Birding Texas: Sam Houston National Forest

If you are looking for over 150,000 acres of amazing bird watching in Texas, try stopping in at the Sam Houston National Forest. The Lone Star Hiking Trail can be found here, a 100-mile trail where you can hike and bird watch through some incredible terrain. This is one of four National Forests found in Texas, located about 50 miles north of Houston. Bird watching habitats here include rivers, lakes, forests, streams, and so much more. In addition to bird watching and hiking here, you can also camp, boat, swim, and fish at Sam Houston National Forest in Texas. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Sam Houston National Forest in Texas, see below.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker. This federally endangered little woodpecker can be found while bird watching in the mature pine forests of Sam Houston National Forest in Texas. Identify it from the black and white barring on its back, its black cap and moustache, and its white cheek patches. Look for it probing under loose bark or in rotting wood for insects while bird watching in Sam Houston National Forest in Texas.

Bald Eagle. You'll see this large bird of prey near the lakes and large rivers of Sam Houston National Forest in Texas. It is easy to recognize while bird watching from its dark brown body, white head and white tail. It also has yellow legs and feet. Bald Eagles have been known to wade into the water to capture fish, but they also eat large birds and mammals, and will steal from other birds if given the opportunity.

Mississippi Kite. Look for this small kite in the open areas of the forests at Sam Houston National Forest in Texas, hunting for large, flying insects. You can identify it while bird watching from its dark gray upperparts and pale gray underparts and head. It also has red eyes and a long, black tail. The Mississippi Kite is a year-round resident of Sam Houston National Forest in Texas.

Chuck-will's-widow. This large nightjar has a mottled gray, brown and black back, along with a white collar and a white-edged tail. Look for it in the open forests and clearings of Sam Houston National Forest in Texas, where you can find it while bird watching at dawn and dusk. It flies low over the ground, hunting for insects.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. You'll find this flycatcher in the open areas near the trails while bird watching at Sam Houston National Forest in Texas. Identify it from its pale gray upperparts and head, white underparts, and pink sides and flanks. It also has dark brown wings edged in white. These flycatchers eat grasshoppers, crickets, and other insects.

Osprey. Look for this large bird of prey while bird watching in the winter at Sam Houston National Forest in Texas. Ospreys eat fish almost exclusively, so you'll find them near the lakes and rivers of Sam Houston National Forest in Texas. Identify it while bird watching from its white underparts and small white head with a dark crown. It also has a dark bill and dark brown upperparts, as well as gray legs and feet.

Rusty Blackbird. Another winter resident of Sam Houston National Forest in Texas, look for it while bird watching in the wetlands or near the fields. You can identify it while bird watching from its overall shiny black body, as well as its yellow eyes. Look for it foraging on the ground for insects, caterpillars, seeds and snails.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recreation/sam_houston/samhouston_gen_info.shtml
http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XFA044-069
http://www.allaboutbirds.org
http://identify.whatbird.com