Altamira Oriole Profile by Debra Martz
I took this image at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in the subtropical tip of Texas.

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Thrasher In A Tangle by Debra Martz

This Long-billed Thrasher seemed to be in a tangle of branches, limbs, and berries! I wondered how on earth it landed among all this. It was happily perched and singing its song of a jumble of tunes.
I captured this image at the Rio Grande Bentsen State Park in south Texas.
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Great Kiskadee Look This Way @DebraMartz
Seen in S Texas in the Estero Llano Grande State Park

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Night Heron in Morning Light ©Debra Martz
This Yellow-crowned Night Heron was wide awake when I saw it early one morning. Perhaps it was watching the baby alligator below. Interestingly enough, I saw several alligators on this day in Alligator Lake along the Alligator Trail. I wonder how they came up with those names. :-)
*Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX

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I spotted this Ladder-backed Woodpecker up high when I heard it drumming on the tree branch. Woodpeckers peck on objects to create sound patterns as communication, like songbirds use melodies. The tempo, rhythm, duration, and repetition of drumming patterns vary between different woodpecker species.

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Zeroed In On Something by @DebraMartz
Northern Mockingbird seen at Estero Llano Grande in Texas.
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"Mockingbird the Texas State Bird" by Debra Martz
It's actually the state bird for several US states, including Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas, where I saw this one while hiking and bird-watching.

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Pretty Mrs Cardinal by Debra Martz
As I walked along the trail, I initially spotted the male, and shortly thereafter, the female emerged just a bit further down.
Seen while birdwatching on a trail in Estero Llano Grande State Park in southern Texas.
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Handsome Mr Cardinal by Debra Martz
Male Northern Cardinal is a non-migratory bird.
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A Pair of Green Jays Deep in Trees by Debra Martz
Green Jays are a bit skittish and prefer to stay deep in the trees.

These brilliant green, yellow, and blue jays are birds of the tropics whose range barely stretches to southern Texas.

Image capture in Estero Llano Grande State Park in Texas.

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The Common Pauraque by Debra Martz
Widespread in the Neotropics but ventures into the U.S. just at the southernmost tip of Texas. This image was captured in the tropical zone of Estero Llano Grande, a state park in south Texas.

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Sora In Hiding by Debra Martz
To find a Sora, look to the freshwater marshes. If you are lucky, one might appear at the edge of the reeds and cordgrass, but most often, they will be within the vegetation.

Seen at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas.

https://debra-martz.pixels.com/featured/sora-in-hiding-debra-martz.html

"Branch Walking Dove" by Debra Martz
Captured this White-tipped Dove at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas.
They are birds mainly of Central and South America but some make their way to southern Texas.

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Yellow-Rumped Warbler Up High by Debra Martz
They are fast birds, fluttering out from a tree to catch a flying insect & quickly moving on to the next. It finally took a brief pause and I snapped the shutter. This image was captured at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas in February.

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Hummingbird Fanning Its Tail by Debra Martz
I watched this Buff-bellied Hummingbird fly quickly in and out of the trees at Estero LLano Grande State Park in Weslaco, TX. Finally, it landed and gave me a variety of poses before it flew away again. I especially liked it when it fanned its tail.

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Hummingbird in Winter Tree Limbs by Debra Martz
Buff-bellied Hummingbird at Estero LLano Grande State Park in Weslaco, TX

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Kingbird and Warbler Surprise by Debra Martz
I had been focused on and watching this Couch's Kingbird fly out for an insect and return repeatedly, so I was quite surprised when this Orange-crowned Warbler flew in, too!

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Golden Fronted Woodpecker in Morning Light by Debra Martz
This was a first for me to capture an image of a Woodpecker using its tongue to retrieve food from the trunk of a tree. They have powerful chisel-like beaks & long, specialized tongues to help access food other birds can't.
Image shot at Estero Llano Grande State Park inTexas

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Perched Dark Eyed Junco in Winter by Debra Martz
Captured this image in February at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Oklahoma. These migratory birds will be heading north to their breeding grounds in a month or so.

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Bald Eagle Perched and Searching by Debra Martz
Captured on a winter day at Great Salt Plains Lake in Oklahoma

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