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SCCF Launches New Sanibel-Captiva Bird List

May 7, 2021

SCCF is excited to launch a new Sanibel-Captiva Bird List that includes all of the 298 bird species that have been observed on our barrier islands.

The SCCF Bird List has been developed and vetted by a suite of local birders and ornithologists, and builds upon the 2013 bird list released by the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. It includes historical data and very rare observations, making it the first checklist of its kind for Sanibel and Captiva.

This comprehensive bird species list for the islands of Sanibel and Captiva has been formatted as a birdwatcher-friendly checklist so that residents and visitors can document the avian species they encounter around the islands.

We have timed the release of this list to align with World Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, May 8. Across the Americas, hundreds of simultaneous events, celebrations, and workshops will be held to educate and raise awareness around the migratory birds that we all share.

The goal of the list is to educate the Southwest Florida community on the full breadth of birdlife that has made use of our islands, whether they are full-time resident species or briefly stopping by during migration, and how important it is to maintain the habitat and resources these birds need to survive and thrive.

The SCCF Sanibel-Captiva Bird List can be used digitally or downloaded and printed. In both formats, users can continue to mark the species of birds they have observed. In the digital PDF format, users can click on the common names of bird species to be directed to

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s AllAboutBirds.org, a great resource for more information about that species, including range maps and identification tips.

Species lists are an important tool for public outreach, as SCCF aims to promote community and individual stewardship of regional wildlife. This list and its future updates and revisions are a valuable resource for science and conservation, as we continue to monitor changes in the composition and abundance of biodiversity on our islands and adjust conservation management accordingly.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BIRD LIST

Photos below by Aaron White, SCCF Shorebird Intern