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Davis Mountains

Sam Crowe
Updated: March 20, 2023
Sam Crowe - Birdzilla Adventures
Fort Davis Mountains

The Davis Mountains are located in a part of Texas known as the Trans-Pecos region of west Texas.  They are located on the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert.  Over 600 square miles of the Davis Mountains is above 5,000 ft.  Despite the dry conditions the area includes extensive montane woodlands and abundant wildlife.

 

The Davis Mountains Preserve, owned by The Nature Conservance, contains most of the pine-oak forests. Nesting species in the Preserve include Flammulated Owl, Mexican Whip-poor-will, Dusky Flycatcher, and Grace’s Warbler.  Over 100 species nest at elevations above 5,500 in the Davis Mountains.

mountains

Typical desert mountain habitat.  The higest point in the Davis Mountains reaches 8,378 feet above sea level.

The McDonald Observatory is located near the Davis Mountains State Park.  Evening Star Parties are a popular attraction for those visiting the region.

Davis Mountains State Park
This trip was more of a family vacation with most of the birding time spent in the park itself and near the bird feeding stations.   The state park itself is about 3 miles from the town of Fort Davis and the historic fort itself.

The park provides a range of hospitality options.  The historic lodge provides large, clean rooms and a local restaurant. Camping sites are available for trailers, tent camping and more remote primitive camping.

Davis Mountains State Park Lodge

A distant view of the lodge.

The park maintains two bird feeder areas that are the best I have ever seen.  The feeding stations make it easy for even novice birders to see and enjoy some colorful western species. Both provide indoor viewing through large windows as well as outside photo blind arrangements for photographers.  For birders the park is best known as a place to see the spectacular Harlequin Quail, which unfortunately I missed on this trip.  A pair of Elf Owls were nesting in the park, a life bird for me.

bird feeder station

Bird lovers can step inside for excellent viewing of the bird feeding stations while photographers can line up outside.

Most of the following species were quite common at the feeder stations in early May.

Acorn Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

black-headed-grosbeak-white-winged-dove-sam-crowe

Black-headed Grosbeak and White-winged Dove

blue grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

lesser goldfinche

Lesser Goldfinch

scotts oriole

Scott’s Oriole

summer tanager-female

Female Summer Tanager

western scrub-jay

Western Scrub Jay

Wildlife is plentiful in the park and along a nearby nature observation loop.

mule deer

Mule Deer

peccari

Collared Peccary

proghorn antelope

Pronghorn Antelope

ram

Aoudad/Barbary Sheep roam free through many parts of the Davis Mountains


Black-headed Grosbeak


Northern Cardinal and Ladder-backed Woodpecker


Pronghorn Antelope

Photographs and video © Sam Crowe

 

About the Author

Sam Crowe
Sam is the founder of Birdzilla.com. He has been birding for over 30 years and has a world list of over 2000 species. He has served as treasurer of the Texas Ornithological Society, Sanctuary Chair of Dallas Audubon, Editor of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "All About Birds" web site and as a contributing editor for Birding Business magazine. Many of his photographs and videos can be found on the site.

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