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Bird of the Week: Eastern Whip-poor-will
Eastern Whip-poor-will Whip-poor-wills are part of a family of birds known as nightjars or goatsuckers (after the myth that they subsisted on milk from goats), who nest on…
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Bird of the Week: Chimney Swift
Chimney Swift With their streamlined bodies and long, curved wings, Chimney Swifts were built for flying. In fact, they spend almost all their waking hours aloft, maneuvering nimbly…
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Bird of the Week: White-winged Dove
White-winged Dove The White-winged Dove is one of our most ubiquitous native birds. Closely related to the more cosmopolitan Mourning Dove, the White-winged Dove is most common in…
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Bird of the Week: Monk Parakeet
Monk Parakeet If you’ve ever seen a flock of bright green parrots in downtown Austin and thought they looked a little out of place, you’re right. These highly…
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Bird of the Week: Eastern Screech Owl
Eastern Screech Owl Despite its name, the Screech Owl’s call is more of a whinny than a screech, and its soft, musical call can be heard in woodlands,…
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Bird of the Week: Northern Parula
Northern Parula The Northern Parula is a small and beautiful warbler that can be found high in the canopy of riparian forests, easily identified by its distinctive, buzzing…
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Bird of the Week: Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay Three species of Scrub-Jay can be found in the United States, but only one, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, resides in Texas. Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay prefer the montane pine forests…
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Bird of the Week: Golden-cheeked Warbler
Golden-cheeked Warbler Few birds have captured the imagination of Texans like the Golden-cheeked warbler. This diminutive songbird winters in the mountain forests of Central America, but its breeding…
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Bird of the Week: Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren Although a comparatively diminutive bird, the Carolina Wren has an outsized voice and personality that are instantly recognizable. Carolina Wrens sing year-round, at any time of…
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Bird of the Week: Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing The Cedar Waxwing is an exceptionally handsome bird. Its black mask, subtle coloring, yellow tail, and bright red “waxy” wingtips make it easy to spot. Cedar…
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Bird of the Week: Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup This striking black-and-white duck is a common winter visitor to large bodies of water, often feeding in large groups. The male is easily identified by his…
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Bird of the Week: Purple Martin
Purple Martin These beautiful birds (more blue-black than really purple) have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with humans for centuries. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, American…
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Bird of the Week: Osprey
Osprey With a wingspan of nearly six feet, the Osprey is one of our largest birds of prey, as well as the only raptor that can dive into water. Ospreys…
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Bird of the Week: Ringed Kingfisher
Ringed Kingfisher Once excluded from American field guides entirely, the Ringed Kingfisher is now a regular, if rare, visitor to central Texas. Common in Central and South America, the Ringed…
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Bird of the Week: Loggerhead Shrike
Loggerhead Shrike Little in the Loggerhead Shrike’s appearance, apart perhaps from its sharply hooked beak, suggests a violent nature. Yet this unassuming songbird has the appetite of a raptor, along…
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