Birds Abound in Everglades Hammock

Short Gumbo Limbo Trail runs near visitor center

Day hikers can see a variety of birds common to Everglades National Park on the short Gumbo Limbo Trail.

The easy to access 0.4-mile loop is a paved path near the popular Anhinga Trail. Visitors often do both trails for a healthy day of hiking.

To reach the trailhead, from U.S. Hwy. 1 in Florida City, take Fla. Hwy. 9336 west. This becomes Main Park Road upon entering the national park. Next, turn left/south onto Royal Palm Road; the road ends in 1.6 miles at the parking lot for the visitor center. Enter the center and take a look at the exhibits; you can exit the center on its south side for the trailhead.

You’ll soon enter and circle through a hardwood hammock. The land here is just a few feet above the swampland, allowing a variety of trees to take root.

Gumbo limbo tree
The trail is named for the gumbo limbo trees found along the path. That tree is easy to spot thanks to its zigzagging limbs and peeling green and red bark. Locals have cheekily nicknamed it the “Tourist Tree” because its bark looks like tourists’ skin after a few days in the Florida sun.

Another trail tree – and one to avoid touching –is poisonwood. Its sap is 10 times more powerful than poison ivy. To identify the tree, look for oozing dark blotches on its trunk.

Other common flora you’ll see on the trail include pigeon plum trees, royal palms, cattails, and ferns.

These plants create a rich environment for birds at the Everglades. More than 160 bird species have been spotted along the trail during the past few decades.

Among the spectacular birds you might see are the great egret, the little blue heron, and the double-crested cormorant.

The great egret is among the largest wading birds found in the Everglades, reaching heights of more than 4 feet and possessing a wingspan surpassing 50 inches. These birds hunt by either walking slowly or remaining still in shallow waters, using their webbed feet to rake and probe the substrate, capturing fish with remarkable speed thanks to their quick reflexes.

While it bears a resemblance to the snowy egret, the great egret can be identified by its long black legs, black feet, robust yellow bill, and significantly larger size. In contrast, the snowy egret is smaller, characterized by its black bill and yellow feet. The great egret also is often confused with the great white heron, which is the white variant of the great blue heron; however, the great white heron can be recognized by its heavier bill and pale legs. Like other herons, the great egret flies with its neck retracted, unlike storks, cranes, ibises, and spoonbills, which extend their necks during flight.

The little blue heron is a small, dark-hued bird with a two-toned bill. Juvenile birds are completely white, resembling the snowy egret. During the breeding season, adult herons exhibit distinct coloration on their heads, legs and feet. They primarily feed on fish, crabs, and various small creatures.

Unfortunately, the population of this species is on the decline, with several potential causes identified. Notably, exposure to heavy metals has been shown to adversely affect young herons.

The double-crested cormorant, measuring between 28 and 35 inches in length, is predominantly black, featuring a distinctive bare patch of orange-yellow skin on its face. During the breeding season, it develops a double crest adorned with a mix of black and white feathers.

Unlike many birds, its feathers are not waterproof, necessitating drying after going in the water. This species primarily feeds on fish, employing swimming and diving techniques for hunting. Following a period of decline due to DDT exposure, the population of this bird has seen a significant recovery in recent years.

Common birds
Several common birds also inhabit the hammock, such as the mourning dove, American coot, and ring-necked duck.

Mourning doves are prevalent throughout the Everglades, inhabiting diverse environments. These seed-eating birds are characterized by their elongated, pointed tails. They possess a gray-brown plumage with buff-colored underparts, black wing spots, a black bill, a slender neck, and short reddish legs, equipped with perching feet.

Typically they forage on the ground in small flocks and frequently visit platform feeders. They produce a whistling sound upon takeoff and are known for their unique, mournful hooting song.

American coots are frequently seen in the Everglades, especially in the aptly named Coot Bay. These birds have a dark gray to black plumage, complemented by a striking white bill and forehead, yellow-green legs, and a small red patch on their forehead. They are known for their vocal nature and are often spotted in pairs or large groups, forming rafts on the water’s surface.

On land, they prefer to walk instead of waddling, and their flight is characterized by an awkward takeoff that necessitates a lengthy run. While swimming, they display a distinctive behavior of jerking their heads back and forth.

Ring-necked ducks are medium-sized diving ducks characterized by their unique peaked heads. The male has a black head, back, breast, and upperparts, complemented by a white wedge on the front of its folded wing. In contrast, the female has a brown head, back, sides, and flanks, featuring a white eye ring and a white stripe behind the bill.

These ducks paddle across water bodies similarly to dabbling ducks and dive underwater to forage for submerged plants and aquatic invertebrates.

Other birds regularly seen on the trail include American crows, blue jays, greater yellowlegs, tree swallows, turkey vultures, white-eyed vireos, and yellow-rumped warblers.

Anhingas, great blue herons, green herons, palm warblers, purple gallinules, and red-bellied woodpeckers are less common but also have been spotted.

One spot on the trail where you’re likely to see birds are in or near solution holes. These are water-filled holes in the limestone rock sitting beneath the surface. As rain seeps through the forest floor leaves, it picks up acid from the plants and as seeping into the ground dissolves the limestone. A short boardwalk goes over one such solution hole in the hammock.

Birds aren’t the only animals to inhabit the hammock. You’ll likely see the zebra longwing butterfly, tree snails, and turtles as well. Sometimes even an alligator can be spotted. Don’t approach wildlife under any circumstances; merely observe from a safe distance.

The trail ends on the parking lot’s south side. Be sure to bring mosquito repellent.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.