Who doesn’t love birds? They are surely one of the most beautiful, mesmerizing, and unique species this planet can offer. Rest assured that our planet is full of them. They have countless species and each species has its unique feature.
No matter which region you go, you’ll find plenty of these elegant creatures, and Texas is no different. It is a unique place with unique regional features, and it has plenty of beautiful and elegant birds.
However, in this article, we are not going to talk about some random birds. We will talk about some of the most beautiful redheaded birds in Texas.
Texas Bird With Red Head
So let’s just get straight to the point and talk about these birds
Northern Cardinal
Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis
Truth be told, we had to start with this one because there are plenty of carnidals in Texas and it is an extremely popular bird. Northern Carnidals nest and hide in dense thickets and it’s one of the many reasons why these birds love Texas because there are plenty of dense thic, andkets in this state.
It’s easy to distinguish between the male and female Northern Cardinals The male bird has a bright crimson color. However, the female bird is not as colorful as its male counterpart.
This texas cardinal bird eats seeds. They can eat almost any kind of seed, but sunflower seed is their favorite.
Like most birds and other animals, Northern Carnidals also fight for their territory. However, in winter, It does not defend its territory. In fact, sometimes Northern Carnidal gathers in flocks.
House Finch
Scientific name: Haemorhous Mexicanus
This is another common and popular red headed bird in Texas. From small towns to large metropolitan areas, they can be found almost anywhere. It is a brown bird with red on head.
If a House Finch has bright red feathers on the head and upper breast, then you’ll know that it is a male. The female bird doesn’t have that, it has grayish streaks on a brown background.
Keep in mind that the House Finch was originally a western bird. Somewhere around New York, it was discovered in the 1940s. By 2000, its population expanded to such a degree that it could be found almost anywhere (and especially in Texas)
These cute little things love seeds, buds, and fruits.
Summer Tanager
Scientific name: Piranga Rubra
Speaking of cute and beautiful little birds, The Summer Tanager is also the kind of bird that will absolutely blow your mind away.
The male Summer Tanagers are bright red. However, their wings feature slightly darker feathers. Contrary to male birds, the female summer tanagers are usually buff yellow.
These tanager red birds in Texas are migratory. In summer, they come to Texas because it’s the breeding season for them. They spend the rest of their year in Central America (especially in Mexico)
Red-headed Woodpecker
All-red head, black wings, and white chest- combine all of these things, and you’ll get a beautiful bird named Red-headed Woodpecker.
Red-headed Woodpeckers are non-dimorphic. Basically, it means that male and female birds look the same.
In Texas, you won’t find any other woodpecker that has an all-red head. In that sense, these woodpeckers are unique. However, the sad thing is that their numbers have reduced rapidly over the years.
Vermilion Flycatcher
Another elegant and vibrant bird that can be found in Texas is the Vermilion Flycatcher. A strict migratory bird, a massive number of these birds migrate to Central America to spend the winter and only a few of them remain in North America.
Most birds are extremely shy. However, Vermilion Flycatcher isn’t too shy. One can easily observe them on exposed perches.
The difference between a male Vermilion Flycatcher and a female Vermilion Flycatcher is that the male bird has a bright crimson red underside, throat, and crown. However, female birds are grayish-brown on top and have pale underparts.
These birds usually build homes in open woodland (especially areas close to water)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
(Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus)
So we have another woodpecker on our list and like all the birds we have listed, this one will also mesmerize you.
This bird has this beautiful black-and-white pattern on its back. This sort of pattern is usually seen on a Zebra. To be honest, it is one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever see in your life
Furthermore, its red crown really compliments that “Zebra pattern”
They prefer places like shady woodlands and forest edges. They eat centipedes, spiders, beetles etc. In winter, these woodpeckers store food in tree crevices
Pyrrhuloxia
(Scientific name: Cardinalis sinuatus)
It is a distant cousin of the Northern Cardinal and its body shape is similar to that of the Northern Cardinal.
These birds are tough in the sense that they can endure extreme summer heat and at the same time, they can also endure cold winter winds. It is one of the many reasons why we have included this bird on our list. They eat insects, seeds, and berries and they are mainly found in western Texas.
Pileated Woodpecker
(Scientific name: Dryocopus pileatus)
So this is the third woodpecker that we have decided to include. Featuring a bright red crest and forehead Pileated Woodpecker is quite a big bird in Texas. As a matter of fact it is the largest woodpecker that can be found in Texas.
A shy bird in nature, Pileated Woodpeckers are usually found in extensive tracts of woodland. These birds usually eat insects and they love to eat Carpenter ants.
Scarlet Tanager
(Scientific name: Piranga olivacea)
Now, it’s not a bird that you will see all year long in Texas but we have decided to include it
anyway.
The male scarlet tanagers attract females with their vibrant colors. When the breeding season is over, male flocks migrate south.
As we have said already, it’s not a bird that you will see all year long. So you have to be quite lucky if you ever get to see any of these birds.
Common Redpoll
(Scientific name: Acanthis)
Like Scarlet Tanager, Common Redpoll is also rare in Texas. In North Texas, you can spot these birds. They have white bellies, brown backs, red breasts, and foreheads. Common Redpolls are small, and they have pointed beaks
Red Crossbill
(scientific name: Loxia curvirostra)
So this is the last bird on our list. This bird is part of the finch family. Its distinctive beak and the dark red coloring on its body really make it a marvelous creature. However, this beautiful little thing is not always easy to find. You need to go to West Texas and still need to be lucky to find this bird.
So basically we are done with our list. We have included 11 extremely beautiful birds and each of them has its unique characteristics.
Attracting Birds to Your Yard: What to Do?
All of us want our yard to look beautiful, and one of the ways to do that is to attract birds to your yard. However, it’s easier said than done.
Here are some of the things you can do to attract birds
Plant Trees
Birds want to build a nest and obviously, they build nests on trees. So it’s not rocket science that you need to plant trees in your backyard. Trees will also act as food source
Provide food
You can also provide a wide variety of bird feeders filled with seeds, suet, and insects depending on the types of birds you wish to attract.
Keep an Eye on Your Cat
Cats are a significant threat to birds. So make sure to keep an eye on them. Feed them properly so that they don’t prey on birds. Plus, it is also advised not to keep too many cats.
Be Patient
It may take some time for birds to discover your yard. In the meantime, you need to be patient. Eventually, birds will visit your place. When the conditions are favorable for them.
Final Thoughts
Texas is a magnificent state, and it has some pretty birds that can blow your mind away. We have only listed some red-headed birds. However, there are other birds as well. There are some beautiful birds of northeast Texas. There are also Texas blue bird with red chest. The bottom line is that Texas has amazing birds in its sleeve.
