Bird of the Week: Blue Jay

By Abby West Photo by Jim Ridley Blue jays are unmistakable with their highly saturated plumage and loud, harsh calls. They are ubiquitous throughout Central Texas and the Eastern United…

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Bird of the Week: Black Tern

Black Tern Chlidonias niger Written and compiled by Lindsey Hernandez Painting by John James Audubon, from The Birds of America Photo by Andrej Chudy The Black Tern is one of the smallest terns, 9.1–14.2…

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Bird of the Week: Acorn Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus By Rajiv Jauhari Featured Photo by Jim Akers/Audubon Photography Awards, downloaded from audubon.netx.net If you happen to be hiking in a region of California that has oak trees, see…

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Bird of the Week: Broad-winged Hawk

Featured Image: A painting of Broad-winged Hawks, Buteo platypterus, by John James Audubon. By Eliana Patt Given our position in the midst of the North American Central Flyway, it should come…

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Bird of the Week: Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria Content and photos by James Giroux Becoming a birder opens your eyes to a new world of color and bird species that were always right under your nose….

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Bird of the Week: Ruby-throated Hummingbird

By Abby West Feature photo by Tibor Nagy Flashes of red and green whiz by our back patio and my kids run out shrieking, “the hummers are back!” The arrival of…

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Bird of the Week: Wilson’s Phalarope

Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Compiled and written by Lindsey Hernandez Photo by Tony Williams A slender, energetic shorebird, Wilson’s Phalarope can be seen through most of Texas during their spring and summer migration…

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Bird of the Week: Swallow-tailed Kite

Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus By Rajiv Jauhari Featured Photo by Donald Wuori/Audubon Photography Awards, downloaded from audubon.netx.net While many raptor species are hard to identify in flight, the Swallow-tailed Kite is not among…

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Bird of the Week: Northern Bobwhite

Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus Content and Photos by Eliana Patt There are a number of birds that a Texas birder might call iconic, but in my opinion, the Northern Bobwhite numbers among…

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Bird of the Week: Dickcissel

Dickcissel Spiza americana Content and Photos by James Giroux Dickcissel, Bobolink, Phoebe, Chickadee, Bobwhite. What do all these birds have in common? They are named for the songs they sing. Listen for…

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Bird of the Week: Crested Caracara

By Abby West Lead Photo by Suzie McCann Crested caracaras are noticeable– photos of them intermittently pop up in my neighborhood group typically captioned something like, “what is this weird…

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Bird of the Week: Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane Antigone Canadensis By Rajiv Jauhari Featured photo by Pamella Hopper Ten of the fifteen species of cranes in the world are classified as threatened, but thankfully, the Sandhill Crane is not….

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Bird of the Week: Blackburnian Warbler

By Eliana Patt Photos by Anastasia Kuzmina For those of us in Central Texas, the herald of spring is a one-two-three-ZEET-four and a flash of yellow, black, and white. As popular…

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Bird of the Week: Black-capped Vireo

Black-capped Vireo Vireo atricapilla  By James Giroux Along with the Golden-cheeked Warbler, the Black-capped Vireo is a “destination bird”, and many birders from around the nation travel to Texas to see it….

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Bird of the Week: Monk Parakeet

By Abby West Monk parakeets are an Austin favorite, giving an ordinary stroll around Townlake an exotic feel with their bright green feathers, hooked orange beaks and tropical-sounding call. They…

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