This is a male Brown-headed cowbird, due to its breeding habits a threat to some endangered (and other) species such as the Golden-cheeked warbler and the Black-capped vireo in central Texas.  I won’t detail the birds’ breeding habits here but if you are unfamiliar with them look them up on the internet.

When I was young and growing up in central Texas White-winged doves were virtually unknown.  Just in my lifetime they have expanded north from the southern part of Texas.  Here in Skagit County, WA, we are dealing with colonies of Eurasian Collared doves, an introduced species that we have seen in various areas of the western US.

I believe this is a Black-crested titmouse, a new species that was reclassified since I left Texas (in 2001).

For most of the days that I was in Texas two thrushes came to the bird baths both early in the morning and fairly late in the evening.  Initially they were thought to be Hermit thrushes, but after many observations and photographs I could never detect any ‘reddish color’ on their tails.  So I’m assuming that they were Swainson’s thrushes which should have been migrating north, but the fact that they remained in the area over at least about a two week period would indicate that they were’t too serious about migration!

Now on to the warblers!   Here’s another Black and White warbler in a not uncommon pose.

This is a male Yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle race).

I was excited when I first saw this bird because I thought it was a Golden-cheeked warbler.  Alas, it’s its very similar ‘cousin’ the Black-throated green warbler.  I’ve photographed the Golden-cheeks on other previous visits but it was not to happen on this year’s trip.