from boat-tailed grackles by their slightly smaller size, shorter tail and yellow eye.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Downy Woodpecker

Uncommon year-round resident. The smallest of the 4 species of woodpeckers that are present at Evergrene.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Eastern Phoebe

Phoebes are the most common of the flycatchers in Florida. Resident from fall-spring. Gray back, white undersides with a faint yellow streak that is only seen in good views.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Eastern Towhee

Uncommon year-round resident. Most frequently heard and seen along the trail in the upland preserve on the west side of Evergrene Parkway near the Donald Ross Rd entrance.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

European Starling

Increasingly common year-round resident. Yellow bill on the otherwise dark body separates it from most of the other black-plumaged birds. Won’t typically create its own nest but will use cavities created by woodpeckers or other species.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Fish Crow

Slightly smaller than the Common Crow that is not found in our area. Call sounds more like “Uh-uh” than common crow’s “Caw Caw”. Often flocks in large numbers over the lake in early morning.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Great Crested Flycatcher

About the same size as a cardinal, this brown, yellow and gray insect-eating species is infrequently seen in the pinelands.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Grey Catbird

Catbirds are named for their cat-like calls. They are migratory birds that nest in northern climates. They return to Florida in the fall and stay through the springtime. Catbirds are heard more often than they are seen. They are usually found in low bushes, but they occasionally venture out into the open to search for berries, including the native dahoon holly, shown in the photo above.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Killdeer

A member of the Plover family, most of which are typically seen on sandy beaches, these year-round residents nest on the ground, which makes them fairly uncommon in areas where ground predators (bobcats, foxes, raccoons, dogs etc.) are common. Two black necklaces distinguish it from other plovers.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Loggerhead Shrikes

Shrikes are uncommon at Evergrene - likely just a couple of families, which are most often seen perched in trees around the perimeter of the lake.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Morning Dove

Although Mourning Doves do sing in the morning, they get their name from the plaintive, sad-sounding call.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Northern Flicker

One of the woodpeckers, this species is an uncommon year-round resident at Evergrene. The dark spots on the tan and white undersides separate flickers from our other woodpeckers.
-Photographed by Joyce Souce

Northern Mockingbird

A common year-round breeding resident at Evergrene. Gets its name from unusual ability to mimic songs of other birds.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Ovenbird

This small (~6”) migratory warbler nests across the northern U.S. during the summer and spends the fall, winter and early spring in Florida, the Caribbean and Central America. Often in dense vegetation and seen foraging on the ground. Diagnostic features are olive-green back, black streaks on white underside, russet crown and white eye ring. Uncommon at Evergrene.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Painted Bunting Female

One of our showiest birds, males are multi-colored.Females are a drabber yellow-green.Winter-time visitors to south Florida.A great treat to see!
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Palm Warbler

Pale yellow on the underside, yellow on the under-side of the rump, and the habit of flicking its tail up and down separate this insect-eating migratory warbler from the other species of warblers that migrate through or spend fall-spring at our latitude.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Pileated Woodpecker

The largest of our woodpeckers, the pileated (pronounced either pill-e-ated or pile-e-ated), this species is a year-round resident east of the Mississippi from Florida to northern Canada.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Prairie Warbler

One of over a dozen species of insect-eating migratory Warblers that spend the fall, winter and spring in Florida. Prairie Warblers are identified by the combination of bright yellow chest and belly, black streaks on the sides, and olive green on the head and back.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Purple Martins

Migrants that spend most of the year in central or south America, purple martins return to the US in February or March. Nest communally. In some years, have nested in the purple martin condominium on the east side of the lake.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

One of four species of insect-eating Woodpeckers that are present at Evergrene. The red-bellied is in a sub-group called the “Ladderbacks,” due to the appearance of alternating dark and light rungs on their backs.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Red-Eyed Vireo

One of three species of vireos that have been documented at Evergrene. Red eye not necessarily seen but look for gray cap and dark eyeline. No wing bars.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Red-Winged Blackbird

Found across most of the U.S. Red-winged blackbirds in Florida usually nest near water. Relatively uncommon at Evergrene, this species is most frequently found in the wetland near the roundabout.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Winter residents in South Florida, ruby-throated hummingbirds are another treat to behold.Only the males have the shimmering ruby throat, which only flashes red if seen from just the right angle; females are white on the undersides.Feeding on nectar, they are attracted to native plants with tubular flowers, although they will occasionally come to feeders.Uncommon winter residents.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Solitary Sandpiper

Not all sandpipers are found at the beach. The Solitary Sandpiper is a migratory species that is typically found foraging along wetland edges, either during the fall (when it is southbound), or during the spring, while stopping to refuel as it returns to northerly nesting areas across Canada to Alaska.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

White-Winged Dove

An uncommon year-round resident, this species does well in urban settings, and is expanding its range in the U.S. At Evergrene, most frequently seen around the lake.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Yellow-rumped Warbler

One of the most abundant of the approximately 30 species of warblers that can be found in Florida, this species has a bright yellow patch on the top of its rump and yellow streaks on the sides.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Yellow-Throated Warbler

The bright yellow throat distinguishes this insect-eating migrant from other warblers. Males and females look very similar, which is unusual in warblers. Arrive in our area in the fall, stay through spring, then migrate to the central U.S. for summer-time nesting.
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Raptors

American Kestrel

The smallest and most common member of the falcon family, kestrels are winter-time residents at Evergrene.Two vertical black stripes on each side of the face help with identification, but the shill “killy killy killy” call often gives away their presence.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are primarily fish-eaters, and they are often seen circling high over the lake, looking for prey. Youngsters take 4-5 years to get the distinctive white head and tail. This photo of a bald eagle was taken at Evergrene!
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Black Vulture

Black vultures and turkey vultures are scavengers that feed on carrion. Black vultures are bare headed with black plumage on the rest of their bodies, a hooked bill, broad wings, and short tails. Black vultures make up for their poor sense of smell by following turkey vultures to carcasses.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Broad-winged Hawk

This large, migratory raptor is uncommon at Evergrene.Closely related and similar in appearance to the more common Red-Shouldered Hawk, Broad wings have a paler underside when seen in flight.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Eastern Screech Owl

The smallest owl east of the Mississippi, this species is a year-round resident at Evergrene. They are the most common occupant in our nest boxes. No “hoot owl”, this bird’s call is more of a high-pitched quavering trill, often heard at night. Screech owls at Evergrene can be either the more-common red morph, or gray morphs.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Great Horned Owl

More than twice the size of screech owls, the feathered ear tufts and hooting calls of great horned owls are easily recognizable.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin

Osprey

Also known as the “Fish Hawk,” Ospreys are year-round residents in Florida, but the numbers increase during the fall, winter and spring when migrants from up north join our local population. The platform that we installed along the southwest shore of the lake in February 2020 is designed to attract Ospreys and/or Bald Eagles..
-Photographed by Wayne Rivardo

Red-Shouldered Hawk

The most common, year-round resident hawk in our area. Typically found in/near wet areas, where they search for frogs, snakes and other wetland prey species.
-Photographed by Joyce Soucy

Snail Kite

Rarely seen at Evergrene, the endangered Snail Kite is an escargot-eater, with apple snails being their primary food source.
-Photographed by Joyce Souce

Swallow-tailed Kite

The long, forked tail and graceful flight pattern make this one of our most easily identified raptors. They arrive from more southerly latitudes in late February and early March for their spring and summer time nesting season before returning south in the fall. At Evergrene they are occasionally seen over the preserves in the northern part of the development.
-Photographed by Greg Braun

Turkey Vulture

Mostly seen aerially; seem to have fun on windy days. In Fl, most numerous fall-spring, then migrate to central U.S and southern Canada during the summer-time nesting season. Wings usually held at a steeper “V” than black vultures, which are also often observed aloft.
-Photographed by Alan Rubin