Bird Photos - Texas Hill Country - Golden-cheeked Warbler - Sabinal River Valley

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Golden-cheeked Warbler

Besides the first picture below that I didn't take, here are some bad pictures of a good bird ... hundreds of people a year spend thousands of dollars to come to the Edwards Plateau to see this bird.

It is the only species whose entire breeding range lies within Texas. It is one of the most restriced-range species in North America. It is a beautiful and fascinating warbler that is only here early March to early August, but is harder to see by early July, and actually starts getting dicey by late June. You have a roughly 90 day window when it is sure and easy, and a couple or few weeks past that it is usually gettable with more effort, but harder, and not a sure thing.

I am sometimes available to guide individuals or groups in seeing this very special warbler. If you desire expert level professional bird guiding services, send an e-mail. I am intimately familiar with its every chip note. :):)

The following photos were all taken post-breeding, late June to early August, mostly in July, of birds in our former front yard on Thunder Creek Road, where they don't breed. The numbers seen at this non-descript non-breeding site during the 6 weeks after breeding and before migrating out of the country (over 20 birds in 6 weeks) were pleasantly surprising.

Note how green the back might appear, and none of these show the juvenile females back well. They are as green as a Black-throated Green Warbler but a darker shade, less yellow olive toned. All the field guides depict *first winter* birds for immatures in which the back is much blacker than juveniles. Odd since the first winter plumage they show is not really seen in the U.S., and what is, is not shown. ... experts.

The easiest, prettiest place to see them is at Lost Maples State Natural Area. Walk the Can Creek trail to the ponds area, and you should see and hear many mid-March to mid-June. Don't play tapes.

Golden-cheeked Warbler male feeding fledgling (taken through telescope from safe distance)

At first while being fed still they can have a lemony cast on breast.

They're on their own as their back turns green from the initial gray.
(leaf cutting off face)

Now you have virtually seen a Golden-cheeked Warbler!

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