I recently visited Copper Breaks State Park in Quanah, Texas. This small town is located just southeast of the Texas Panhandle. I had hoped to photograph scads of roadrunners and at least a few snakes and other reptiles. While I did see two Greater Roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus), I was unable to capture their images (DANGit!). A small flock of greenish birds presented themselves rather readily, so I was grateful for the opportunity to get at least a few bird pics:

This would be my first “real-life” sighting of either a female Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) or a female Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria). The photo above shows what looks like the remaining gape of a young bird. If this is indeed a young bird, he or she may be another species altogether. 

Earlier this summer I was lucky enough to get great looks at a male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris). This most colorful of North American passerines is typical of many animal species, in that the male is the more showy of the sexes. The females are usually much less flamboyant, tending to blend in more with their surroundings. It is thought that females benefit from their comparatively plain coloring in that they are better able to remain undetected by would-be predators, increasing their chances of procreating and protecting their young. Males, often most spectacular in their breeding plumage, use their fancy colors and feathers to win the hearts and affections of one (or more) females.

Back to the bird ID. The range is right for either species, so what about the song? What about the number of individuals and their tendency to form flocks or not?

The Painted Bunting song is beautiful, melodious and complex. I do believe I heard that song while I was there, but not when I saw this bird. I heard mostly “eeeee”-sounding calls when I saw this bird, and she was among a small flock. When I first saw them, I thought “goldfinch.” But where are those wing bars? What should I infer from the tattered condition of the tail feathers?

Here’s another photo of a different individual from the same flock, at about the same time:

young, female Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)?

Well, I’m no expert, but I am sure enjoying the chance to stretch my bird ID muscles. I’m going with a young female Lesser Goldfinch. If you would ID this bird differently, please chime in! Learning is half the fun! For the record, there was a large (man-made) lake nearby, serving as the surrounding towns’ water source. The temperature reached 106° that day, but this bird was out early.

I drove into the park at about 7:15am, and this is one of the first signs I saw:

Panhandle Plains Wildlife Trail

The bird on this sign looks like a prairie chicken of some kind. I thumbed through a few bird guides and quickly learned that the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) lives in the area, is declining, and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. I am pretty sure that I did not see a Lesser Prairie-Chicken, but I do think I may have seen a few fleeing Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus), also a first for me.

I surprised these birds as much as they surprised me. I had heard their namesake calls earlier in the morning (sounds like “bob-white”) . It was well into the heat of the day when these birds first casually began to cross the trail, then ran, then flushed.

The bird portion of my trip was rounded out by some energetic Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), and a lone Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus). Overall I can reiterate what most birders know: the best bird viewing is early in the morning or late in the evening.

If you are interested in insects, though, a hot, bright Texas summer day is just what you need. Stay tuned!