Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) Family: Accipitridae Swainson’s Hawks are uncommon, but increasing breeders on the Upper Texas Coast. During fall migration, we have a great opportunity to see enormous swirling flocks, or kettles,of Swainson’s Hawks passing through. These prairie specialists have one of the longest migrations of North American raptors, with some birds flying more […]

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) Family: Sittidae Along with the change of seasons, you may also have noticed the arrival of this week’s Beak of the Week: the Red-breasted Nuthatch. The Red-breasted Nuthatch can be found year-round in the northern and western parts of the United States, and can be found further south during winter. They […]

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) Family: Trochilidae Hummingbirds are generally known for being quick and energetic fliers, but the Rufous Hummingbird just may be the zippiest of them all. The Rufous Hummingbird is a tiny hummingbird that is very agile in flight, even when compared to other hummingbirds. Despite their small size, Rufous Hummingbirds are particularly […]

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) Family: Columbidae Next time you go out on a walk around your neighborhood and pass a Eurasian Collared-Dove perched on a powerline, you might want to hold on to your wallet. We see these pale, chunky birds in the U.S. partly because of a 1970s pet store burglary in the Bahamas. […]

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)Family: Scolopacidae Our Beak of the Week is another one of those tricky shorebirds. Having legs too short for a yellowlegs and a bill too short for a dowitcher, the Stilt Sandpiper can easily puzzle birders.  It actually belongs to the Calidris genus with the “peeps”, including Least Sandpipers and Dunlin. However, […]

Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)Family: Parulidae The Wilson’s Warbler is well known for its constant motion while foraging. Even when perched, it tends to wag its tail and flick its wings. This bird is a common migrant that is often seen in the fall in the Houston area. It prefers to use its small, pointed beak […]

Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)Family: Stercorariidae Though they spend the majority of their lives over the ocean, seabirds such as the Pomarine Jaeger occasionally get blown far inland by tropical storms. At first glance, Pomarine Jaegers may look like a rather large gull with a bulkier profile. They are powerful, direct fliers, and they use this […]

Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)Family: Charadriidae The Snowy Plover blends in so well with its beach environment that at first glance it may seem to be just part of the beach. It is light, sandy gray above and white below, with a thin black bill and gray legs. In its breeding plumage, the Snowy Plover also […]