Fall in Dallas isn’t just about cooler temperatures and pumpkin spice lattes; it’s also the time when a stunning array of migratory birds passes through the city!
Whether you're an avid birdwatcher or just enjoy a leisurely stroll in the cooling weather, here are a few of the fascinating migratory birds to keep an eye out for in Dallas this fall season.
13 migrating birds you can see in Dallas
Baltimore oriole
Breeding season: Baltimore orioles typically spend their summers in the eastern and central United States, nesting in deciduous trees.
Wintering grounds: They migrate to Central and northern South America for the winter.
Appearance: These birds are known for their vibrant orange bodies contrasted with jet-black wings and heads.
Where to spot: Look for them in parks and gardens, especially near fruit-bearing trees, and their sweet songs can often be heard during early mornings.
Yellow warbler
Breeding season: The yellow warbler breeds all over North America, particularly in shrubby areas near water.
Wintering grounds: These small, bright birds travel all the way to Central America and Mexico for the winter.
Appearance: Bright yellow with olive streaks on the back and rusty red streaks below its throats, the more brightly colored male is particularly striking during migration season, while the females are a more muted gray.
Where to spot: They can often be found in urban parks and wooded areas, flitting among the trees.
Nashville warbler
Breeding season: Nashville warblers breed in the northern United States and Canada, favoring shrubby or forested habitats.
Wintering grounds: Like the yellow warbler, these little yellow-gray birds also migrate to southern Mexico and Central America.
Appearance: These small birds have a grayish-green back and a bright yellow belly, with a distinct white ring around their eyes.
Where to spot: Look for them in wooded areas and thickets throughout Dallas.
Great-crested flycatcher
Breeding season: This species breeds in eastern North America, favoring deciduous and mature forests.
Wintering grounds: They migrate to the eastern coasts of Mexico, Central America and, occasionally, as far south as northern regions of South America!
Appearance: With a head that seems much too large for its relatively small body, this flycatcher is recognizable by its distinctive crest, olive-green back and pale yellow belly. It’s also got a recognizable song that sounds like a rolling “quuEEEEP” — translation courtesy of the eBird app.
Where to spot: Great-crested flycatchers can often be seen in parks and gardens, perched on wires or branches.
Eastern kingbird
Breeding season: Eastern kingbirds breed across North America, often as far north as Alaska, and are often found near open fields and edges.
Wintering grounds: They migrate to South America for the winter, traveling as far south as Argentina and Uruguay!
Appearance: With Tyrannus tyrannus for a super cool scientific name, these striking birds have a coal-black head and back, white underparts and a distinctive white-tipped tail.
Where to spot: Look for them in open areas, often perched on fence posts or power lines waiting for insects.
Dickcissel
Breeding season: Though they can be spotted all over the continental United States, dickcissels primarily breed in the central U.S., favoring grasslands and fields.
Wintering grounds: They migrate to northern South America like Venezuela and Colombia.
Appearance: Splattered with various earthy colors, males have a yellow breast and eyebrow with a black throat and gray back, making them quite distinct among the sparrows with whom they fly.
Where to spot: You might spot these birds in grassy areas or fields, especially in the suburbs of Dallas.
Upland sandpiper
Breeding season: Upland sandpipers breed and nest in the northern Great Plains, often in tall grasslands where they blend in well among the stalks.
Wintering grounds: They migrate primarily to Paraguay and Argentina for the winter, though they can be found in many open areas in northern South America, too.
Appearance: These shorebird-like birds have long necks and legs, slender bodies and a distinctive speckled pattern.
Where to spot: Look for them in open fields or along the edges of wetlands in Dallas, where it pitter-patters around the grass looking for bugs.
Eastern wood-pewee
Breeding season: These birds breed in eastern North America, often in wooded areas.
Wintering grounds: They migrate to eastern Central America and western South America.
Appearance: Eastern wood-pewees have a name that suits them well. This wee little guy has a tiny grayish-brown body, large eyes and a slightly orange lower beak. Their wingspan is fairly long for its small body, so it may be easier to identify these little guys in flight rather than by sight.
Where to spot: Keep an ear out for their distinctive call in wooded parks or along the Trinity River.
Western kingbird
Breeding season: Western kingbirds breed, not surprisingly, in the western United States, favoring open areas with trees where they can perch and scan for insects.
Wintering grounds: They migrate to Mexico and Central America for the winter, but don’t usually travel any further south than Panama.
Appearance: This fairly-large bird has a gray head, bright yellow belly and striking black tail feathers.
Where to spot: You might see them in open fields or along roadsides, often perched on fence posts or power lines where they can easily spot bugs.
American redstart
Breeding season: This colorful bird breeds all over North America as far north as Alaska, often in deciduous forests near water.
Wintering grounds: American redstarts migrate to Central America and northern South America, though they’ve also occasionally been spotted as far south as Chile and Peru.
Appearance: Males are particularly eye-catching, with bright orange and black plumage that make them instantly recognizable.
Where to spot: Look for them flitting through trees in parks, often near water sources, where they like to show off their vivid colors.
Wilson’s phalarope
Breeding season: These shorebirds breed in the northern Great Plains and in the Western United States, often around freshwater wetlands.
Wintering grounds: These birds make a long trek south for the winter, spending their time on the west coast of South America as far south as the tip of the continent!
Appearance: With an elegant silhouette and gorgeous colors, Wilson’s phalaropes have slender bodies, long necks and legs and striking reddish-brown and white plumage. They’re hard to miss!
Where to spot: You can find them in wetlands or along lakeshores in Dallas, where they often swim gracefully or wade through shallow waters for food. They’re most known for spinning themselves quickly over water to church up small invertebrates from the sand, so keep an eye out for these unique displays!
Wilson’s warbler
Breeding season: Wilson’s warblers breed in the western United States and Canada, favoring shrubby habitats and wooded areas.
Wintering grounds: Like other warblers, these birds migrate to Mexico and Central America for the winter, but typically don’t go as far south as South America.
Appearance: Though touting similar colors and features to the yellow warbler, these small birds are bright yellow with an olive-green back, but feature a distinctive black cap on both males and females.
Where to spot: Look for them in brushy areas and parks, where they flit about in search of insects.
Indigo bunting
Breeding season: Indigo buntings breed primarily across eastern North America, often in open shrubby forest edges and open fields. They’re less commonly found in the western United States, but it’s not impossible to spot them all over the continental U.S.
Wintering grounds: Though they mainly migrate to Central America and parts of Mexico, some indigo buntings also spend their winters in the Caribbean (honestly, though, who wouldn’t?).
Appearance: Males are a stunning blue with a slightly darker head, while females are more brown and streaked.
Where to spot: They can often be found in gardens and open areas, especially in weedy areas with plenty of bugs and flowers.
As you venture out this fall, keep your eyes and ears open for these migratory birds passing through Dallas. Whether you’re walking through a park, hiking a trail or just enjoying your balcony in your Dallas apartment, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of these feathered travelers stopping by on their long journey south.
Happy birdwatching!
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Featured photo by Patrice Bouchard on Unsplash
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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