Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) Family: Laridae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician Sandwich Terns are slender, medium-sized terns with shaggy crests. Adults have pale gray backs and wings, and clean white underparts. During the breeding season, adults often develop a slight pinkish wash on their chest and belly. Breeding adults have solid black […]

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) Family: Paridae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician Carolina Chickadees are familiar birds across much of the southeastern United States, at home in urban and suburban environments and readily coming to birdfeeders. They have gray backs and wings and are whitish below with a pale orange wash on their […]

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) Family: Accipitridae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician Simultaneously elegant and fierce, White-tailed Kites are medium-sized raptors, related to hawks and eagles. They are white underneath and gray above, with a bold wing pattern. They have distinct black shoulder patches, and when viewed from underneath, they also have black […]

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) Family: Rallidae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician These multicolored, curious-looking birds are relatives of rails, and like many other rails are fond of wetland habitats with plenty of places to hide from potential predators. Adult Purple Gallinules have dark purple-blue heads and underparts, with a contrasting bright white […]

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) Family: Accipitridae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician These boldly-marked hawks are as fierce as they are handsome. Adult Red-shouldered Hawks are distinctive, with bright reddish-brown chests and bellies, brown heads, and bold black-and-white wings with red shoulder patches. Immature birds are brown above and white below with broad […]

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) Family: Recurvirostridae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician Black-necked Stilts are striking, elegant shorebirds; they are white below with black wings, backs, and heads. Their exceptionally long legs are bright bubblegum pink. They are quite vocal and conspicuous, especially during the breeding season. Black-necked Stilts favor shallow, open wetlands […]