Natural Science Research Laboratory of the Museum at Texas Tech University

Grackle or Crow? Can you tell the difference?
Great-tailed Grackles and American Crows are both common birds in urban and suburban environments, but they can be distinguished by a few key characteristics. Grackles are generally smaller, with slender bodies and iridescent feathers that can appear blue, green, or purple in sunlight. You are more likely to spot a Grackle here in Lubbock! Crows are larger, stockier birds with uniformly black plumage and are well known for their intelligence.
Understanding the differences between common species is an important part of wildlife observation and helps us better appreciate the biodiversity found in our own communities. The next time you spot a black bird outside, take a closer look, and you may be surprised by what you find!


Slide 1: This or That
Slide 2: Great-tailed Grackle Description
Slide 3: American Crow Description
Slide 4: BirdLife International and Cornell Lab of Ornithology (in review) Distribution map for Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus.
Slide 5: Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2020) Distribution map for American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Biodiversity is all around us! This summer, we’re highlighting the species that call our own spaces home. From supporting pollinators to creating healthier ecosystems, even small actions in your yard can make a big impact. Stay tuned to learn, explore, and celebrate the wildlife right outside your door! To start, we are sharing our favorite backyard wildlife photos. We encourage you to send in your favorite photos to highlight!
Slide 2: A longhorned bee ( family Apidae)
Slide 3: House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
Slide 4: White-Winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
Slide 5: Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) mother with baby on board
Slide 6: Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) on the TTU campus

Join us on iNaturalist with our Backyard Biodiversity project!
Upload your observation, head to “Projects,” find our project, and tap “Join” or “Add to Project” to start contributing.
Sharing your find on social media? Tag us so we can see your backyard wildlife moments 📸

Happy World Bee Day! 🐝
Bees may be small, but they play a huge role in pollinating the plants that support our ecosystems and food systems. Today we celebrate these hardworking pollinators and the buzz they bring to biodiversity.

Today, we celebrate Endangered Species Day and recognize the importance of protecting the incredible wildlife that shares our planet. Many endangered species face threats like habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and poaching, but conservation efforts, research, and education can make a difference. Every action, big or small, helps protect biodiversity for future generations.
Take time today to learn about an endangered species, support conservation efforts, and remember that wildlife needs wild places to thrive.

Our Assistant Curator of Mammals, Jorge Salazar-Bravo, and students represented at the Southwestern Association of Naturalists (SWAN) conference in Tyler, Texas! They presented their research alongside other students and professionals from across the region, sharing work in ecology, wildlife biology, and conservation.

Only a few Bookworm Buddies sessions left!
Join us this Wednesday, May 13, 2026 to learned about the tiny yet fascinating insects that can be found all around us. Don't miss this chance to get a closer look at the specimens from the Invertebrate Zoology Collection and talk with NSRL student assistant Lily Prescott.

📅 May 13, 2026
🕙 10–11 AM
📍 Museum of Texas Tech University – Tiny & Mighty Creatures
📖 "Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!" by Bob Barner
✨ Free program and no registration required

Happy Mother’s Day from the Natural Science Research Laboratory! Today we’re celebrating incredible mothers of the animal kingdom and the unique ways they care for their young.
Elephant mothers form deep bonds with their calves and spend years teaching them how to survive. Elephant herds are matriarchal, meaning they are led by experienced females, and calves are raised with help from sisters, aunts, and grandmothers in a close-knit family group.
Osprey mothers work together with their mates to raise chicks in large stick nests built near water. While males often provide most of the fish, females protect the nest and care for the young until they are ready to fly.
Even after hatching, hundreds of tiny spiderlings ride on their mother’s back for protection before venturing off on their own. Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there!
Slide 1: Elephant with her baby
Slide 2: Osprey Mother with her 2 chicks
Slide 3: Wolf spider with all her babies on her back

Today Lily Prescott, one of our students assistants read “There Once was a Bug” by Kate Jordan at bookworm buddies! Thank you to everyone who came out and learned all about insects and our invertebrate collection. We love sharing about the interesting and helpful insects that can be found all around us! 🐛

Come to hear about invertebrates from our experts! 🐛🪲

Join us for another session of Bookworm Buddies this Wednesday, May 6, 2026! Bring your little bookworms (ages 3–8, but all are welcome!) and enjoy a lively read-aloud, surrounded by tiny and mighty creatures from the NSRL Invertebrate Zoology Collection.

📅 May 6, 2026
🕙 10–11 AM
📍 Museum at Texas Tech University – Tiny & Mighty Creatures
📖 "There Once was a Bug" by Kate Jordan & "On Beyond Bugs" by Tish Rabe
✨ Free program and no registration required