Birding Texas: Zilker Park

Zilker Park is a great bird watching spot in Texas, located on the shores of Lady Bird Lake in Austin. It has almost 500 acres of bird watching habitats, including the lake and its shores, a creek, natural springs, and many others. Zilker Park is home to the Botanical Gardens, sixty acres of Texas flowers and plants that also draw many birds. And this is also where you will find the 80-acre Austin Nature Center. In addition to bird watching, you can swim, hike, bike, and picnic at Zilker Park in Texas. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Zilker Park in Texas, see below.

Bewick's Wren. Look for this small wren in the thickets and scrubby areas near the creek in Zilker Park, Texas. You'll recognize it while bird watching from its reddish brown upperparts and white underparts, as well as its white eyebrows and long, barred tail edged in white. It also has a long and slightly decurved bill. These wrens are year-long residents at Zilker Park in Texas.

Carolina Wren. A medium sized wren with buff-colored underparts and rust upperparts, this little bird is curious and loud. It has a white eyestripe, and its wings and tail are softly barred. Look for it while bird watching in the open woodlands of Zilker Park in Texas, where you'll see it foraging for insects. Carolina Wrens nest here, so look for their dome-shaped nests, which can be made from hair, feathers, and even snakeskin!

Belted Kingfisher. You'll easily recognize this kingfisher while bird watching in Zilker Park, Texas from its bushy crest, white collar, and large black bill. It is blue-gray overall, with white underparts and gray legs and feet. Look for it along the lake and creek in Zilker Park, Texas, where you may see it hovering above the water, searching for prey.

Gadwall. This large duck can be found dabbling in the lake at Zilker Park in Texas, hunting for plants to eat. Recognize it while bird watching from its softly barred gray body, black rump and rust-colored shoulders. It has yellow legs and feet and a gray bill, as well as a grayish-brown head and neck. Look for this duck while bird watching at Zilker Park in Texas in the winter.

Lesser Scaup. Look for this medium-sized duck on the lake at Zilker Park in Texas, where you will see it diving for food. Recognize it while bird watching from its black head, neck and breast, which have a purple sheen, as well as its yellow eyes and blue-gray bill. It also has black wings and a black tail. The Lesser Scaup is common during the winter at Zilker Park, Texas.

American Coot. This is a chicken-like bird that can be found at the lake in Zilker Park, Texas. Identify it while bird watching from its all black body and short white bill. American Coots are not ducks, since they do not have webbed feet. Instead they are known as swimming birds. When not hunting for food themselves, they will steal it from other birds. Look for them while bird watching during the winter at Zilker Park in Texas, where you will see them swimming and diving for food.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://texasescapes.com/SplashAcrossTexas/BartonSpringsTexas/ZilkerParkAustinTx15.htm

http://www.allaboutbirds.org

http://identify.whatbird.com