Texas sits on major migration routes and has more recorded bird species than any other US state. Here is a friendly guide to some of the common birds you are likely to see there.
Backyard birds
Texas backyards are often full of colour and song. Northern cardinals bring bright red to feeders, while Carolina chickadees, house finches and mourning doves are everyday visitors. The northern mockingbird, the state bird, is a tireless singer that copies other species. Blue jays and northern flickers are common too. Offering seed, water and a few native shrubs will attract a lively mix. See our hummingbird guide and our types of birds guide.
Open-country and birds of prey
Away from gardens, Texas has wide skies full of raptors and open-country birds. Red-tailed hawks and crested caracaras perch along highways, while turkey vultures soar overhead searching for food. The scissor-tailed flycatcher, with its long forked tail, is a summer favourite on fences and wires. Wild turkeys and northern bobwhite quail roam brush and grassland. See our birds of prey guide for more on the hawks and falcons.
Gulf coast and water birds
The Texas Gulf coast is a paradise for water birds and migrating flocks. Brown pelicans, laughing gulls and roseate spoonbills gather along the shore, and great blue herons and great egrets wade the marshes. In winter, huge numbers of ducks, geese and shorebirds arrive, and the coast is a famous stopover for songbirds crossing the Gulf. See our water birds guide for more on these species.