The Davis Mountains are a cool, wooded sky-island rising out of the West Texas desert, and that isolation gives them a bird community all their own. Madrean pine-oak woodlands, canyon streams, and mountain meadows hold species more typical of the Southwest and Mexico than the rest of Texas. Davis Mountains State Park and the shaded feeders and picnic areas along the scenic loop are reliable places to settle in and let the birds come to you, and the elevation keeps things comfortable when the lowlands are baking. The high-country air and scenery make it a special place to spend time behind the lens.
Birds to look for: Montezuma Quail, Acorn Woodpecker, Western Bluebird, Band-tailed Pigeon, and a variety of hummingbirds.
Best time to visit: Spring and summer for breeding montane species; feeders are active spring through fall.
A wonderful pitstop high in the mountains where the birding can be fantastic. Almost always a nice assortment of our feathered friends. You can hear some nice nocturnal birds singing into the night or early in the morning before the break of dawn.
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