Look out for these whistling ducks. Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Houston's mix of parks, ponds and coastal habitats makes summer a great time for birdwatching.
Here are some birds to keep an eye out for, per Houston Audubon:
Mississippi kites: Graceful fliers with a high-pitched, piercing whistle that catch cicadas, dragonflies and beetles in midair. Look for them circling overhead or perched on utility poles or at Smith Point Hawk Watch.
Chimney swifts: Fast-moving birds that spend most of their lives airborne. They cannot perch horizontally, so they nest on vertical brick and concrete structures like chimneys.
Black-bellied whistling-ducks: Social ducks commonly found near retention ponds, golf courses and city parks. Listen for their high-pitched whistle. They can often gather in flocks of up to 1,000.
Heading to the coast? Snowy plovers, Wilson's plovers and least terns are nesting directly on the sand.
