Coombs Creek Trail is a scenic pathway that winds through the natural beauty of Dallas, Texas. This well-maintained trail offers a tranquil escape for hikers, joggers, and cyclists, showcasing the area’s diverse flora and fauna. Stretching along Coombs Creek, the trail features lush greenery, serene waters, and picturesque views, making it a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. With accessible entry points, picnic areas, and connections to other local parks, Coombs Creek Trail invites visitors to explore the great outdoors while enjoying a peaceful atmosphere away from the urban hustle and bustle. Whether you’re seeking a leisurely stroll or an invigorating workout, this trail provides a refreshing retreat in the heart of the city.
Flora and Fauna
Stevens Park Golf Course is not only a premier destination for golfers but also a haven for bird enthusiasts. Nestled in the heart of Oak Cliff, the course is home to a rich variety of bird life, thanks to its lush fairways, mature trees, and natural water features. Visitors can spot everything from colorful songbirds to majestic hawks, creating a peaceful and picturesque environment. The diversity of species makes Stevens Park a unique spot where nature and recreation harmoniously coexist, offering golfers a scenic and serene backdrop throughout their game.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most common and widespread birds of prey in North America, known for its distinctive reddish-brown tail and broad, rounded wings. A skilled hunter, it primarily feeds on small mammals and can often be seen soaring high or perched on trees and poles, scanning the ground for prey.
Barred Owl
The Barred Owl is a striking bird of prey with distinctive brown and white striped plumage and large, dark eyes. Known for its haunting “who cooks for you?” call, this owl prefers wooded habitats and primarily hunts small mammals at night, often remaining hidden in dense forests during the day.
Screech Owl
The Screech Owl is a small, nocturnal bird known for its camouflaging plumage that blends perfectly with tree bark. Despite its name, its call is more of a soft, eerie trill than a screech, and it primarily hunts insects and small mammals in wooded areas.
Cooper's Hawk
The Cooper’s Hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey native to North America, known for its agility and swift hunting skills. With a sleek body, rounded wings, and a long tail, this hawk is built for maneuvering through forests in pursuit of small birds and mammals. Adults have striking reddish-barred chests and a blue-gray back, while their intense, reddish eyes give them a focused appearance. Often seen in wooded areas and occasionally in suburban regions, the Cooper’s Hawk is an adaptable predator, highly skilled at navigating through dense vegetation to catch its prey.
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small, agile bird of prey found across North America, particularly in forests and wooded areas. Known for its short, rounded wings and long, narrow tail, this hawk is an expert at darting through trees to catch small birds, its primary prey. Adults have a slate-blue back, orange-barred chest, and piercing red eyes, while juveniles are brown with streaked underparts. Despite its petite size, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is a fierce and skilled hunter, often seen soaring high or perched silently, ready to strike with remarkable speed and precision.
Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher is a striking, medium-sized bird known for its shaggy crest and distinctive blue-gray coloring with a white underside. Found near bodies of water across North America, this kingfisher is an expert fisherman, diving headfirst from perches to catch fish with its sharp bill. Males have a single blue band across the chest, while females sport an additional rust-colored band, making them one of the few bird species where females are more colorful than males. With their rattling calls and impressive hunting skills, Belted Kingfishers are often spotted along rivers, lakes, and coastlines, bringing lively energy to waterside habitats.
Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a striking North American songbird known for its bright blue, white, and black plumage and bold crest. Highly social and intelligent, Blue Jays are often seen in woodlands, parks, and suburban areas, where they feed on seeds, nuts, and insects. Known for their loud calls and ability to mimic hawks, these vibrant birds add lively color and personality to their surroundings.
Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird is a medium-sized songbird known for its incredible ability to mimic the songs of other birds and even sounds from its environment. With gray feathers, a slender build, and distinctive white wing patches, this bird is common across North America, often seen in open fields, gardens, and suburban areas. Mockingbirds are highly territorial and fearless, frequently defending their nests from much larger birds. Their rich, varied songs and bold behavior make them a memorable and charismatic presence in any landscape.
Chickadee
The Chickadee is a small, lively songbird known for its distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call and friendly nature. With a black cap, white cheeks, and fluffy, round body, this bird is commonly found in forests, parks, and backyards across North America. Chickadees are curious and social, often flitting energetically through branches in search of seeds and insects. Despite their tiny size, they’re remarkably hardy and active, bringing cheerful energy to any environment year-round.
Titmouse
The Tufted Titmouse is a small, gray songbird with a distinctive crest, big black eyes, and a hint of rusty orange under its wings. Common across eastern North American woodlands, parks, and backyards, this curious and lively bird is known for its clear, whistled calls. The titmouse often joins mixed feeding flocks in winter, foraging for seeds, nuts, and insects. With its bold personality and endearing look, the Tufted Titmouse adds charm to any woodland scene.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny, energetic songbird found throughout North America, particularly in coniferous and mixed forests. With its olive-green body, delicate features, and a distinctive ruby red crown that males display during the breeding season, this kinglet is easily recognizable despite its small size. Known for its lively behavior and rapid movements, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet feeds primarily on insects and spiders, often foraging among leaves and branches. Its cheerful, high-pitched songs and acrobatic flight patterns make it a delightful sight in the forest.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird known for its striking appearance and distinctive call. Characterized by a pale belly, a black-and-white striped back, and a vibrant red cap on its head, this woodpecker can often be seen clinging to tree trunks and foraging for insects and nuts. Found throughout eastern and central North America, the Red-bellied Woodpecker is a skilled driller, using its strong bill to excavate bark for food. Its lively behavior and beautiful plumage make it a favorite among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a small woodpecker known for its distinctive black and white markings and a striking yellow belly. Found primarily in North America, this bird is recognized for its unique feeding behavior, drilling holes in tree bark to access the sap, which it consumes along with insects attracted to the sap. During the breeding season, males display a red crown and throat, while females are more subdued in color. Their characteristic drumming and the rows of sap wells they create on trees make them a fascinating sight in forests and woodlands.
Northern Flicker
The Northern Flicker is a large, ground-feeding woodpecker known for its distinctive markings and behaviors. With a tan body adorned with black spots and a characteristic black crescent on its chest, it also features a striking red or yellow patch on the back of its head, depending on the region. Unlike many woodpeckers, Northern Flickers are often seen foraging on the ground for ants and beetles, making them unique among their kind. They have a loud, ringing call and are known for their playful and social nature, frequently seen in open woodlands, fields, and urban areas across North America.
Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is a small, adaptable bird known for its striking black and white plumage and distinctive size. With a white belly, a black back, and a small red patch on the back of the male’s head, this woodpecker is often spotted flitting among tree branches in search of insects and larvae. Commonly found in forests, parks, and suburban areas across North America, Downy Woodpeckers are recognized by their short, stubby bill and their distinctive tapping sounds as they forage on tree trunks and branches. Their charming appearance and lively behavior make them a favorite among birdwatchers.
Wood Duck
he Wood Duck is a stunningly beautiful waterfowl native to North America, easily recognized by its striking plumage and distinctive features. Males exhibit iridescent green and purple feathers, a red eye, and white throat markings, while females are more subdued in color with a white eye ring and throat patch. Often found in wooded swamps, marshes, and along rivers, Wood Ducks prefer habitats with plenty of cover and nesting sites in tree cavities. They are unique among ducks for their ability to perch in trees, and their graceful flight and vibrant colors make them a favorite among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
Mallard Duck
The Mallard Duck is one of the most recognizable and widely distributed waterfowl in the world. Males are distinguished by their glossy green heads, white neck rings, and chestnut-brown chests, while females feature mottled brown plumage for camouflage. Commonly found in ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes, Mallards are versatile feeders, often seen dabbling for aquatic plants and small invertebrates. Their distinctive quacking and social behavior make them a familiar sight in both urban and natural environments, and they play a vital role in the ecosystem as both foragers and prey for larger birds.
Carolina Wren
The Carolina Wren is a small, lively bird known for its distinctive, rich brown plumage and loud, cheerful song. With a slightly curved bill and a chunky body, this wren is often found in thickets, gardens, and wooded areas throughout the eastern United States. Its curious and bold nature allows it to forage actively for insects, seeds, and berries, often seen hopping along the ground or exploring tree branches. The Carolina Wren’s melodic call, which often sounds like “teakettle-teakettle,” adds a delightful presence to its habitat, making it a favorite among birdwatchers and nature lovers.
Brown Thrasher
The Brown Thrasher is a striking, medium-sized songbird recognized for its long tail, brown streaked plumage, and distinctive yellow eyes. Found primarily in the eastern United States, this bird thrives in brushy habitats, gardens, and woodlands. Known for its remarkable vocal abilities, the Brown Thrasher has a diverse repertoire of songs and calls, often imitating other birds. Its behavior includes foraging on the ground for insects, berries, and seeds, using its strong bill to uncover hidden food. With its bold presence and melodic singing, the Brown Thrasher is a beloved sight and sound in its natural environment.
Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal is a vibrant songbird easily recognized by its striking red plumage and distinctive crest, making the male a standout in any landscape. Females, while more subdued in color, exhibit warm brown tones accented with hints of red on the wings, tail, and crest. Commonly found in gardens, forests, and shrubs across North America, Northern Cardinals are known for their melodic songs and chirps, often singing from prominent perches. These birds are also known for their strong territorial instincts and social behavior, frequently seen in pairs or family groups, bringing a splash of color and cheerful sound to their surroundings.
House Finch
The House Finch is a small, adaptable bird commonly found in urban and suburban areas across North America. Males are easily recognized by their bright red plumage on the head, throat, and chest, while females sport a more muted, streaked brown appearance. Known for their cheerful, melodic songs, House Finches are often seen in flocks, foraging for seeds, fruits, and nectar. Their friendly nature and willingness to inhabit a variety of environments, from backyards to city parks, make them a familiar and beloved presence in many communities.