New Birds!

There's something very exciting about identifying a bird you've never seen before!  Today I saw what I thought was a Golden-fronted Woodpecker foraging on the ground.  It was a bit odd because I've never seen one spend several minutes (more than five!) foraging on the ground so I got the camera out and started taking picture.  Well, what do you know?? It wasn't a Golden-fronted at all but a Northern Flicker!  

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

The Norther Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a medium to large size woodpecker currently migrating through the Texas Hill Country. This was the eastern form (yellow shafted) with a gray crown, brown face and throat, red nape patch, and black mustache stripe, with yellow underpin and undertail visible in flight. 

Their diet consists primarily of ants & beetles but it also eats other insects, berries, and fruits.  Although they can climb up tree trunks they prefer foraging on the ground since ants are their main food source. 

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

In addition to the Northern Flicker a Spotted Towhee came to visit the feeders today.  I think the cold front that blew through yesterday brought a new batch of migrants into our area.  

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)

The Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculates) is a large sparrow.  They eat insects, spiders, seeds, fruits, small lizards and snakes.  Forages by double-scratching in leaf litter on the ground, usually beneath dense thickets.  A group of towhees are known collectively as a "tangle" or a "teapot" of towhees.