South Llano River

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BIRDS OF SOUTH LLANO RIVER S T A T E P A R K A FIELD CHECKLIST 2019 INTRODUCTION S outh Llano River State Park, a 2,630-acre tract in Kimble County, Texas, lies on the west central Edwards Plateau. The clear, usually placid South Llano River courses through the tract. Bottomlands of the South Llano support a local forest of pecan, elm, oak and sycamore that shelters a significant winter roost for the Rio Grande subspecies of Wild Turkey. Canyons on the escarpment support diverse deciduous woodlands of hackberry, persimmon, walnut, and several species of oak including Live Oak, Shin Oak, Spanish Oak, Lacey Oak and some Chinquapin Oak. Ashe juniper and oak woodlands cover the canyon slopes. Mesquite and succulents are more common in the lowland areas. Birdlife is characteristic of the canyons of the Edwards Plateau with numerous typically western, “arid-land species” present. Woodlands and gallery forests, particularly along the South Llano River, are excellent habitats in which to observe migrants. Green Kingfishers and occasionally Black Phoebes can be seen foraging along the clear river. Ringed Kingfishers, though uncommon, can also be viewed by canoeing or kayaking mainly downstream from the park. Black-capped Vireos are usually found just inside the mouths of the canyons or in some of the higher elevations of the park. Hike the Fawn Trail in spring/ early summer for this species. The Golden-cheeked Warbler nests in canyons with mature juniper mixed with hardwoods and is frequently observed in early spring. Zone-tailed Hawks can sometimes be observed soaring along the river corridor both above and below the park. The park bird blinds are an excellent place to see species such as Painted Bunting, Black-throated Sparrow, and Spotted Towhee. During the warmer months the Vermilion Flycatcher is a regular around the park headquarters complex, day use area and along the high fence on the entrance road. Wild Turkey can be seen foraging in the park lowlands and backcountry throughout the year. To provide maximum protection for the winter Wild Turkey roost, access to the park’s day use area is restricted from October 1 through March 31 to the hours of 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Specific details can be obtained by calling South Llano River State Park can be obtained by calling the park at (325) 446-3994. 1 This checklist was originally compiled by Dr. Nick Jackson, formerly of Junction, and represented observations in the area since 1980. It included 5 years worth of records contributed by C.C. and Iris Wiedenfeld, formerly of San Angelo. Since 2004 the checklist was compiled by Rhandy J. Helton and Ann Lemon of Junction and this edition was updated by Rhandy Helton and Holly Platz. A revision of this checklist would not have been possible without the contributions and observations provided by park birding hosts Bill and Rosita Shane. Nomenclature and organization for this checklist follow the 7th edition of the A.O.S. Check-list of North American Birds as currently supplemented. Please report any new or unusual observations to the state park headquarters. For additional help with finding birds in this area contact the park or the checklist compilers. Please help us protect the natural avian communities in our parks by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Frequent use of these tapes disrupts normal avian activity patterns, including essential territorial behavior, and may lead to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation. LEGEND A C U R VR Abundance (in suitable habitat) Abundant (many should be seen or heard) Common (should always be seen or heard) Uncommon (might be seen or heard but not always) Rare (seldom seen or heard but regular visitor or resident) Very Rare (irregular, not seen or heard every year, few records) SPG SUM FAL WIN Seasons Spring (March, April, May) Summer (June, July, August) Fall (September, October, November) Winter (December, January, February) 2 CHECKLIST SPR SUM FAL WIN Ducks, Geese, and Swans __ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck R R __ Snow Goose VR __ Wood Duck U U U __ Gadwall U U U __ American Wigeon U U U __ Mallard U U U __ Blue-winged Teal U U U __ Northern Shoveler U U U __ Northern Pintail R R R __ Green-winged Teal U U U __ Ring-necked Duck R R R __ Lesser Scaup R U U __ Bufflehead R R __ Ruddy Duck R R R U U U U C C C C __ Least Grebe VR __ Pied-billed Grebe U U U __ Rock Pigeon U U U U __ Eurasian Collared-Dove U U U U New World Quail __ Northern Bobwhite Partridges and Turkeys __ Wild Turkey Grebes Pigeons and Doves 3  SPR SUM FAL __ Inca Dove WIN C C C C __ Common Ground-Dove U U U U __ White-tipped Dove VR __ White-winged Dove A A A A __ Mourning Dove C C C U __ Yellow-billed Cuckoo C C U __ Greater Roadrunner U U U U __ Lesser Nighthawk R R __ Common Nighthawk U C U R __ Common Poorwill C C U R __ Chuck-will’s-widow C C R __ Eastern Whip-poor-will VR U C U __ Ruby-throated Hummingbird C U C __ Black-chinned Hummingbird C C C __ Broad-tailed Hummingbird VR VR __ Rufous Hummingbird R VR R __ Calliope Hummingbird VR R R U U Cuckoos and Roadrunners Goatsuckers Swifts __ Chimney Swift Hummingbirds Rails, Gallinules, and Coots __ American Coot Cranes __ Sandhill Crane 4 R  SPR SUM FAL WIN Stilts and Avocets __ American Avocet R R Plovers __ Killdeer U U U __ Upland Sandpiper R R __ Long-billed Curlew VR VR __ Least Sandpiper R Sandpipers __ Wilson’s Snipe R R __ Spotted Sandpiper U U U R __ Solitary Sandpiper R U Gulls and Terns __ Ring-billed Gull VR Loons __ Common Loon VR Cormorants __ Neotropic Cormorant VR VR __ Double-crested Cormorant U U U __ Great Blue Heron U U U __ Great Egret U U __ Little Blue Heron VR Bitterns, Herons, and Allies U __ Reddish Egret __ Cattle Egret R __ Green Heron R U U __ Black-crowned Night Heron VR __ Yellow-crowned Night Heron R 5 VR U R  SPR SUM FAL WIN Ibises and Spoonbills __ White-faced Ibis R New World Vultures __ Turkey Vulture A A C R __ Black Vulture A A C C U R U U Osprey __ Osprey Hawks, Kites, and Eagles __ Golden Eagle R R R __ Northern Harrier R R __ Sharp-shinned Hawk U R U U __ Cooper’s Hawk U U U U __ Bald Eagle R R R __ Mississippi Kite R R U __ Common Black Hawk VR VR __ Red-shouldered Hawk C C U __ Broad-winged Hawk R R __ Swainson’s Hawk U R U __ Zone-tailed Hawk U U U __ Red-tailed Hawk C C C C __ Western Screech-Owl VR VR VR VR __ Eastern Screech-Owl U C U U __ Great Horned Owl C C C C __ Barred Owl VR U U U U VR Typical Owls Kingfishers __ Ringed Kingfisher U 6  SPR SUM FAL WIN __ Belted Kingfisher C U C C __ Green Kingfisher C C C U __ Lewis’s Woodpecker VR VR __ Red-headed Woodpecker VR VR VR __ Acorn Woodpecker VR VR VR __ Golden-fronted Woodpecker C C C C __ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker U U __ Red-naped Sapsucker VR VR Woodpeckers __ Ladder-backed Woodpecker C C C C __ Downy Woodpecker U U U U __ Northern Flicker U U Caracaras and Falcons __ Crested Caracara U U U U __ American Kestrel U C C __ Merlin R R R __ Peregrine Falcon R R __ Prairie Falcon VR Flycatchers __ Ash-throated Flycatcher C C U __ Great Crested Flycatcher C C U __ Brown-crested Flycatcher C C __ Piratic Flycatcher VR __ Couch’s Kingbird VR VR __ Cassin’s Kingbird R __ Western Kingbird U U U __ Eastern Kingbird R R U 7 VR VR  SPR SUM FAL __ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher C WIN C C __ Olive-sided Flycatcher U U __ Western Wood Pewee VR __ Eastern Wood Pewee C C U __ Acadian Flycatcher U U R __ Alder Flycatcher R __ Willow Flycatcher R R __ Least Flycatcher U U __ Cordilleran Flycatcher VR __ Black Phoebe U U U U __ Eastern Phoebe C C C C __ Say’s Phoebe U U R __ Vermilion Flycatcher C C C U R R U U __ Black-capped Vireo C C U __ White-eyed Vireo C C C __ Bell’s Vireo C A U __ Hutton’s Vireo U U U __ Yellow-throated Vireo C C U __ Blue-headed Vireo U U __ Philadelphia Vireo VR __ Warbling Vireo U U __ Red-eyed Vireo C U Shrikes __ Loggerhead Shrike Vireos 8 C R R R  SPR SUM FAL WIN Jays, Ravens, and Crows __ Blue Jay R R R R __ Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay C C C C __ Chihuahuan Raven R R __ Common Raven C C C C Larks __ Horned Lark VR Swallows __ Purple Martin C C R __ Tree Swallow R R __ Northern Rough-winged Swallow C C U __ Bank Swallow R R R __ Cliff Swallow C C U __ Cave Swallow C C C __ Barn Swallow C C U __ Carolina Chickadee C C C C __ Black-crested Titmouse A A A A C C C C U U U R __ Red-breasted Nuthatch VR VR U U Chickadees and Titmice Verdins __ Verdin Bushtits __ Bushtit Nuthatches Creepers __ Brown Creeper 9  SPR SUM FAL WIN Wrens __ Rock Wren R R R R __ Canyon Wren C C U U __ House Wren U U U __ Winter Wren R __ Marsh Wren R R R R __ Carolina Wren C C C C __ Bewick’s Wren C C C C __ Cactus Wren VR VR VR VR __ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher C A C R __ Black-tailed Gnatcatcher VR __ Golden-crowned Kinglet R U U __ Ruby-crowned Kinglet U C C C C C __ Western Bluebird R __ Mountain Bluebird R R __ Townsend’s Solitaire VR VR __ Swainson’s Thrush U __ Hermit Thrush C C C __ American Robin C R U C __ Gray Catbird R R __ Curve-billed Thrasher R R R R __ Brown Thrasher U U U Gnatcatchers Kinglets Thrushes __ Eastern Bluebird C U Mockingbirds and Thrashers 10  SPR SUM FAL WIN __ Long-billed Thrasher R R __ Sage Thrasher __ Northern Mockingbird VR VR C C C C R R R R C U C __ Phainopepla VR VR C C C U U U __ Sprague’s Pipit R Starlings __ European Starling Waxwings __ Cedar Waxwing Silky-flycatchers Old World Sparrows __ House Sparrow C Wagtails and Pipits __ American Pipit Finches and Allies __ House Finch A A A A __ Purple Finch VR __ Cassin’s Finch VR __ Red Crossbill VR VR __ Pine Siskin U C C __ Lesser Goldfinch C C C U __ American Goldfinch U U C R R Longspurs __ Chestnut-collared Longspur VR Towhees and Sparrows __ Olive Sparrow R __ Green-tailed Towhee R 11 R  SPR SUM FAL __ Spotted Towhee C __ Eastern Towhee VR __ Rufous-crowned Sparrow C __ Canyon Towhee WIN C C C C C C C C C __ Cassin’s Sparrow U U U R __ Chipping Sparrow C C C C __ Clay-colored Sparrow C C R __ Brewer’s Sparrow VR __ Field Sparrow C C C C __ Vesper Sparrow U U U __ Lark Sparrow C A C R __ Black-throated Sparrow C C C C __ Lark Bunting R R R __ Savannah Sparrow U U U __ Grasshopper Sparrow U U __ LeConte’s Sparrow VR __ Fox Sparrow U U U __ Song Sparrow C C C __ Lincoln’s Sparrow C C C __ Swamp Sparrow R R R __ White-throated Sparrow U U U __ Harris’s Sparrow R R R __ White-crowned Sparrow C C C __ Dark-eyed Junco U U U C U Chats __ Yellow-breasted Chat 12 C  SPR SUM FAL WIN Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, and Orioles __ Yellow-headed Blackbird R R __ Eastern Meadowlark R R R R __ Western Meadowlark U U C __ Orchard Oriole C C U __ Hooded Oriole VR __ Bullock’s Oriole U U U __ Audubon’s Oriole VR __ Baltimore Oriole R R U __ Scott’s Oriole C C U __ Red-winged Blackbird U C U __ Bronzed Cowbird U U U __ Brown-headed Cowbird C C C __ Brewer’s Blackbird R __ Common Grackle R R __ Great-tailed Grackle U U R U Wood Warblers __ Ovenbird R __ Louisiana Waterthrush R __ Northern Waterthrush R __ Golden-winged Warbler R __ Black-and-white Warbler C __ Prothonotary Warbler R R R C U R __ Tennessee Warbler R __ Orange-crowned Warbler C C C __ Nashville Warbler C C R __ Virginia’s Warbler VR 13  SPR SUM FAL __ MacGillivray’s Warbler U U __ Mourning Warbler R R __ Kentucky Warbler VR __ Common Yellowthroat U __ Hooded Warbler R R U __ American Redstart R R __ Cape May Warbler VR __ Northern Parula R __ Magnolia Warbler VR __ Bay-breasted Warbler VR __ Blackburnian Warbler R __ Yellow Warbler C __ Chestnut-sided Warbler R __ Blackpoll Warbler VR WIN U R C __ Pine Warbler R R __ Yellow-rumped Warbler C C A __ Yellow-throated Warbler C C U __ Black-throated Gray Warbler R __ Golden-cheeked Warbler C U __ Black-throated Green Warbler U U __ Townsend’s Warbler VR __ Canada Warbler VR __ Wilson’s Warbler C 14 C  SPR SUM FAL WIN Cardinals, Tanagers, Grosbeaks, and Buntings __ Summer Tanager C C C __ Scarlet Tanager VR __ Western Tanager R R __ Northern Cardinal A A A A __ Pyrrhuloxia U U U U __ Rose-breasted Grosbeak R R __ Black-headed Grosbeak R R __ Blue Grosbeak C C U __ Lazuli Bunting R R __ Indigo Bunting C C U __ Varied Bunting VR VR __ Painted Bunting A A U __ Dickcissel U R U 15 CITATION Helton, Rhandy and Platz, Holly. January 2019. Birds of South Llano River State Park: a field checklist. Natural Resource Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Austin. Cover: Illustration of turkey by Rob Fleming. 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 © 2019 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. PWD BK P4507-116A (5/19) In accordance with Texas Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.