Black Birds in Texas – Our Top 10 Black Birds of Texas

You might be forgiven for thinking that black birds in Texas are all grackles or vultures. Not so, there are a fantastic range of bird families with black plumage that are resident or visit Texas. In this post we will be reviewing 10 of the best black birds found in Texas.

The State of Texas

The Lone Star State has a varied geography. To the northeast are the Interior Lowlands, the Gulf Coastal Plains lie to the southeast and the Great Plains run through the north and western areas. The far west of Texas is bordered by the Rio Grande river on the south side and it contains the only mountains of Texas.

Graphic by Nations Online Project

Cattle, oil and wind are all farmed in Texas and contribute greatly to the vistas across the more rural parts of the state. But the natural features of the Gulf of Mexico, Rio Grande Valley and the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge all contribute to Texas providing incredible bird watching opportunties. It should be no surprise then, that Texas has the second most reported bird species on eBird with 670.

Birds of Texas

Many of the interesting birds of Texas are seen as they migrate during the spring from South America to the north to breed. Estimates are of around 2 billion birds passing through Texas and this might explain why Texas has no endemic species. Our black birds are largely resident in the state and most are fairly common. I’m sure there must be a reason for that. Please leave a comment if you know!

Ten of the best

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Identification and Size

This male grackle is large, with a huge tail. It is black with a purple iridescent sheen. His bill is large and the eyes are bright yellow. The female is less conspicuous being around half the size with a duller, brown plumage.

Length: 15.0 – 18.1 inches
Wingspan: 18.9 – 22.8 inches
Weight: 3.7 – 6.7 ounces

Distribution

The Great-tailed Grackle can be seen all year round in Texas with concentrations around the coast and through the centre. Numbers reduce further west.

Call

Audio by Edward Caillouet

Diet

The Boat-tailed Grackle prefers to eat insects including grasshoppers, spiders and beetles. The volume of animal material eaten by the grackle increases during spring but is variable throughout the year. It also consumes plant material but at a similar rate all year round. Its plant diet consists of grass and seeds.

Interesting Fact

During the winter months, the Great-tailed Grackle are known to congregate in huge numbers. They roost together in trees and it has been estimated that there has been groups of up to 500,000 of them in certain parts of Texas.

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Identification and Size

The male Red-winged Blackbird is a deep, glossy black color with red patches on the shoulder bordered with a band of yellow. Females are have a mid-brown back with heavy streaking on the front. They always have a prominent cream eye brow. The female is up to half the size of the male.

Length: 6.7 – 9.1 inches
Wingspan: 12.2 – 15.8 inches
Weight: 1.1 – 2.7 ounces

Distribution

The Red-winged Blackbird is seen all year round in Texas with concentrations of sightings in more populated areas. Numbers become patchier in the west.

Call

Audio by Ed Pandolfino

Diet

The diet of the Red-winged Blackbird is interesting as it varies between the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Eating mostly plant matter in the non-breeding season, the birds only eat a small amount of animal matter, usually insects. In the breeding season, however, it all changes with the birds eating much more animal matter supplemented with some grains.

Interesting Fact

The male Red-winged Blackbird is a busy bird with many female mates. It has been estimated that they can have up to 15.

Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

Identification and Size

The Brewer’s Blackbird is a medium sized blackbird, with the male slightly larger than the female. The male is a deep black in appearance, which can change depending on the light to give off an iridescent sheen. The female bird is a duller brown. ranging from mid to dark although she may also look more attractive in certain kinds of light.

Length: 7.9 – 9.8 inches
Wingspan: 14.6 inches
Weight: 1.8 – 3.0 ounces

Distribution

The Brewer’s Blackbird is migratory but has different patterns. Some fly over 2,000 from Canada to overwinter in Texas, while others migrate from west to east. In Texas, they are a winter bird and can be seen in eastern and northern areas most easily.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

Diet

During migration, the Brewer’s Blackbird is largely vegetarian, eating mainly grains, weed and grass seeds. It will easily incorporate insects when they are available and is as such, an opportunistic eater.

Interesting Fact

Research has shown that the Brewer’s Blackbird’s eggs are highly variable in color. This might be a camouflage technique.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Photo by Blalonde

Identification and Size

The body of the male Yellow-headed Blackbird is a dense black, offset by the deep yellow head and throat. A white bar runs along the wing. While the female is similar, she is duller all over.

Length: 8.3 – 10.2 inches
Wingspan: 16.5 -17.3 inches
Weight: 1.6 – 3.5 ounces

Distribution

The Yellow-headed Blackbird migrates from Canada to Mexico where it overwinters. Large flocks may be seen in spring and fall across the southern states as the birds pass through.

Call

Audio by Michael Lester

Diet

During the breeding season the Yellow-headed Blackbird is unusual in that it switches to catching small aquatic creatures which it then feeds to its chicks. After breeding it reverts to eating grains and seeds.

Interesting Fact

The Yellow-headed Blackbird was first studied by the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, Charles Lucien Bonaparte in the early 1800s. He provided the first in depth descriptions onf the bird.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Photo by Imogen Warren

Identification and Size

The Turkey Vulture is always an ominous sight as it wheels overhead. It is largely black with grey under the wing. Its bald head and neck are red and looks alarmingly small. A pale bill finishes the distinctive appearance.

Length: 25.2 – 31.9 inches
Wingspan: 66.9 – 70.1 inches
Weight: 70.5 ounces

Distribution

As can clearly be seen by the range map above and sightings distribution chart below, the Turkey Vulture is a common resident of Texas. Given its strong sense of smell, it is likely to be a quick visitor to roadkill and is frequently seen flying above major roads.

Call

Audio by Guillermo Treboux

Diet

The Turkey Vulture prefers smaller mammals to eat and will take rodents, birds and foxes. Its diet is wide ranging from carrion to small insects like grasshoppers and even molluscs. If meat is in short supply, they have been known to eat fruits and berries.

Interesting Fact

A defensive move of this vulture is to vomit. It may do so on its prey or even a human that gets too close to it. Given the diet of the vulture, this can be an effective deterrant.

Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)

Identification and Size

This large cormorant species has a black body, which sometimes gives off a glossy sheen. It has an orange facial patch which extends to the throat and is always present. The eyes are a deep turquoise. The ‘crest’ for which it is named is not always present.

Length: 27.6 – 35.4 inches
Wingspan: 44.9 – 48.4 inches
Weight: 42.3 – 88.2 ounces

Distribution

As the range map shows, the Double-crested Cormorant is more numerous in the eastern range of Texas. It is, however, common across the U.S. and this may have more to do with the areas of western Texas into Mexico being more arid.

Call

Audio by Bruce Lagerquist

Diet

Like other cormorants, the Double-crested primarily eats fish. A wide range of fish which may be supplemented with other aquatic creatures like eels.

Interesting Fact

The crest of this cormorant is only visible during breeding periods. Birds from Alaska have white crests, while birds from other regions remain black,

Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus)

Photo by Quinn Dombrowski

Crows and ravens are notoriously difficult to identify in the field. It can come down to the length of the bristles around the bill or its shape. This can be impossible for birders not intimately familiar with the different species. Possibly the most reliable method of separating these birds is by the call. Distinguish between the calls and you don’t even need to see the bird to know what it is!

Length: 18.1 -20.9 inches
Wingspan: 40.9 – 43.3 inches
Weight: 15.6 – 23.5 ounces

Distribution

There may be some doubt about the reliability of sightings recorded on eBird because of the difficulty in identifying the different corvid species. In this case, the Chihuahuan Raven is similar in appearance to the Common Raven and their ranges may overlap. Data does seem reliable enough to indicate that the Chihuahuan Raven appears predominately in the west of the state. There are some winter records as far east as Galveston.

Call

Audio by RIchard E. Webster

Diet

Like other crows and ravens, the Chihuahuan Raven will scavenge as and when required, taking roadkill, scraps and defenceless young birds. The main diet, however, is large insects like grasshoppers and beetles

Interesting Fact

Crows and ravens can be difficult to identify. Some species have a white or gray base to their feathers. This is only visible when the wind ruffles the feathers. The Chihuahuan Raven is one such species.

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Identification

One the largest woodpeckers in the U.S. is the Pileated Woodpecker. Its black feathers are not a true black. The white border of the wing runs all the way up into the neck and turns into black and white stripes across the face. The striking red crest completes the picture.

Length: 15.8 – 19.3 inches
Wingspan: 26.0 – 29.5 inches
Weight: 8.8 – 12.30 ounces

Distribution

The Pileated Woodpecker can be seen all year round in the Great Plains of far eastern Texas.

Call

Audio by Bruce Lagerquist

Diet

The Pileated Woodpecker eats predominately carpenter ants as well as other insects, beetles and larvae. It will also supplement its diet with fruits and nuts.

Interesting Fact

The Pileated Woodpecker is such a good feeder that it helps other birds out. By extensively digging out areas of bark, it disturbs enough food to feed other woodpeckers and small birds like wrens.

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)

Identification and Size

The Bronzed Cowbird is aptly named with black plumage and a bronze sheen on male birds. Females are browner without the iridescence.

Length: 7.9 inches
Wingspan: 13.0 inches
Weight: 2.3 – 2.3 ounces

Bronzed Cowbird can be seen in parts of Texas throughout the year. Primarily in the south of the state, it can also been seen in the west.

Call

Audio by Richard E. Webster

Diet

The Bronzed Cowbird feeds on seeds and arthropods. As its name suggests, it can be seen in the presence of cattle, enjoying their company as they disturb insects on the ground.

Interesting Fact

The Bronzed Cowbird is a parasitic bird and likes to lay eggs in oriole nests. Bird watchers report that when an oriole sings, the cowbirds will appear. The record for Bronzed Cowbird eggs found in a single nest was 17.

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Identification and Size

Although the Bololink looks like a finch, it is actually part of the blackbird and oriole family (Icteridae). Males and females look similar in non-breeding seasons. The male becomes spectacular in breeding plumage with black and white across the back and a cream nape.

Length: 5.9 – 8.3 inches
Wingspan: 10.6 inches
Weight: 1.0 – 2.0 inches

Distribution

The Bololink migrates to South America during the winter months. Eastern Texas is on the furthermost east side of the migration route to Canada.

Call

Audio by Jim Berry

Diet

During migration, the Bololink will eat plant material including grains and rice supplemented with insects when available. In breeding periods the amount of animal feed increases and includes both larvae and adult insects, as well as spiders and snails.

Interesting Fact

Bololinks are very promiscuous with both females and males having multiple mates each season. A nest may have eggs all laid by the same female but with several fathers.

FAQs

What are the black, noisy birds in Texas?

That will be our friends the grackles. As well as the Great-tailed Grackle, the Boat-tailed Grackle and Common Grackle can also be found in Texas.

What are the smaller black birds in Texas?

There are blackbirds, cowbirds and even European Starlings in large numbers across Texas.

What is the most common black bird in Texas?

The most common black bird in Texas is the Common Grackle.

So, there is our list of black birds in Texas. My favorite has to be the Great-tailed Grackle. Spectacular to look at and with a big personality, it fits right into the State of Texas.

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