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HILL COUNTRY SPECIALTIES
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 page)
and the Black-capped Vireo. I put a picture or two
of a juvenile Golden-cheeked Warbler below, quite
unlike most of the field guide depictions you are used to.
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
texana subspecies of Western 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
Green Kingfisher
At first they don't even have a golden cheek,
this juvenile is about half way there.
Golden-cheeked Warbler (juvenile)
same juvenile Golden-cheeked Warbler
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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