Wild Birds in Texas

The Texas Parks and Wildlife states that Texas has more bird species then any other state. Close to 600 types of birds call the state home each year. The state draws an abundance of bird watchers each year to see many species that are sighted no where else. Texas covers 275,416 square miles and is ecologically diverse, which attracts a number of unique species. The state has elevations of 8,000 feet that plummet to sea level. There are four categories of birds that call Texas home, summer residents, permanent residents, winter residents and migrants.

  1. Red-cockaded Woodpecker

    • Red-cockaded Woodpecker

      The Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) calls eastern Texas home. It is considered to be an endangered species, which makes sightings quite sought after. The birds live in southern pine forests and will nest only in live pine trees. The birds prefer to seek out pine trees that have been infected with red heart fungus because the wood is far softer for nest building, according to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. The birds will commonly take two years to dig out a cavity in order to nest. They live in small family groups.

    Plain Chachalaca

    • The Chachalacas thrives in Texas scrubland.

      The Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula mccalli) is native to only four Texas counties in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, according to the Texas A &M University Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science. The birds live in small groups in the thorny thickets and along the edge of forests. A non-migratory game bird that makes an earsplitting call that during the early morning or during breeding season. The birds spend a great deal of time in trees. They are a popular bird to hunt and are hunted from November to February every year.

    Green Jay

    • The strikingly colourful Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas) lives in the southern tip of Texas. The birds have varying shades of green on their back, wings and chest. Along the bird's head is a brilliant blue stripe with a black head. The bird's tail has yellow sides. Green Jays live in family flocks that normally consist of the parent birds, juvenile birds and offspring from the previous year. The birds live at the edge of woodlands.

    Altamira Oriole

    • The Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis) lives in the southern tip of Texas. The birds are the largest of all Orioles, according to the Cornell University. The birds normally measure 8-inches long. Altamira Orioles weave large nests that can easily reach 25 inches. The birds are sometimes spotted at hummingbird feeders. Altamira Orioles are orange in appearance with black and white. They prefer to live within dry woodlands.