Roaming around the southwestern United States is a bird that may not be as appreciated as much as it should be: the Great-tailed Grackle. Great-tailed Grackles are medium sized blackbirds with a slender appearance and an impressively long tail. Males have a black base color with iridescent blue and purple sheens. Females have dark brown wings and a dark brown tail with lighter browns on their head and underside. Females also have a lighter colored throat and show some striping on their face. Aside from their physical appearance making them look pretty unique, these birds also set themselves apart with some very interesting vocalizations. Sounding more like a machine or old time-y radio than a bird, Great-tailed Grackles make a variety of whistles, squawks and even a crackling sound that sound extremely non-avian.
Great-tailed Grackles are year-round residents of the most northern parts of South America, Central America, and Mexico. In the United States, they are found all the way from Southern California as far north as Iowa, and as far east as Louisiana. It’s worth noting that these birds look extremely similar to another species, the Boat-tailed Grackle that lives in the southeastern United States and in some parts of the country has an overlapping range with the great-tailed grackle, making for a difficult identification challenge. These birds used to be combined as one species but were later split into two which is where they still stand taxonomically at the time of this video. It has been typically accepted that eye color could be used to determine the exact species with great tailed grackles having a yellow eye and boat-tailed grackles having a dark eye, but in recent years this has been found to not always be the case. Oftentimes range is actually one of the most definitive ways to make a positive identification.
Check out our video about Great-tailed Grackles
Great-tailed Grackles have an extremely varied diet consisting of grains, fruits, and other plant matter, as well as many different types of animals ranging from insects to larger vertebrates like frogs, lizards and even small mammals. These birds are also quite common at bird feeders where they will visit in large groups, sometimes pushing away other species with their relatively large size and sheer numbers, much to the chagrin of feeder watchers.
Great-tailed Grackles can be found in open forests, usually somewhere near a water source. They tend to steer clear of extremely dense forests and arid places, but have adapted extremely well to human habitation, for this reason, they can regularly be seen in large numbers around cities, in parks, and near farms where they forage for food, sometimes along with other blackbird species contributing to the creation of massive large. When it gets close to dark in the nonbreeding months, groups of Great-tailed Grackles return to roosting areas where they cause a ruckus with their various noises. These groups can actually number in the 10s or in some cases even hundreds of thousands, so you can only imagine the noises they produce in these groups.
Male Great-tailed Grackle
Due to their ability to live alongside humans in a variety of different altered landscapes, Great-tailed Grackles have actually expanded their range. In the 1990s the northern range of this species was southern Texas, but now they inhabit midwestern and western states with a northern range that now incorporates states as far north as Iowa. Much of this expansion has been due to their ability to live around humans and the increase of irrigated agriculture creating just the right environment for them to thrive. This has also helped the species actually increase in number, and bolster their population to around 30 million worldwide, a net increase since the 1960s. Due to their abundance and propensity for eating crops and reputation for being loud and brash around cities and bird feeders, many people view these birds as pests.
My first experience with Great-tailed Grackles was in northern Texas where I saw them around my hotel parking lot. A few years later I saw them again in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas where I got very well acquainted with them. Many feeding stations were inundated with these birds and it seemed like everywhere we went, Great-tailed Grackles were also there, drinking from puddles, making their fascinating noises from high perches, and generally lurking around foraging in lawns and on streets. While some people may think of these birds as a nuisance, to me they are a recognizable species in their native range and an important part of the ambiance in Mexico, Texas, and the rest of the southwestern United States. What do you think of Great-tailed Grackles? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland birding.
Swallows are fast moving aerial insectivores that move quickly and catch prey on the fly. They have long wings and are characterized by their acrobatic movements. There are eight different swallow species that live across the United States and all eight of them can be found in Texas. Contained in this article is information on how to identify each one, along with additional information on their lifestyle and habits.
Bank Swallows have a grayish brown back, head, and wings. They have a white underside and throat separated by a grayish brown chest band and stripe going from this band to the underside.
Range
Bank Swallows winter in South America and Western Mexico. They migrate north in spring spreading across the United States and breeding in the Central and Northern United States and the majority of Canada and Alaska with the exception of the most Northern parts.
Diet and Feeding Behavior
Bank Swallows feed on flying insects and will occasionally scoop insects from the surface of the water. This species will forage solo or in groups.
Where to Find This Bird
Bank Swallows typically live in areas near water such as riverbanks, and coastlines. The easiest way to find this species is to locate a nesting colony that will sometimes consist of thousands of birds. They will build nests in natural places such as bluffs and cliffsides as well as manmade structures such as quarries.
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow (Alan Schmierer Photo)
Identification
Barn Swallows have a navy blue back and head with grayish blue tail and wings. They have Reddish orange faces, lighter orange undersides, and light orange undertails. They have longer feathers on the outside of their tails giving them a forked appearance.
Range
Barn Swallows winter in South America and Central America, then fly North into Mexico, the United and Southern Canada. Bran Swallows do make it as far North as Southern Alaska and generally extend more North in the Western portion of Canada than the Eastern.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Barn Swallows eat insects that they typically catch in flight. They also land on the ground and ingest small pebbles and other things that have vitamins and minerals in them such as calcium.
Where to Find This Bird
Barn Swallows are extremely widespread and can be found across pretty much the entire United States in summer, They are common over meadows and other open spaces in addition to places near water. Barn Swallows will often use structures such as barns and bridges to build there nests on. These types of structures are also good places to look for this species.
Cave Swallow
Cave Swallow (Alan Schmierer Photo)
Identification
Cave Swallows have a dark blue back, dark blue top of the head, gray wings, an orangey face, and a lighter underside. They also have a patch of orange just above their bill and orange on the rump. These swallows have a squared off tail that is visible in flight.
Range
Cave Swallows can be found year-round in parts of Mexico and the Caribbean Islands. In summer they migrate to their nesting locations. Some of these locations include parts of Southern Florida, Texas, and New Mexico.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Cave Swallows do all of their hunting in flight, typically feeding on all different kinds of insects. They will also drink water while flying, swooping low and taking drinks from the surface. These birds forage in loose flocks similar to many other swallow species and in fact, sometimes will associate with other swallow species while hunting as well.
Where to Find This Bird
As their name would suggest, Cave Swallows can be found around caves and other cave-like structures such as bridges, and large culverts. One surefire place to go in order to see this species is Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico where they are abundant and can be seen foraging around the mouth of the cave.
Texas is one of the few states in which there is a fairly high volume of Cave Swallows. Going to bridges and watching for them in mixed groups of swallows is a great way to turn one (or often more than one) of these birds up.
Cliff Swallow
Cliff Swallow (Alan Schmierer Photo)
Identification
Cliff Swallows have dark blue backs and heads with dark gray wings, and a dark gray tail. They have a reddish orange face, a light orange colored rump, a light underside, and a distinctive white marking just above the bill. These swallows have squared off tails which can be useful in differentiating them from the similarly colored Barn Swallow.
Range
Cliff Swallows spend the winter in South America. In spring, they travel north to Mexico, the United States, and Canada where they breed. In the United States, Cliff Swallows summer in most states with the exception of some states in the Southeast.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Cliff Swallows eat insects that they catch out of the air. Some types of insects they will consume are flying ants, bees, wasps, flies, and crickets, but they will eat many other types of flying invertebrates as well.
Where to Find This Bird
Cliff Swallows can be seen soaring and foraging over open areas in addition to places like canyons, rivers, and lakes. These swallows are usually found together but can sometimes be found in extremely large numbers.
Cliff Swallows can be easy to see during their breeding months provided you are aware of a nesting site. Some areas to keep an eye on are bridges, tall buildings, and cliff sides
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Identification
Northern Rough-winged Swallows have a brown, back, wings, head, and tail, They have a lighter colored underside with a brownish gray wash over the chest. They have a short squared off tail.
Range
Northern Rough-winged Swallows winter in Central America, parts of Mexico, and the Southern part of Florida. In summer they move into every state in the continental US and parts of Southern Canada.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Northern Rough-winged Swallows feed on flying insects and have been known to take insects out of the air or off of the waters surface. They tend to fly lower over the water than other swallow species.
Where to Find This Bird
Northern Rough-winged Swallows can be found in areas with water such as lakes, rivers, and streams. They often forage in groups and are quite noticeable as they fly over the water. They are common and widespread in the spring and summer throughout most of the United States.
Purple Martin
Purple Martin (Male, left – Female, right)
Identification
Purple Martins are large members of the swallow family. Adult males are a shiny bluish purple color with darker colored wings and tails. Female and immature birds have patches of the same bluish purple color on their head and backs, but their underside and parts of their neck and forehead are a light gray to tan color.
Range
Purple Martins winter in Central and Northern South America and make their way north in spring. They spend the spring and summer in the Eastern United States as well as some select parts of the Western United States including the Pacific Coast.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Purple Martins eat insects that they catch in mid air. This species will also eat pebbles to help grind up and digest food.
Where to Find This Bird
The easiest way to find Purple Martins is to go to places where Purple Martin houses have been put up. These nesting sites usually look something like an apartment complex. If Purple Martins have taken up residence in these nest boxes they can be seen flying around or perching just outside the openings.
Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow
Identification
Tree Swallows have a shiny blue colored back and head, with a white throat and underside. They have squared off tails and a slight black mask over their eyes. Juvenile Tree Swallows are grayish colored before their adult blue color comes in. Immature females will be mostly gray with a white underside and some hints of blueish color starting to come in on the wings.
Range
Tree Swallows winter in Central America, Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of the United States in addition to some of the most Southwestern portions of the US. In spring, they move north into th Northern half of the United States and Canada all the way up to and including Alaska. There are some parts of the Southern United States in which Tree Swallows don’t breed but do pass through.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Tree Swallows eat mostly insects but will occasionally eat other small invertebrate prey items as well in addition to plant matter on occasion. This species ingests egg shells, small bones, and other high calcium food items to get the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Where to Find This Bird
Tree Swallows are extremely common and widespread in their breeding ranges. They can be seen in meadows and edge habitat as well as near marshes and other bodies of water. In places where tree swallows are nesting, they will sometimes dive-bomb people who get too close.
Violet-green Swallow
Violet-green Swallow (Jacob W. Frank Photo)
Identification
Violet-green Swallows are incredibly bright and beautiful birds. Adult males have an emerald green back and head with a clean white underside. Their wings are dark gray and they have a shiny violet color on their rump. Female and immature birds are overall duller in color.
Range
Violet-green Swallows are birds of Western North America. They winter in Mexico and migrate north in spring. They spend the summer from Northwestern Mexico all the way to Alaska and everywhere in between. They typically do not show up east of the Dakotas.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Violet-green Swallows primarily eat flying insects that they catch while flying. They can often be seen swooping low over the surface of water and feeding on hatching insects.
Where to Find This Bird
Violet-green Swallows can be found in both coniferous and deciduous forests across the Western United States. They have been known to live near humans and will nest in bird houses. This species is also known for living at fairly high altitudes so expect to see them even in more mountainous areas.
Violet-green Swallows can only be reliably found in the most western parts of Texas and are irregular in the rest of the state.
Summary
Swallows are fun birds to have around as their aerial acrobatics make them quite entertaining to watch. Knowing which species are expected in your area can be instrumental in identifying which one you’re looking at. Hopefully, this article has helped to answer some questions about the swallows of the Texas.
Falcons are the stealth fighter jets of the bird world. Recording some of the fastest speeds of all winged animals, these dynamic flyers are captivating to watch.
There are six species of falcons that can be found in Texas on an annual basis with some being common, and others quite rare. Here is everything you need to know about those six species.
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
Identification
The American Kestrel is a small and colorful bird. Males have a rusty colored back as well as a lighter rusty colored underside. They have blue on their wings and the top of their head along with black markings near their eye. Females are lighter overall with rusty orange barring on their wings, back, and tail.
Range
American Kestrels live in both South America and North America. In North America, Kestrels are migratory and reside in Mexico in winter, then move into Canada during the breeding season. Throughout much of the United States, American Kestrels can be found year round.
Diet and Foraging Habits
American Kestrels eat small creatures including insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and rodents. In terms of the insects they eat, some of the most commonly consumed are grasshoppers, dragonflies, and cicadas.
Where to Find this Bird
American Kestrels are a common sight along roadsides and in open fields. They can be seen on telephone poles and wires or perched on dead trees and other structures. Kestrels can also be found in urban parks, pastures, and farm fields.
Aplomado Falcon (Rare)
Aplomado Falcons
Identification
Aplomado Falcons are sleek looking Falcons with a long black and white barred tail, dark gray to black wings, and rust on their underside near their legs. This species has intricate facial patterning with white cheeks, a white throat, and white stripe behind the eye with dark gray or black in between.
Range
Aplomado Falcons live throughout much of South America with the exception of the rainforests of Brazil. In the United States, this species can only be found in the most southern part of Texas. Aplomado Falcons are generally non-migratory and will stay in the same area year round.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Aplomado Falcons eat many different small creatures including insects, lizards, rodents, and other birds. They are fast moving and hunt actively, often taking prey out of the air.
Where to Find this Bird
Aplomado Falcons are at home in desert and grasslands near coastlines. In the United States, the best place to see them is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, but finding one isn’t always easy. There are nest boxes placed around the valley that can prove to be good places to find this species. In these areas check the nest boxes, power-lines, and fence posts to see if you can spot this colorful raptor.
Crested Caracara
Crested Caracara
Identification
Crested Caracaras are large birds sometimes referred to as “Mexican Eagles.” In spite of this nickname, these birds are actually members of the falcon family and are easily identified by their white face and neck, black crest, brown body and wings, white undertail, and bi-colored gray and orange bill. In flight, Crested Caracaras show white markings near the wing tips.
Range
Crested Caracaras live year round in most of South and Central America with the exception of much of the rainforest in Brazil. Additionally, they can be found in parts of Mexico, and the United States. In the US, Florida, Texas, and Arizona are all states that this species can be seen in.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Crested Caracaras are extremely opportunistic feeders and will eat insects, reptiles, birds mammals, and carrion. They can often be seen in places with other carrion feeders such as vultures, gulls, and blackbirds. Crested Caracaras have been known to follow farm vehicles while they are clearing fields. They will pick off the insects and rodents as they flee from the equipment.
Where to Find this Bird
Crested Caracaras can be found soaring or perched in open areas with little ground cover. They will also sit on the ground so it pays to keep an eye out both high and low. Places with consistent concentrations of food such as agricultural fields or garbage dumps are excellent places to find Crested Caracaras.
Merlin
Merlin (Bill Thompson photo)
Identification
Merlins are very small members of the falcon family looking similar in size to a Mourning Dove. They have a blueish gray to black back, wings, and head, and a buffy to brown streaked underside. Merlins can differ in color based on region but always maintain a somewhat similar appearance. Most of the time they will have a white eye brow stripe.
Range
Merlins winter in Northern South America, Central America, Mexico, the Southeastern United States, and most of the Western United States. In spring they migrate north ending up in only the most Northern parts of the U.S. and much of Canada and Alaska. There is an area from the Northwestern part of the United States to the Southwestern part of Alaska where Merlins live year round. Some individuals stay all winter in Northern states as well.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Merlins primarily eat small birds such as waxwings, sparrows, and even shorebirds. In addition to birds, they also eat insects and rodents.
Where to Find this Bird
Merlins can be tricky to find as encountering one typically seems like a matter of luck. They can be found in wooded areas as well as in open areas where they will be surveying for food. Sometimes the easiest way to see them is in flight when they will be moving at high speeds.
Personal Experience: It seems like if I ever go out intentionally trying to find Merlins there aren’t any around. Each year I typically find one by chance while out birding. It seems that even though they aren’t necessarily supposed to winter in the northern U.S. that is when I see them most.
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon (Betsy Matsubara Photo – CC by 2.0)
Identification
Peregrine Falcons are iconic birds with a dark back, wings, head, and neck. They have a light underside with dark barring and noticeable bright yellow legs. This species has interesting facial markings that some people refer to as “sideburns” and are essentially dark coloration coming down below the eye onto the cheeks of the bird.
Range
The Peregrine Falcon’s range in North America is complicated with a general pattern of wintering in the Southeastern United States and Mexico, summering in Northern Canada, and migrating throughout the rest of the continent. However, there are many places in the continental United States that Peregrine Falcons breed in during summer (such as along Lake Superior) and live year round (such as most of the Pacific Coast, and around the Great Lakes).
This species not only lives in North America, but every other continent as well with the exception of Antarctica.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Peregrine Falcons are the fastest fliers in the entire animal kingdom reaching normal speeds of around 70 miles per hour and a diving speed of around 200 miles per hour. They use this incredible speed to hunt medium sized birds such as doves and ducks, but they have been observed taking on an extremely wide array of different bird species. Peregrine Falcons will also eat fish, and mammals.
Where to Find this Bird
Peregrine Falcons have adapted well to human habitation and use skyscrapers as nesting sites. In more wild areas they will use cliffs as nest sites. Peregrine Falcons can be reliable sights in places where people have placed nest boxes specifically for the species to breed in. Often times these places have corresponding nest cams that can be viewed online.
Prairie Falcons have a light brown back, wings, and head with a white underside barred with brown. They have a different facial pattern than the Peregrine Falcon with a brown teardrop marking below the eye that contrasts the pure white of the cheeks and chin.
Range
Prairie Falcons are birds of the Western United States, living year round in most states west of Minnesota and Louisiana. They also live in parts of Mexico and Southwestern Canada year round. In winter, some individuals move east into more of the Great Plains states.
Diet and Foraging Habits
Prairie Falcons eat many different small mammals in addition to insects and birds. Like most falcons, they have quite a varied diet in terms of the bird species they eat.
Where to Find this Bird
True to their name, Prairie Falcons live in open spaces such as grasslands, fields, tundra, and farmland. They nest in places with bluffs and cliffs but are most easily seen hunting. Prairie Falcons are often on the move and cruise the open spaces looking for food. They can also sometimes be seen perched on branches or telephone poles.
Summary
Falcons are always entertaining to see, and knowing which ones to expect in your state can be a key part of correctly identifying the bird you are seeing.
