Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) Family: Icteridae By Charlie Ayers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week is a flashy Icterid of south Texas, the Hooded Oriole. Hooded Orioles are slender birds with a flame orange body, black wings, a black tail and a black throat patch that extends up to their […]
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Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) Family: Regulidae By Theresa Kelly, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician Despite its tiny size, this week’s Beak of the Week is astoundingly hardy, active, and agile. Golden-crowned Kinglets have a tiny, rounded body, short wings, and a skinny tail. Dull body coloration — pale olive and gray — is offset by […]
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American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) Family: Ardeidae By Charlie Ayers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week, the American Bittern, is a master of disguise! American Bitterns tend to choose when they are seen rather than being found. With their cryptic, brown, streaky coloration, they materialize right in front of your face […]
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Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) Family: Accipitridae By Charlie Ayers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week, the Northern Harrier, has a small hooked bill that it uses to eat a variety of prey. The Northern Harrier is a medium-sized raptor with broad wings, a long tail and a white rump patch […]
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Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) Family: Anatidae By Charlie Ayers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week, the Red-breasted Merganser, has a long, thin bill with serrated edges like a bread knife! Males of this species have green heads with a hairdo that resembles a punk rocker, a white neck band and […]
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Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) Family: Anatidae By Theresa Kelly, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician What’s black and white and flies all over? This week’s Beak of the Week! The aptly-named Common Goldeneye can be identified by its bright amber eye, an easily distinguishable feature in both males and females. As is common to many avian […]
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Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii) Family: Anatidae By Nick Minnich, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This Beak of the Week is short and stubby compared to its taxonomic ally, the Snow Goose. The Ross’s Goose is often referred to as a miniature version of the other white geese, previously belonging to the genus Chen. Like other […]
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Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) Family: Passerellidae By Charlie Ayers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week brings pumpkin spice to the table, the Nelson’s Sparrow. The Nelson’s Sparrow is quite colorful for a member of this family. They can be identified by their bold yellow-orange faces, gray cheeks, and a neat […]
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Red Knot (Calidris canutus) Family: Scolopacidae By Theresa Kelly, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week may seem to be a bit of a misnomer, as the Red Knot’s winter plumage can be fairly drab: pale brown underneath and speckled on the back and wings just like so many other shorebirds. […]
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Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) Family: Scolopacidae By Nick Minnich, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s beak is nothing short of impressive. There’s a lot of information one can gather about a bird’s life simply by studying their physical characteristics; nonetheless, a bird’s bill often provides valuable insight into the species’ foraging and food preference. […]
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