South Texas Birds

The following species can be found on this page with a short description to help indentify them.

TIP:double click your mouse on any word for instant word definition 

 lark, swallow, wren, woodthrush, catbird, warbler, waxwing, sparrow, bunting, oriole,  meadowlark, pipit, goldfinch, common yellowthroat and more...

1. Horned Lark
   Eremophilaalpestris
     7-8" (18-20 cm).larger than a sparrow,brown,with black stripe below eye, white or yellowish stripe above, black crescent on breast, and black "horns" (not always seen). Walks rather than hops. In flight, tail is black with white edges.
2. Barn Swallow
   Hirundo Rustica
     5 3/4-7 3/4" (15-20 cm). Sparrow-sized. Our most familiar swallow, and the only one with a deeply forked tail. Upperparts dark steel-blue, underparts buff, throat and forehead rusty.
3. Cave Swallow
   Petrochelidon fulva (Hirundo fulva)
     5 1/2" (14 cm). A stocky swallow with a square tail, steel-blue upperparts, buff throat and rump, and chestnut forehead.
4. Cliff Swallow
   Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Hirundo pyrrhonota)
     5-6" (13-15 cm). Sparrow-sized. A stocky, square-tailed swallow with pale buff rump. Upperparts dull steel-blue; underparts buff-white; throat dark chestnut; forehead white. Southwestern birds have chestnut foreheads.
5. Purple Martin
   Progne subis
     7-8 1/2" (18-22 cm). Our largest swallow. Adult male dark steel-blue. Female and immature male duller above, pale gray below. Overhead, similar in shape to European Starling, but flight more buoyant and gliding.
6. Bank Swallow
   Riparia riparia 
   4 3/4-5 1/2" (12-14 cm). Sparrow-sized; our smallest swallow. Brown above, dull white below; breast crossed by distinct brown band; tail notched. Northern Rough-winged Swallow is warmer brown, with dusky throat and without brown breast band.
7. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
   Stelgidopteryx serripennis 
   5-5 3/4" (13-15 cm). Pale brown above, white below, with dingy brown throat. Bank Swallow is similar, but smaller, and has white throat and brown breast band.
8. Tree Swallow
   Tachycineta bicolor
    5-6 1/4"(13-16 cm). Sparrow-sized. Metallic blue or blue-green above and clear white below. Young birds are dull brown above but may be distinguished from Bank and Northern Rough-winged swallows by their clearer white underparts.
9. Verdin
   Auriparus flaviceps
   4-4 1/2" (10-11 cm). Gray with yellow head, throat; chestnut patch at bend of wing; white underparts. Juveniles lack both yellow and chestnut coloration of adults and are distinguishable from Bushtit by shorter tail.
10. Cactus Wren
    Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
     7-8 1/4" (18-21 cm). A starling-sized wren with spotted underparts, white eyebrows, rusty crown, and white spots on outer tail feathers.
11.  Marsh Wren
    Cistothorus palustris
     4-5 1/2" (10-14 cm). Smaller than a sparrow. Brown above, pale buff below, with bold white eyebrow and white-streaked back.
12.  Sedge Wren
    Cistothorus platensis
     4-4 1/2" (10-11 cm). A tiny, secretive wren of grassy marshes. Buff-colored, with finely streaked crown and back.
13. Bewick's Wren
    Thryomanes bewickii
    5 1/2" (14 cm). Gray-brown above, white below, with white eyebrow and long fan-shaped tail tipped with white.
14. Carolina Wren
    Thryothorus ludovicianus
    5 1/2" (14 cm). Rich brown above, buff below, with conspicuous white eyebrow.
15. House Wren
    Troglodytes aedon
    4 1/2 -5 1/4" (11-13 cm). A tiny bird with a short tail, often held cocked over the back. Dusky brown above, paler below, with no distinctive markings. Winter Wren is similar but smaller and darker, with shorter tail and pale eyebrow.
16. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
    Regulus calendula
    3 3/4-4 1/2" (10-11 cm). Tiny. Green, narrow white eye ring. 2 white wing bars with dark area beyond second. Males have tuft of red feathers on crown, kept concealed unless bird is aroused.
17. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
    Polioptila caerulea
    4 1/2 -5" (11-13 cm). Smaller than a sparrow. Tiny, slender, long-tailed bird, blue-gray above and white below, with white eye ring and broad white borders on black tail. Looks like a miniature mockingbird.
18. Veery
    Catharus fuscescens
     6 1/2 -71/4" (16-18 cm). Smaller than a robin. Uniform cinnamon-brown or rufous-olive above, with faint spotting on upper breast. Other thrushes in the genus Catharus are more heavily spotted below.
19. Hermit Thrush
    Catharus guttatus
    6 1/2 -7 1/2" (17-19 cm). Smaller than a robin. The only one of our brown, spotted thrushes with dull brown upperparts and a rusty tail. Frequently flicks its tail.
     
20. Gray-cheeked Thrush
    Catharus minimus
     6 1/2 -8" (17-20 cm). Dull olive-brown, with pale, spotted underparts; no rust color in plumage; sides of face tinged with gray; no eye ring. Gray cheeks. Other spotted thrushes show rust color on upperparts or tail.
21.  Swainson's Thrush
    Catharus ustulatus
     6 1/2 -7 3/4" (17-20 cm). Uniformly dull olive-brown or olive-russet above, spotted below, with buff eye ring and cheek. The Gray-cheeked Thrush is similar, but has grayish cheeks and lacks conspicuous eye ring.
22.  Wood Thrush
    Hylocichla mustelina
    8" (20 cm). Starling-sized. Brown above, bright rusty color on head, and white below with large blackish spots. Other brown thrushes have finer spotting on breast.
23.  Eastern Bluebird
    Sialia sialis
     7" (17 cm). Bright blue above and on wings and tail; rusty throat and breast; white belly and undertail coverts. Female similar, but duller.
24.  American Robin
    Turdus migratorius
    9-11" (23-28 cm). Gray above, brick red below. Head and tail black in males, dull gray in females. Young birds are spotted below.
25. Gray Catbird
    Dumetella carolinensis
     8-9 1/4" (20-23 cm). Smaller than a robin. A slender, long-tailed, dark gray bird with black cap and rusty undertail coverts.
26. Northern Mockingbird
    Mimus polyglottos
     9-11" (23-28 cm). Robin-sized. A slender, long-tailed gray bird with white patches on wings and tail.
27. Curve-billed Thrasher
    Toxostoma curvirostre
     9 1/2 -11 1/2" (24-29 cm). Pale gray-brown with long tail and strongly down-curved bill. Breast faintly spotted; eyes yellow to orange. 
28.  Long-billed Thrasher
    Toxostoma longirostre
    11" (28 cm). Jay-sized. Similar to Brown Thrasher, but darker and grayer on head and face, with longer bill, and with orange, not yellow, eye.
29.  Brown Thrasher
    Toxostoma rufum
    11 1/2" (29 cm). Rufous-brown above, white below with dark brown streaks. Curved bill, long tail; yellow eye. See Long-billed Thrasher.
30. European Starling
    Sturnus vulgaris
    7 1/2-8 1/2" (19-22 cm). Smaller than a robin. A short-tailed, chunky, iridescent black bird; long pointed bill, yellow in summer and dark in fall and early winter. Plumage flecked with white in winter. Juvenile is uniform dull gray with dark bill.
31. American Pipit
    Anthus rubescens
     6-7" (15-18 cm). Slender brown bird of open country. Crown, upperparts uniform brown; underparts buff with streaks; outer tail feathers white; legs usually black. Often bobs its tail, usually walks rather than hops.
32.  Sprague's Pipit
    Anthus spragueii
    6 1/4-7" (16-18 cm). Sparrow-sized. A slender-billed, streaked bird with white outer tail feathers, yellow legs. Rarely bobs its tail. American Pipit is similar, but has darker legs and unstreaked back; constantly bobs its tail.
33. Cedar Waxwing
    Bombycilla cedrorum
     6 1/2-8" (17-20 cm). Smaller than a robin. A sleek, crested, brown bird with black mask, yellow tips on tail feathers, and hard red wax-like tips on secondary wing feathers. Almost always seen in flocks.
34.  Bay-breasted Warbler
    Dendroica castanea
     5 1/2" (14 cm). Breeding male, chestnut cap, throat, sides; blackish face; conspicuous pale buff patch on side of neck. Upperparts streaked. Females, fall males, immatures are olive above, with 2 white wing bars; dark legs and often a trace of rust color on flanks.
35. Yellow-rumped Warbler
    Dendroica coronata
     5-6" (13-15 cm). Breeding male, dull bluish above, streaked black; breast, flanks blackish. Rump, crown, small area of breast yellow. West male, yellow throat, white wing patch. East male, white throat, 2 white wing bars. Females, streaked gray-brown, yellow rump.
36. Yellow-throated Warbler
    Dendroica dominica
    5" (13 cm). Gray, unstreaked upperparts, bright yellow throat, white belly, black-and-white facial pattern, heavy black streaks on sides. Sexes alike.
37.   Blackburnian Warbler
    Dendroica fusca
    5" (13 cm). Breeding male black and white with vivid orange throat, crown patch, and eyebrow; and large white wing patch; female similar, but has yellow throat. Back of both sexes boldly striped. Immature male similar to female.
38. Magnolia Warbler
    Dendroica magnolia
    5" (13 cm). Male bright yellow below with heavy black streaks, black facial patch, large white wing patch, and yellow rump. Female and immature birds similar, but duller. Broad white patches on sides of tail in all plumages.
39. Chestnut-sided Warbler
    Dendroica pensylvanica
     5" (13 cm). Sexes similar: yellow-green crown; long chestnut line on sides; white underparts; streaked back. Immatures uniform yellow-green above, dull whitish below, with white eye ring and yellow wing bars.
40.  Yellow Warbler
    Dendroica petechia
    4 1/2-5" (11-13 cm). Bright yellow with a light olive green tinge on back. Male has fine rusty streaks on breast. The only largely yellow warbler with yellow spots in the tail (not white).
41.  Pine Warbler
    Dendroica pinus
    5 1/2" (14 cm). Unstreaked olive above, with yellow throat and breast; blurry streaking below; white belly; inconspicuous eye stripe; 2 white wing bars. Female and immature similar but duller; often lack yellowish color on breast.
42.  Black-throated Green Warbler
    Dendroica virens
     5" (13 cm). Crown and upperparts olive green, throat and sides of breast black, face yellow. Female similar but duller.
43.    Common Yellowthroat
    Geothlypis trichas
    4 1/2-6" (11-15 cm). Olive-brown above, bright yellow on throat and upper breast. Male has bold black mask, bordered above with white. Females and young males lack face mask, but may be recognized by bright yellow throat and wren-like behavior.
44. Yellow-breasted Chat
    Icteria virens
     6 1/2-7 1/2" (17-19 cm). The size of a large sparrow. Olive green above, with bright yellow breast and white abdomen. Stout black bill; black face mask bordered above and below with white; white "spectacles." Tail long.
45. Black-and-white Warbler
    Mniotilta varia
     5" (13 cm). Black and white stripes, including crown. Male has black throat; female's throat white. Creeps on tree trunks.
46.  Kentucky Warbler
    Oporornis formosus
     5 1/2" (14 cm). Olive green above, bright yellow below; black forecrown, lores, and sides of throat; bright yellow "spectacles." No wing bars. Sexes similar.
47.  Mourning Warbler
    Oporornis philadelphia
    5 1/2" (14 cm). Similar to Connecticut Warbler-olive above and bright yellow below with a gray hood; no eye ring. Male has black patch below throat; female has gray throat.
48. mmatures usually have faint, broken eye ring.… read more
     Northern Parula
    Parula americana
     4 1/2" (11 cm). A small warbler; blue above with yellow-green "saddle" on its back, yellow throat and breast, and white belly; 2 white wing bars. Male has orange-brown chest band.
49.   Tropical Parula
    Parula pitiayumi
     4-5" (10-13 cm). A small, bluish-backed warbler with bright yellow underparts, 2 white wing bars, and patch of olive green in middle of back. Male has orange wash on breast. Northern Parula similar, but male has orange-brown breast band.
50.  Prothonotary Warbler
    Protonotaria citrea
    5 1/2" (14 cm). Male golden-orange with blue-gray wings; no wing bars; large white spots in tail. Female similar but duller.
51. Ovenbird
    Seiurus aurocapillus
    6" (15 cm). A terrestrial, thrush-like warbler. Olive green above, white below with dark streaks; conspicuous eye ring; orange-brown crown bordered with black stripes; pinkish legs.
52.  Louisiana Waterthrush
    Seiurus motacilla
     6 1/2" (17 cm). A terrestrial, thrush-like warbler. Dark olive-brown above, white and streaked below. Frequently bobs tail. Similar to Northern Waterthrush, but throat unstreaked and eyebrow longer, broader, and whiter.
53.  Northern Waterthrush
    Seiurus noveboracensis
     6" (15 cm). A terrestrial, thrush-like warbler. Olive-brown above; pale yellowish below with black streaks; narrow, yellowish-white eyebrow; streaked yellowish throat. Frequently bobs tail. 
54.  American Redstart
    Setophaga ruticilla
     4 1/2-5 1/2" (11-14 cm). Male black with bright orange patches on wings and tail; white belly. Females and young birds dull olive-brown above, white below, with yellow wing and tail patches.
55.   Orange-crowned Warbler
    Vermivora celata
    4 1/2-5 1/2" (11-14 cm). Olive green above with orange crown feathers, which usually remain hidden. Olive-yellow underparts with very faint breast streaking. No eye ring or wing bars.
56.  Nashville Warbler
    Vermivora ruficapilla
    4-5" (10-13 cm). Olive green above, bright yellow below, with top and sides of head gray, narrow white eye ring, and inconspicuous patch of rust on crown. Yellow throat, not gray or black, complete white eye ring.
57. Canada Warbler
    Wilsonia canadensis
    5" (13 cm). Solid gray above, without wing bars, yellow below; yellow "spectacles"; black-spotted "necklace" on breast. Female similar but duller, with only a trace of necklace.
58. Wilson's Warbler
    Wilsonia pusilla
     4 1/2-5" (11-13 cm). Adult male olive green above, yellow below, black crown patch. Most females, all young birds lack black crown, distinguished from other olive green warblers with yellow underparts by lack of wing bars, streaks, tail spots.
59.  Scarlet Tanager
    Piranga olivacea
     7 1/2" (19 cm). In breeding plumage, male brilliant scarlet with black wings and tail. In nonbreeding plumage, female and male olive green; male has black wings.
60.  Summer Tanager
    Piranga rubra
     7-8" (18-20 cm). Male solid rose-red with pale bill. Female pale olive green above, dull yellow below. Male Northern Cardinal has black face, conical red bill, and crest. 
61.   Botteri's Sparrow
    Aimophila botterii
     5 1/4-6 1/4" (13-16 cm). Similar to Cassin's Sparrow but more slender, browner, and less boldly streaked on upperparts, with a more conspicuous eyebrow and a slightly less conical bill.
62. Cassin's Sparrow
    Aimophila cassinii
    5 1/4-5 3/4" (13-15 cm). Fine brown streaking on grayish-brown head and back; dingy buff unstreaked underparts, with faint streaking on lower flanks occasionally visible. Sexes look alike. Young streaked on breast as well.
63. Grasshopper Sparrow
    Ammodramus savannarum
     4 1/2-5" (11-13 cm). A small, chunky grassland sparrow with clear buff breast and scaly-looking, dark rufous upperparts. Pale central stripe on crown; short, pointed tail.
64. Black-throated Sparrow
    Amphispiza bilineata
     5 1/4" (13 cm). Gray above, white below, with striking black throat and breast; 2 conspicuous white stripes on sides of head, 1 above and 1 below the eye. Sexes alike.
65. Olive Sparrow
    Arremonops rufivirgatus
    5 3/4" (15 cm). Unstreaked, dull olive green, with brown head stripes, buff breast, and whitish belly; no wing bars.
66. Lark Bunting
    Calamospiza melanocorys
     6-7 1/2" (15-19 cm). Breeding male black, large white wing patch. Female, immature, winter male streaked sandy buff above, white below, white eye line, faint "mustache" stripe, white wing patch (not always visible), rounded, white-tipped tail feathers.
67. Lark Sparrow
    Chondestes grammacus
     5 1/2-6 1/2" (14-17 cm). Head boldly patterned with black, chestnut, and white; streaked above; white below, with black spot in center of breast; tail black with white edges.
68.  Swamp Sparrow
    Melospiza georgiana
     5" (13 cm). A chunky dark sparrow with unstreaked underparts, bright rufous cap, and rusty wings; dark brown back and tail; gray face and breast; white throat.
69.  Lincoln's Sparrow
    Melospiza lincolnii
    5-6" (13-15 cm). Crown has 2 rusty stripes; gray eyebrow. Buff band, finely streaked with black, across upper breast. Similar to Song Sparrow, but more finely streaked and shyer.
70. Song Sparrow
    Melospiza melodia
     5-7" (13-18 cm). Heavy brown streaking on white underparts, with prominent central breast spot (sometimes lacking in juveniles). Subspecies, range from pale sandy to dark brown. Pumps its relatively long, rounded tail in flight.
71.  Savannah Sparrow
    Passerculus sandwichensis
     4 1/2-6" (11-15 cm). Pale and streaked, yellowish eyebrow and pinkish legs. Tail notched; other grassland sparrows have shorter, more pointed tails.
72.  Vesper Sparrow
    Pooecetes gramineus
    5-6 1/2" (13-17 cm). A grayish, streaked sparrow with white outer tail feathers, narrow white eye ring, and a small patch of chestnut on bend of wing.
73.    Clay-colored Sparrow
    Spizella pallida
     5-5 1/2" (13-14 cm). Streaked crown, buffy upperparts, clear gray breast; similar to an immature Chipping Sparrow but brighter, with rump brownish buff instead of lead gray, buff cheek patch bordered above and below with black.
74.  Chipping Sparrow
    Spizella passerina
     5-5 1/2" (13-14 cm). Upperparts brown, streaked with black; underparts, sides of face, and rump are gray. Adult has chestnut crown, white eyebrow, with thin black line through eye. Young birds have streaked crown, buff eyebrow, and duller underparts.
75.  Field Sparrow
    Spizella pusilla
     5 1/4" (13 cm). The combination of bright pink bill, rufous cap, white eye ring, and unstreaked buff breast distinguishes this from other sparrows.
76.  White-throated Sparrow
    Zonotrichia albicollis
     6-7" (15-18 cm). Upperparts streaked, underparts clear gray. There are 2 color forms, black/white head stripes, tan/black head stripes. Sharply defined white throat patch; dark bill. Females, young duller.
77.  White-crowned Sparrow
    Zonotrichia leucophrys
    6-7 1/2" (15-19 cm). Slender, generally erect posture. Crown has bold black and white stripes. Upperparts streaked, underparts clear pearly gray. Pink bill. Young, similar, but crown stripes buff, dark brown, underparts washed with dull buff.
78.  Northern Cardinal
    Cardinalis cardinalis
    8-9" (20-23 cm). Male bright red with crest, black face, stout red bill. Female buff-brown tinged with red on crest, wings, and tail. 
79. Pyrrhuloxia
    Cardinalis sinuatus
    7 1/2-8 1/2" (19-22 cm). Male gray with rose-red breast, crest, wings, and tail. Female similar but paler, and lacks red on the breast. Stubby, parrot-like, yellow bill.
80.  Blue Grosbeak
    Guiraca caerulea
    6-7 1/2" (15-19 cm). Slightly larger than a House Sparrow. Male dark blue with 2 chestnut wing bars and a stout, dark bill. Female dark buff-brown with 2 buff wing bars. Indigo Bunting similar, but is smaller, lacks wing bars.
81.  Painted Bunting
    Passerina ciris
     5 1/2" (14 cm). Sparrow-sized. Perhaps North America's most colorful bird: male has bright red underparts and rump, green back, blue head, and red eye ring; female bright green all over, paler below.
82.  Indigo Bunting
    Passerina cyanea
     5 1/2" (14 cm). Sparrow-sized. In bright sunlight male brilliant turquoise blue, otherwise looks black; wings and tail darker. Female drab brown, paler beneath.
83.  Rose-breasted Grosbeak
    Pheucticus ludovicianus
    8" (20 cm). Starling-sized. Heavy pinkish-white bill. Male black and white with conspicuous rose-red patch on breast and underwings. Female white above and below with heavy brown streaking; prominent white eyebrow; yellow wing linings.
84.  Dickcissel
    Spiza americana
    6" (15 cm). Male like miniature meadowlark (yellow breast with black V), but has heavy bill and chestnut wing patch. Female much like female House Sparrow, but with narrow streaks along sides, and yellowish throat and breast.
85. Orchard Oriole
    Icterus spurius
     7" (18 cm). Bluebird-sized. Adult male has chestnut body and black head, back, wings, and tail. Female yellow-green; immature male similar to female, but has black throat.
86.  Bronzed Cowbird
    Molothrus aeneus
     8 1/2" (22 cm). Male bronze-black with bluish-black wings and tail. Prominent red eye can be seen at close range. Female similar but duller. Brown-headed Cowbird smaller, with a distinctive brown head.
87.  Brown-headed Cowbird
    Molothrus ater
    6-8" (15-20 cm). Male black with glossy brown head; female plain gray-brown. Both have a finch-like bill.
88.  Eastern Meadowlark
    Sturnella magna
     9-11" (23-28 cm). Robin-sized. A stocky, brown-streaked bird with white-edged tail; bright yellow throat and breast, black V crossing breast. Western Meadowlark is very similar, but paler above, yellow of throat extends onto cheeks.
89.  Western Meadowlark
    Sturnella neglecta
    8 1/2-11" (22-28 cm). Robin-sized. Streaked brown above, bright yellow below, with a bold black V on breast. Very similar to Eastern Meadowlark, but upperparts paler, and yellow of throat extends onto cheeks. Best identified by voice.
90.  Yellow-headed Blackbird
    Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
    8-11" (20-28 cm). Robin-sized. Male much larger than female. Male is bright yellow on head, neck and upper breast, blackish elsewhere, with conspicuous white markings on wings. Female duller and lighter; yellow on chest, throat, and face; no white wing marks. 
91.   Lesser Goldfinch
    Carduelis psaltria
    3 1/2-4" (9-10 cm). Two forms of males: in southern range, black-backed; western range green-backed; black crown, white markings on black wing, tail, with bright yellow underparts. Female, similar to American Goldfinch, with dark rump.
92.  American Goldfinch
    Carduelis tristis
     4 1/2-5" (11-13 cm). Smaller than a sparrow. Breeding male bright yellow with a white rump, black forehead, white edges on black wings, tail; yellow at bend of wing. Female, winter male duller, grayer with black wings, tail; white wing bars.
93.  House Finch
    Carpodacus mexicanus
    5-6" (13-15 cm). Sparrow-sized. Most adult males bright red on crown, breast, rump. Female has plain, unstriped head and heavy streaking on light underside. Immature males less highly colored, often orangish or yellowish on head and breast.
94.  House Sparrow
    Passer domesticus
    5-6 1/2" (13-17 cm). Male has black throat, white cheeks, and chestnut nape; gray crown and rump. Female and young are streaked dull brown above, dingy white below, with pale eyebrow.     

area bird species sources : enature.com                                         

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