Exploring Nature: Ten Birds

There are 10 birds that every Texan should be familiar with, birds so common that they are found in most backyards around the state.

First is the mourning dove, a bird with a long, pointed tail, generally gray brown overall with large black spots on the wings. It is among our largest dove species and its song is a soft, mournful cooing that helped give it its name. Some folks say this song sounds like “who cooks for you?”

Second is the eastern screech owl, a bird found in two colors forms, gray and red. Our area has more grays. It is easily identified by its primary song, usually heard late in the evening and which sounds a bit like a descending horse whinny.

Third is the golden-fronted woodpecker, a bird found in the Texas Hill Country and South Texas brush lands. It sports black and white stripes with a red cap and golden or orange-yellow nape. It has a large white rump.

Fourth is the blue jay, a large blue and white bird with a black mask and necklace. It has a long blue tail with white edging and a plain gray breast.

Fifth is the black-crested titmouse, a small gray bird with a distinguishing black crest. This unique bird is limited to the Hill Country, South Texas and a very small portion of the Rolling Plains.

Sixth is the Carolina chickadee, a small gray bird with a long tail, black cap and bib, white cheeks and a buff colored belly. It is found throughout eastern Texas.

Seventh is the northern cardinal. The male is a bright red, with a black mask, long tail and red bill, while the female is a mostly brownish gray with a dull orange crest.

Eighth is the Carolina wren, an eastern bird which sports a redbrown back, mid-length tail, white eye stripe and a pointed, slightly down-curved bill.

Ninth is the Bewick’s wren, a bit browner than the Carolina wren and also with a longer tail that is tipped in white at the corner.

Tenth, and final bird is the northern mockingbird, which is our state bird and is gray with white patches on the wings and tail. It is found statewide, has a melodious song and can mimic any number of sounds.

If you are not familiar with all these, do take a minute to look them up in a bird book.

No Texan should be ignorant of these basic birds.