Hail the size of golf balls that coated parts of North Texas broke windows, damaged police vehicles and killed exotic birds at a zoo.

The Fort Worth Zoo delayed opening by an hour and a half Thursday following the early-morning storm that left eight birds dead.

Zoo spokeswoman Alexis Wilson said the hail killed five flamingos, a pelican, an ibis and a swan chick. All the birds that died were outside, in their normal habitat.

"7,000 animals in the park, but we're attached to every single one of them," Wilson said sadly. "So, a hard day for us."

Several other flamingos and ducks were treated for injuries.

The hailstorm during one of the busiest times at the Fort Worth Zoo — Spring Break — also broke skylights and other windows at the complex.

Hail Storm Photos: March 17, 2016

"It did look lilke snow," remarked Wilson. "It looked like the dead of winter and you would never know it now."

Several Arlington Police Department patrol cars had windows busted during the hailstorm that knocked out electricity to thousands of Dallas-area residents.

NBC 5's Noelle Walker contributed to this report.