Autumn migrations: 8 beautiful birds to spot flying over Texas
It’s about that time of year when birds make their way south to warmer winter climates. Which feathered species can you see across Texas?
The Central Flyway is a migratory bird superhighway, and Texas sits in the middle of it. Unlike the lanes on 35, this highway moves at an impressive pace. As summer turns into autumn, hundreds of thousands of birds will migrate from the north to the south.
The birds typically start venturing toward their winter homes as early as mid-August and continue traveling through November. Peak migration occurs around the end of September through the end of October.
Since birds tend to migrate at night, they navigate via the moon, stars, and sun. Other light sources can disorient them and disrupt their flight. Travis Audobon offers several tips for how you can help these birds on their journey. For example, don’t use outdoor lights at night unless you need to, keep lights off in unoccupied spaces, and leave your curtains and blinds closed.
Which birds can we expect during the autumn migratory period? Since Fall 2020, people have spotted north of 130 species, though some are more common during this time of year. Look up in the sky for these feathered friends.
Warblers
Have you ever found something in your home and were confused by how it got there? Female Yellow Warblers don’t take kindly to unknown objects in their home, either. If they discover foreign eggs in their nest, they’ll build a new nest entirely on top of the old one. You can identify these small birds by their bright yellow feathers and piercing black eyes. They like to post up on a shrub or tree and whistle a repeating tune.
In some cases, the “seet” sound you’re hearing is a warning to other Warblers about imposing danger for the nests. You might also see different varieties, such as the Black-throated Green Warbler or Nashville Warbler, but it’s a lot easier to spot something that’s entirely a bright color, so the Yellow Warbler gets top billing in our book. They’re most common in Texas throughout August.
Peregrine Falcons
Some 75 years ago, Peregrine Falcons almost became extinct in North America as a result of pesticide poisoning. You’d hardly know it today, though, with the falcons a regular scene in cities across the continent. This bird is a popular companion for hunters, and even in the wild, it’s not shy about soaring across the sky and swooping down on unsuspecting prey. It can accelerate up to 200 miles per hour during this “stoop.”
Peregrines and Merlins are birds with similar looks and behaviors. You’ll most likely discover both in tall trees or buildings as they survey the scene below. Look for dark heads, thick sideburns, and intense eyes—the yellow sclera really accents them.
Mississippi Kites
Mississippi Kites often hang out in woodlands and savannahs near water, but you might also find them in urban dwellings. Their breeding, migration, and nesting areas span several states, including much of Texas. They’re most identifiable by their entirely black tail and notably red eyes.
Mississippi Kites are also one of the more social species of birds, hanging out in groups of 20 or 30 as they migrate. And they’re not shy about defending their nests, so if you end up too close to one, don’t be surprised to see a kite flying right toward you.
Chimney Swifts
The greater El Paso area doesn’t welcome Chimney Swifts during their migration pattern—the city is too far west—but just about the rest of Texas does. This aptly named bird is the same color as the soot in your chimney; in fact, chimneys are one of the places where the bird likes to cling. Since it can’t perch, the vertical walls of chimneys and hollow trees or caves are an ideal resting spot.
Chimney Swifts don’t stay still for long, though. They do everything from traveling to chattering to bathing and cleaning while airborne. Their color and frequent motion have earned them the terrific “Flying Cigar” nickname. Look for them across the Lone Star State in August and September.
Yellow-breasted Chats
Despite being a wood-warbler and not a robin, Yellow-breasted Chats could easily be the subject of the hit oldies song, “Rockin’ Robin.” You may not be able to see them among the bushes, but you’ll almost certainly hear them go “tweet, tweet, tweet.”
They whistle, shake, rock, roll, and make all kinds of noises. You might also spot their nests in dense vegetation, which can stand up to three feet tall and are built from grass, bark strips, roots, and hair. The Yellow-Breasted chats typically start migrating south in September.
Western, Semipalmated, and Least Sandpipers
This trio of sandpipers—a bird collectively known as peeps—share many characteristics that make it difficult to decipher them from one another, but they also have a few unique traits.
The Western Sandpiper species usually nests in Alaska and heads south along the Pacific Ocean. However, many of these migratory birds will cross the country and pass through Texas. Western Sandpipers have dark legs and are a similar size to a robin or sparrow. They can sport a variety of colors, such as black, brown, gray, and red, and commonly have a longer beak than their fellow sandpipers.
A Semipalmated Sandpiper probably doesn’t sell seashells down by the seashore, but this alliterative bird does like to hang out along the coasts of beaches. Don’t feel bad if you get your Westerns and Semipalmateds mixed up, as they have similar coloring. The Semipalmated variety usually has a smaller head and neck, with a bit of a drooping beak. These birds are generally more gray-brown, and nonbreeding adults have some streaking along the breast.
Last but certainly not least is the Least Sandpiper, the world’s smallest shorebird. The average size of this bird is 5-6 inches long and one ounce. They typically breed in far north tundra, so you’ll find them alongside mudflats and sandy beaches as they migrate to South America for the winter. Keep an eye out for their brownish coat and yellowish-green legs.
Each of these birds most commonly migrates in August and September. However, you might still see some in October and November, particularly the Least Sandpiper.
Migrating birds in action
Want to keep tabs on birds in Texas throughout the migration season? Check out the BirdCast to learn some cool stats and receive regularly updated numbers on birds in flight, speed, altitude, and more.
Or, if you’d prefer to have birds visit your yard, try a feeder—just be sure to regularly clean it—or put out a small dish of water. Migrating takes a lot of energy, and birds will appreciate the drink. Happy flying!
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
