Greater Tampa Bay

Florida

Greater Tampa Bay is an internationally recognized premier birding destination, with Fort De Soto Park serving as one of the most famous migration traps in the eastern United States. Over 250 bird species have been recorded in the area, with exceptional diversity from coastal wading birds to migrant warblers. The region's position along the Gulf migration route makes it ideal for observing spring and fall migrations, while winter months offer outstanding opportunities to see resident specialties.

Best Months to Visit

November to April

Birding Season

Year-round with peak migration

Notable Species

Roseate Spoonbill Wood Stork Reddish Egret Swallow-tailed Kite Limpkin

Top Birding Guides in Greater Tampa Bay

Browse our selection of expert birding guides serving the Greater Tampa Bay area.

Beck & Gallus Quigley - Archaeopteryx Birding Tours

5.0

Professional guide team offering customized birding experiences throughout Central Florida including the Greater Tampa Bay and Orlando areas. Beck is a Certified Master Naturalist with 16+ years of birding experience and 345+ Florida species photographed; Gallus has 25+ years of birding experience and serves as Cornell eBird regional reviewer for Lake and Sumter counties. Both guides are experienced bird banders and festival trip leaders.

Central Florida specialties Migration birding Bird photography

25 years of experience

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Jim McGinity - Florida Avian Conservation

4.9

Master Bird Bander and founder of Florida Avian Conservation, a research and educational outreach project studying migratory songbirds in West-Central Florida since 2011. Graduate of University of South Florida with a degree in Environmental Biology. Conducts bird banding demonstrations, leads field trips with Tampa Audubon Society, and founded the Florida Young Birders Club - Tampa Bay. Offers educational birding experiences focused on bird identification, migration ecology, and conservation.

Bird banding Migratory songbirds Tampa Bay habitats

20 years of experience

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Jim Collins - Florida Birding Guides

4.8

Professional birding guide who has called Florida home for over 25 years and has birded in all 67 Florida counties, documenting nearly 400 species. Based in the Sarasota area, Jim offers personalized birding tours throughout the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida regions. Tours are tailored to individual interests and skill levels, from beginner to expert birders, with options for traditional birding or bird photography focused experiences.

All Florida counties Tampa-Sarasota region Bird photography

25 years of experience

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Jim Eager - Obsessive Compulsive Birding

4.8

Professional birding guide and avian field technician offering customized birding and wildlife tours throughout Central Florida including Tampa Bay area hotspots. Former raptor observer for Florida Keys HawkWatch Project and co-founder of Florida Keys Hawkwatch at Curry Hammock State Park. Longtime field trip leader for Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival, Florida Birding & Nature Festival, and multiple national birding festivals. Past board member of Florida Ornithological Society and Associate Editor for bird distribution in Florida Field Naturalist.

Central Florida specialties Shorebirds and seabirds Migration birding

17 years of experience

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