Flamingos in Florida: 10 Enchanting Places to Discover These Beautiful Pink-Feathered Beauties!

What’s more quintessentially Florida than a flamingo? These bright pink birds have always captured the attention (and love) of visitors and locals alike.

Today, you can find flamingos in Florida within private conservatories or nature parks. While we’ll cover the possible places you can spot them in the wild, our master list offers the best places where you’re guaranteed to see (and often interact) with these beautiful birds!

Flamingos & Florida 

Flamingos were once abundant along the Florida shorelines. However, they were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800s and early 1900s as their feathers were particularly popular for women’s hats (feathered plumes were the latest fashion).

For a time, flamingos were thought to be extinct in the wild. Fortunately, that’s not the case! Wild flamingos can still be found (and are breeding!) in southern Florida.

The American Flamingo (also called the Caribbean Flamingo) is the largest species of flamingo in the world. They stand around 5 feet tall but weigh only between 5-6 pounds. Their iconic pink feathers are a result of their diet, composed largely of brine shrimp. As their bodies metabolize the pigments found in the shrimp, their feathers transform from their original gray to signature pink.¹

Besides Florida, American Flamingos can be found in the Caribbean, Bonaire, Cuba, Mexico, the British Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. They are nonmigratory birds favoring larger social groups (aptly called flamboyance) that can live up to 40-60 years. 

Where Can I Find Flamingos in Florida? 

The best places to see flamingos in Florida are typically along the southern coastlines. You won’t typically find many populations – in the wild or elsewhere – in the northern parts of the state. (Though in 2014, a wild flock landed by Lake Okeechobee for a few days!) They prefer the brackish, salty water of alkaline lakes. The best place to find them is usually in the Florida Keys. 

That being said, you’ll have the best luck visiting one of the places on our list!

1. Everglades National Park, Homestead

Speaking of the Florida Keys – let’s start there! If you want to see flamingos in the wild in Florida, The Everglades National Park is the best spot. Located just south of Miami, you’ll find one of the largest wetlands in the world. This 2,356.6 square-mile national park has tons of wildlife to be found – including wild flamingos. You’ll likely have the best luck seeing them by taking one of the many airboat tours offered within the park. Otherwise, you’ll want to try Snake Bight Trail or near The Flamingo Visitor Center to see them. 

2. Hialeah Park Casino, Hialeah

A horse track might not strike you as a premiere spot to see wild flamingos, but that’s exactly the case at Hialeah Park! The track is famous for its flamboyance, as property owner Joseph Widener imported the original birds from Cuba in 1934. Their descendants still live, breed, and hatch on the track, making Hialeah Park the only place the species has been successfully reproduced outside of its wild state. Today, the racetrack is closed – but the land is an official National Audubon Sanctuary. The flock has been instrumental in helping the species spread back through North America via donations to zoos. 

3. Flamingo Gardens, Davie

Built in 1924, Flamingo Gardens is the oldest botanical park in southern Florida. With 60 acres devoted to lush gardens and equally beautiful wildlife, the park also serves as a wildlife sanctuary. It provides a safe home for permanently injured or non-releasable animals. One of the biggest spots in the gardens is the Flamingo Pond, where visitors can enjoy watching these birds amid waterfalls and tropical vegetation. Visitors can feed the birds at their leisure. 

4. Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee

Have you ever been to a cageless zoo? Palm Beach County is home to one of the oldest in the United States! Lion Country Safari has been open since 1967. It’s a drive-through safari park that allows you to explore 600 acres filled with animals such as wildebeests, giraffes, chimpanzees, zebras, and lions. 

Fortunately, visitors are not confined to their vehicles when it comes to these beautiful birds. Guests can mingle with the flamingos at the Adventure Park portion of Lion Country. There, you can take photos and also feed them! 

5. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Key West

Want a more relaxed experience? At the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, you can stroll through beautiful gardens and see over 50 species of butterflies in a giant glass-enclosed habitat. This location is home to fan-favorite flamingos Rhett and Scarlett, who have been around since 2013. This is actually a great park to have a fun, close encounter with flamingos. They are quite friendly and often come up to visit with guests. For a little extra, you can book an afternoon with them – these two birds spend much of their day preening for their admirers at their favorite gazebo. 

6. Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Sarasota

The Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a smaller family animal park that is home to several species. The Gardens focus on smaller mammals, birds, and reptiles. With many shows and encounters available, this is a great park for small kids! This park, established in 1939, features free-range flamingos that travel across the grounds. These friendly birds may even cross your path as you roam the gardens! This park also offers a bird-feeding experience that’s fun for all ages. 

7. Sea World’s Discovery Cove, Orlando

Billed as an interactive marine wildlife park, Sea World’s Discovery Cove is probably best known as the dolphin encounter theme park in central Florida. It’s an all-inclusive day resort with guests spending time snorkeling with otters, sting rays, and tons of tropical fish. Discovery Cover also offers a “Flamingle” experience for an additional fee where you can feed and interact with the birds in their habitat. You’ll also get a private tour of the area and have an official photographer on hand to capture every moment! 

8. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa

Known for its thrill rides, Busch Gardens at Tampa Bay is also home to a large population of American, Chilean, and Lesser flamingos. You can find them in the Bird Gardens as well as the Egypt and Nairobi sections of the park. According to their website, the best place to get a close-up look is Animal Connections in the Nairobi area. 

9. Gatorland, Orlando

Who can forget Florida’s largest alligator farm and animal park? Gatorland is one of the most unique animal attractions in central Florida and offers a wide range of critters in the park, though they obviously focus on the alligators, crocodiles, large snakes, and tortoises. The park also has wild cats like ocelots and servals, capybaras, and birds. You can spot plenty of flamingos from their (safe) spot at Flamingo Island. 

10. Florida Zoos 

You’ll also find flamingos in many Florida zoos across the state! Some of these parks offer an up-close experience with the birds, while others simply have views of their habitats. While these experiences are not always as interactive,

Flamingos are one of Florida’s most recognizable ambassadors. Have you made the trek to any of these spots to see them yourself? Tell us about your most fantastic flamingo moment in the comments below!

Cover photo: Unsplash

Gallery photos: UL f9photos via Canva.com, UR DL via Canva.com, LL Leung Cho Pan via Canva.com, LR DIRDPK via Canva.com