Birding Texas: The Lipan Flat

Located just south of San Angelo, Texas, the Lipan Flat is an outstanding bird watching area in Tom Green County. Consisting of twenty miles of grassy plains, forests of oak, juniper and mesquite, rolling hills, and many other bird watching habitats, this is a good spot for finding Longspurs, Sparrows, and many birds of prey. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at the Lipan Flat in Texas, see below.

Horned Lark. Look for this lark's dark brown upperparts and yellow face while bird watching at the Lipan Flat in Texas. You can identify it from its black mask, cap and ear tufts. It also has a dark tail with white edges. Look for it in the fields at the Lipan Flat in Texas, where you will see it foraging on the ground for seeds, grains and insects. You will find Horned Larks while bird watching in the late fall and winter here.

Mountain Plover. This medium-sized plover can be found while bird watching in the grassy plains of the Lipan Flat in Texas, where it forages for insects. This plover is different from most shorebirds in that it is usually not found near water. Recognize it while bird watching from its white face, brown cap, and dark eyestripe. It has tan upperparts and white underparts, along with gray legs and feet. This is another late fall and winter resident of the Lipan Flat in Texas.

Prairie Falcon. You will find this falcon gliding over the hills and grassy plains of the Lipan Flat in Texas, hunting for small birds, mammals, and insects. Recognize it while bird watching from its brown upperparts and pale underparts, which have dark brown spots. It also has dark bars on the underside of its wings, and a dark brown moustache. Look for it sitting on utility poles at the Lipan Flat in Texas, too.

Northern Harrier. Look for this large hawk while bird watching in the meadows and open fields at the Lipan Flat in Texas, where it hunts for rodents by flying low over the ground. You can identify it while bird watching from its light gray upperparts, white underparts and rump, and its dark, hooked bill. It also has yellow eyes, as well as yellow legs and feet. The Northern Harrier has very long wings and a very long tail. Unlike most birds of prey, this hawk uses its hearing as well as its vision to hunt for prey.

Lapland Longspur. This sparrow-like bird can be found in the winter at the Lipan Flat in Texas. Recognize it while bird watching from its black back, which has brown streaks, as well as its black face, crown and throat. It has a yellow bill with a black tip, and a reddish-brown nape. Look for it in the grassy plains of the Lipan Flat in Texas, foraging on the ground for insects.

McCown's Longspur. You can identify this medium-sized sparrow while bird watching from its streaked gray upperparts, white face and throat, and black crown. It also has black legs and feet. Look for it in the grassy plains and fields of the Lipan Flat in Texas, where you will find it foraging on the ground for seeds and insects.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://identify.whatbird.com

http://allaboutbirds.org

http://www.tshaonline.org