Amistad

Chihuahuan Desert Network Inventory & Monitoring Program National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Amistad National Recreation Area Bird Checklist E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A TM Amistad National Recreation Area (NRA) contains a great diversity of birds, with 291 species having been documented. Amistad sits at the intersection of three bird conservation regions and offers a great variety of bird habitats. It is also on the central migratory flyway that connects breeding habitats in the Arctic with the Neotropics. This mix of habitats, along with Scaled Quail the fact that Amistad is where eastern, western, southern, and northern bird faunas meet, means that the park offers many birdwatching opportunities. The recreation area is a stopover for migratory species and a winter home for some species that nest in the north. Other species use the park during the summer breeding season while some live in the park year-round. Bird Conservation Regions Amistad NRA is located at the convergence of three bird conservation regions and contains a mosaic of habitats that represents all three. Bird conservation regions are ecologically-distinct regions in North America with similar bird communities, habitats, and resource management issues. The Chihuahuan Desert contains arid grasslands and shrublands, the Tamaulipan Brushland region has grassland, savanna, and thornscrub habitats, and the Edwards Plateau is dominated by mesquite, juniper, and oak savanna. Hence, Amistad is an ecotone, an area where biological communities converge, and has the resultant avian diversity. Amistad contains birds that are characteristic of each of the three ecoregions. Black-throated Sparrows, Pyrrhuloxias, Cactus Wrens, Scaled Quail, and Bell’s Vireos are typical in the Chihuahuan Desert. The reservoir provides important riparian and wetland habitats for species such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Osprey, Northern Shoveler, and Mallard. Long-billed Thrasher, LeConte’s Sparrow, Green Kingfisher, and Whitewinged Dove are important species of the Tamaulipan Brushland. 2 Amistad National Recreation Area ROBERT SHANTZ Birding at Many Intersections The Devils and Pecos rivers provide riparian habitat that funnels tropical species like Green Kingfishers and Great Kiskadees from the Tamaulipan Brushland into the park and further north than they might be expected to occur based on latitude. NPS PHOTO BY JACK JOHNSON The Edwards Plateau provides important breeding habitat for Blackcapped Vireos, Bell’s Vireos, and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. The Devils River above Big Satan Canyon (accessible only by boat). Bird Habitats Amistad NRA offers a mixture of upland, riparian, and shore habitats for birds. The geography of the area consists mainly of low, rolling hills and valleys near Amistad Dam, with steep-walled limestone canyons up to approximately 200 ft (60 meters) deep where the Rio Grande, Pecos, and Devils rivers enter the reservoir. Upland habitats include shrublands dominated by acacias, mesquite, and cenizo, and grasslands of sideoats grama, slim tridens, three-awn, and bristlegrass. Wildflowers are a minor component of upland habitats but attract abundant insect life that in turn attracts feeding birds. Birds commonly seen in shrublands include Scott’s Orioles, Northern Mockingbirds, hummingbirds, Cactus Wrens, and gnatcatchers. Birds like Dickcissels, Vermilion Flycatchers, and Grasshopper, Vesper, and White-crowned Sparrows are commonly seen in grasslands. © JEROD ROBERTS Great Egret The Amistad Reservoir provides a variety of shore and wetland habitats. The open waters of the lake provide habitat for many duck species, pelicans, and flocks of American Coots that number in the hundreds in the wintertime. The rocky shorelines and small islands, despite their sometimes barren appearance, provide excellent foraging and nesting habitat for species like the Snowy Plover, American Avocet Bird Checklist 3 DAVID JONES and Interior Least Tern. The lack of vegetation in these areas is desirable for many species as a safeguard against predators. The open habitat also provides foraging space for species like Eastern and Say’s phoebes that feed on flying insects. Rocky shorelines provide protected habitat for many bird species. Riparian species are found along the Rio Grande below Amistad Dam and in canyons near the upstream terminus of the reservoir. In these narrow stretches of river, both riverine and forested wetlands featuring river cane, sycamore, willows, and pecan trees, along with various sedges and rushes, form habitat for many songbird species that either nest there or use the rivers as migratory corridors. Huisache trees and other thorny shrubs form groves that interface between upland and riparian habitats, forming “edge” habitats. Edge habitats are often one of the best places to look for birds. Look for orioles, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Blue Grosbeaks, Painted Buntings, and Northern Cardinals in these areas. NPS PHOTO BY JACK JOHNSON The central flyway is one of four major biological flyways in North America. Flyways are the northsouth routes that migratory birds follow during migration between nesting and wintering areas. The central flyway links breeding and wintering habitats for shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds, and other migratory birds. Long-billed Curlew, Black-necked Stilt, and Black Tern are just a few of the species that can be spotted in the skies and along the shorelines in the spring and fall as birds undertake long journeys between breeding and wintering grounds. Left: Canyons in Amistad NRA provide good migration corridors for birds as well as providing desirable wetland and riparian habitats. Above: Black-necked Stilts 4 Amistad National Recreation Area ROBERT SHANTZ Central Flyway Checklist Key This checklist provides information on the abundance of bird species found in Amistad NRA, the habitat each uses, and in what season each is found. Abundance Abundance information is for suitable habitat and season. • • • • • Abundant – May be seen daily & counted in relatively large numbers Common – May be seen daily but not in large numbers Uncommon – Likely to be seen monthly; may be locally common Rare – Present, but usually seen only a few times each year Occasional – Seen in the park at least once every few years, but not necessarily every year • Accidental – Seen no more than a few times; birds that have strayed out of their normal range/habitat Habitat • R – Riparian: Areas that flank the reservoir and its tributaries with reeds, cattail, sedge, rush, sycamore, ash, willow, and mesquite • D – Desert/Thornscrub: Drier, open flats above the reservoir. Typical vegetation includes lechuguilla, yucca, cenizo, acacias, creosote, and mixed grasses • G – Grassland: Open habitats dominated by grasses (sideoats grama, bristlegrass, and others) with few shrubs and trees • W – Wetlands: Marshy edges of the reservoir where vegetation is adapted to or tolerant of regularly-saturated soils Season • Resident – Found year-round • Summer – Found predominantly in the summer months (June–August) • Winter – Found predominantly in the winter months (November–February) • Migrant – Found predominantly during spring and/or fall migratory periods (March–May, September–October) The information in this list is based on bird observations, inventories and surveys at Amistad NRA; however, bird lists are always works in progress. The list is arranged by family and uses common names following the American Ornithologists’ Union’s Checklist of North American Birds 7th edition and its supplements through 2018. Bird Checklist 5 Amistad NRA offers diverse birding opportunities with lakeshore, riparian, grassland, and upland habitats. Below are some of the good birding areas in the recreation area. 277 North Campground – One of the very few places in the park where remnant shortgrass prairie habitat occurs. Riparian woodlands are good places to look for songbirds as well as migrating monarch butterflies in the fall. Interior Least Terns and waterfowl can be spotted from the end of the road where it enters the water. Amistad Dam – Scan below the dam for waterfowl and shorebirds. The Rio Grande is important for riparian woodland birds such as migratory warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. During times of drought, the riparian habitat here serves as a refuge and birders can find larger concentrations of species in small areas. (NPS property below the dam is open only by guided tour. See schedule at nps.gov/amis/planyourvisit/events.htm.) Birding Locations in Amistad NRA 6 Amistad National Recreation Area NPS PHOTO BY JACK JOHNSON Birding Hot Spots NPS PHOTO BY JACK JOHNSON Figueroa Trail – A classic desert trail that wanders along low rolling ridges of desert scrub habitat and also crosses a lowerlying riparian woodland. Hummingbirds are found in numbers here in the springtime in the ocotillo patches. Look for Chihuahuan Desert resident bird species on the ridges, and for migratory warblers in the riparian area. Pecos Boat Ramp – A shade shelter provides a great location to set up a Upland habitat along the Figueroa Trail spotting scope and view the mudflats where the Pecos River joins the Rio Grande. Ospreys are commonly observed as well as shorebirds foraging on the mudflats. A short nature trail also takes birders through desert scrub habitat atop the high limestone cliffs abutting the river. Spur 406 – Away from the noise of public highways, this area is a superb location to practice birding by ear. Listen for wrens and Red-winged Blackbirds nesting where the road ends and for forest species further from the water. Sunrise Trail – The trail follows the interface between desert scrub habitat and open grass/shrubland in the lake bed below, providing excellent opportunities to see shrubland and grassland birds, as well as raptors. ROBERT SHANTZ Spur 454 – Where the road enters the water, use a spotting scope or strong binoculars to look for Interior Least Grassland habitat near the San Pedro Terns, which nest on rocky islands in the Campground summer. Elsewhere, the road crosses the lake bed revealing open grassland habitat forms during lower lake levels. The road also crosses higher elevations with shrubland species. NPS PHOTO BY JACK JOHNSON San Pedro Campground – High-quality grassland habitat where birders can find wintering sparrows and other birds of open habitat such as flycatchers and phoebes. Red-winged Blackbird Bird Checklist 7 Checklist Waterfowl (Anatidae) √ Mallard Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Rare R, W Winter Snow Goose Rare R, W Winter Greater White-fronted Goose Occasional R, W Migrant Canada Goose Accidental R, W Migrant Rare R, W Winter Blue-winged Teal Uncommon R, W Winter Cinnamon Teal Uncommon R, W Winter Northern Shoveler Uncommon R, W Winter Gadwall Uncommon R, W Winter Eurasian Wigeon Accidental R, W Winter American Wigeon Uncommon R, W Winter Mallard Uncommon R, W Resident Northern Pintail Uncommon R, W Winter Green-winged Teal Uncommon R, W Winter Canvasback Uncommon R, W Winter Redhead Uncommon R, W Winter Ring-necked Duck Wood Duck Redhead Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Uncommon R, W Winter Lesser Scaup Rare R, W Winter Bufflehead Uncommon R, W Winter Common Goldeneye Rare W Winter Hooded Merganser Occasional R, W Migrant Rare R, W Migrant Uncommon R, W Winter Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Hooded Merganser 8 PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT SHANTZ UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED (BOTH PAGES) Amistad National Recreation Area New World Quail (Odontophoridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Northern Bobwhite Uncommon R, D, G Resident Scaled Quail Common R, D, G Resident Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail (Phasianidae) Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Rare R, D, G Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Least Grebe Occasional W Resident Pied-billed Grebe Wild Turkey Wild Turkey MARK LOCKWOOD √ Grebes (Podicipedidae) √ Uncommon R, W Resident Horned Grebe Rare W Winter Eared Grebe Uncommon W Migrant Western Grebe Uncommon W Winter Clark's Grebe Uncommon W Winter Horned Grebe Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Rock Pigeon Uncommon D, G Resident Eurasian Collared-Dove Uncommon R, D, G Resident Inca Dove Rare R, D, G Resident Common Ground-Dove Uncommon R, D, G Summer White-tipped Dove Occasional R Resident White-winged Dove Abundant R, D, G Summer Mourning Dove Common R, D, G Resident Western Grebe Inca Dove Common Ground-Dove Bird Checklist 9 Cuckoos, Roadrunners and Anis (Cuculidae) √ Greater Roadrunner Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Yellow-billed Cuckoo Rare R, D Summer Greater Roadrunner Uncommon R, D, G Resident Groove-billed Ani Accidental R, D, W Migrant Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Lesser Nighthawk Uncommon R, D, G, W Summer Goatsuckers (Caprimulgidae) √ Lesser Nighthawk Common Nighthawk Rare R, D, G, W Summer Common Poorwill Rare D, G Summer Swifts (Apodidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Chimney Swift Rare R, D, G, W Summer White-throated Swift Rare R, D, G Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Ruby-throated Hummingbird Rare R, D, G Migrant Black-chinned Hummingbird Uncommon R, D, G Summer Anna’s Hummingbird Accidental R Migrant Violet-crowned Hummingbird Accidental R, D Migrant Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) √ White-throated Swift Black-chinned Hummingbird Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Virginia Rail Rare R, W Migrant Sora Rare R, W Migrant Common Gallinule Rare W Migrant Abundant R, W Resident American Coot American Coot 10 Amistad National Recreation Area Cranes (Gruidae) √ Common Name Sandhill Crane Abundance Habitat Season Rare R, W Migrant Avocets and Stilts (Recurvirostridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Black-necked Stilt Rare R, W Summer American Avocet Rare R, W Winter Abundance Habitat Season Rare R, W Migrant Occasional R, W Summer Rare R, W Migrant Plovers (Charadriidae) √ Common Name Black-bellied Plover Snowy Plover Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Uncommon R, D, G, W Resident Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies (Scolopacidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Upland Sandpiper Occasional R, W Migrant Long-billed Curlew Rare R, W Migrant Stilt Sandpiper Rare R, W Migrant Accidental W Migrant Baird's Sandpiper Occasional R, W Migrant Least Sandpiper Rare R, W Migrant Pectoral Sandpiper Rare R, W Migrant Semipalmated Sandpiper Occasional R, W Migrant Western Sandpiper Rare R, W Migrant Long-billed Dowitcher Rare R, W Migrant Wilson's Snipe Rare R, W Migrant PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT SHANTZ UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED (BOTH PAGES) The distinctive bugling calls of migrating Sandhill Cranes alert birders to their passage overhead. Commonly heard in the spring, Sandhill Cranes vocalize during flight to communicate among flock members. These noisy, gregarious birds travel from their wintering grounds in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico to breeding areas in Canada. Although not usually seen landing in the recreation area, they use agricultural fields along Highway 90 towards San Antonio for rest and refueling stops. MARK LOCKWOOD Dunlin Sandhill Crane Snowy Plover Bird Checklist 11 √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Spotted Sandpiper Rare R, W Migrant Solitary Sandpiper Rare R, W Migrant Lesser Yellowlegs Rare R, W Migrant Occasional R, W Migrant Greater Yellowlegs Rare R, W Migrant Wilson's Phalarope Rare R, W Migrant Willet Spotted Sandpiper Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae) √ Solitary Sandpiper Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Bonaparte's Gull Uncommon R, W Winter Laughing Gull Accidental R, W Migrant Franklin's Gull Uncommon R, W Migrant Ring-billed Gull Uncommon R, W Migrant California Gull Accidental W Migrant Herring Gull Rare R, W Migrant Wintering Waterbirds Lesser Yellowlegs Franklin’s Gull Ring-billed Gull 12 Lake Amistad provides important habitat for many waterbird species looking for a safe haven to rest and feed during the winter. Clear water and abundant prey fish make the lake a dependable resource for birds in their off-season. Snowy Plovers, Common Loons, American White Pelicans, Northern Pintails, Mallards, Buffelheads, and many other species can be spotted regularly from November through February or March. Many species that winter on the Texas Gulf Coast can also be found at Lake Amistad. When consulting bird field guides, keep in mind that species depicted as wintering on the Gulf Coast may also be found in Amistad NRA. American Wigeon PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT SHANTZ UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED (BOTH PAGES) Amistad National Recreation Area Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Lesser Black-backed Gull Accidental W Migrant Interior Least Tern Rare R, W Summer Accidental W Migrant Caspian Tern Rare R, W Migrant Black Tern Rare R, W Migrant Gull-billed Tern Forster's Tern Royal Tern Rare R, W Migrant Accidental R, W Migrant Caspian Tern Loons (Gaviidae) √ Common Name MARK LOCKWOOD √ Abundance Habitat Season Pacific Loon Accidental W Winter Common Loon Uncommon W Winter Interior Least Tern The Interior Least Tern is an endangered species that nests in Amistad NRA. This subspecies of the Least Tern is a river-nesting population found in major Midwestern rivers. Amistad’s Interior Least Tern population is thought to be separate Interior Least Tern from the major breeding colonies in the Midwest. It is unknown how much interchange there is between Amistad’s birds and terns breeding on the Gulf Coast. The Interior Least Tern was recognized as federally endangered in 1985 due to population declines, but it has made an impressive comeback thanks to conservation partnerships. Black Tern Pacific Loon MARK LOCKWOOD Boaters should stay clear of islands signed as closed during the breeding season from May 1 – August 31. The best landbased opportunities for viewing Interior Least Terns are at the end of Spur Road 454, 277 North, or the Diablo East Marina. Keep a sharp eye out for the white forehead that distinguishes this small tern from other tern species and gulls in the area. Common Loon Bird Checklist 13 Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) √ Common Name Neotropic Cormorant Abundance Habitat Season Rare R, W Resident Common R, W Winter Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Anhinga Accidental R, W Migrant Abundance Habitat Season Rare W Migrant Accidental W Migrant Habitat Season Double-crested Cormorant Anhingas (Anhingidae) Double-crested Cormorant √ Pelicans (Pelecanidae) √ Common Name American White Pelican Brown Pelican White Pelican Bitterns, Herons, and Allies (Ardeidae) √ Common Name Abundance American Bittern Occasional W Migrant Great Blue Heron Uncommon R, W Resident Great Egret Rare R, W Migrant Snowy Egret Rare R, W Migrant Nesting Great Blue Herons Great Blue Heron Great Blue Herons form nesting colonies called rookeries along the high limestone cliffs of the river canyons. These inaccessible and steep habitats safeguard the colonies from predators and disturbances. Herons spend the entire year in the park and start nesting as early as February. Look for their nests high above the water. Nests look like jumbled masses of sticks and vegetation. The male heron gathers nesting material and presents them to the female who builds a platform of sticks and weaves an inner lining of feathers and finer materials. Many of the nests in the park are rebuilt and reused year-to-year. Snowy Egret 14 Amistad National Recreation Area √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Little Blue Heron Accidental R, W Migrant Tricolored Heron Accidental R, W Migrant Reddish Egret Accidental R, W Migrant Cattle Egret Rare R, W Migrant Green Heron Rare R, W Migrant Black-crowned Night-Heron Rare R, W Migrant Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Occasional R, W Migrant Cattle Egret Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season White-faced Ibis Rare R, W Migrant Roseate Spoonbill Accidental R, W Migrant Habitat Season Black-crowned Night-Heron New World Vultures (Cathartidae) √ Common Name Abundance Black Vulture Uncommon R, D, G, W Summer Turkey Vulture Common Summer R, D, G, W White-faced Ibis Identifying Vultures Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures, both important scavengers that recycle nutrients in ecosystems, are commonly seen together. Black Vultures have black heads, silver wing tips, and a flat-winged flight profile. Turkey Vultures have red heads, are lighter in color on the trailing edge of the underside of their wings, and have a V-shaped flight profile. Black Vulture Turkey Vulture PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT SHANTZ UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED (BOTH PAGES) Bird Checklist 15 Ospreys (Pandionidae) √ Common Name Osprey Abundance Habitat Season Rare R, W Summer Hawks, Kites, Eagles and Allies (Accipitridae) √ Osprey Common Name Habitat Season White-tailed Kite Accidental G Migrant Golden Eagle Occasional D, G Migrant Northern Harrier Rare D, G, W Migrant Sharp-shinned Hawk Rare R, D, G Migrant Cooper's Hawk Rare R, D, G, W Winter Bald Eagle Rare R, W Winter Mississippi Kite Accidental R Migrant Common Black Hawk Accidental R Migrant Rare D, G Winter Harris's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Abundance Red-shouldered Hawk Swainson's Hawk Occasional R, D Migrant Rare D, G Summer Zone-tailed Hawk Occasional R, D Migrant Red-tailed Hawk Uncommon R, D, G Resident Ferruginous Hawk Rare D, G Winter Abundance Habitat Season Rare R, D, G Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Western Screech-Owl Occasional R, D, G Resident Eastern Screech-Owl Rare R, D, G Resident Great Horned Owl Rare R, D, G Resident Elf Owl Rare R, D, G Summer Occasional D, G Resident Barn Owls (Tytonidae) √ Barn Owl Common Name Barn Owl MARK LOCKWOOD Typical Owls (Strigidae) √ Burrowing Owl Eastern Screech-Owl 16 Amistad National Recreation Area Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Ringed Kingfisher Occasional R, W Resident Belted Kingfisher Rare R, W Resident Green Kingfisher Rare R, W Resident Belted Kingfisher MARK LOCKWOOD Woodpeckers and Allies (Picidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Golden-fronted Woodpecker Uncommon R, D, G Resident Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Occasional R Migrant Ladder-backed Woodpecker Uncommon R, D, G Resident Northern Flicker Rare R, D, G Migrant Habitat Season Green Kingfisher MARK LOCKWOOD Caracaras and Falcons (Falconidae) √ Common Name Abundance Crested Caracara Rare D, G Resident American Kestrel Rare R, D, G Resident Merlin Rare R, D, G Migrant Peregrine Falcon Rare R, D, G Migrant Occasional R Migrant Prairie Falcon Golden-fronted Woodpecker Kingfishers All three species of kingfisher that occur in North America can be found in Amistad NRA. Green Kingfishers are the quietest and smallest of the three and prefer sheltered areas with vegetation overhanging quiet pools of water. Ringed and Belted Kingfishers are typically noisier and found in more open water areas. Crested Caracara True to their names, all three kingfishers perform skillful aerobatic plunge dives to catch fish. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT SHANTZ UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED (BOTH PAGES) American Kestrel Bird Checklist 17 Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) √ Western Kingbird Say’s Phoebe Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Ash-throated Flycatcher Common R, D, G Summer Great Crested Flycatcher Occasional R Migrant Brown-crested Flycatcher Rare R, D Summer Great Kiskadee Rare R, D, W Resident Couch's Kingbird Uncommon R, W Summer Cassin's Kingbird Accidental R, D, W Summer Western Kingbird Uncommon R, D, G, W Summer Eastern Kingbird Occasional R, D, G Migrant Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Uncommon R, D, G Summer Olive-sided Flycatcher Rare R, D, G Migrant Eastern Wood-Pewee Occasional R Migrant Acadian Flycatcher Occasional R Migrant Least Flycatcher Black Phoebe Vermilion Flycatcher Rare R, D Migrant Uncommon R, W Resident Eastern Phoebe Occasional R, W Migrant Say's Phoebe Uncommon R, D, G Resident Vermilion Flycatcher Common R, D, G, W Resident Abundance Habitat Season Rare D, G Resident Shrikes (Laniidae) √ Common Name Loggerhead Shrike Fabulous Flycatchers Conspicuous by both behavior and plumage, Scissortailed and Vermilion Flycatchers stand out to birders and non-birders alike. Vermilion Flycatchers appear as active, bright red jewels in park habitats where larger trees occur for perching and fly into open areas to catch insects. With tails longer than their bodies, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers nevertheless gracefully performs their insect-catching skills in open air in a technique known as hawking. Loggerhead Shrike 18 Amistad National Recreation Area MARK LOCKWOOD Vireos (Vireonidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Black-capped Vireo Occasional R, D, G Summer White-eyed Vireo Rare R, D Summer Bell's Vireo Common R, D, G Summer Gray Vireo Occasional D, G Migrant Yellow-throated Vireo Occasional R Migrant Blue-headed Vireo Occasional R Migrant Plumbeous Vireo Rare R, D, G Migrant Warbling Vireo Occasional R Migrant Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Green Jay Accidental R Migrant Blue Jay Occasional R Migrant Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay Occasional R, D. G Migrant Chihuahuan Raven Uncommon R, D, G, W Resident Common Raven Uncommon R, D, G, W Resident Abundance Habitat Season Rare D, G Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Purple Martin Uncommon R, D, G, W Summer Tree Swallow Uncommon R, D, G, W Migrant Northern Rough-winged Uncommon R, D, G, W Swallow Summer Bank Swallow Migrant Season Jays and Ravens (Corvidae) √ Black-capped Vireo Recently, the Blackcapped Vireo was removed from the Endangered Species List. Active, committed conservation action by many partners resulted in improved habitat quality. Historically their habitat suffered from overgrazing and fire suppression. Their populations are now also better understood. MARK LOCKWOOD Larks (Alaudidae) √ Common Name Horned Lark Swallows (Hirundinidae) √ R, D, G, W PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT SHANTZ UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED (BOTH PAGES) MARK LOCKWOOD Rare White-eyed Vireo Bell’s Vireo Bird Checklist 19 √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Cliff Swallow Abundant R, D, G, W Summer Cave Swallow Rare R, D, G, W Summer Barn Swallow Abundant R, D, G, W Summer Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae) Barn Swallow √ MARK LOCKWOOD Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Carolina Chickadee Occasional R Resident Rare R Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Verdin Common R, D, G Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Bushtit Occasional R Migrant Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Rock Wren Uncommon D, G Resident Canyon Wren Uncommon D, G Resident House Wren Uncommon R, D, G Migrant Winter Wren Occasional R, D Migrant Sedge Wren Occasional R, W Migrant Marsh Wren Rare R, W Migrant Carolina Wren Rare R, D Resident Bewick's Wren Common R, D, G Resident Cactus Wren Common D, G Resident Black-crested Titmouse Verdins (Remizidae) √ Bushtits (Aegithalidae) Verdin √ Wrens (Troglodytidae) √ Rock Wren Canyon Wren 20 The Canyon Wren, whose song is a descending cascade of notes, is probably the most commonly heard species in the park thanks to the excellent acoustics provided by Amistad’s canyon walls. Amistad National Recreation Area Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Uncommon R, D, G Summer Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Uncommon D, G Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Golden-crowned Kinglet Occasional R Migrant Ruby-crowned Kinglet Uncommon R, D, G Winter Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Eastern Bluebird Rare R, D, G Migrant Mountain Bluebird Occasional D, G Winter Swainson's Thrush Occasional R Migrant Hermit Thrush Rare R, D Migrant American Robin Occasional R Winter Season Kinglets (Regulidae) √ Eastern Bluebird Thrushes (Turdidae) √ Curve-billed Thrasher MARK LOCKWOOD Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Gray Catbird Accidental R Migrant Curve-billed Thrasher Uncommon D, G Resident Rare R, D Resident Accidental R, D Migrant Rare D, G Winter Common R, D, G Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season European Starling Uncommon R, D, G Resident Brown Thrasher Long-billed Thrasher Sage Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Northern Mockingbird Starlings (Sturnidae) √ PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT SHANTZ UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED (BOTH PAGES) European Starling Bird Checklist 21 Waxwings (Bombycillidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Cedar Waxwing Uncommon R, D, G Migrant Silky-flycatchers (Ptiliogonatidae) √ Cedar Waxwing Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Phainopepla Occasional R, D, G Migrant Old World Sparrows (Passeridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season House Sparrow Uncommon D, G Resident Common Name Abundance Habitat Season American Pipit Uncommon R, W Migrant Sprague's Pipit Rare R, D, G, W Winter Common Name Abundance Habitat Season House Finch Common R, D, G Resident Pine Siskin Rare R, D, G Migrant Pipits (Motacillidae) √ Phainopepla Finches (Fringillidae) √ House Finch Lesser Goldfinch Uncommon R, D, G, W Resident American Goldfinch Occasional R, D, G, W Migrant Abundance Longspurs (Calcariidae) √ Lesser Goldfinch 22 Common Name Habitat Season Chestnut-collared Longspur Occasional D, G Winter McCown's Longspur D, G Winter Occasional PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT SHANTZ UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED (BOTH PAGES) Amistad National Recreation Area MARK LOCKWOOD New World Sparrows and Towhees (Passerellidae) √ Common Name Abundance Olive Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Habitat Season Rare R Resident Uncommon R, D, G Winter Rare Spotted Towhee R, D, G Migrant Rufous-crowned Sparrow Uncommon D, G Resident Canyon Towhee Uncommon D, G Resident Cassin's Sparrow Common D, G Summer Chipping Sparrow Common R, D, G Migrant Clay-colored Sparrow Uncommon R, D, G Migrant Brewer's Sparrow Uncommon R, D, G Migrant Rare D, G Resident Field Sparrow Black-chinned Sparrow Occasional D, G Winter Rare R, D, G Migrant Uncommon R, D, G Resident Black-throated Sparrow Common D, G Resident Lark Bunting Uncommon D, G Migrant Savannah Sparrow Uncommon R, D, G Migrant Rare D, G Migrant Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow LeConte's Sparrow Occasional G Migrant Fox Sparrow Accidental R, D, G Winter Song Sparrow Uncommon R, W Resident Lincoln's Sparrow Uncommon R, D, G, W Swamp Sparrow Occasional R, W Winter White-crowned Sparrow Common R, D, G, W Migrant Black-throated Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Migrant White-crowned Sparrow Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Yellow-breasted Chat Common R Summer MARK LOCKWOOD Yellow-Breasted Chat (Icteriidae) √ Canyon Towhee Yellow-breasted Chat Bird Checkli