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Truly there are only 2 species for which the hill country
is considered the only/best place to see them easily in numbers.
The Golden-cheeked Warbler (which has its own photo page)
and the Black-capped Vireo. Here is a pic of each first.
Further down I put a picture or two of a juvenile Golden-cheeked
Warbler, quite unlike most of the field guide depictions you
are used to.
Golden-cheeked Warbler, the Edwards Plateau's most endemic
bird species, it breeds nowhere else.
Black-capped Vireo, male, pardon the fuzzy pixels
but my they are arranged very nicely. They can be found
off the Edw. Plateau, but are most common on it.
Otherwise, here are some of the birds that most visitors have
on their "want lists." Though for most, the hill country is only
a small part of their range, they are not truly specialties
in the strict sense. It is a great place to see them because
they are generally numerous and widespread. To locals they are
regulars, but most visitors can't get enough of them.
Some of these species include Scissor-tailed and Vermilion
Flycatchers, Painted Bunting, Zone-tailed Hawk, Cliff and
Cave Swallows, Green Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Golden-fronted
Woodpecker, Scrub-Jay, and Canyon Towhee, amongst others.
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (adult and juvenile)
young are yellow underneath with a short tail.
Canyon Towhee, the least predictible bird here besides Bushtit.
texana subspecies of Western (now Woodhouse's - but it's not) Scrub-Jay
Painted Bunting (adult male)
Zone-tailed Hawk
Vermilion Flycatcher
Golden-fronted Woodpecker (female)
Cliff and Cave Swallows gathering mud for nests.
Caves are in front on ground, one just left of center
and one to the right with buffy, not chestnut throats.
Cave Swallow, center
And the bird I can't get enough of ...
Golden-cheeked Warbler (juvenile)
At first they don't even have a golden cheek this juvenile is about half way there.
Audubon's Oriole, formerly called
Black-headed Oriole - note yellow-green unmarked back
(It's eating peanut butter off branch)
Scott's Oriole - note black back and chest,
and won't touch peanut butter.
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