Hill Country Specialties
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© 2006-2018 - All Rights Reserved


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

Golden-cheeked Warbler, the Edwards Plateau's most endemic bird species, it breeds nowhere else.




Black-capped Vireo

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 Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (adult and juvenile) young are yellow underneath with a short tail.



Canyon Towhee

Canyon Towhee, the least predictible bird here besides Bushtit.



Scrub-Jay

texana subspecies of Western (now Woodhouse's - but it's not) Scrub-Jay



Painted Bunting

Painted Bunting (adult male)



Zone-tailed Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk



Vermilion Flycatcher

Vermilion Flycatcher



Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (female)



Cave Swallow

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

Cave Swallow, center



And the bird I can't get enough of ...

Green Kingfisher

Green Kingfisher



Green Kingfisher

Green Kingfisher

Green Kingfisher



Golden-cheeked Warbler   Golden-cheeked Warbler

Golden-cheeked Warbler (juvenile)
At first they don't even have a golden cheek this juvenile is about half way there.



Audubon's Oriole

Audubon's Oriole, formerly called Black-headed Oriole - note yellow-green unmarked back
(It's eating peanut butter off branch)



Scott's Oriole

Scott's Oriole - note black back and chest, and won't touch peanut butter.




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All photographs within this site are copyrighted
and may not be used without permission.
All Rights Reserved.
© M. and K. Heindel 2006-2020
www.utopianature.com