Everglades National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐊 Alligators in the River of Grass
🌍 #171 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #18 in North America #9 in Wetlands & Mangrove
Gulf Coast, United States 847 spp. recorded

Everglades National Park is a massive wetland preserve located at the southern tip of Florida, defined by dense mangrove forests and winding coastal waterways. This protected wilderness is famous for the American Alligator, its signature species, which surfaces slowly in the murky shallows throughout the day.

25.256° N   80.870° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

American Alligator ★
LC Endemic

American Alligator

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Alligator mississippiensis

70–80% · Very likely
American Crocodile ★
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

40–50% · Likely
West Indian Manatee ★
VU

West Indian Manatee

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Trichechus manatus

40–50% · Likely
Roseate Spoonbill ★
LC

Roseate Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea ajaja

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

70–80% · Very likely
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

60–70% · Likely
Brown Anole
LC

Brown Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis sagrei

60–70% · Likely
White Ibis
LC

White Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eudocimus albus

60–70% · Likely
Northern Cardinal
LC Endemic

Northern Cardinal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis cardinalis

60–70% · Likely
Red-bellied Woodpecker
LC

Red-bellied Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes carolinus

50–60% · Likely
African Redhead Agama
LC

African Redhead Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama picticauda

50–60% · Likely
Palm Warbler
LC

Palm Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga palmarum

50–60% · Likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Great Blue Heron
LC Endemic

Great Blue Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea herodias

50–60% · Likely
Osprey
LC

Osprey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pandion haliaetus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

West Indian Manatee ★
VU

West Indian Manatee

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Trichechus manatus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Eastern Gray Squirrel
LC

Eastern Gray Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus carolinensis

20–30% · Possible
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

10–20% · With luck
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

10–20% · With luck
Virginia Opossum
LC

Virginia Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis virginiana

10–20% · With luck
Fox Squirrel
LC

Fox Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus niger

5–10% · With luck
Hispid Cotton Rat
LC

Hispid Cotton Rat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sigmodon hispidus

5–10% · With luck
Eastern Cottontail
LC Endemic

Eastern Cottontail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sylvilagus floridanus

5–10% · With luck
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

5–10% · With luck
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

5–10% · With luck
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

5–10% · With luck
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
LC

Mexican Free-tailed Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Tadarida brasiliensis

5–10% · Rare

⭐ Iconic Species

Roseate Spoonbill ★
LC

Roseate Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea ajaja

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

70–80% · Very likely
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

60–70% · Likely
White Ibis
LC

White Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eudocimus albus

60–70% · Likely
Northern Cardinal
LC Endemic

Northern Cardinal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis cardinalis

60–70% · Likely
Red-bellied Woodpecker
LC

Red-bellied Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes carolinus

50–60% · Likely
Palm Warbler
LC

Palm Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga palmarum

50–60% · Likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Great Blue Heron
LC Endemic

Great Blue Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea herodias

50–60% · Likely
Osprey
LC

Osprey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pandion haliaetus

40–50% · Likely
Red-shouldered Hawk
LC

Red-shouldered Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo lineatus

40–50% · Likely
Boat-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Boat-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus major

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

American Alligator ★
LC Endemic

American Alligator

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Alligator mississippiensis

70–80% · Very likely
American Crocodile ★
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Anole
LC

Brown Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis sagrei

60–70% · Likely
African Redhead Agama
LC

African Redhead Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama picticauda

50–60% · Likely
Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

40–50% · Likely
Northern Curly-tailed Lizard
LC

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Leiocephalus carinatus

40–50% · Likely
Florida Cottonmouth
Endemic

Florida Cottonmouth

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Agkistrodon conanti

40–50% · Possible
Florida Softshell Turtle
LC Endemic

Florida Softshell Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Apalone ferox

30–40% · Possible
Green Anole
LC

Green Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis carolinensis

30–40% · Possible
Florida Redbelly Turtle
LC Endemic

Florida Redbelly Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pseudemys nelsoni

30–40% · Possible
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

30–40% · Possible
North American Racer
LC

North American Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Coluber constrictor

20–30% · Possible
Corn Snake
LC Endemic

Corn Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pantherophis guttatus

20–30% · Possible
Banded Water Snake
LC Endemic

Banded Water Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Nerodia fasciata

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Cuban Treefrog
LC

Cuban Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Osteopilus septentrionalis

30–40% · Possible
Southern Toad
LC Endemic

Southern Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus terrestris

30–40% · Possible
Eastern Cane Toad
LC

Eastern Cane Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinella marina

20–30% · Possible
Greenhouse Frog
LC

Greenhouse Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Eleutherodactylus planirostris

10–20% · With luck
Southern Leopard Frog
LC Endemic

Southern Leopard Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates sphenocephalus

10–20% · With luck
Green Treefrog
LC

Green Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dryophytes cinereus

10–20% · With luck
Pig Frog
Endemic

Pig Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates grylio

10–20% · With luck
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
LC Endemic

Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Gastrophryne carolinensis

10–20% · With luck
Squirrel Treefrog
LC

Squirrel Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dryophytes squirellus

5–10% · With luck
Oak Toad
LC Endemic

Oak Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus quercicus

5–10% · With luck
Southern Cricket Frog
LC Endemic

Southern Cricket Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Acris gryllus

<5% · Rare
Little Grass Frog
LC Endemic

Little Grass Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pseudacris ocularis

<5% · Rare

Animal Events

🦭

Manatee Season

DecJanFebMar

West Indian manatees seek warm water from , gathering in the park's coastal canals and Florida Bay around Flamingo.

West Indian Manatee
VU

West Indian Manatee

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Trichechus manatus

40–50% · Likely
🐊

Dry-Season Alligator & Crocodile Concentration

DecJanFebMarApr

As water levels drop in the dry season, alligators and crocodiles concentrate at shrinking pools and canal banks, creating the densest reptile viewing in the continental US.

American Crocodile
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

40–50% · Likely
American Alligator
LC Endemic

American Alligator

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Alligator mississippiensis

70–80% · Very likely
🐦

Wading Bird Nesting Congregation

DecJanFebMarApr

The Everglades Protection Area hosts the largest wading-bird nesting effort in South Florida (tens of thousands of nests); dry-season water drawdown concentrates fish and triggers mass nesting and feeding congregations.

Wood Stork
LC

Wood Stork

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mycteria americana

20–30% · Possible
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

60–70% · Likely
Roseate Spoonbill
LC

Roseate Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea ajaja

10–20% · With luck

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
American Alligator
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
American Crocodile
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
West Indian Manatee
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
40–50
Roseate Spoonbill
10–20
10–20
20–30
10–20
5–10
5–10
<5
<5
5–10
10–20
20–30
10–20
Turkey Vulture
80–90
80–90
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
80–90
80–90
Northern Mockingbird
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
60–70
Great Egret
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
Brown Anole
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
White Ibis
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
Northern Cardinal
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
40–50
40–50
Red-bellied Woodpecker
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
African Redhead Agama
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Palm Warbler
70–80
70–80
60–70
20–30
10–20
<5
<5
<5
10–20
70–80
80–90
70–80
American Crow
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
Great Blue Heron
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
40–50
50–60
60–70
Osprey
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🐊 Dry-Season Alligator & Crocodile Concentration
🐦 Wading Bird Nesting Congregation
🦭 Manatee Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐊 Alligators in the River of Grass

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
583
🐒 Mammals
99
🦎 Reptiles
111
🐸 Amphibians
54
847 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
57 Threatened 171 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
62%
📊
Coverage (177 species at ≥5% of 847 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
21%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 3 reptile)
46% Global avg
50%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
115
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
5
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
27

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Everglades National Park?

The most likely sightings are Turkey Vulture (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), American Alligator (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Northern Mockingbird (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Great Egret (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Brown Anole (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 847 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Everglades National Park for wildlife?

January has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see American Alligator in Everglades National Park?

Yes — about 72% of wildlife watchers report a American Alligator sighting in Everglades National Park, based on 3,348 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see American Crocodile in Everglades National Park?

Yes — about 47% of wildlife watchers report a American Crocodile sighting in Everglades National Park, based on 1,257 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see West Indian Manatee in Everglades National Park?

Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a West Indian Manatee sighting in Everglades National Park, based on 905 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Roseate Spoonbill in Everglades National Park?

Yes — about 16% of wildlife watchers report a Roseate Spoonbill sighting in Everglades National Park, based on 1,867 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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