Birding Houston, Texas: How to Tell Similar Species Apart

Although it can be very easy to tell certain species of birds apart while bird watching in Houston, Texas (you'd never mistake a Northern Cardinal for a Bald Eagle), there are many similar species that can be difficult to differentiate. Woodpeckers, warblers, hawks and sparrows are just a few examples of bird families that can have similar species. Some species are easily distinguishable (again, think Bald Eagle, although even they can be tricky until they have matured enough to have their distinctive white heads.) But others are very similar. For tips on identifying similar species while bird watching in Houston, Texas, see below.

Sparrows. Chipping Sparrows and Fox Sparrows are just two of the many similar species of Sparrows in Houston, Texas. The Chipping Sparrow has a bright rusty red cap, black and white eye lines, and a gray breast with no markings. Its medium sized bill is smaller than the bills of most sparrows. They also have fairly long tails. In contrast, the similar looking Fox Sparrow is larger, and its breast is heavily streaked. It has a shorter, reddish tail. Fox Sparrows have a distinctive backward kicking behavior that can help you distinguish them from similar species under your feeder. There are over fifteen species of sparrows that can be found in Houston, Texas, so be patient with yourself as you learn to identify them while bird watching.

Woodpeckers. A lot of woodpeckers found in Houston, Texas have red on their heads, which can sometimes make it confusing to tell similar species apart when you are bird watching. The Redheaded Woodpecker is the only one with an entirely red head, making it look as though it is wearing a red hood. This red contrasts nicely with its white breast. This is a medium sized woodpecker, which will help you distinguish it from the similar Pileated Woodpecker when bird watching in Houston, Texas. The Pileated Woodpecker is very large (about the size of a crow), and has a red crest, not an entirely red head. The rest of its body is black with white markings. A Redheaded Woodpecker is much more territorial and aggressive than a Pileated, and in addition to the usual woodpecker diet of fruits, seeds and sap, it will also eat eggs, nestlings, and even mice!

Vultures and Eagles. The Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture are two similar species that can be difficult to tell apart while bird watching in Houston, Texas. Turkey Vultures have silvery and black patterns on the underside of their wings, and fly with their wings held in a shallow V. They have red, featherless heads and necks. Black Vultures have gray-black skin on their head and neck, very short tails, and white tips on their underwings. Look for the way they hold their wings flat when in flight while bird watching in Houston, Texas. If you see a flock of vultures, they are more likely to be Black Vultures, as the Turkey Vulture is a more solitary bird.

Both species can also be confused with immature Bald Eagles, and are similar to adult Bald Eagles from a distance. Golden Eagles can resemble immature Bald Eagles, too, so look for the Golden's longer tail and smaller head when bird watching in Houston, Texas. Golden Eagles fly with slightly uplifted wings, and Bald Eagles will keep their wings flat.

Warblers. With over 25 species of warblers common in Houston, Texas, it can be hard to tell some of these little birds apart while bird watching. Tennessee and Orange-crowned Warblers are just two species that look very similar. The Tennessee Warbler has a green back, as well as whitish underparts and a thin white line over its eyes. The Orange-crowned Warbler has similar green coloring, but its breast is a soft yellow color and it also has yellow under its tail. Both can be found foraging in shrubs and brush for insects, so look for the yellow coloring to help you tell the two similar species apart while bird watching in Houston, Texas.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.birdsource.org
http://www.allaboutbirds.org
http://identify.whatbird.com