If you've been walking near our local bayous, parks, or even in your own neighborhood, you might have come across this striking neighbor! Our Bird of Houston, the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, has been spotted all over the city this summer.

With their distinct slate-gray bodies, bold facial stripes, and bright yellow crests, they're hard to miss—especially when they're on the hunt for their favorite snack: crawfish!

Spotted one? We love seeing your bird sightings. Snap a photo and tag us on social media at @HoustonAudubon - be sure to tag #BirdofHouston as well! 

Every summer, the Houston metro area plays host to an incredible natural phenomenon as hundreds of thousands of Purple Martins gather daily before migration. From July to September, the birds will spend most of the day feeding on flying insects to build energy for their long journey across the Gulf of Mexico. At dusk, large flocks cover the sky in a dark cloud as they fly into the trees to roost.

Join Houston Audubon for our upcoming Purple Martin Watch Parties to witness up to 500,000 birds take over the sky! These free, family-friendly events gather the community to experience the wonder of Purple Martins' spectacular roosting patterns. Plus, our expert staff and volunteers will be on hand to share fun insights into their amazing journey.

2026 Watch Parties

We go where the birds are! Check the website for the location prior to each event.

Chimney Swifts spend nearly their entire lives on the wing, only pausing to roost or nest. They even bathe in flight! Because Chimney Swifts can't perch like other birds, their long claws are perfectly adapted for clinging to vertical surfaces. Historically, they nested in hollow trees, but have lost much of their natural habitat to development. The birds adapted to nesting in chimneys and are now dependent on manmade structures for nesting. Look out for these energetic birds in the late afternoon and evening, foraging in small flocks.

Houston Audubon hosts Swift Night Out events in late summer. Stay tuned for details if you'd like to join us in counting swifts and watch them settle in for the evening!

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks hang out by shallow ponds, golf courses, city parks, and schools. Because of their long legs, they spend more time than other ducks walking around on land or perching in trees and power lines. They are gregarious throughout the year and form flocks of up to 1,000 birds! They eat mostly plants such as smartweed, grasses, swamp timothy, sedges, and agricultural crops, but occasionally they eat smaller aquatic animals like snails, insects, and spiders. True to their name, they have a soft, high whistle with a long first note and several following notes. 

Mississippi Kites are most often observed as they migrate through our area each spring and fall. While August and September are the best months to scan the skies for this beautiful kite, you may already have seen them or heard their distinct high-pitched, piercing, two-syllable whistle. An acrobatic flier, this kite glides, circles, and swoops as it pursues and feeds on airborne insects such as cicadas, dragonflies, beetles, and grasshoppers. While large insects make up the majority of their diet, they will also catch frogs, lizards, snakes, and small birds. You can see large numbers of these kites at the Smith Point Hawk Watch.

Shorebirds are nesting on our coastlines right now! These beach-nesting birds lay their eggs in shallow scrapes directly on the open sand, often near a bit of driftwood or seaweed. Because they rely on blending in rather than flying away, they are easily startled. When scared off their nest, their nearly invisible eggs are left exposed to the harsh sun and predators. Be sure to watch out for our vulnerable beach-nesting birds when enjoying the beach this summer–here are some tips on how you can help.

Birds to look out for when you're at the beach:

 The Snowy Plover is often seen running around energetically on the beach in search of worms and insects to eat. They rarely just walk, rather they start running directly from a standstill and can change direction and stop just as abruptly. Young Snowy Plovers learn to follow in their parents' footsteps very quickly, running around on their own as soon as a few hours after hatching. 

The Wilson’s Plover uses its oversized, heavy black bill to snack on fiddler crabs. They’re also great parents—when a predator (or human) gets too close, they flop on the sand, dragging a wing as if they’re badly injured to lure the threat away from their camouflaged eggs or chicks. Once the intruder is a safe distance away, the “injury” miraculously heals, and the plover flies back to the nest.

The Least Tern is the smallest tern in North America—it weighs about the same as a mockingbird! It doesn’t just fly; it scouts for fish by hovering mid-air before diving headfirst into the water with a splash. Breeding males often bring food back to their mates, leading to graceful aerial displays. Populations of Least Terns are endangered in many areas due to human impacts on their nesting spots. 

Happy birding!