Government Canyon

BIRDS OF GOVERNMENT CSTATE ANATURALN AREAYANDOVICINITYN A FIELD CHECKLIST 2022 Cover: Illustration of Lark Sparrow by Clemente Guzman III. INTRODUCTION G overnment Canyon State Natural Area preserves over 12,000 acres of land, most of which protects a portion of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. A large portion of Government Canyon lies within the limestone hills of the Edwards Plateau, where steep slopes wooded with mature Ashe juniper and live oak are host to the endemic and endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. Large cedar elm, lacy oaks, live oaks, sycamore, and little walnut trees grow along the bottoms of canyons. This portion of the Natural Area, known as the Backcountry, attracts species such as the Canyon Wren and Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay. In the warmer months, Black-and-white Warblers, Common Ravens and Summer Tanagers can be found. The southern portion of the Natural Area lies below the escarpment and is relatively level with a mix of Blackland Prairie and juniper/oak savanna habitat. Here, in what is known as the Frontcountry, you are more likely to spot some of your favorite “backyard” birds. The open habitat attracts species such as American Kestrels, Lark Sparrows, Meadowlarks, and Vermilion Flycatchers. Many of the birds in this area can be found in multi-species foraging flocks. When trails are closed due to significant amounts of rainfall, the roadways, Visitor Center, and Discovery Trail are still great places to find birds, including some of nature’s showiest species such as the Northern Cardinal, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Painted Bunting, and Yellow-breasted Chat. The Visitor Center’s location near the interchange of the Frontcountry and Backcountry means that species from both habitat types can be observed. This checklist was updated by Jessica Bergner utilizing eBird and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It was originally compiled by Kelsey Woodward with help from the Birds of Bexar County Checklist by San Antonio Audubon Society, and from observations and input by Steve Hawkins, Georgina Schwartz, Helen Rejzek, Dodge and Lonna Engleman, Bob Doe, Keith Bartels, and Mark Lockwood. You can contribute to this checklist by reporting new and unusual sightings or changes in status. Please record both sighting and photograph, if possible, in eBird or other Citizen Science platforms. You may also report your sightings at the Natural Area headquarters or mail them to the Natural Resource Program, Government Canyon State Natural Area, 12861 Galm Road, San Antonio, TX 78254. Nomenclature and organization for this checklist follow version 8.0.7 of The American Birding Association Checklist. 1 Please help us protect the natural avian communities in our parks and natural areas by refraining from using playback recordings of bird songs. Frequent use of these recordings disrupts normal avian activity patterns, including essential territorial behavior, and may lead to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation. LEGEND Seasons Sp = spring (March, April, May) S = summer ( June, July, August) F = fall (September, October, November) W = winter (December, January, February) Abundance c = Common (Present, easy to find) f = Fairly common (Present, should see or hear) u = Uncommon (Present, harder to find) r = Rare (May not occur every year) x = Extremely Rare (Only one or two records exist in the Natural Area) * = Indicates a potential breeding species in the Natural Area 2 CHECKLIST Sp S F W DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS ___ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck*....................... u u r ___ Wood Duck...................................................... x NEW WORLD QUAIL ___ Northern Bobwhite*........................................ f f u u u u u r u r c c r c c c c r PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, TURKEYS, AND OLD WORLD QUAIL ___ Wild Turkey*................................................... f u PIGEONS AND DOVES ___ Rock Pigeon*.................................................. ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove*................................ ___ Inca Dove*....................................................... ___ Common Ground Dove*................................. ___ White-tipped Dove........................................... ___ White-winged Dove*....................................... ___ Mourning Dove*.............................................. u r u c r c c r c c c CUCKOOS, ROADRUNNERS, AND ANIS ___ Greater Roadrunner*...................................... f ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo*..................................... f f f f r u GOATSUCKERS ___ Lesser Nighthawk*.......................................... r ___ Common Nighthawk*..................................... u u ___ Common Pauraque......................................... r r r r ___ Chuck-will’s-widow*....................................... u u 3  Sp S F u u W SWIFTS ___ Chimney Swift*............................................... u HUMMINGBIRDS ___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird........................ u u r ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird*....................... c c r ___ Rufous Hummingbird..................................... r r CRANES ___ Sandhill Crane................................................ r r u u LAPWINGS AND PLOVERS ___ Killdeer*.......................................................... u u SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES, AND ALLIES ___ Upland Sandpiper........................................... x x ___ Long-billed Curlew.......................................... x ___ American Woodcock........................................ r GULLS, TERNS, AND SKIMMERS ___ Franklin’s Gull................................................ r STORKS ___ Wood Stork...................................................... x CORMORANTS ___ Double-crested Cormorant............................. r ___ Neotropic Cormorant...................................... x PELICANS ___ American White Pelican................................. r r 4  Sp S F W BITTERNS, HERONS, AND ALLIES ___ Great Blue Heron............................................. u u r r ___ Great Egret...................................................... r r r r ___ Snowy Egret..................................................... r ___ Little Blue Heron............................................. x ___ Cattle Egret...................................................... r r ___ Green Heron.................................................... r ___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.......................... x NEW WORLD VULTURES ___ Black Vulture*................................................. c ___ Turkey Vulture*............................................... c c c c c c c OSPREYS ___ Osprey.............................................................. x HAWKS, KITES, EAGLES, AND ALLIES ___ White-tailed Kite.............................................. x ___ Northern Harrier............................................. r r r ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk...................................... u u u ___ Cooper’s Hawk*............................................... f u u f ___ Mississippi Kite................................................ r r r ___ Harris’s Hawk*................................................ r ___ White-tailed Hawk........................................... x ___ Red-shouldered Hawk*................................... f f f f ___ Broad-winged Hawk........................................ r r r ___ Short-tailed Hawk........................................... x ___ Swainson’s Hawk*........................................... u r r ___ Zone-tailed Hawk*.......................................... r u ___ Red-tailed Hawk*............................................ f f f f 5  Sp S F W BARN OWLS ___ Barn Owl.......................................................... x TYPICAL OWLS ___ Eastern Screech-Owl*..................................... u ___ Great Horned Owl*.......................................... r ___ Barred Owl*..................................................... u r r u r r u u u KINGFISHERS ___ Belted Kingfisher............................................. r WOODPECKERS AND ALLIES ___ Golden-fronted Woodpecker*......................... f f ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker................................ r ___ Downy Woodpecker......................................... r r ___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker*.......................... c c ___ Northern Flicker.............................................. f u r c r f r r c r ___ Crested Caracara*........................................... f f f ___ American Kestrel............................................. f c ___ Merlin.............................................................. r r ___ Peregrine Falcon............................................. r f c r r CARACARAS AND FALCONS TYRANT FLYCATCHERS ___ Ash-throated Flycatcher*................................ ___ Great Crested Flycatcher*............................... ___ Brown-crested Flycatcher............................... ___ Great Kiskadee................................................. ___ Couch’s Kingbird............................................. ___ Western Kingbird*........................................... 6 f f r u u r u u r r r r u f r r  Sp ___ Eastern Kingbird............................................. ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher*............................... ___ Olive-sided Flycatcher..................................... ___ Eastern Wood-Pewee....................................... ___ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher................................ ___ Acadian Flycatcher*........................................ ___ Willow Flycatcher............................................ ___ Least Flycatcher............................................... ___ Eastern Phoebe*.............................................. ___ Say’s Phoebe.................................................... ___ Vermilion Flycatcher*..................................... S F W r r f f u u r r u x r r r r u u u c c c c r r f u u SHRIKES ___ Loggerhead Shrike.......................................... u u u f VIREOS ___ Black-capped Vireo*........................................ ___ White-eyed Vireo*............................................ ___ Bell’s Vireo*..................................................... ___ Hutton’s Vireo.................................................. ___ Yellow-throated Vireo*.................................... ___ Cassin’s Vireo................................................... ___ Blue-headed Vireo........................................... ___ Philadelphia Vireo.......................................... ___ Warbling Vireo................................................. ___ Red-eyed Vireo*............................................... u r c c c u u r f f u r r r u u x x r u c f u JAYS AND CROWS ___ Green Jay......................................................... x ___ Blue Jay............................................................ u u u ___ Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay*................................. f f c 7 r c  Sp S F W ___ American Crow................................................ u ___ Common Raven*............................................. f r f r f r f ___ Bank Swallow.................................................. x x ___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow.................. r r ___ Purple Martin.................................................. u u ___ Barn Swallow*................................................. f f u ___ Cliff Swallow*.................................................. u u u ___ Cave Swallow................................................... r u u r SWALLOWS CHICKADEES AND TITMICE ___ Carolina Chickadee*....................................... c ___ Black-crested Titmouse*................................. c c c c c c c f f f ___ Bushtit............................................................. r r r VERDIN ___ Verdin.............................................................. f BUSHTITS NUTHATCHES ___ Red-breasted Nuthatch................................... r WRENS ___ Rock Wren....................................................... x ___ Canyon Wren*................................................. f f f f ___ House Wren..................................................... f f f ___ Carolina Wren*............................................... c c c c ___ Bewick’s Wren*................................................ c c c c ___ Cactus Wren..................................................... r r r 8  Sp S F W c f u ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet................................. r r ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet.................................... f f r c GNATCATCHERS AND GNATWRENS ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher*.................................. c KINGLETS THRUSHES ___ Eastern Bluebird*............................................ r r r u ___ Mountain Bluebird.......................................... r ___ Veery................................................................ x ___ Swainson’s Thrush.......................................... x x ___ Hermit Thrush................................................ u u f ___ American Robin.............................................. u r r f MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS ___ Gray Catbird.................................................... r r ___ Curve-billed Thrasher*................................... u u u ___ Brown Thrasher.............................................. r r ___ Long-billed Thrasher...................................... f f f ___ Sage Thrasher................................................. r ___ Northern Mockingbird*.................................. c c c u r f r c STARLINGS ___ European Starling*......................................... u u u u ___ Cedar Waxwing................................................ f r c u u WAXWINGS OLD WORLD SPARROWS ___ House Sparrow................................................ u 9 f  Sp S F W WAGTAILS AND PIPITS ___ American Pipit................................................ x ___ Sprague’s Pipit................................................ x FRINGILLINE AND CARDUELINE FINCHES AND ALLIES ___ House Finch*................................................... ___ Pine Siskin....................................................... ___ Lesser Goldfinch*............................................ ___ American Goldfinch........................................ f f f r r c c c u r f r c c TOWHEES AND SPARROWS ___ Cassin’s Sparrow*............................................ u r ___ Grasshopper Sparrow...................................... u r u ___ Olive Sparrow.................................................. f f u u ___ Black-throated Sparrow.................................. u u u u ___ Lark Sparrow*................................................. f f u u ___ Lark Bunting................................................... x ___ Chipping Sparrow*......................................... f u u c ___ Clay-colored Sparrow...................................... u u r ___ Field Sparrow*................................................ u u u c ___ Fox Sparrow..................................................... r ___ Dark-eyed Junco.............................................. r r u ___ White-crowned Sparrow.................................. u u f ___ Harris’s Sparrow.............................................. r ___ White-throated Sparrow................................. u r f ___ Vesper Sparrow................................................ u u f ___ Savannah Sparrow.......................................... u u f ___ Song Sparrow.................................................. r r u ___ Lincoln’s Sparrow........................................... f u c ___ Swamp Sparrow.............................................. x ___ Canyon Towhee............................................... r r r r 10  Sp S F W ___ Rufous-crowned Sparrow............................... u u u u ___ Green-tailed Towhee....................................... x ___ Spotted Towhee................................................ c c c YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS ___ Yellow-breasted Chat*..................................... f c r BLACKBIRDS ___ Eastern Meadowlark....................................... r u u ___ Western Meadowlark....................................... r u u ___ Orchard Oriole*.............................................. u u ___ Hooded Oriole.................................................. x ___ Bullock’s Oriole*............................................. u u r ___ Audubon’s Oriole............................................. u u r r ___ Baltimore Oriole.............................................. u r u ___ Scott’s Oriole................................................... r r u ___ Red-winged Blackbird..................................... u u r u ___ Bronzed Cowbird............................................. r r ___ Brown-headed Cowbird*................................. c c u ___ Brewer’s Blackbird.......................................... x ___ Common Grackle*.......................................... u u r r ___ Great-tailed Grackle*...................................... f u u u WOOD-WARBLERS ___ Ovenbird.......................................................... ___ Louisiana Waterthrush*................................. ___ Northern Waterthrush.................................... ___ Golden-winged Warbler.................................. ___ Black-and-white Warbler*.............................. ___ Tennessee Warbler........................................... ___ Orange-crowned Warbler................................ 11 r r r r r x f f u x f f c  Sp S F W ___ Nashville Warbler............................................ f r f ___ Mourning Warbler........................................... r ___ Common Yellowthroat*.................................. u r ___ Hooded Warbler............................................... x ___ American Redstart........................................... r ___ Northern Parula.............................................. u ___ Magnolia Warbler........................................... r ___ Blackburnian Warbler.................................... x ___ Yellow Warbler................................................. u r u ___ Chestnut-sided Warbler................................... r ___ Pine Warbler.................................................... r u ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler.................................. u u f ___ Yellow-throated Warbler................................. x ___ Black-throated Gray Warbler.......................... x ___ Golden-cheeked Warbler*............................... c f ___ Black-throated Green Warbler........................ u r ___ Canada Warbler............................................... x ___ Wilson’s Warbler.............................................. u r u CARDINALS, PIRANGA TANAGERS AND ALLIES ___ Summer Tanager*.......................................... f c u ___ Scarlet Tanager............................................... x ___ Northern Cardinal*......................................... c c c c ___ Pyrrhuloxia..................................................... u u u u ___ Rose-breasted Grosbeak.................................. r r ___ Black-headed Grosbeak.................................. x ___ Blue Grosbeak*............................................... u u ___ Lazuli Bunting................................................ x ___ Indigo Bunting*.............................................. f f r ___ Painted Bunting*............................................ f c u ___ Dickcissel*....................................................... u u r 12 CITATION Bergner, Jessica. January 2022. Birds of Government Canyon State Natural Area and Vicinity: a field checklist. Natural Resource Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife. In 1983, the Texas Legislature created the Special Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Fund. This fund may be used for nongame wildlife and endangered species research and conservation, habitat acquisition and development and dissemination of information pertaining to nongame management. Money for this fund is obtained through private donations and sale of nongame wildlife art prints and stamps. This fund now gives Texans a unique opportunity to help support this state’s valuable and sensitive nongame resources. Your individual contributions and purchases of nongame art prints and stamps will help determine the level of nongame conservation activities in Texas. For more information call toll-free (1-800-792-1112) or contact: Nongame and Endangered Species Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. Natural Resources Program Texas Parks and Wildlife 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 © 2022 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PWD BK P4505-165F (3/22)