Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) Family: Anatidae By Rachel Myers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician The Blue-winged Teal is a small dabbling duck and the second most abundant duck in North America. Breeding males have brown bodies with dense black speckles and a bluish-gray head with a bold white crescent in front of the eye. Females […]

Barred Owl (Strix varia) Family: Strigidae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician Named for the horizontal brown stripes along the top of their chest, Barred Owls are large, brown-and-white owls with black eyes and striped underparts. They can be distinguished from the similarly large Great Horned Owl by their dark eyes and the […]

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) Family: Alaudidae By Rachel Myers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician The Horned Lark is a small brown songbird with a long body and neck, small bill, and upright posture. Males have yellow faces with a distinct black mask that make them easy to identify. Males also have two tiny head feathers […]

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) Family: Paridae The Tufted Titmouse is a small gray bird that is related to the chickadee. They have a large head and eyes as well as a thick neck, pointed crest, stout bill, and full body. Their coloring is a soft gray on top, white on bottom, a rusty streak down […]

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) Family: Ardeidae The Little Blue Heron is a small heron (~ 60 cm) found throughout the Southeastern U.S mainly during the spring and summer, although year round populations occur along the Gulf Coast and in Florida. Little Blues are often overlooked due to their dark coloration and smaller size; however, […]

American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) Family: Phoenicopteridae by Wyatt Egelhoff, Houston Audubon Conservation Specialist Perhaps one of the most widely recognizable group of birds by both birders and non-birders alike, American Flamingos are sporadic visitors to Texas’ shores, and even rarer on the upper coast. Adults are hot pink, with strikingly contrasting black primary feathers. Their […]

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) Family: Ardeidae The Tricolored Heron, formerly known as the Louisiana Heron, is a medium-sized heron with a long, slender neck and bill. Adults are mostly blue-gray above, but are distinguished from other grayish herons by their white belly and white stripe down the front of the neck. In breeding plumage Tricolored […]

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Family: Parulidae The Common Yellowthroat is a small songbird that belongs to the diverse family of wood-warblers. This warbler is one of the most common and widespread of their family as their name suggests. Males are bright yellow with a distinct black face-mask and a thin white line just above it. […]

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) Family: Anhingidae The Anhinga is a large, dark water bird with a long, thin neck. It has a long, pointed bill and silver patches on the wings. Anhinga are graceful fliers and can travel long distances without flapping their wings. They are known as water turkeys for their swimming habits and broad […]

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) Family: Troglodytidae The Marsh Wren is a small brown bird that can be identified by its typical wren bill, whitish belly and eyebrow, distinct black triangle with white stripes on the back, and a solid brown crown. It will often sit with its tail held upright, and is very active and […]