Unique Birds Seen in The Dry Tortugas

Key West is comfortably sliding into the summer season as it warms up in the Keys and The Dry Tortugas National Park. Weather for the last week in Key West has been on warm incline and we can tell it’s going to be an even warmer summer than the last. The April showers started dying down in the last week, and the wind is as strong either. With the sun shining bright, it’s back to the normal sunny weather of Key West.

Our seaplanes are back in business, and are safely transporting visitors of the Dry Tortugas National Park, and Fort Jefferson in a unique fashion. Getting to fly to the Dry Tortugas is a great way for bird watchers and bird lovers alike to get to experience that is similar to what the birds of the national park get to see on their way migrating.

Our favorite bird of the week that we’ve spotted is the yellow-billed cuckoo (as pictured). These birds stand out, because of their slim yet large bodies, and of course, their brightly colored yellow bill. They have long feathered tails with white markings on it, and a flat head.

The yellow-billed cuckoo lives among the wooded areas in patches and clearings, and will mostly be seen in treetops when they are hunting for food like caterpillars. These beautiful birds are extremely vocal and have a very distinctive call. It’s been described as a slow rolling call that sounds throaty.


Come visit the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson to see this beautiful bird, and book a tour with us on the Yankee Freedom or our Seaplane today!