Eye-Catching Texas Birds To Watch

Do you love bird watching? Or are you fascinated by the wilderness and its beauty? Whatever your taste, Texas is a perfect destination as the Texas birds, and other wilderness will leave you wonderstruck.

Texas is located on the central migration flyway, is not only just a birder’s paradise but can also be the dream destination for others. It has an area of 268,597 square miles and has a lot to offer. The coastal islands, plains, deserts, estuaries, prairies, plateaus, and subtropical zones of Texas will leave you stunned with this place. 

One of the fascinating things to do in Texas is going bird watching as it has nearly 600 species on offer. The wild bird species here are some of the unique ones. In the article, we will explore some species of texas birds which you must watch out for when visiting here. 

Mottled Duck

Must you be aware of the mallard? The mottled duck is also a dabbling duck, which one first look resembles the mallard. However, it lacks the distinctive features of the mallard and has a curly head and paler head. 

The mottled duck’s bill is bright yellow in color and has a black spot on the rear corner. The speculum of this duck species is purple. To watch these natural beauties all year round, you can visit the Texas coast. During the summer season, they are even more widespread, and you can see them throughout all of eastern Texas. 

When going for bird watching in the coastal areas of Texas, you can experience the other flora and fauna here. These coastal areas are rich in biodiversity, which will give you the experience to remember. 

Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck

This species of duck is one of the most popular on the texas birds list. This is a tropical duck species that can be seen throughout south Texas all year long. You can also see it in central Texas during the breeding season. 

The distinctive identifying features of these ducks include pale, long legs and pink bills. Rings in the eyes, which are pale, along with a dark belly, are also some distinctive features of this duck. When visiting these areas, birders must also watch out for fulvous color whistling ducks. 

When in central Texas, you can also enjoy other amazing things at this place. Some common activities to do in Texas include going on a stroll along the beaches and surfing. 

Neotropic Cormorant

This black beauty will leave you bewildered with its astonishing beauty. The Neotropic Cormorant is a beauty that you may confuse with the double-crested cormorant at first. However, they both are different as the double-crest is often seen perching on the pipes, culverts, or dikes. The Neotropic species is comparatively small in size.

 The bill of this bird is more grayish in comparison to double-crested birds. During the breeding season, one distinctive feature, a white border, appears on the bill. This border makes this bird different from the other texas birds of the same species. 

Least Tern

You may know this bird? This is a widespread type of bird that can be seen along the coast from New Hampshire to California. You can also watch these birds in Ohio. However, if you truly want to know this bird, then Texas is an ideal spot for it.

In Texas, you can watch this bird easily and compare it with its other cousins like Caspian, sandwich, and gull-billed terns. The distinctive identifying features of this bird include a yellow bill and a white forehead. They are also diminutive in size in comparison, which is also a clue to identify these birds. 

Harris’s Hawk

If you like the subtropical climate and want to go bird watching, then Texas is for you. The Harris hawk species found here is a subtropical Texas bird that can be easily recognized. They have distinct markings and plumage tones. Some features of this hawk include a dark tail that has a white tip. 

These hawks can be seen in southwestern Texas all year long as they prefer desert habitats. The scattered brush in these areas helps them in hunting. They can be seen often perching on poles and other open areas. These perching areas are selected by them as they are easy spots. 

Crested Caracara

Must you have seen vultures in your life? But when did a falcon start to act like an scavenging vulture? When it is the crested caracara. These texas birds are largely scavengers and often share carrion and carcasses with the vultures. 

These wild birds are permanent residents of the south and central Texas and can be seen here all year long. They can also be seen in central Florida and south Arizona. These birds can be seen often on the low perches and grounds searching for the next meal. They also like the vultures scan the ground from above for any scavenging opportunities. 

Burrowing Owl

Night owl. Isn’t this a common synonym for night dwellers? Well, this is for a reason as owls generally hunt during the night only and thus hard to find. However, the burrowing owl is an exception in this sense as it is active during the day. 

These owls are widespread all along with western and central Texas, and you can easily find them. The name burrowing owl for these owls is for a reason as you can see them often burrowing in the dog colonies of prairies. You can also see their burrows in the dry, rocky habitats. After the breeding season, the family groups of these birds stay together for a long time. This gives the birders a chance to birdwatch many owls together. 

Whooping Crane

The whooping crane wild birds are endangered species of birds. Texas is one of the only two remaining habitats of these birds where you can still see them. In Texas, due to conservation efforts, you can still find these birds and enjoy the amusing activities of it.

These birds spend their winters in the Port Aransas and Rockport area along the gulf while wading the marshes and estuaries. Among all the other texas birds, this is a must-watch as less than 600 of these are left. Thus this can be the last opportunity for every birder to watch these beauties before humans push them to extinction. 

Scissor Tailed Flycatcher

This bird is the state bird of Oklahoma state, although they are more common in Texas. You can easily spot these beauties in Texas easily through the year. These scissor-tailed flycatcher wild birds are easily found in the extreme western and eastern parts of the state. You can especially watch them during the summer season. 

These scissor-tailed flycatchers can be seen often perching on the tall trees and wires that are adjacent to the open fields. The amazing features of these birds include their twisting tail, which looks like a superb rudder when they fly. 

Golden-Cheeked Warbler

Warbler is one of the most eye-catching texas birds you can go bird watching when in the state. Although they are an endangered species and thus you can watch them only during the breeding season in summer. In the summers, you can find the warbler in the parts of central Texas. 

The combination of the dark throat and bright face, along with the bold marking, are some distinctive features. These distinctive features of the warbler make it easy to distinguish and identify. For easy watching, visit the hilly areas of Texas, which have a lot of juniper trees, to find the highly desirable and rare warbler bird. 

Northern Mockingbird

Texas State-Bird

This bird is widespread in the south-eastern and southern parts of the USA all year long. The mockingbird is a common USA bird. It is the Texas state bird and can be easily seen in many places. The northern mockingbird has a large life personality and holds a special place in the hearts of Texans as a Texas state bird. 

Familiar to all the Texans when going on a birding trip. The mockingbird is a must-watch. This bird is also a beauty to watch, and the amusing activities of these texas birds will leave you awestruck.

Painted Bunting

Mother nature is the best artist? Don’t you believe it? Well, then you must see the painted bunting. The astonishing colors and beauty of this bird will make you believe that mother nature is indeed the best. 

The painted bunting wild birds are one of the most beautiful and colorful birds in North America. This is the reason that no bird watching trip can be complete without including this bird on the list. The good thing is that these birds are widespread during the breeding season in summers throughout Texas. The rainbow hue male painted buntings are impressive. However, the females with the lemon plumage are more of subtle beauty. 

The best places to visit for these Texas birds are watering holes and thickets as they are shy songbirds. 

Final Words

Visiting Texas is like a birder’s dream come true as it is one of the best places to watch wild birds. The location of Texas on the central migration flyway along the coast with a wide variety of habitats makes it a heaven for birds.

There is a wide variety of Texas birds that you can watch when visiting the area that will leave you astonished.