Bird Ecosystem -- Subtropical

Parts of southern California, southern Florida, and the Hawaiian Islands have subtropical ecosystems. Of the three areas, Hawaii has a unique avifauna because of its isolation from the mainland. Deserts separate Southern California from the tropics; the Caribbean separates southern Florida. As a result, the native birds in these two regions are the same as those in adjacent temperate areas. The subtropical areas are, however, home to some tropical birds, including several species of parrots. New World tanagers, and Old World bubbuls. Introduced to the country by humans, the birds have been successful because of favorable climate and because of tropical plants which were also introduced.

Many of the exotic species are such recent immigrants that their potential impact on the native avifauna has not been assessed. In Hawaii, however, it is suspected that diseases brought in with certain exotic species have been detrimental to native birds.