35 Backyard Birds in Texas
What birds will you see in your backyards in Texas? This article will help you identify the most common backyard birds in Texas.
Which backyard birds of Texas can you spot on your birdfeeders and what kind of birds should you look for on the ground? What kind of birdseed should you be using? All these questions will be answered.
This article will help you to identify common backyard birds in Texas for all seasons. We will explain what to look for by color, shape, and size. We will also include a picture so you can refer to this guide when you can’t identify a bird in your backyard.
Depending on the time of year it is, there are over 650 bird species in Texas. The most-seen backyard birds in Texas are European Starlings, American Crows, Great-tailed Grackle, Mourning Doves, Summer Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Barn Swallows, DownyWoodpeckers, and White-winged Doves.
Texas became the first state in 1927 to vote and delicate a state bird. the Northern Mockingbird was the choice of the people because it is loyal to Texas staying during its hot summers and cold winters although it migrations from other states to Mexico for the winter. The mockingbird is known for its singing and can mimic over 200 songs. You will see Northern Mockingbirds all over the state of Texas year-round.
1. Northern Mockingbird
Scientific Name: Mimus polyglottos Size: 10 inches
Description And Field Marks
Mockingbird bodies are grayish brown with white wing bars, (2 on each wing). Their breasts are slightly paler (may look whiteish) than their bodies. Mockingbirds have small heads, long legs, and long thin bills.
Nesting
The male builds several nests in trees and shrubs usually 3 to 10 feet but could go higher. The female will choose which nest she will lay her eggs.
Northern Mockingbirds lay 2 to 6 eggs which are pale blue or white in color with spots of red or brown. The incubation period is around 2 weeks and the young will remain in the nest for about 2 weeks.
They have between 2 to 3 broods a mating season and the male will continue to feed the young from the first brood when the female will lay eggs for the second brood, which she will choose enough nest for.
Diet
Northern Mockingbirds will eat insects during the summertime and will switch to fruit and berries during the fall and winter.
Habitat
Mockingbirds are very common in Texas. They can be found all over the state. Common places to see them are along your fence, in trees, on scrubs, and on utility lines.
Song And Call
2. white-winged doves
Scientific Name: Zenaida asiatica Size: 11 inches
Description and Field Marks
White-winged doves are larger than mourning doves, with a blue-gray head, neck, and upper breast, and a brownish-gray back and wings. They have distinctive white patches on their wings, which are visible both when perched and in flight.
White-winged doves have a short, thick bill that is pale blue-gray in color. The tail is long and squared at the tip.
Nesting
White-winged doves typically nest in trees and shrubs, especially in areas with dense vegetation. They build their nests in the fork of a branch between 6 and 30 feet above the ground. The nest itself is a platform made of twigs, grasses, and leaves, and is often quite flimsy and loosely constructed.
White-winged doves typically lay two eggs per clutch. The eggs are white and oval-shape. Both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs for approximately 14 days until they hatch.
Diet
White-winged doves are primarily granivorous, meaning they eat mainly seeds. They have a preference for seeds from various species of trees, including mesquite, acacia, and other legumes. They also eat seeds from grasses and other herbaceous plants. In addition to seeds, they may also consume fruits, berries, and small insects.
White-winged doves are known to be opportunistic feeders and may visit bird feeders that offer seeds, cracked corn, or millet. They are also attracted to areas with abundant food sources, such as agricultural fields, orchards, and urban parks.
Habitat
The white-winged dove can be found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
They are common in Texas and can be found throughout the state year-round, especially in urban and suburban areas. They are more abundant in the southern and western regions, where there is suitable habitat, including brushy areas, riparian zones, and agricultural fields.
Call and song
The call of a white-winged dove is a series of low-pitched, mournful coos that gradually increase in tempo and volume.
3. red-bellied woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus Size: 9.4 inches
Description And Field Marks
Red-bellied Woodpeckers can be identified by their red belly (hence the name) and black and white stripes down their back. Male Red-bellied Woodpeckers also have a red cap, but females only have napes of red.
It’s big, it’s loud, and it will peck on your siding.
Nesting
Red-bellied Woodpeckers also build nests in dead trees and make the same nest each year. They lay up to 4-5 eggs on top of wood chips inside the nest cavity. The eggs hatch after about 2 weeks, and the young birds leave the nest after about 4-5 weeks
Diet
Red-bellied Woodpeckers devour spiders, insects, and seeds from grasses, fruits, and nuts. They are especially fond of acorns and beech nuts. In fact, they play an important role in dispersing these seeds since they often cache (or store) more food than they can eat in one sitting.
Loves suet, peanut butter, and peanuts.
Habitat
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are found in all Eastern US states, and they don’t migrate. This means that you can see them in your backyard all year round! They tend to stay close to the ground and can often be found in birdfeeders, specifically in wooded areas.
Call And Drumming
4. northern cardinal
Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis Size: 8.3-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
A male cardinal is bright red in color and the female is a brownish color with red on its wings. The male’s crest is also longer than the female’s. They both have a thick finch bill with black around their faces.
The Northern Cardinal is a songbird and males sing from high perches to attract mates. They are very territorial and will defend their territory from other Cardinals
Nesting
These birds like dense, thick foliage like pines, junipers, and shrubs to build their nests in. They average about 3 eggs each spring; the eggs are white but could have a hint of blue, green, or brown. The eggs can also have colored speckling of gray, brown, or red. They are incubated for around 11 to 13 days. Both parents will feed their young for a few months until they are able to survive on their own.
Diet
The Northern Cardinal is a seed eater, eating seeds from the ground or off plants. They also eat insects, fruits, and berries when available.
Cardinals are frequent users of feeders and are attracted by wild bird seed mix, black-oil sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds.
Habitat
The Northern Cardinal is one of the most common and popular backyard birds in the eastern half of the United States. The Northern Cardinal is found in Texas year-round.
Bird Note
It is often said that when a “cardinal appears a loved one is near”, so the cardinal brings peace of mind to many.
Song And Call
5. blue jays
Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata Size: 9.8-11.8 inches
Description And Field Marks
Blue jays are easily identified by their blue feathers, white cheeks, and large crest on top of their head. They are large birds with a wingspan of about 20 inches.
They are loud and noisy, but other birds trust them to notify them of danger. Jays are one of the species that will mob hawks and owls and pin them down in trees, alerting all the birds in the area that a predator is nearby.
Blue jays are brilliant birds and have a wide range of vocalizations. They are known to mimic other birds, animals, and even humans. Blue jays will also use their intelligence to solve problems.
Nesting
Blue Jays build their nest 10 to 25 feet above the ground, mostly in trees by any V branches. However, once I had a blue jay build their nest near the light next to my front door. That was crazy as we couldn’t use our front door during that time because they would dive down at us if we went near the door.
The nest is a cup-like structure made of grass, twigs, and mud. Although both the male and female gather material for the nest, the female does most of the building while the male does most of the gathering.
There are usually 2 to 7 eggs that are light brown in color with darker brown spots on them. The incubation period is 17-18 days and the young remain in the nest from 17 to 21 days.
The nesting season is from March to July. Although the Blue Jay can have 2 broods each season, they usually only have one.
Diet
Blue Jay’s diet consists of nuts, fruits, and insects. They will also eat bird seed from backyard feeders and they have been known to steal food from other birds
Jays love whole peanuts. Toss a handful on your lawn or patio and watch what happens. They fly away with their peanuts and leave the feeders alone for a while.
Habitat
Blue Jays are quite common birds in Texas. They can be found in suburban areas, parks, and forests. They can be found year-round in the northeast but they tend to migrate south for the winter months.
Bird Note
Jays have been known to mimic a Red-tailed Hawk call to keep small birds away from a food source, screeching to clear the birds off the bush with the tasty berries and then swooping down into the bush to feed after the competition’s been chased off.
Song And Call
6. house sparrow
Scientific Name: Passer domesticus Size: 5.9-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The House Sparrow differs from another American Sparrow as they are not related. They have a rounder head and are chunkier, with a bigger chest, short tails, and thicker bills.
Like most other female birds, she is duller than the male, brown with dirty gray and brown underparts with striped backs in brown, black, and buff.
Male House Sparrows are chunky with a round head, stout bill, and full breasts. Colors include gray crowns, dark brown necks, white cheeks, black bibs, and gray crowns.
Nesting
House sparrows nest in cavities and use a variety of materials to build their nests. They are not known for being picky about where they nest, so if you have a birdhouse or an old nest box in your yard, it might attract house sparrows. House sparrows nest in cavities in trees or buildings.
The female lays 3-8 eggs. The incubation period is 10-14 days and the young stay in the nest for 10 to 14 days.
Diet
They eat seeds, grains, and insects. Sparrows will definitely be at your feeder eating birdseed, sunflower seeds, millet, and milo.
Habitat
The House Sparrow lives where people live. You will find them in cities and towns, in backyards and parks.
Song And Call
7. Carolina Wren
Scientific Name: Thryothorus ludovicianus Size: 4.7-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
A lot of birds packed into a tiny body. Carolina Wrens are aggressive and loud and have no issue chasing off larger birds from their neighborhood. Small, brown bird with creamy-colored breasts, distinctive white eye stripe, white wing bars, and a cocked-up tail.
Nesting
The Carolina Wren will nest in any pockets they can find about 3 to 6 feet above the ground. They look for nest pockets on your property such as an old flower pot, stumps, pales, propane covers, etc.
Both the male and female build the nest out of leaves, twigs, grasses, straw, paper, or whatever they can find. They also built several nests and then choose the one they want. They cover 3 sides of the nest with only an entrance to get in and out.
The Carolina Wren has 1 to 3 broods a mating season and lays 3 to 7 eggs each time.
The eggs can be one of several colors (white, cream, pink) but all have small brown spots on them. The incubation period is about two weeks and the young remain in the nest for an additional two weeks.
Diet
The Carolina wren mostly eats insects and spiders. On occasion, they will eat some plant material and seeds.
Habitat
The Carolina Wren can be found in bushes and trees. It can also be found on the ground.
The Carolina Wren is a common bird and can be seen year-round in Texas.
Song And Call
Carolina Wrens have a lot to say. If you hear something that sounds like a finger running down a comb, that’s a Carolina Wren. The easiest call to learn is the “Tea Kettle, Tea Kettle, Tea Kettle” call.
8. American Robins
Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius Size: 7.9-11.0 inches
Description And Field Marks
The American Robins has a gray-brown back and wings, with white underparts. It also has a short tail and a pointed bill for catching insects in flight or on the ground. Males have a red patch on their breasts and a black head, throat, and upper chest. Females are duller looking than males with less contrast in colors.
They prefer an open country with scattered trees and shrubs. It is found in a variety of habitats, including farmland, grasslands, parks, yards, and gardens.
Nesting
The American Robin makes its nest in a tree or shrub, usually near water. The female Robin lays four to six eggs and both parents take turns sitting on them. The eggs are solid bright blue in color. The eggs hatch in about two weeks and the chicks leave the nest after another week or so.
Diet
They eat worms and insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and crickets. It also eats fruit and berries in the summer. They don’t do feeders but love to find bugs and worms in the grass all around your yard.
Habitat
The American Robin is found in eastern North America, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It is also found throughout the United States and southern parts of Canada, including most of Alaska.
The American Robin can be seen year-round in northern Texas and during winter in southern Texas.
Song And Call
They are very early-morning singers. Listen for their call
9. red-winged blackbirds
Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus Size: 6.7-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The male red-winged blackbird is a large blackbird with white underparts and red wings. It has an orange-red patch on its shoulder and long pointed wings. But not all Red-winged Blackbirds have red wings. Some may have yellow or orange epaulets on their wings.
The female red-winged blackbird is striped and brown-streaked in color.
Red-winged blackbirds are usually active during the day, but they may be seen at night near lights.
Nesting
A red-winged blackbird’s nest is usually in a marsh or near water, but they have also been found on flat roofs and even in chimneys.
Their nest is made of twigs, grasses, and hair. They are lined with finer grasses, rootlets, or horsehair. The female lays 4 to 6 eggs that are a pale blue-green color. They also have black, brown, and purple speckles all over them. They are incubated by both parents for about 12 days. The young leave the nest after 14 days.
Diet
They are known to eat insects and seeds, including corn, wheat, and other grains. They also eat berries from shrubs and trees like elderberry, mulberry, wild grape, or honeysuckle.
Habitat
The red-winged blackbird is seen in Texas all year round and is very common in many of our backyards.
Bird Note
You’ve heard the expression “Birds of a feather flock together”? Always check flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds for Common Grackles, European Starlings, and Brown-headed Cowbirds. These birds are often found together in large flocks.
Song And Call
Red-winged blackbirds can often be heard singing from a perch high in a tree or on power lines.
They have a loud, clear whistle that sounds like “fee-bee” and they also make a variety of cackling and chattering noises.
10. European starling
Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris Size: 7.9-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The European Starling is the size of a Robin and from a distance looks all black. However, they have a purplish-green iridescent color to them when you see them up close. Their yellow bill stands out and they have short tails.
You often see them in large flocks with blackbirds and grackles.
Nesting
Starlings will take other birds’ nests and use them as long as they are high off the ground, usually in trees, on streetlights, buildings, or nest boxes. The male will find these nests and will add twigs, pine needles, grasses, and feathers. Females will add greens to the nest before laying 3 to 6 eggs.
Both the male and female will incubate the eggs for a period of around 12 days. The egg color is bluish to greenish white. The young will stay in the nest for about 3 weeks.
Diet
European Starlings eat mostly insects but will also eat fruits. In addition, they will eat seeds, nectar, garbage, and livestock feed.
Habitat
They live where humans are, in towns and cities, and roost in trees and on buildings, also you will see them on wires. They like open fields and lawns and are not far from a water source.
Bird Notes
A fun fact about the European Starling is that all North American birds descended from 100 birds that in 1890 were intentionally released into Central Park in New York City. Today they have a population in North America of over 2 million.
Song And Call
The European starling is a highly sociable bird. It lives in flocks of up to 100 birds, and its calls include whistling and chattering noises.
11. house finch
Scientific Name: Haemorhous mexicanus Size: 5.1-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The House Finch is a small bird with a length of 7.5 inches and a weight of 5 ounces. The male House Finch has a brown back, wings, tail, and head with white underparts and varying shades of red around the head while the female is grayish-brown all over.
Nesting
House Finches build their nest anyway as long as it’s 12 to 15 feet above the ground usually in buildings and trees. Nests are made of grass, weeds, twigs, and leaves. The female builds the nest while the male will feed her during this time and incubation.
The eggs are pale blue with lavender and black dots and consist of 2 to 6 eggs. The incubation period is 13 to 14 days. Both the male and female feed their young for the 12 to 15 days they remain in the nest.
House Finches usually have 3 broods each year.
Diet
House Finches like to eat small worms, insects, seeds of small plants, and berries of some plants as well. They will visit the bird feeders often and really love sunflower seeds. They will also visit your Hummingbird feeders for the sugar water.
Habitat
Seen throughout North America, the House Finch is a very social bird and is usually seen in flocks except during mating season. You will find them in cities, suburban towns, and farmland. They love lawns, weedy areas, and trees but not dense forests.
Bird Notes
If the bird you’re looking for has a raspberry or light pink body check to see if it’s a purple finch.
Song And Call
The House Finch has a high-pitched sound that the male House Finch mostly uses to attract the female for breeding.
12. ruby-throated hummingbirds
Scientific Name: Archilochus colibris Size: 3.8 inches
Description And Field Marks
Tiny, brightly-colored bird with a huge bill. Males are bright green with a ruby-red throat and a black facial stripe; the female is bright green above with a white throat. Fast fliers that appear like large bees while in flight.
The hummingbird is one of the few birds that can fly at night because it has excellent eyesight. It uses its long bill to catch insects to eat.
It can fly up to 35 miles per hour. These tiny birds can fly up, down, sideways, and even backward.
Nesting
The Hummingbird’s nest is very tiny, about 2 inches wide and 1 inch deep. It is made in trees about 40 feet high on branches out of thistle, spider silk, and pine resin. It takes the female a little over a week to make.
The female usually lays 2 tiny white eggs. The incubation period is 12-14 days and the young remain in the nest between 18 and 22 days.
Diet
Hummingbirds love bright flowers, and they have Hummingbird bushes that will attract them to your backyard. They will come to special Hummingbird feeders with nectar which is white sugar and water. They sell the nectar in stores, but you can also make it yourself.
Please don’t buy the red colored one as it can be harmful to the birds.
Habitat
Everyone loves to see hummingbirds in their backyards. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common species in Texas. It is easy to identify because of its iridescent red throat and the fact that it can hover like a helicopter while feeding.
Call And Wingbeat
13. cedar waxwings
Scientific Name: Bombycilla cedrorum Size: 5.5-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
In the spring males sport bright red feathers on their wings that give them the name Cedar waxwing. They have a yellow ban on the tip of the tail. Cedar waxwings are small birds, averaging only 5.5 inches long.
Nesting
They have a unique way of building their nest: they use the sticky saliva from their mouths to bind the twigs together.
The nests are made of twigs and lined with grass, hair, or rootlets.
They build their nests in trees and shrubs, usually at a height of about 20 feet, and lay three to five eggs.
The male and female both incubate the eggs for about 12 days, but once hatched, both parents feed the young.
Each brood of chicks will have two to three broods a year.
Diet
During the winter months, Cedar waxwings feed on fruits and berries, but they switch to insects in the spring.
They eat berries, nectar, and insects.
Habitat
Found during winter, the non-breeding season in Texas, the Cedar waxwing can be identified by its dark brown body, white belly, and yellow undertail coverts.
Song And Call
14. downy woodpecker
Scientific Name: Dryobates pubescens Size: 5.5-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Downy Woodpecker is bigger than a junco or House Finch but smaller than a Red-winged Blackbird. It has a black-and-white striped head and black wings with white spots and a solid white back and white underparts. The Downy Woodpecker has a black tail with white outer tail feathers with black bars or spots. The male has a small red spot on the back of his head.
Nesting
Look for their nest in dead trees or live trees with dead areas. They carve out an area large enough for the eggs and the bird. They line the nest only with wood chips. The nest can take weeks to make and is done by both the male and female.
A Downy woodpecker only has one brood each year with 3 to 8 eggs which are white in color. The incubation period is around 12 days with both the male and female taking turns. The young will stay in the nest for around 30 days.
Diet
Mostly Downy Woodpeckers eat insects. The male tends to eat from the ground while the female likes to find insects from branches and in trees. They will also eat seeds, weeds, and fruit.
The Downy Woodpecker will visit your backyard feeders for suet and nuts.
Habitat
The Downy Woodpecker is a common bird found throughout Texas in places where there are trees. You will see them in residential areas, cities, farmland, and wooded areas.
Call And Drumming
15. eastern phoebe
Scientific Name: Sayornis phoebe Size: 5.5 to 6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Eastern Phoebe is another songbird with a plump body and large head, It has a dark head with a grayish-brown body. It has a white breast.
Nesting
Females built the nests usually 15 feet above the ground on roofs, streetlamps, under overhangs, or any place protected from the elements.
She lays 2 to 6 white eggs. The incubation period is about 15 days with a nesting period of 15 to 20 days.
Diet
The Eastern Phoebe eats insects but occasionally will eat seeds.
Habitat
The Eastern Phoebe breeds in North America in wooded areas near water. They are found in Texas year-round.
Song And Call
16. American crows
Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos Size: 15.8-20.9 inches
Description And Field Marks
The American Crow is not a crow at all. It is actually a raven, but it has been called the “American Crow” for many years. This all-black bird has shiny feathers. The bill is also black with a hook on the end. The male is slightly more glossy than the female.
The American crow is smaller than the fish crow.
Nesting
The American Crow doesn’t breed until it’s between 2 and 4 years old. The “family” stays together for years, so some of the “kids” will help raise the next year’s brood.
Their nests are in large trees mostly evergreens. Both the male and female will make the nest out of large twigs lined with pine needles. The nest is big around 15 inches across and 7 to 10 inches deep.
They usually lay 3 to 9 eggs which are bluish-green in color with gray and brown blotches at either end.
The incubation period is 16 to 18 days, and the young remain in the nest anywhere from 20 to 40 days.
Diet
The American Crow will eat just about anything including seeds, nuts, worms, and small animals such as mice. They will also steal and eat eggs from other birds like robins, sparrows, loons, jays, and eiders. They will even eat garbage from the dumps.
Habitat
The American Crow can be seen throughout the United States but differ in size by region. Eastern crows are the ones you will see in Oklahoma throughout the year and are larger than what you will see on the west coast. In Florida, the American Crow is smaller but has large feet. And the Northwestern Crow once thought to be a different species is smaller with a deeper voice.
It is common to see them on lawns, open fields, woodlands, parking lots, and in towns as well as in cities.
Bird Notes
The American Crow is an aggressive bird that will chase many large birds like eagles and hawks. Many times you will see them in flocks of up to 1000 birds.
Song And Call
17. brown-headed cowbird
Scientific Name: Molothrus ater Size: 7.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
Chunky, dark-eyed blackbird with short tails and thick bills. Adult males are glossy black with iridescent brown heads. Females are brown with light streaks on the belly.
Nesting
Brown-headed Cowbirds nest in trees, but there is no nest-building involved. Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are parasites – they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. In many cases, larger Cowbird nestlings will push the other species’ eggs or chicks out of the nest. Parasite hosts raise the Cowbird chick as their own.
Diet
Seeds, grasses, and insects make up most of the Brown-headed Cowbird’s diet. Females add snails and eggs from nests they parasitize; they need the extra calcium because they lay so many of their own eggs in other birds’ nests.
Brown-headed Cowbirds will come to feeders, usually with Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and European Starlings that sometimes overwhelm household feeders.
Habitat
Brown-headed Cowbirds can be found pretty much everywhere but in heavy forests. They got their name by foraging among herds of grazing buffalo and cattle.
In Winter, Brown-headed Cowbirds can be found among the large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and European Starlings.
Bird Notes
The much smaller Yellow Warbler’s nests are targets for Brown-headed Cowbirds, but the Yellow Warbler has figured out a way to deal with this. Since they are too small to just push the Cowbird egg out of the nest, they build another nest on top of the Cowbird egg, smothering it and allowing their own eggs to hatch without intruders.
Song And Call
18. yellow-rumped warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata Size: 4.7-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The males are dark gray, with white on their wings, and yellow on their faces, sides, and rump. The east coast male could have a white throat instead of the yellow one. The females are duller and could be brown instead of gray with less yellow.
Nesting
Females built their nests in pine trees with materials brought to them by the male. She lays 1 to 6 white-speckled eggs. The incubation period is 12 to 13 days with a nesting period of 10 to 14 days.
Diet
The yellow-rumped warblers eat insects during the summer.
Habitat
In Texas, you will see the yellow-rumped warbler in winter during the non-breeding season as the breed in the north. They like open areas, such as parks, woodland pine forests, dunes, and residential areas.
Song And Call
19. Carolina chickadee
Scientific Name: Poecile carolinensis Size: 3.9-4.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Carolina Chickadee is a tiny bird with a short neck, large head, and long and narrow tail. It has a black cap and bib with white cheeks. The rest of its body is a light gray.
Nesting
Carolina Chickadees nest in nest boxes so if you have these in your backyard you can attract a breeding pair. Both the male and female choose the nest location however the female will add a lining of hair and moss.
The Carolina Chickadee only has one brook per season. The female lays 3 to 10 white eggs with small dots. The incubation period is 12 to 15 days and the young remain in the nest for another 16 to 19 days.
A fun fact about these birds is that more than half of all breeding pairs will stay together for several seasons.
Diet
During the summer, the Carolina Chickadee mostly eats small insects and spiders. They can hang upside down on a tree to get insects from the bark.
During the winter in addition to insects, they will eat from your bird feeders. They like sunflower seeds and suet. They also like peanuts.
Habitat
Carolina Chickadees are found in open areas, woods, parks, cities, and suburban areas.
In Texas, you will see the Carolina Chickadee year-round.
Bird Facts
It’s very hard to tell the difference between the Black-Capped Chickadee and the Carolina Chickadee besides that the Black-capped Chickadee lives in the northern states and the Carolina Chickadees are in the southern states.
The Black-capped Chickadees are a little larger with a longer tail and a brighter white line on their cheek and neck. Their bodies can be darker and more white on their wings. Unless they are side by side you probably won’t be able to tell the difference.
Song And Call
20. barn swallow
Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica Size: 5.9-7.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Barn Shallow is the size of a sparrow but what stands out about them are their long, pointed wings and long, forked tail. The color on their face and back is cobalt blue and tawny on their underparts. Its throat and chin are rusty to orange. Males are more brightly colored than females.
The barn swallow is the most common swallow in the world. They are known for flying very low over the ground and water.
Nesting
Both the male and the female build their nests by making cup shapes of mud on rafters, eaves, and cross beams of barns and sheds, or even bridges. They sometimes use nests from previous years too.
Barn Shallows have 1 to 2 broods per season with 3 to 7 cream-pinkish eggs with brown, lavender, and gray spots. The incubation period is 12 to 17 days with the nesting period being between 15 to 27 days.
Diet
Barn Shallow diet consists of all types of flying insects including flies, needs, and moths. They caption most of their food while flying. They will also eat eggshells and oyster shells from the ground when humans put them out.
Habitat
Barn Swallow likes to be in open areas such as fields, parks, and roadways. You will also see them in marsh areas, along coastal waters, ponds, and meadows. They breed in the United States and Southern Canada and fly south would for the winter.
You will see them in Texas during the spring and summer months.
Bird Notes
To attach them to your backyard leave eggshells and oyster shells on the ground or build platform feeders. Also by building platforms for nesting. If you have outbuildings on your property such as barns and sheds you can leave the doors and windows open so the barn swallows can build their nests inside. Having some mud around also helps them build their nests.
Song And Call
21. mourning dove
Scientific Name: Zenaida mactoura Size: 9.1-13.4 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Mourning Dove is a medium-sized bird from the dove family. It has a rusty brown color and a few black spots above the wings. They can reach up to 12 inches in body length while their wingspan can be up to 18 inches.
Nesting
The pair of Mourning Doves is monogamous and they usually mate for life. They use old nests of other birds or build their own nest on top of a post, tree branch, or even on the ground.
Mourning Doves lay two white eggs and incubate them for 13 days. The male also feeds her during this time. The young will leave the nest after 15-16 days.
Diet
Mourning Doves eat seeds and grains that are found in the backyard. They also eat insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles.
Mourning Doves are one of the vacuums of the bird world, so they don’t eat from feeders but from what falls on the ground when other birds use your feeder.
Habitat
The Mourning Dove is frequent in most parts of the United States.
Song And Call
22. American goldfinches
Scientific Name: Spinus tristis Size: 4.3-5.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The American Goldfinch is a small, sparrow-sized bird with a short, notched tail.
In Spring and Summer, the male has a bright yellow body, black wings with wing bars, and a heavy, finch-like bill, while the female is less boldly colored. In winter both males and females become dull green-gray and look like female House Finches.
Goldfinches are very social birds and often travel in flocks. They fly in a rolling up-and-down pattern, and their song is high-pitched and mellifluous.
Nesting
Nesting later than most birds in this area (late June), the American Goldfinch hides its nests in thick brushes and shrubs making them very hard to see. The nests look like cup-like structures made of grasses, seeds, and soft materials on top of the twigs in the brushes.
The female lays 2 to 7 eggs which take 12 to 14 days to hatch. The young are fed by the male and stay in the nest for 11 to 17 days. Depending on how late the pair mates, they can mate again having two broods in a season.
Diet
They love Nyjer and sunflower seeds year-round, but will also eat a finch seed blend. Finch feeders have very small openings and can be either rigid feeders or disposable nylon socks.
Habitat
They are year-round residents and are found in most areas of North America. However, those that breed in Canada and the Midwest migrate to the southern US States for winter.
American Goldfinches are spotted in Texas in winter during the non-breeding season.
Bird Note
In winter, check your finch feeder for Pine Siskins, which look like sparrows with yellowish accents.
Song And Call
23. Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula Size: 6.7-7.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Baltimore oriole is a common backyard bird. Look carefully for it as it spends most of its time high in the treetops and is often hard to see.
The Baltimore oriole is a medium-sized bird. It has black plumage, orange body feathers, and bright yellow underparts. The male oriole has a large patch of orange on the back of its neck and two black spots on each side of its head.
The female oriole has a black patch on the back of her neck and one spot on each side of her head. The female is duller than the male and sometimes has a brownish tinge to the black feathers.
Nesting
The female builds in nests usually in elm trees, maples, and cottonwoods. The nest changes like a sock from a branch and is woven with slender fibers. The male protects the nest.
The female will lay between 3 and 7 pale grayish eggs. The incubation period is 11 to 14 days and the young will remain in the nest for an additional 11 to 14 days.
Diet
The Baltimore Oriole eats insects and worms. They are also common visitors to feeders, where they will eat fruit and suet, grape jelly, and nectar.
Habitat
In Texas, you will see Baltimore Orioles during migration.
Song And Call
24. pine siskins
Scientific Name: Carduelis pinus Size: 4.3-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
Pine siskins are small finches with a thin, sharply pointed bill, a notched tail, two dusky wing bars that fade to white over time, flight feathers with yellow bases, brown upperparts, pale underparts with heavy streaks over their body, short, forked tails, conical beaks that are longer and more slender than other finches, and yellow patches on their tails and wings, with white streaks appearing on the wings as well. The male also has more vivid plumage than the female.
Nesting
The pine siskin typically builds its nest in a conifer, usually low in the tree, and lays 3 or 4 pale green eggs, lightly speckled with dark brown and black. The nest is a shallow saucer of bark, twigs, and moss lined with plant down and feathers.
The female will incubate the eggs for about 13 days and the young will leave the nest after 14-15 days.
Diet
Pine siskins are mostly granivorous, feeding mainly on small seeds such as those of thistle, red alder, birch, spruce, hemlock, pine, cedar, dandelions, chickweed, ragweed, and sunflower. They may also feed on insects, spiders, and larvae.
Pine Siskins feed readily at backyard feeders, preferring smaller seeds without tough shells like thistle and black-oil sunflower, but they will scavenge fragments of larger seeds left by heavier-billed birds, and will occasionally eat suet.
Habitat
Pine Siskins typically breed in coniferous forests in most of Canada, the northern and western parts of the United States, and Alaska
In the non-breeding season, they can be found in northern Texas as well as the continental United States. During winter, Pine Siskins can be found in many types of semi-open areas, including forest edges and weedy fields.
Call And Song
The Pine Siskin has a range of song and calls notes, including a high-pitched, quick chitter, a distinctive, harsh “watch-winding” call, and a tuneful “sweeet” sound. When communicating with other siskins, the males make a sharper, high-pitched, elongated “zweeeee” sound. Females have a low-pitched, husky call that can be heard over long distances.
25. eastern bluebird
Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Size: 6.3-8.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Eastern Bluebird is a small size bird that belongs to a family of North American songbirds known as the Turdidae. The Eastern Bluebird is mostly found in farmlands, orchids, gardens, and open woods.
The male bluebird is mostly blue with a rusty color throat and chest. The female is much duller with a grayish head and back and bluish wings and tails. Its breast is light orange-brown and its dirty white belly.
Nesting
Nests are made by the Eastern Bluebird in the holes of trees, like pine and dead trees. The Eastern Bluebird lays three to five eggs at a time and incubates them for around 12 days. The chicks become mature in 12 to 15 days
Diet
It will definitely visit the feeders, the Eastern Bluebird eats small fruits, berries, seeds, and worms. Worms and insects are the major food items for the grown-up Eastern Bluebird.
Habitat
Eastern bluebirds are mostly found in the northern part of the United States. They are also found in Canada and Mexico. They can be seen year-round in Texas.
Song And Call
The Eastern Bluebird produces a beautiful melody with its vocals.
26. great-tailed grackle
Scientific Name: Quiscalus mexicanus Size: 16 to 18 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Great-tailed Grackle is one of the largest members of the blackbird family and has a stocky build with a long, slender beak and a strong, slightly curved bill. Adult males have glossy black plumage overall, including their head, body, and wings. Females have a more muted plumage with dark brown feathers that have a lighter streaked appearance. They both have yellow eyes
One of the distinctive field marks of the Great-tailed Grackle is its exceptionally long, keel-shaped tail. The tail feathers are broad and deeply forked, with the central feathers being longer than the outer ones. The male’s tail is particularly long and can be up to half the length of its body.
Nesting
Great-tailed Grackles tend to place their nests in colonies, where multiple nests are found in close proximity to one another. They build their nests primarily in trees, bushes, or other elevated structures. They are known for constructing large, bulky nests made of twigs, grasses, leaves, and other plant materials.
The female Great-tailed Grackle takes the primary responsibility for constructing the nest, while the male may assist by providing materials. Once the nest is built, the female lays between 3 to 6 pale bluish or greenish eggs with darker speckles.
Both the male and female share the incubation duties, taking turns to keep the eggs warm. Incubation typically lasts around 12 to 14 days. After hatching, both parents participate in feeding and caring for the chicks until they fledge, which occurs after about 2 to 3 weeks.
Diet
Great-tailed Grackles’ diet consists of a variety of food items including insects, seeds, grains, ripe fruits, and berries.
They have been observed feeding on agricultural crops such as corn, rice, wheat, and sunflower seeds. In urban areas, they may scavenge from bird feeders or gather seeds from lawns and gardens.
Habitat
Great-tailed Grackles are often found in agricultural landscapes, particularly during the breeding season when they forage in open fields. They have adapted well to urban environments and are often seen in cities and towns. You can find them in parks, parking lots, shopping centers, and residential areas.
Great-tailed Grackles are highly social birds and often form large flocks, particularly during the non-breeding season.
Great-tailed Grackles are commonly found throughout Texas year-round.
Call and Song
They are known for their vocalizations, which include a variety of calls, squawks, and whistles.
27. white-crowned sparrows
Scientific Name: Zonotrichia leucophrys Size: 5.9-6.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
On the larger size for a sparrow, the White-Crowned Sparrow was a long tail and a small bill and its head appears peaked. Its colors are a pale gray bird but the crown has a bold black and white stripe. You can also identify them from their bills which are pale pink east of the Rockies and yellow to orange bill west of the Rockies and along the Pacific Coast.
Nesting
The white-crowned sparrow mostly nests below 10 feet from the ground in shrubs. The female builds the nest out of twigs, grasses, hair, and leaves. It takes between 5 to 9 days to do this.
The female lays 3 to 7 greenish to blue-greenish eggs. The incubation period is 10 to 14 days with a nesting period of 8 to 10 days. The birds will have between 1 and 3 broods each breeding season.
The pair stays together for the breeding season but will winter separately. About 2/3 will find each other again the following season to breed.
Diet
The birds’ diet mainly consists of weeds and grasses but they will eat insects and caterpillars during the summer. They will also eat grains such as corn, and bailey and fruits such as blackberries and elderberries.
Habitat
The white-crowned sparrow loves scrubs up to 10 feet tall and you will see them hopping from the ground to the shrubs. During winter you will mainly see them in weedy fields, thickets, farms, and in backyards.
You will see White-Crowned Sparrows during the winter, the non-breeding season, in Texas.
Call And Song
Most of the time when you hear the White-Crowned Sparrow singing it’s the male. They learn to sing within the first few months of their lives, usually where they were born and will have different dialects. Some will be able to sing in more than one dialect.
28. ruby-crowned kinglets
Scientific Name: Corthylio calendula Size: 3.5-4.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
These tiny songbirds flicker around bushes and shrubs in your backyard. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are olive green in color with white around the eyes and white wings with a black bar in the wings. They have small, thin tails and strong tiny bills.
The male Ruby-crowned Kinglet will show its “red crown” only when excited otherwise it is invisible.
Nesting
The female and male pair will stay together during the building of the nest to when the young leave the nest, about two months. The female builds the nest in tall trees usually over 100 feet high in dense forests.
The Ruby-crowned kinglets have one brood per breeding season with up to 12 eggs. The eggs are white with red-brown spots on the ends. The incubation period is 12 to 14 days and the young remain in the nest for an additional 16 to 18 days.
Diet
Ruby-crowned kinglets mostly eat insects including spiders, ants, beetles, and wasps. They will also eat seeds and fruit when available. They will come to your backyard feeders to eat seeds during the non-breeding season.
Habitat
The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet visits Texas during the nonbreeding season as they fly south in the winter. Look for the constant movement in their wings as they like dense bushes, as well as parks and backyards.
During the breeding season, they will stay in dense pine forests in the western United States and throughout Canada.
Song And Call
29. rufous hummingbird
Scientific Name: Selasphorus rufus Size: 3.5-4 inches
Description and Field Marks
The Rufous Hummingbird has a compact and streamlined body with short wings and a relatively long, slender bill. Adult males have striking and distinctive plumage with the head, back, and sides of the neck covered in iridescent orange-red or rufous feathers. The throat is also a vibrant reddish-orange color, often with a shimmering metallic appearance.
The rest of the underparts, including the belly and undertail coverts, are whitish with a rufous or orangey wash. The tail of the Rufous Hummingbird is relatively long and straight, consisting of slender, pointed feathers which appear forked in flight.
Nesting
Rufous Hummingbirds typically build their nests in forested areas, higher elevations, such as mountainous regions and coniferous forests. The nest is a tiny cup-shaped structure, typically constructed using soft plant materials.
The female Rufous Hummingbird typically lays a clutch of 2 tiny white or slightly off-white in color eggs about the size of a jelly bean. The female incubates the eggs for about 14 to 16 days and takes care of the young for 18 to 22 days until they fledge.
Rufous Hummingbirds are known for their fierce territorial behavior, and males play no role in nest-building or incubation.
Diet
Rufous Hummingbirds have a high metabolic rate and need to consume food frequently to meet their energy demands. Their diet primarily consists of nectar and small insects, making them important pollinators for various flowering plants.
Habitat
Rufous Hummingbirds typically migrate through Texas during their fall migration from late August to early December. They may also pass through Texas during their spring migration from mid-February to late April.
To increase your chances of spotting them, look for areas with suitable habitats and a diversity of flowering plants.
Call and Wingbeat
30. black-chinned hummingbirds
Scientific Name: Archilochus alexandri Size: 3.5 to 4 inches
Description and Field Marks
The male black-chinned hummingbird has a glossy dark green or blackish throat, which gives it its name. When the light hits the throat at the right angle, it may appear iridescent with shades of purple or violet. The upperparts are green, while the underparts are pale gray or white. The tail feathers are dark with white tips, creating a noticeable pattern during flight.
Female black-chinned hummingbirds have a more subtle appearance. They typically lack the dark throat of the males and have a plain pale gray or white throat and underparts. The upperparts are green, similar to the males.
Nesting
Black-chinned hummingbirds nests in shrubs, trees, or other vegetation. The nest is built by the female and is small and compact, resembling a cup or cone shape.
The female lays two tiny eggs, which are about the size of jelly beans. She incubates the eggs, taking turns to keep them warm and leaving the nest periodically to feed. The incubation period lasts 14 to 19 days. Once the eggs hatch, both the male and female are involved in feeding and caring for the young hummingbirds. The young birds remain in the nest for about 18 to 23 days until they fledge.
Diet
The diet of the black-chinned hummingbird primarily consists of nectar from flowers, but they also consume small insects and spiders for additional nutrients.
Habitat
The black-chinned hummingbird breeds in western parts of North America, including the western United States and parts of Mexico. During the winter, they migrate to southern Mexico and Central America.
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a common resident in southern Texas and the second most commonly seen hummingbird in the state. They breed in Texas and may remain year-round on the Gulf Coast.
Call and Wingbeat
31. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Selasphorus platycercus Size: 3.5 inches
Description and Field Marks
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are small, colorful birds that are found in western North America. Males have iridescent green feathers on their backs and crowns, with a bright red patch on their throat (known as a gorget) that flashes in the sunlight. Females are duller in color, with a green back and white underparts. Both sexes have a relatively short, straight bill and a forked tail.
They are agile fliers, able to hover in place and fly forwards, backward, and upside-down.
Nesting
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds typically nest in the branches of deciduous trees, shrubs, or occasionally coniferous trees. The female Broad-tailed Hummingbird builds the nest by herself using plant fibers, spider webs, and other fine materials and shapes it into a small cup.
She typically lays 2 small white eggs, which are about the size of a pea. The female alone incubates the eggs, which usually takes about 16 to 18 days. After hatching, the young hummingbirds stay in the nest for about 18 to 21 days, during which time the female feeds them with nectar and insects.
Diet
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds primarily feed on nectar from flowers. They are particularly attracted to flowers that are red, pink, and orange in color. In addition to nectar, they also feed on small insects and spiders, which provide them with protein and other nutrients.
Habitat
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds prefer montane and subalpine forests, as well as open meadows and scrubland. They are commonly found in the Rocky Mountains and other mountainous areas of the western United States.
In Texas, the best time to see Broad-tailed Hummingbirds is during migration in spring and fall, when the birds are passing through the state
call and Wingbeat
32. Summer Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga rubra Size: 7 – 7.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Summer Tanager is a medium-sized songbird known for its vibrant plumage. Their bills are thick and pointed, with a pale gray color. Its eyes are dark and usually appear black.
Adult male Summer Tanagers have striking red plumage. Their entire body, including the head, back, wings, and tail, is a vivid, uniform red. The intensity of the red can vary, with some individuals appearing more orange or even reddish-brown. They have dark, almost black wings and a short, notched tail.
Female Summer Tanagers and immature birds have different plumage. They are not red like the males but instead, have a primarily olive-yellow or olive-green coloration. The females may have hints of red or orange on the wings, tail, or underparts.
Nesting
Summer Tanagers typically build their nests in the upper branches of deciduous trees, often near the forest edge or in open woodlands. The female is responsible for nest construction while the male defends the territory. The nest is a cup-shaped structure made of twigs, grasses, bark strips, and other plant materials.
Once the nest is completed, the female lays a clutch of 3-5 eggs. Both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs, which typically lasts for about 12-14 days. They both participate in feeding and caring for the nestlings. The nestlings grow rapidly and leave the nest after about 9-12 days. They may continue to receive parental care and be fed by the adults for a short period after fledging.
Diet
Summer Tanager has an insectivorous diet, primarily feeding on a wide variety of insects and occasionally supplementing its diet with fruits and berries.
Habitat
Summer Tanagers inhabit a variety of forested habitats, including deciduous woodlands, mixed forests, riparian areas, and open woodland edges. They are often found in areas with large trees, especially oaks.
Summer Tanagers are present in Texas year-round, but their abundance increases during the breeding season, which typically begins in April and extends through August. They are more common in the eastern parts of Texas and less common in central and western Texas, but they can still be found in suitable habitats.
Call and Song
They have a distinctive song, which is a series of short, robin-like phrases with a raspy, hoarse quality. The song is often described as “chip-burrr” or “peter-peter-peter.”
33. Painted Bunting
Scientific Name: Passerina ciris Size: 4.7-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
A painted bunting is a small, brightly-colored member of the cardinal family native to North America.
The male Painted Bunting is a truly remarkable sight, boasting an impressive array of colors. It has a blue head and nape, a bronze-green back, and a red rump and underparts. The wings and tail are dark brown or black, creating a stark contrast to the rest of the body. The back of the male has a bright stripe of blue, which stands out clearly against the bronze-green colors. This glossy blue stripe is a key feature of the male Painted Bunting and serves as a distinguishing feature when trying to identify this unique bird.
Females and juveniles are bright green with pale rings around their eyes. The males are considered by many to be North America’s most beautiful bird, and they are popular visitors to bird feeders.
Nesting
Painted buntings breed in the coastal Southeast and in the south-central U.S. They also breed in areas from Texas to Mississippi and north to Kansas, and have a breeding area centered in the coastal Carolinas.
The painted bunting builds a cup nest of plant stems, leaves, and other materials, bound together with spider webbing and usually fixed on a shrub or other fairly low plant. The nest is typically hidden in low, dense vegetation and is built by the females and woven into the surrounding vegetation for strength.
Clutches of 3-4 eggs are incubated by the female for 11-12 days and the hatchlings are brooded for around 12-14 days. There can be 1-3 broods per year, and the female alone cares for the young.
Diet
Painted buntings are both granivores and insectivores. They mainly feed on grass and sedge seeds, forbs as well as small invertebrates like spiders, snails, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. These birds are also known to eat insects caught in spider webs.
In addition, they will visit bird feeders for small seeds like millet and nyjer thistle, especially when they cannot find their preferred food sources.
Habitat
Painted buntings prefer brushy vegetation in open areas such as roadside thickets and edges of fields, as well as backyard gardens. They are known to forage for grass seeds and insects on the ground, and will occasionally steal prey caught in spider webs. In summer, they often inhabit secondary growth or edge habitat with dense understory. To attract painted buntings to a yard, plant native shrubs, and grasses, and provide a bird feeder with millet seed and a protective cage, as well as a birdbath with a fountain.
Call And Song
Male painted buntings are known for their distinctive and beautiful singing. They sing in a variety of high-pitched warbles, while female painted buntings typically do not sing at all.
34. Chipping sparrow
Scientific Name: Spizella passerina Size: 4.7-5.9 inches+
Description And Field Marks
Chipping sparrows are small brown sparrows with plain breasts and long tails. There is a difference between breeding and non-breeding birds. The breeding birds have a reddish cap and a white brow with dark eye lines. The non-breeding has a brown cap, duller dirty gray breast, a dark eye line, and a grayish rump.
Usually found in trees around your property. You will hear them before you see them.
Nesting
The chipping sparrow nests in dense shrubs or small trees near the ground. It is often found nesting under bird feeders.
The female builds the nest out of grass and other plant material and then lines it with hair or fine grasses. The nest is usually built on a horizontal branch in dense shrubs or small trees.
The female lays 3 to 5 eggs at a time and the young hatch after 11 days of incubation. Both parents feed the chicks until they are ready to leave the nest, usually after about 12 days.
Diet
The chipping sparrow diet consists of seeds, insects, and spiders. Occasional visitors to your suet and black-oil sunflower seed feeder.
Habitat
The chipping sparrow is a common bird and can be found in Texas during the spring and summer for the breeding season.
You will find them in the woods, especially where there are pine trees. Other common places to see them are on backyards lawns, in cities, towns, and farms. During the fall and winter, you will often see them in flocks.
Song And Call
The song is more of a rattle.
The chipping sparrow has two calls: a sharp chip and a long, high-pitched trill.
35. Western Kingbird
Scientific Name: Tyrannus verticalis Size: 8.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Western Kingbird is a migratory bird commonly found throughout western North America. It is a yellow-bellied species of the kingbird genus and is distinguished from other kingbirds by its distinctive white underside and forked tail.
The western kingbird is easily identifiable with its small black bill, dark eyes, black legs, and feet, and an orange-red central crown patch that is often hidden from view. It has an ashy gray head, neck, and breasts, dark lores and white malar, dark coverts, and an olive green back. The tail is black and square with white edges, and the belly and undertail feathers are bright yellow. Juveniles are paler overall.
Nesting
The Western Kingbird builds a cup-shaped nest made of grasses, roots, weed stems, and other vegetative material, lined with finer grasses, hair, feathers, and other softer material. It is usually built in the branches of a tree or shrub, but may also sometimes use man-made structures such as utility poles or building ledges.
The female lays between 3 and 7 eggs, with an average clutch size of 4 eggs. The Western Kingbird typically produces 1 to 2 broods per year on average.
The incubation period is roughly 18 to 19 days and the nesting period is about 16 to 17 days. Both parents fed the young after hatching and will continue to feed and protect the young for a few weeks after they have fledged from the nest.
Diet
Western Kingbirds are predominantly carnivores and insectivores, eating mostly flying insects such as bees, robber flies, winged ants, and grasshoppers. They also consume fruits, berries, and seeds from buckthorn, sumac, and poison ivy as well as grains, nuts, and other fruits.
Habitat
The Western Kingbird can be found in open areas with scattered trees, utility poles, or man-made structures, such as telephone poles and buildings.
They are found in western North America, from the Río Grande valley and northwest Mexico to southern Canada. They are also found east of the Mississippi River and have been known to cross over into parts of Wisconsin and Illinois. There are seen in Texas during the spring and summer breeding months as they migrate south for the winter.
Call And Song
What Are The Best Ways To Attract Backyard Birds?
1. Put Out Bird Feeders
There are many different types of bird feeders available on the market, each designed to attract different types of birds. The most popular bird feeders include tube feeders, hopper feeders, platform feeders, and window feeders.
Tube feeders are long and cylindrical in shape, with small holes near the top where birds can insert their beaks to reach the bird seed inside. Hopper feeders are similar in shape to tube feeders but have a large opening at the top where birds can perch and eat. Platform feeders are flat surfaces with raised edges, upon which birds can land and eat the bird seed placed there. Window feeders are designed to be attached to windows so that birds can eat right up close to your home.
The type of bird food you put inside your birdfeeder will also depend on the type of birds you want to attract. Bird food includes sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Some tips on how to put out your birdfeeder include using a squirrel-proof design and making sure that the feeder is level so that the seed does not spill out.
2. Add A Water Source
Adding a water source to your backyard is a great way to attract birds. Water is essential for birds, and they will be drawn to any backyard that has a water source. Birdhouses are also a great way to attract birds. Solar fountains are also a good option for attracting birds. These emit a gentle flow of water that will attract birds to your yard.
3. Offer Birdhouses
Building a birdhouse is a great way to attract birds to your yard. There are a few things to consider when building a birdhouse, such as the size and shape of the house, and what type of bird you want to attract.
The most important thing to remember when building a birdhouse is to make sure the entrance hole is the right size for the type of bird you want to attract. If the hole is too small, the bird will not be able to get inside, and if it is too large, predators will be able to get in.
Once you have decided on the size and shape of your birdhouse, you can start construction. It is important that the house is made out of sturdy materials that will withstand weathering and decay. Some good choices for materials include cedar or redwood for the exterior and plywood or pine for the interior.
After your birdhouse is built, you need to decide where to place it. The best location for a birdhouse is in an open area away from trees or other structures that could block access or provide perches for predators. Once you have found the perfect spot for your new house, simply mount it on a pole or post using screws or nails. Make sure that the house is secure so that it does not fall and hurt any birds.
4. Add Native Plants
Native plants are more effective in attracting backyard birds because they provide the birds with the type of food that these birds prefer. By adding native plants to your backyard, you can help promote a healthy ecosystem that supports both bird species and insects. Grow native plants that offer food, shelter, and fruit for the birds. Non-native plants can outcompete native plants and disrupt the ecosystem, so it’s important to select plants that will be beneficial to your backyard birds.
Conclusion
We just covered some of the many backyard birds in Texas. If you want more information on any of these birds or numerous other birds that you can see in Texas, check out the Texas Audubon Society.
Happy birdwatching!
