Birding Texas: Seminole Canyon State Historical Park

Consisting of over 2,000 acres of bird watching habitats, Seminole Canyon State Park is a great Texas birding spot. Its habitats include desert, grasslands, rocky terrain, canyons, and forests with trees such as pine, juniper and oak. In addition to bird watching, you can hike, bike and camp at Seminole Canyon State Park in Texas, but please note you cannot hike in the canyon area without a guide. There you will see Fate Bell Shelter, home to some of the oldest Indian pictographs and one of the oldest cave dwellings in North America. If you are looking for birds such as Black Phoebes, Pyrrhuloxia, Sage Thrashers and Lesser Nighthawks, Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas is a great bird watching spot for you. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas, see below.

Black Vulture. You'll see this very large vulture in the forests and thickets of Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas, where you may find it soaring on the thermals over the trees. Recognize it while bird watching from its featherless gray head and neck, pale bill, black body and long, light gray legs and feet. Its black wings are tipped in white. Unlike the larger Turkey Vulture, these birds tend to travel in flocks. Look for it while bird watching in the summer at Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas.

Harris's Hawk. This is a large hawk that you will recognize while bird watching from its overall dark brown coloring. It has rusty-colored shoulders and flanks, and a white base to its tail. Also look for its bright yellow legs and feet. You will see this hawk while bird watching in the canyon area of Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas, as well as in the desert areas. Look for it flying close to the ground, searching for prey. This is another summer resident of Seminole Canyon State Historical Park.

Green Kingfisher. A lovely small kingfisher with a dark green head, back and wings, look for it near the reservoir that sits on the southern edge of Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas. You will recognize it while bird watching from its white chin and collar, as well as its rufous breast band and white belly. It has a long black bill, and gray legs and feet. Look for it diving for insects, frogs and other prey while bird watching at Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas.

Chihuahuan Raven. This small raven (about the size of a crow) is all black with a metallic blue sheen, except for its hard-to-see white neck feathers. Look for it in the grasslands and desert areas of Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas. You'll find it while bird watching there during the summer, where you will see it soaring on thermals, hunting for small mammals, lizards, insects and other prey.

Verdin. Look for this tiny songbird while bird watching in the desert areas of Seminole Canyon State Historical Park in Texas, especially in the thornier areas of scrub. You'll recognize it while bird watching from its gray body, with a yellow face and throat and reddish patches on its shoulders. It also has a black bill, legs and feet. Look for it foraging for insects and spiders.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/parkguide/
http://www.stateparks.com/seminole_canyon.html
http://identify.whatbird.com
http://www.allaboutbirds.org