Down in southern Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley area you can find nearly 30 bird species found nowhere else in the US! Plus there are soooooo many other birds to see there. With its diverse ecosystems, from deserts, palm groves, oak forests, to thornscrub and coastal prairies, no wonder so many bird species call this place home.
The Eastern Screech-Owl
This small owl is fairly common from eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada. They nest wherever there are trees, woods, parks and even nesting boxes are okay for these birds. A rather short, stocky bird, with rounded wings, short tail, pointed ear tufts and almost no neck. They are great a camouflage and will hide out in tree nooks and crannies, so look closely while walking around, because you never know when one of these birds might be right in front of you!
The Great Kiskadee
A rather large member of the flycatcher family at about 10 inches in length, with black and white stripes on the side of its head and crown. They can be found only in the southern tip of Texas, US then down south to Argentina.
The Vermillion Flycatcher
A very colorful flycatcher compared to most other flycatchers. They live in open woodland and pastureland from Southern US down south to central Argentina.
The Common Pauraque
A fairly large Nightjar species, with a large head and tiny bill. They also have very tiny feet that you would rarely ever see. This nocturnal bird is usually well camouflaged during the day, it will lay on the gray or brown sticks to match its own coloring. This one I did happen to see, but only because another birder had spotted it and let me know where to look. 🙂
The Green Jay
Only found in the US in southern Texas, in the Rio Grande area. This beautifully colored bird is of the tropical species. I was extremely excited to find this bird and add it to my life list!
The Plain Chachalacas
Common in small areas of southern Texas, these birds will live in riverside woods or in the thickets with their flocks of 3 to 5 birds. Usually at dawn or dusk, they will all perch in trees and start to sing out their crazy clatter song of cha-cha-lac cal, hence the reason for their name!
