Many birds can be seen in Texas. The variety of terrains in Texas make it an excellent state to birdwatch in. Most of the birds found in Texas are migratory and can only be seen during certain seasons. However, some birds, such as the mockingbird and the crow can be seen year-round.
Year-Round Birds
Morning doves are gray-brown and have black spots on the wings. Other doves are white or gray. The tails are long and pointed. The doves make a cooing or hooting sound similar to an owl’s call. However, the coos are only made during the day. Crows live in every area in Texas, both in city and rural conditions. The crows are large and can be a bluish black or ink black. Their cries sound very dry and irritating. The mockingbird is the state bird of Texas and is seen throughout the state. Mockingbirds have gray or black wings. When the wings open in flight, white stripes are seen on the underside of the wings. These birds can mimic many different bird calls and can sometimes mock whistles or even traffic sounds.
Seasonal Birds
A blue jay is a common sight in the spring and summer. The blue jay is a bright blue bird with black and white markings along the wings. The bill is very sharp, and a Mohawk of black feathers spouts from its head. Robins can be seen all over Texas in the spring and summer. It has a red breast, black head and a brown or gray back. The legs of this bird are brown or orange. Cardinals are a common sight in the spring. A cardinal is a bright red bird, with a large tuft of feathers sprouting from the crown of the bird’s head. The bird has a black face, and will sometimes have black feathers on other places around its body. The female cardinals are not as bright as the males.
Southern Birds
The golden-fronted woodpecker has a gold belly. It has black and white stripes along its back. The rump of this woodpecker is all white. The golden-fronted woodpecker is seen in the Hill Country and in South Texas. The black crested titmouse is a small bird with a pointed tail. The bird is gray with a black tuft of feathers over the head.
Eastern Birds
The ruby-throated hummingbird is often seen in East Texas. Humming birds are smaller than a fist, and have extremely long bills. The ruby-throated hummingbird has a red throat and brilliant green feathers. The red-bellied woodpecker is seen in East Texas. The red-bellied woodpecker has a red front, and a white rump with brown or black speckles. The downy woodpecker is seen in the far east of Texas. This bird has black and white wings with a white back. It also has a black and white face, with a small red tuft at the top of the head.
Western Birds
The black-chinned hummingbird is seen in West Texas. It has a green back and a black chin. The bird is about the size of a small mouse, and has a long bill. The screech owl is seen in forests in West Texas. The screech owl can be brown or red, and has two tufts of feathers above its head like horns. The owl can made a piercing screeching sound, from which it gets its name.
Year-Round Birds
Morning doves are gray-brown and have black spots on the wings. Other doves are white or gray. The tails are long and pointed. The doves make a cooing or hooting sound similar to an owl’s call. However, the coos are only made during the day. Crows live in every area in Texas, both in city and rural conditions. The crows are large and can be a bluish black or ink black. Their cries sound very dry and irritating. The mockingbird is the state bird of Texas and is seen throughout the state. Mockingbirds have gray or black wings. When the wings open in flight, white stripes are seen on the underside of the wings. These birds can mimic many different bird calls and can sometimes mock whistles or even traffic sounds.
Seasonal Birds
A blue jay is a common sight in the spring and summer. The blue jay is a bright blue bird with black and white markings along the wings. The bill is very sharp, and a Mohawk of black feathers spouts from its head. Robins can be seen all over Texas in the spring and summer. It has a red breast, black head and a brown or gray back. The legs of this bird are brown or orange. Cardinals are a common sight in the spring. A cardinal is a bright red bird, with a large tuft of feathers sprouting from the crown of the bird’s head. The bird has a black face, and will sometimes have black feathers on other places around its body. The female cardinals are not as bright as the males.
Southern Birds
The golden-fronted woodpecker has a gold belly. It has black and white stripes along its back. The rump of this woodpecker is all white. The golden-fronted woodpecker is seen in the Hill Country and in South Texas. The black crested titmouse is a small bird with a pointed tail. The bird is gray with a black tuft of feathers over the head.
Eastern Birds
The ruby-throated hummingbird is often seen in East Texas. Humming birds are smaller than a fist, and have extremely long bills. The ruby-throated hummingbird has a red throat and brilliant green feathers. The red-bellied woodpecker is seen in East Texas. The red-bellied woodpecker has a red front, and a white rump with brown or black speckles. The downy woodpecker is seen in the far east of Texas. This bird has black and white wings with a white back. It also has a black and white face, with a small red tuft at the top of the head.
Western Birds
The black-chinned hummingbird is seen in West Texas. It has a green back and a black chin. The bird is about the size of a small mouse, and has a long bill. The screech owl is seen in forests in West Texas. The screech owl can be brown or red, and has two tufts of feathers above its head like horns. The owl can made a piercing screeching sound, from which it gets its name.