West Texas Bird Pictures (Images by Dick Locke from the Davis Mountains, TX))

This page is dedicated to bird pictures from the Davis Mountains. The birds up there don't seem to be used to people -- big surprise. It's hard to get close. But, I like a challenge, and getting decent shots of the birds is certainly that. Many thanks to Gil and Christina for helping with identification!

Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus	Yellow-rumped male Warbler Gil writes: This is a Yellow-rumped warbler male, molting into breeding plumage. You can see a bit of yellow on the throat, which would put it in the western race, formerly considered a separate species, the "Audubon's" warbler.
Montezuma Quail (Cytonyx Montezuma) He's a real pretty boy.	Larger version of the quail on the left, with his girlfriend to the right. Do you think these guys blend into their environment pretty well?
Western Bluebird. A first year male per Gil.	Western Bluebird
female phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens	female phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens More excellent info from Gil: Phainopepla is a neat bird. It is the only representative of its very small family (Ptilogonatidae) normally found in the United States, although one other, the Gray silky-flycatcher has strayed from Mexico to El Paso at least once. Phainopeplas live in desert mesquites, sparsely wooded canyons, and dry foothill areas of the Southwest, from Texas's Big Bend area to inland northern California. They mostly eat berries, especially mistletoe, in the wintertime. The males have bright red eyes, and glossy black plumage with a flash of white in the wings when they fly. Both genders have a crest.
Western Scrub Jay with a Snack	Western Scrub Jay
Jay discussion from Gil: Yes, you definitely have a Western scrub jay. The subspecies in west Texas is Aphelocoma californica texana and belongs to the "Woodhouse's" group of subspecies. This group may represent a separate species from the West coast subspecies, as they look and behave somewhat differently. My photo of the West Coast californica subspecies is (shown on the right). By contrast, the Texas form is duller overall, dirty gray below, with a less distinct white eye brow and much less distinctly marked blue on the breast. It tends to be a solitary, timid woodland bird. The West Coast form is much more bold and sociable, not only with other jays, but with humans.	Gil's Western Scrub Jay Copyright © 2007, by Gil Ewing, used with permission See discussion on left. Not from the Davis Mountains, just to be clear!
West Texas Wildlife Pictures	Canyon Towhee Picture... April 1, 2007, but not April Fools: I have received email from someone who states authoritatively: "It is definitely neither a warbler nor a junco, but is a Canyon towhee, Pipilo fuscus. " Here's a link to other pictures.
West Texas Astrophotography by Dick Locke	Lightning Pictures:
Davis Mountains Scenics	Travel Home