Birds

Black Skimmers feed on small fish by flying low over the coastal shallows with the bottom of their orange-and-black bill slicing through the water. When their red and black bill strikes a fish, they snap it up.

The Black-bellied Plovers' face, throat and belly are painted black during breeding season - from April to September - and a dull gray the rest of the year.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks have the long neck and legs of a goose. But their red bill, gray face, cinnamon back and black underbelly make them one of the Texas coast's most colorful ducks. The other half of their name comes from the sharp whistling sound they make when chatting or flying up.

Green Herons are solitary birds that crouch on logs and branches in the shadows along wooded streams and ponds, waiting for a fish.

Black-crowned Night-Herons are stocky birds with layers of blue and gray plumage, a black cap and a long, thin white plume that streams off the back of their necks.

Black-necked Stilts stride through shallow ponds and marshes on their spindly red legs, feeding on a variety of insects and small fish. Among birds, only Flamingos have longer legs in proportion to their bodies.

Blue-winged Teals are small dabling ducks common on the edges of ponds and marshes with deep vegetation. They typically forage in pairs or small groups, often in the company of other dabbling ducks.

Boat-tailed Grackles are one of three related species on the Texas Gulf Coast, as if one weren't enough. They're a large, dark bird with a loud, harsh call.

Brown Pelicans are large and ungainly birds with a distinctive bill pouch. Look for them gliding in packs along the shore or floating on the water just beyond the breaking waves.

Caspian Terns are bulkier than their cousins and more akin to a gull. They soar high above beaches, lakes and rivers scouting for fish and often dive completely underwater in their pursuit.