Resaca de la Palma

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BIRDS OF RESACA DE LA PALMA S T A T E P A R K A FIELD CHECKLIST 2020 INTRODUCTION R esaca de la Palma State Park is a 1,200-acre park and World Birding Center site located to the northwest of Brownsville, Texas. The flora and fauna in the park are sustained by a resaca. The resaca, or dry riverbed, was formed by the flooding of the Rio Grande; when seasonal rains fill the resacas, wildlife come to the water, creating an opportunity for people to view wildlife and enjoy the natural world. Park staff can control the water level in the resaca to support a variety of wildlife throughout the year. The resaca also supports a variety of habitats that are vital for the survival of the wildlife. White-tipped Doves and Green Jays call from within the hackberry forest and migrating warblers forage for insects on the hackberry’s large leaves. In the Ebony forest, Groove-billed Anis quietly watch the visitors, and White-eyed Vireos and Long-billed Thrashers use the dense vegetation for nesting. Olive Sparrows and Northern Mockingbirds sing as they forage through the thorn-scrub. In the revegetated grasslands one will find Whitetailed Kites, Mississippi Kites and other raptors searching for prey. Northern Bobwhites call from the grass, where they nest and raise young. In the resaca itself, Least Grebes, Green Herons, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and other water birds forage through the water and mud. In one visit to the resaca, a birder could easily see Belted, Ringed and Green Kingfishers. The trail system, over 8 miles, winds through these different habitats. Although vehicular traffic is not permitted past the Visitor Center, visitors can access the trail system from a tram that circles a 2.7-mile loop through the park for easy wildlife viewing. This checklist includes 284 bird species that can be found in Resaca de la Palma State Park. Previous versions of this checklist were compiled by John C. Arvin, modified by Katherine S. Miller, natural resource specialist at Resaca de la Palma, and edited by Sherry Wilson. The current version was edited by State Park staff using eBird reports. While some birds live here year-round, others use the dense habitat to rest during their migration or are seasonal residents. For this reason, the checklist shows the bird species’ abundance by season to aid birders in planning their trips to Resaca de la Palma. Track Resaca’s recent sightings on Ebird.org. The nomenclature and taxonomic organization follow the American Ornithologist’s Union Check-list of North American Birds, 7th Edition (1998) as currently supplemented. The checklist will be updated with further observations, so please report your sightings by utilizing the e-bird kiosk in our visitor center, where birders can record and view sightings and the location within the park on a user-friendly computer. Please note that playing any audio recording of bird songs in an effort to attract the birds is prohibited. This disrupts the birds from their daily activities 1 and can cause nest failure. For your safety and for the preservation of the wildlife, stay on designated trails at all times. We appreciate your cooperation and hope you have a pleasant visit to our park. LEGEND Seasons Sp = Spring: March, April and May Su = Summer: June, July and August F = Fall: September, October and November W = Winter: December, January and February Abundance A = Abundant: always present and observed, large numbers in proper habitats and seasons. C = Common: numbers vary but always found in proper habitat and season. U = Uncommon: present in proper habitat and season, but not common and may be overlooked. R = Rare: seldom recorded, may not be recorded every year. X = Few to no records. CHECKLIST Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F W Fulvous Whistling-Duck................................... U Black-bellied Whistling-Duck.......................... C C C U Greater White-fronted Goose........................... U U Snow Goose..................................................... U Ross’s Goose................................................... X Muscovy Duck................................................. X X Gadwall........................................................... X X U U American Wigeon............................................ X X U U Mallard........................................................... R Mottled Duck.................................................. C C C C 2  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F W Blue-winged Teal............................................. C X C C Cinnamon Teal................................................ X U Northern Shoveler........................................... X X U U Northern Pintail............................................... X U Green-winged Teal........................................... U U Canvasback..................................................... R Redhead.......................................................... U U Ring-necked Duck........................................... U U Lesser Scaup................................................... U Bufflehead....................................................... U Hooded Merganser.......................................... X X Ruddy Duck.................................................... R X X R Plain Chachalaca............................................. A A A A Northern Bobwhite.......................................... U U U Rio Grande Turkey........................................... C C C C Least Grebe..................................................... C C C C Pied-billed Grebe............................................ C C C C Eared Grebe.................................................... X Rock Pigeon.................................................... U U U U Eurasian Collared-Dove................................... R R R X Inca Dove........................................................ A A A A Common Ground Dove.................................... C C C C White-tipped Dove........................................... A A A A White-winged Dove.......................................... A A C C Mourning Dove............................................... A A A C Black-billed Cuckoo........................................ X Yellow-billed Cuckoo....................................... A A C Greater Roadrunner........................................ U U U U Groove-billed Ani............................................ A A R Lesser Nighthawk............................................ R X R R Common Nighthawk........................................ C C 3  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F W Common Pauraque.......................................... C C C C Chuck-will’s-widow......................................... X Eastern Whip-poor-will.................................... X Chimney Swift.................................................. C C C Buff-bellied Hummingbird............................... C C C R Ruby-throated Hummingbird........................... R R X Black-chinned Hummingbird.......................... X Rufus Hummingbird........................................ X Sora................................................................ X R Purple Gallinule.............................................. X X X Common Gallinule........................................... U R U U American Coot................................................. C R U C Sandhill Crane................................................. R R Black-necked Stilt........................................... C R X R American Avocet.............................................. R X Black-bellied Plover........................................ U U American Golden-plover.................................. X Semipalmated Plover....................................... X Killdeer........................................................... U U U U Upland Sandpiper............................................ X Long-billed Curlew.......................................... X X X Stilt Sandpiper................................................. R Sanderling....................................................... X Baird’s Sandpiper............................................ X Least Sandpiper............................................... R X R Pectoral Sandpiper.......................................... R Semipalmated Sandpiper................................. X X Western Sandpiper.......................................... R X Short-billed Dowitcher.................................... X X Long-billed Dowitcher..................................... R R Wilson’s Snipe................................................. X 4  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Spotted Sandpiper........................................... Solitary Sandpiper........................................... Lesser Yellowlegs............................................. Willet............................................................... Greater Yellowlegs........................................... Wilson’s Phalarope.......................................... Laughing Gull.................................................. Franklin’s Gull................................................. Ring-billed Gull............................................... Least Tern........................................................ Gull-billed Tern............................................... Caspian Tern................................................... Forster’s Tern.................................................. Royal Tern....................................................... Black Skimmer................................................ Wood Stork..................................................... Neotropic Cormorant...................................... Double-crested Cormorant.............................. Anhinga........................................................... American White Pelican................................... Brown Pelican ................................................ Least Bittern.................................................... Great Blue Heron............................................ Great Egret ..................................................... Snowy Egret..................................................... Little Blue Heron............................................. Tricolored Heron............................................ Reddish Egret.................................................. Cattle Egret...................................................... Green Heron................................................... Black-crowned Night Heron............................ 5 Su F W R X R R U U X U R X X R X R R R R X X C C U U R X X X X X X X X X X X X X X R U U X C C C C C C C R R U U U U U X X R X C C C C C C C C C C C C U U U U U U U R U U C C U U U R R U  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F W Yellow-crowned Night Heron........................... U C C U White Ibis........................................................ C C U U White-faced Ibis.............................................. U X R R Roseate Spoonbill............................................ U U U U Magnificent Frigatebird................................... X X Black Vulture................................................... C C C C Turkey Vulture................................................. A A A A Osprey............................................................. U R R U Swallow-tailed Kite.......................................... R X Hook-billed Kite.............................................. X White-tailed Kite.............................................. C C C C Mississippi Kite................................................ R X Northern Harrier............................................. U U U Sharp-shinned Hawk....................................... U U U Cooper’s Hawk................................................ U X U U Harris’s Hawk.................................................. U U C C Gray Hawk....................................................... X X U U Red-shouldered Hawk..................................... C C A Broad-winged Hawk........................................ U R Swainson’s Hawk............................................. U R X White-tailed Hawk........................................... U U U U Zone-tailed Hawk............................................ X Red-tailed Hawk.............................................. U R C C Barn Owl......................................................... X X Eastern Screech-Owl....................................... R X X R Great Horned Owl........................................... X R X Ringed Kingfisher............................................ U U U U Belted Kingfisher............................................. C X C C Green Kingfisher.............................................. U U U U Golden-fronted Woodpecker........................... A A A A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker................................. X R R 6  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F W Ladder-backed Woodpecker............................ C C C A Crested Caracara............................................. C C C C American Kestrel............................................. U X U U Merlin............................................................. R R R Aplomado Falcon............................................ X Peregrine Falcon............................................. R R Red-crowned Parrot........................................ R R X Red-lored Parrot ............................................ X Green Parakeet................................................ X X Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet........................ X Olive-sided Flycatcher..................................... R X Eastern Wood-Pewee....................................... A A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher................................. X X Acadian Flycatcher.......................................... X X Alder Flycatcher.............................................. X Willow Flycatcher............................................ X R Least Flycatcher............................................... X R R Dusky-capped Flycatcher................................. X X Black Phoebe.................................................. X Eastern Phoebe .............................................. A A Vermillion Flycatcher....................................... R R Ash-throated Flycatcher................................... R R Great-crested Flycatcher.................................. R C Brown-crested Flycatcher................................ A A X Great Kiskadee................................................ A A A A Tropical Kingbird............................................ U U U U Couch’s Kingbird............................................. C C C C Western Kingbird............................................. R X Eastern Kingbird.............................................. C R Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.................................. C C C R Loggerheaded Shrike....................................... R X R R 7  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F W White-eyed Vireo............................................. C C C C Yellow-throated Vireo...................................... R X Blue-headed Vireo........................................... R C C Warbling Vireo................................................ R Philadelphia Vireo........................................... R X Red-eyed Vireo................................................ R X Yellow-green Vireo.......................................... U U Green Jay......................................................... A A A A Chihuahuan Raven........................................... X X R Purple Martin.................................................. U U X X Tree Swallow................................................... C U U Northern Rough-winged Swallow..................... C U U X Bank Swallow.................................................. X X X Barn Swallow.................................................. C U C U Cliff Swallow.................................................... X X X Cave Swallow................................................... U U C U Black-crested Titmouse................................... C C C C Horned Lark.................................................... X R X X Verdin............................................................. U U U U Carolina Wren ................................................ C C C C Bewick’s Wren ................................................ U U U U House Wren..................................................... U C C Sedge Wren .................................................... X Marsh Wren .................................................... X X Blue-gray Gnatcatcher..................................... C C A Ruby-crowned Kinglet..................................... C C A Golden-Crowned Kinglet.................................. X Eastern Bluebird............................................. X Swainson’s Thrush........................................... R Hermit Thrush ................................................ X R Clay-colored Thrush ....................................... R X R R 8  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F W American Robin.............................................. X Gray Catbird.................................................... U U U Curve-billed Thrasher...................................... R R R U Long-billed Thrasher....................................... C C C C Northern Mockingbird.................................... A A A A Cedar Waxwing................................................ X X X European Starling............................................ R X House Sparrow................................................ R R R American Pipit................................................. X X Sprague’s Pipit................................................. X Cassin’s Finch.................................................. X American Goldfinch ........................................ X R Lesser Goldfinch.............................................. X U R Olive Sparrow.................................................. A A C A Chipping Sparrow............................................ X X Cassin’s Sparrow............................................. X X X Vesper Sparrow............................................... X Lark Sparrow.................................................. R U R R Lark Bunting................................................... X X Savannah Sparrow........................................... R R R Grasshopper Sparrow...................................... X X X Lincoln’s Sparrow............................................ U U U Swamp Sparrow.............................................. U X White-crowned Sparrow.................................. X Yellow-breasted Chat....................................... X X Red-winged Blackbird..................................... A C C C Eastern Meadowlark........................................ R X R R Western Meadowlark....................................... X X Yellow-headed Blackbird................................. X Brewer’s Blackbird.......................................... X X Great-tailed Grackle........................................ A A A A 9  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F Bronzed Cowbird............................................ C A X Brown-headed Cowbird................................... U U R Orchard Oriole................................................ R U R Hooded Oriole................................................ R R R Altamira Oriole................................................ A A A Baltimore Oriole............................................. U U Bullock’s Oriole.............................................. X X Blue-winged Warbler....................................... X Golden-winged Warbler................................... R Tennessee Warbler.......................................... R R Orange-crowned Warbler................................ C C Nashville-Warbler............................................ U U Northern Parula.............................................. R R Tropical Parula................................................ R Yellow Warbler................................................ U C Chestnut-sided Warbler................................... U X Blackpoll Warbler........................................... X Magnolia Warbler............................................ U R Yellow-rumped Warbler.................................. C U Black-throated Gray Warbler........................... U U Townsend’s Warbler........................................ X Black-throated Green Warbler......................... R U Blackburnian Warbler..................................... C X Yellow-throated Warbler.................................. C C Pine Warbler................................................... R Prairie Warbler................................................ X Bay-breasted Warbler...................................... X Cerulean Warbler............................................ X Black-and-white Warbler................................. C X C American Redstart........................................... U R Prothonotary Warbler...................................... X 10 W X R X A A U X U C U U A X C  Sp ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Su F W Worm-eating warbler....................................... X X Swainson’s Warbler......................................... X Ovenbird......................................................... R R R Northern Waterthrush...................................... X R X Louisiana Waterthrush .................................... R Kentucky Warbler............................................ X X Mourning Warbler........................................... X Common Yellowthroat..................................... U U U U Hooded Warbler.............................................. X X Wilson’s Warbler............................................. R U U Canada Warbler............................................... X X Summer Tanager............................................. R R X Scarlet Tanager................................................ R Western Tanager.............................................. X Northern Cardinal .......................................... A A A A Pyrrhuloxia..................................................... X X X X Rose-breasted Grosbeak.................................. X X Black-headed Grosbeak.................................. X R Blue Grosbeak................................................. R R X Indigo Bunting................................................ U U U Painted Bunting .............................................. U R X Dickcissel........................................................ X X X 11 citation Arvin, John C. and Katherine S. Miller. March 2020. Birds of Resaca de la Palma State Park: a field checklist. Natural Resources Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 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. 12 1000 New Carmen Blvd. Brownsville, Texas 78521 (956) 350-2920 Natural Resources Program Texas Parks and Wildlife 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 © 2020 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PWD BK P4502-118 (3/20) In accordance with Texas Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.