Texas woodpeckers that look identical, but aren't

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Both these birds are common in north Texas yards, live in the same habitat and have very similar markings. So it's often difficult to know if you're looking at a Downy Woodpecker or a Hairy Woodpecker. Look closely. The Hairy's body is slightly longer, but unless you're incredibly lucky you aren't going to see them side by side.

The clue that takes less than a second to think through is the relative sizes of the head and bill.  A Downy has an unusually small bill, noticebly shorter than the length of the bird's head. It doesn't look like it could put a dent in anything. The Hairy's bill, however, is at least as long as its head. It looks like it could do some real damage.

Maximilian Sunflower

Asteracae (or "composite") is a large family of native plants, almost all of which are particularly good at producing lots of tasty, rich food for north Texas birds.  Several should be in your yard. The most notable species are aster, coneflower, several daisies, coreopsis, blanket flower and about a dozen species of sunflower (Maximilian Sunflower is very durable, and one of my favorites since it has a lot of flowers instead of one big one).     

Why do some birds have wing markings?

Common Nighthawk

Some birds have developed distinctive wing markings over the ages.  If the species is often the target of aerial predators, it develops "false targets", visible from behind. A pursuing bird (eagle, hawk, osprey etc.) hopefully aims at the false target, which is mostly feathers. Not at the prey's body.

Red-winged Blackbird

Blue Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Northern Flicker

Northern Mockingbird

Birds normally don't die close to your house. But it happens. Usually they get far away from any activity and "become part of the food chain" with help from some scavenger.

But in case you run across a dead bird, how you handle it is your choice; the bird won't care. Burying it in the ground is about your emotions and traditions. This may prevent disease, but a raccoon (or other scavenger) may dig it up. A better way is double-bag the carcass and simply put it in an outdoor garbage can.

The bird that disappeared for several years

Baltimore Oriole

For a while there was no such bird as a Baltimore Oriole (like there was originally). In the seventies, it seems, ornithologists determined that the Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles (the two most widespread orioles) were a single species. They grouped them together as the somnambulently-named Northern Oriole. But further research (including then-new DNA testing) proved them to be two separate species all along, so the separate names were reinstated.

The Baltimore Oriole is a summer resident here. A
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Orchard Oriole

more common oriole in north Texas yards, however, is the Orchard Oriole.




Yes, birds can carry ticks. But ticks are very "host-specific". So it's extremely unlikely that a bird-borne tick will latch onto a human, cat or dog. Also, birds  groom themselves a lot and actually eat ticks.

If you like to be "one with nature" occasionally, you may pick up unwanted hitchhikers in the form of ticks. To rid yourself of the vast majority of them, try a lint roller - with wide tape. Unless they've dug in, it will collect them effectively.

Notice a lot of Gulf Fritillaries in your yard?

Gulf Fritillary

Gulf Fritillary

I've been noticing a lot of Gulf Fritillary butterflies in my yard, particularly on nectar-laden, native flowers like Turks Cap and Lantana. In north Texas the orange variety is prevalent. We're about as far north as their range goes, since they need to fly to a frost-free area for the winter.

Allow me to say what many of you already know; butterflies are insects.  So if an insecticide you use says something like "kills mosquitoes" on it, it almost certainly kills other insects too;  and it clearly won't do Gulf Fritillaries any good. The host plant for Gulf Fritillaries are several varieties of Passionflower. Having several around your yard should bring you even more than what's here now.

OUR "DUCK FACTORY":     Some areas of north Texas are fortunate enough to host ducks, be they Mallards, Wood Ducks, Canvasbacks, Mottled Ducks or whatever.  Some may even have been born here, but almost all ducklings are born in the Prairie Pothole region of the northern great plains - North America's "duck factory". Unfortunately, the climate is slowly changing so this area is getting drier. Coupled with man-made intrusions, the result is a lot fewer ducks (and other birds) for everyone.

Many birds here aren't attracted to seed at all.

American Robin

Certain bird species that hang out in north Texas like Robins, Bluebirds, Mockingbirds, Swallows, Wrens and Flycatchers, won't show up at seed feeders at all. They eat only insects ("insectivores"). Birdseed means nothing to them. but you can try tempting them with fruit.

Some like dried fruit (like raisins or prunes) softened by soaking in warm water for about an hour. Others might find sliced fruiit attractive (in north Texas, particularly for its water content) such as apple or orange slices, or chunks of banana, melon or pear.

Northern Mockingbird

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Of course, every bird on the planet likes clean, fresh water. Especially on hot days.

Bluebird

A really smart and easy way to save water (and make what water you use go a lot further) is with an automatic hose timer.  If you water your landscape with hose-end sprinklers you can set a timer to turn the sprinkler on at a time when the pressure is best, the water isn't going to be lost to evaporation, and it'll do plants the most good.

I have hose timers set to turn on sprinklers at about 4 a.m., and run for around an hour. Watering doesn't interfere with showering or dishwashing, and your expensive water isn't lost to the sun and heat.

Battery-operated hose timers are available from any good hardware store. I prefer simple ones that forego elaborate tasks which I may never encounter - it just turns the hose on and off when I want.

Saving a lot of water with north Texas' native plants

Using plants native to north Texas can reduce outdoor water usage by 20 to 50 percent. And there are hundreds and hundreds of native plants; many now available via most mainstream sources.

Most native plants exist on no water (or very little) other than what falls from the sky naturally. They've adapted to the local weather over the centuries. Conversely, by far the biggest water-waster is a large non-native lawn. In Texas, it demands a phenomenal amount of water.

A rain barrel is an easy way to capture the water that falls from the sky; and the water's yours free! You can buy one, or buy the few materials it takes, at any good hardware store. Plans are on the internet.

The average household currently uses about 30% of all its water outdoors. In arid climates like north Texas it may be as high as 70%. By using native Texas plants that are used to our climate, that percentage could be reduced greatly.


LIKE PLAYING THE PIANO.     Most songbirds in north Texas (such as Chickadees, Wrens, Cardinals, Finches, Titmice and Warblers) belong to the rare group of animals that actually learn the vocalizations (songs) they make, instead of acquiring them genetically. While birds have physical traits which make bird sounds easier to produce, it develops them only from hearing them over and over from other birds.

A simple, really neat computer tool for birdwatchers

Backyards and birdwatching certainly co-exist comfortably. Now there's a simple, new computer tool that helps you get the most out of both;  called YardMap. YardMap helps you get the most from your yard, while helping scientists get data about how landscaping practices affect birds.

You start with a birds-eye view of your property, using very simple, simply explained point-and-click mapping tools to draw in landscaping details. The program was developed by smart people at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It's on the internet at www.yardmap.org and I highly recommend that you visit the site and play around with what it can do, learning as you go.

You'll learn a lot about the average yard. (Like how the typical lot is 20% house and driveway, 60% lawn, and a mere 20% left over for bird habitat)  You'll learn a lot about your yard too; including getting a bunch of good, realistic landscaping ideas. I suggest you start by watching their "how to" video on the web site.


This is a "bird island"; one of thousands around the world - in all kinds of climates. Why do birds cluster on small islands like this (or on secluded beaches)?


There are two main reasons. The first of which is that no land predator (fox, bear, coyote etc.) can get to it. So the nest sites are less vulnerable.


Secondly, these places have steep cliffs, from which fledgling birds can jump and learn to fly. If unsuccessful, the landing is softened by the water.

There are other reasons, like early warnings from co-residents, and no humans' accessories (cars, paving etc.), but these are the main reasons why birds often cluster on small islands.