Texas Birds
Introducing Texans
to Common Birds
Unless otherwise noted, photos courtesy of Jim DeVries.
Cover photo by Chase Fountain, TPWD.
Text by Mark Klym.
Thanks to Matt Wagner, John Davis, Brent Ortego, Cliff Shackelford,
Josh Rose, Ricky Maxey, Bill Johnson and Dave Holderman for their help.
©2016 TPWD
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Introduction
Birding, enjoying the beauty of not only the colors and shapes
but also the behaviors and sound of birds around us, is one of the
fastest growing pastimes in North America – and Texans have a
lot of birds that we can enjoy across the Lone Star State. From
the beautiful, aerobatic and feisty hummingbirds that dart back
and forth around the beautiful flowers of our gardens, to the
silent owls patrolling our forests and field, Texas is by far the
most bird diverse state in the nation.
One of the best ways to learn to enjoy birds is by watching what
comes to your own back yard. From the comfort of your back porch,
you can see many of the birds shown in this booklet, depending on
where your porch is. The availability of appropriate habitat features
is the factor that will determine whether some of these species are
present, and you will certainly not be able to see all of these birds in
every garden across the state, but you should be able to see enough of
these birds to help you develop skills of observation that you can take
with you into the field wherever you go.
You Can Help Birds
A quick look at the areas these birds are found in will show you that
many of them are facing a loss of habitats. Birds that require trees or
brush find our cities unwelcoming because of the loss of these plants.
Birds that require large open grasslands find large agricultural fields,
industrial complexes or cities instead of the flowing prairie grasses
they need. These changes, often referred to as habitat loss, are the
most significant threat birds face in North America today. Without
habitat – appropriate food, shelter, water and space – animals are not
able to survive.
Since habitat loss is a significant threat to the future of birds in our
communities, the best way we can help birds is to replace or restore
some of that habitat. This has worked very effectively with some
species. In the early 1900s, bluebirds – especially Eastern Bluebirds –
were nearly wiped out by a lack of effective nesting sites following the
industrial revolution and the introduction of competitive foreign species.
By putting back that habitat feature, in the form of a “bird house” in
appropriate places, people were able to ensure that these birds will be
enjoyed by our grand children for years to come.
You can do the same thing in your back yard. A “birdhouse,” depending
on what plants are nearby, might be used by a chickadee, a wren, a fly-
catcher, a woodpecker, or any number of other common species. Some
birds do not use “birdhouses” though, and for these you may have to
reintroduce some brush, some tall grasses, or even some trees to make
them feel at home. As you learn more about the birds you enjoy, you
will be able to change small things in your landscape that can make big
differences in what birds you see.
Why Would I Want to Learn About Birds?
The answers to this question are almost as numerous as the people
asking the question – each and every person you ask will have a
different answer. For some, the mere beauty of these animals is
fascinating – colors from brilliant reds to subtle blues can be found in
the bird community. The delicacy of an animal that weighs only as
much as a dime draws the attention of others, while still others are
captivated by the concept of self propelled flight. Regardless of the
reason you choose to learn about birds, spending time watching these
amazing creatures will be well rewarded!
Ecoregions of Texas
Neotropic Cormorant
• May plunge from as high as
1/2 meter for fish—usually dives
from the surface
• Produces a grunt call that is almost
pig-like
• Also known as Olivaceous Cormorant
or Mexican Cormorant
• Found near wetlands
• More common in southern reaches of
the state during deer season
Double-crested Cormorant
• Produces a deep, guttural
grunt sound
• Found in a wide variety of
aquatic habitats
• Dives only from the surface
when foraging
American Coot
• White bill
• Distinctive, jerky swim behavior
• Legs trail when in flight
• Runs to take off
• Dives for aquatic plants
When in flight, egrets fold their necks back on
themselves, producing a “thick-neck” appearance.
Cattle Egret
• Most likely associated with
livestock, since it feeds on insects
stirred up by grazing
• Produces a call that resembles
“rick rack”
• Statewide
Great Egret
• Likely to be found in flooded fields,
drainage ditches, stock tanks, ponds
and waterways
• Call is a deep croak
• Seasonal occurrences statewide
Great Blue Heron
• Largest, most widespread heron in
North America
• Call is a deep, hoarse croak, almost
frog-like
• Statewide
Green Heron
• Often perched on branches,
especially over water
• Tends to hold head close to body
• Will frequently drop “bait” onto the
water to catch fish
• Call is a chicken-like “kuk”; will
produce an explosive “skeow” in flight
• Statewide
Birds of prey may be seen perched along
roadways, perched conspicuously in
vegetation or soaring over fields. Often,
if other birds flush unexpectedly, looking
up might reveal a bird of prey.
Northern Harrier
• Hunts flying low over grasslands
or weedy fields
• Large white patch on rump
• Call is sharp “kek” or “ke” notes
• Statewide
Red-tailed Hawk
• Large, conspicuous hawk
• May not always display large,
orange-red tail
• Call is a screaming “kreeeeear”
• Will hover on strong wind (kiting)
while foraging
• Common statewide
Crested Caracara
• Found in open savannah or desert
• Feeds on carrion
• Often misidentified as a Bald Eagle
• Absent from High Plains, Rolling Plains
and Pineywoods
American Kestrel
• Very colorful, small falcon
• Often found on roadside utility lines
or fences
• Call is a whistled “klee klee klee”
• Less common in Oaks and Prairies,
Osage Plains and Pineywoods
Loggerhead Shrike
• Called the “butcher bird” because it
impales food on thorns and fences
• Gray bird with black, hook-tipped bill
• Call is a harsh screeching note
• Uncommon to common statewide
Barn Owl
• Becoming scarce and hard to find
in much of its range
• Hunts on wing at night patrolling
for rodents
• Prefers more open areas
• Most common call is a loud,
hissing shriek
• Uncommon statewide; accidental
to rare in Pineywoods and Edwards
Plateau
Eastern Screech-Owl
• Small “eared” owl; color may be gray
or red
• Facial disk dissected by prominent
ridge at nose and bill
• Prefers open woods
• Common call is a whistled trill
• Uncommon to common statewide
In Trans-Pecos, High Plains, Rolling
Plains and Edwards Plateau, the Western
Screech-Owl may be as common or more
common than its eastern cousin.
Great Horned Owl
• Large bird, varying shades of gray
with barred breast and belly
• Large ear tufts, from which it gets
its name; can be lowered
• Facial disk dissected by bill and nose
• Prefers wooded areas
• Common statewide except for
Pineywoods, where it is uncommon
• This is the “hoot owl”; its call is
rhythmic hoots—“Who’s awake;
me, too”
Barred Owl
CHASE FOUNTAIN
• Large, stocky red-gray owl without
ear tufts
• Wide vertical barring on chest and belly
• Distinct two-lobed facial disk dissected
by nose and bill ridge
• Prefers mixed wooded areas
• More common to the east in South
Texas Thornscrub, Oaks and Prairies
and East Texas Pineywoods. Present
statewide
• Call is the distinctive “Who cooks, who
cooks for you all”
Killdeer
• Although in the shorebird family, this
is a much more upland bird
• Generally found in grassy or gravelly
areas, turf farms, muddy fields, etc.
• Listen for a long, drawn-out “deeyee”
or “deeeeee” call
• Common to abundant statewide
Red-headed Woodpecker
USFWS
• Strikingly colored black-and-white
bird with all-red head
• Solid white patch on rump and base
of wings
• Will fly out to catch insects in air,
and will store food
• Frequents mature stands of forest,
especially with oak
• Statewide, but is accidental in
Trans-Pecos
Northern Flicker
• Can climb trees and pound, but prefers
to forage for ants and other insects on
the ground
• Call is strong “peah” often accompanied
with “wik wik wik” or “wika wika wika”
• More likely in open wood or edge
situations
• Statewide; less common in the
Pineywoods.
MARK KLYM
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
• Brownish body with barred, black and
white back and wings
• Gold nape and nasal bridge
• Prefer wooded areas
• Ranges from uncommon to common
statewide, but absent from Pineywoods.
In the Oaks and Prairies the Red-bellied
Woodpecker would be much more common,
while in the Pineywoods the Red-bellied
Woodpecker replaces the golden-fronted.
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
• Small black-and-white striped wood-
pecker with a distinctly patterned face
• Male has red crown extending to the eye
• Prefers scrub
• Common statewide, but absent in
Pineywoods
Eastern Phoebe
• Most likely in woodlands and along
edges near water
• May occasionally be seen eating
small fruit
• Call is two rough, whistled notes
resembling “phee-bee”
• Statewide
Vermilion Flycatcher
• Fond of open bushes and trees
near water
• Call is a whistled “peent.” Song is a
series of trills and whistles
• Accidental in Pineywoods; very rare
on Edwards Plateau in December.
Common to uncommon statewide
Blue Jay
• Bright blue back, gray face and
breast, white belly, black highlights
• Large, loud, aggressive bird
• Edge bird often associated with
mixed or coniferous woodlands
• Call resembles “jeer”
• Statewide but scarce to absent in
Trans-Pecos and South Texas
Western Scrub-Jay
• Blue back with gray patch across
shoulders
• Pale gray streaking on breast
• Found in dense brushy areas.
Associated with oak or juniper
• Harsh, scratchy call
• Absent from Pineywoods;
accidental in South Texas
American Crow
• Large, overall black bird with short
tail and moderately heavy bill
• Often found in groups foraging
on ground
• Distinctive “caw, caw” call
• Present statewide, but scarce in
Edwards Plateau, South Texas
and Trans-Pecos
Chihuahuan Raven
• Longer-winged and heavier-billed
than crows
• Somewhat shaggy throat feathers
• Slightly rising “graak” call
• Absent from Pineywoods; accidental
in Oaks and Prairies
Carolina Chickadee
• Small gray bird with black cap and
bib, white cheeks
• Raucous “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call
• Absent to rare in Trans-Pecos, where
it is replaced by Mountain Chickadee
Black-crested Titmouse
CHRIS HUNT
• Gray back, buffy side, black crest,
pale forehead
• Call a very angry “ti ti ti sii sii zhee
zhee zhhe”
• Absent from Pineywoods; uncommon
in Oaks and Prairies, where it is
replaced by the Tufted Titmouse
• Feeds on seeds and insects gleaned
from leaves and branches
CHARLES H. WARREN
Tufted Titmouse
• Gray crest and black forehead distin-
guish it from Black-crested Titmouse
• Song a loud “peter peter peter”; call a
scratchy “tsee-day, day, day,” almost
chickadee-like
• Deciduous forests, swamps and
orchards are preferred habitat types
• Replaces Black-crested Titmouse in
High Plains and Rolling Plains, Oaks
and Prairies, and East Texas Pineywoods
Verdin
• Gray bird with yellow head
• Gleans insects from twigs and flowers.
• Call a high-pitched “tseewf”
• Absent from Pineywoods; rare in Oaks
and Prairies
Carolina Wren
• Feisty little red bird with abundant
striping on wings and tail—tail often
held vertically
• Prominent white eye stripe bordered
by black
• Long, pointed black bill
• Song is loud “teakettle, teakettle,
teakettle, tea”
• Common to abundant statewide
Bewick’s Wren
• Small, gray to red-gray bird with long,
striped tail often held high to near
vertically
• Prominent white eye stripe
• Gray on side of neck
• Fond of dense, brushy habitats
• Song is an elaborate series of whistled
phrases and trills; call is raspy and
scolding
• Scarce in Pineywoods; common to
abundant otherwise
USFWS
House Wren
• Small brown bird with short, striped tail
• Eye stripe very pale to nearly absent
• Gardens, hedgerows and brushy woods
are favored
• Very bubbly song. Call is a sharp “chek”
• Very rare to common statewide
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
USFWS
• Very tiny bird—about the same size as
the common species of hummingbirds
in Texas
• Male crown is seldom seen
• Call a quick “di-dit.” Song a jumble of notes
usually starting with “tsees” followed by
“tur” and ending with “tee-dah-let”
• Usually gleans from the end of branches
• Statewide
Eastern Bluebird
• Blue back, orange-red throat and
breast, white belly
• Found in groups in fields and open
USFWS
woods, may be seen perched on over-
head lines or in trees
• During winter may be feeding on small
fruit; also eats insects
• Song a warbling whistle “tu-wheet-
tudu”; also dry chatter
• Uncommon to common statewide.
In west more likely to be replaced by
Western or Mountain Bluebirds
Hermit Thrush
• Brown-gray bird with heavily spotted
breast; reddish tail
• Prefers somewhat open brushy habitat
• Song starts with a whistle followed by
monotone warble
• This is a migrant, often arriving during
hunting season in small numbers
American Robin
TPWD
• This is the familiar bird with the gray
back, black head and bright red breast
• Eats insects but will also take fruit
• Call a sharp “chup”; song a melodious
“cheerily, cheerup, cheerup, cheerily,
cheerup”
• Becomes more common in late winter
Northern Mockingbird
• Our state bird is very common to
abundant statewide
• Gray overall, darker on back, large
white patches in wing
• Thin, dark line through the eye
• Song varies as this bird “mimics”
sounds heard; is very repetitive
• Open ground with shrubby vegetation
is preferred
Brown Thrasher
• Song variable phrases usually uttered
twice. Call note a thick “tchuck”
• Thickets and brushy woodland edges
are preferred habitat types
• Statewide; less common in Edwards
Plateau, South Texas Brushlands and
Trans-Pecos
Orange-crowned Warbler
• Song is a fast trill changing in pitch,
while call is a sharp “chip”
• This bird is closely associated with
shrubs and trees
• Rapid moving bird that flits among the
tips of tree branches gleaning insects
• Statewide
White-crowned Sparrow
USFWS
• Distinctly striped head with
central, rufous stripe bordered by
black stripes, and white crown
immediately above eyes
• Song a clear whistle with buzzes
and trills
• Likely to be found in weedy,
brushy areas
• Migrant species increasing in
numbers later in the winter
CHASE FOUNTAIN
White-throated Sparrow
• Song is “Oh Sam Peabody Peabody
Peabody”; call is a “tseep”
• Dense cover along woodlots, fencerows,
swamps, weedy fields, etc.
• Statewide
Northern Cardinal
• Call is a sharp “chip”; song a clear
“cheer, cheer, cheer, what, what, what”
• Brushy habitats in open areas
• Common statewide
Meadowlarks
• The two species of meadowlark are very
difficult to distinguish except by sound
• Large, striped birds with yellow breast
and belly, black bib, long pointed bill
• Grassy habitats where they prefer to
perch on fences or in bushes
• Also called “field larks”
• Eastern Meadowlark song is plaintive;
clear whistles slurred and usually
descending at the end
• Western Meadowlark song is rich, flutey
whistles ending in gurgling whistles
• Common to abundant statewide
Common Grackle
• Song is a harsh, unmusical “readle-eek”;
call a harsh “chack”
• Open woodland, swamps and marshes,
and agricultural areas are likely
locations for this bird
• While closely related, this is not the
urban Great-tailed Grackle that people
often dislike
• Rare in the Trans-Pecos but can be
found statewide
Brown-headed Cowbird
TPWD
• Found in woods, edges or open fields,
especially if livestock is present
• Usually found in large flocks
• Male has a brown head over black body;
female gray-brown overall
• Stout bill; eats seeds and arthropods
• Common to abundant statewide
Red-winged Blackbird
TPWD
• Male distinctive black bird with large
red patch on wing
• Female nondescript striped bird with
thick bill
• Male distinctive “kon-ka-ree” call
• Seldom far from water; prefers moist,
marshy areas
• Common to abundant statewide
Summary
The diversity (numbers and different kinds) of birds
found in any location will be very dependent on the
habitat available to the animals. Understanding the
habitat, and the role of different features in the bird’s
life, will help you not only to find more birds but also
to become a better conservationist. Understanding
the bird behavior will help you to understand and
predict changes in the habitat around your home and
help you to conserve and protect the natural beauty of
your region. Good birding.
For More Information
Texas Parks and Wildlife bird publications
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/huntwild/
wild/species/nongame
Birding in Texas State Parks
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/parks/
things-to-do/birding-in-state-parks
World Birding Center
www.theworldbirdingcenter.com
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
www.allaboutbirds.org
USGS Patuxent Lab
www.pwrc.usgs.gov
Audubon Texas
http://tx.audubon.org
Texas Ornithological Society
www.texasbirds.org
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
www.tpwd.texas.gov
©2016 TPWD PWD BR W7000-1673A (5/16)
In accordance with Texas State Depository Law,
this publication is available at the Texas State Publications
Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.
