BIRDSOF

PALO DURO CANYONS T A T E P A R K

A FIELD CHECKLIST

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE

2012

Cover: Illustration of Mississippi Kite 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 manage-ment. 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.

citationSeyffert, Kenneth and Mark Hassell. March 2012. Birds of Palo Duro Canyon State Park: a field checklist. Natural Resource Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Austin, Texas.

INTRODUCTION

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, in Randall and Armstrong counties, is located on the eastern edge of the Texas High Plains (Llano Estacado). The Prairie Dog Town

Fork of the Red River carved the rugged and scenic Palo Duro Canyon within which developed an amazing variety of habitats. Avian habitats of special interest to birders include: RIPARIAN WOODLANDS along the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, where the Golden-fronted Woodpecker is in constant noisy attendance the entire year and where Mississippi Kite and Bullock’s Oriole regale the visitor with their grace and color in summer; GRASSLANDS and BRUSHLANDS with their superb songsters, such as the Northern Cardinal and Bewick’s Wren, and the most colorful of birds, the Painted Bunting; small stands of EMERGENT VEGETATION or PONDS along the wettest portions of the creek, where many different species come to drink and bathe both in summer and winter; the open WOODED SCARPS and header drainages of Palo Duro Canyon, where Canyon and Rock Wrens are to be found along with Cliff Swallows with their earthen nests tucked away under the rocky outcroppings; and the MESQUITE/GRASSLANDS of the upper levels, with their melodious Western Meadowlarks and Lark Sparrows. The park offers a haven to a diverse spectrum of species in winter, ranging from the Bald Eagle to the most elegant of birds, the Mountain Bluebird. This checklist, compiled by Kenneth Seyffert, includes only those species which have been observed either within the park boundaries or have been observed flying overhead. Nomenclature and organization follow the A.O.U. Checklist of North American Birds (7th edition, 1998) as currently supplemented. Please report new sightings to the Natural Resource Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744.

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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 essential territorial behavior and may lead to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation.

LEGENDSeasons Sp = spring (March – May) S = summer (June – August) F = fall (September – November) W = winter (December – February)

Abundance A = Abundant, always present and observed, expect large numbers

in proper habitat and season C = Common, always encountered in proper habitat and season,

numbers may vary from low to high U = Uncommon, usually present in proper habitat and season but

may be overlooked, never common or abundant R = Rare, seldom recorded, not expected each season as designated,

may not be recorded every year IT = irregular Transient, not every year or day but may occur in

numbers, usually flying overhead I = Irruptive/Irregular, invasion species which may be absent

some seasons/years, abundant others V = May be observed only once in five years or more, not expected X = Accidental, not be expected, but recorded at least once

* nests — nests or newly fledged young with adults observed + probably nests — needs confirmation

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CHECKLIST

Sp S F W

____ Snow Goose ................................................... IT IT IT____ Ross’s Goose .................................................. IT IT IT____ Cackling Goose ............................................. IT IT IT____ Canada Goose................................................ IT IT IT____ Wood Duck ..................................................... I V V____ Gadwall ........................................................... I I____ American Wigeon ......................................... I I____ Mallard............................................................ I I I____ Blue-winged Teal........................................... I____ Northern Shoveler ........................................ I I I____ Northern Pintail ........................................... IT IT IT IT____ Green-winged Teal ........................................ I I I____ Ring-necked Duck ......................................... I I____ Lesser Scaup .................................................. V____ Common Goldeneye ..................................... V V____ Northern Bobwhite ...................................... C C* C C____ Scaled Quail ................................................... U U* U U____ Ring-necked Pheasant .................................. I I____ Wild Turkey ................................................... C C* C C____ Pied-billed Grebe .......................................... V____ Great Blue Heron .......................................... R R R R____ Snowy Egret................................................... V____ Little Blue Heron .......................................... V____ Cattle Egret .................................................... V____ Green Heron ................................................. R R____ Black-crowned Night-Heron ........................ V____ White-faced Ibis ............................................ IT____ Turkey Vulture .............................................. C C* C____ Osprey ............................................................. V X____ Mississippi Kite ............................................. C C* C____ Bald Eagle ...................................................... IT IT IT____ Northern Harrier .......................................... U U U____ Sharp-shinned Hawk ................................... U V U R____ Cooper’s Hawk ............................................. R V R R____ Northern Goshawk ....................................... X X____ Harris’s Hawk ................................................ X X____ Broad-winged Hawk ..................................... V____ Swainson’s Hawk ......................................... IT IT IT

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____ Red-tailed Hawk ........................................... U U* U U____ Ferruginous Hawk ........................................ IT IT IT____ Rough-legged Hawk ...................................... IT IT IT____ Golden Eagle.................................................. U U* U U____ American Kestrel .......................................... U U* U U____ Merlin ............................................................. R R R____ Prairie Falcon ................................................ R R R____ American Coot .............................................. I I I____ Sandhill Crane............................................... IT IT IT____ Killdeer ........................................................... U U+ U I____ American Avocet ........................................... IT IT____ Greater Yellowlegs ........................................ V____ Solitary Sandpiper ........................................ V V V____ Spotted Sandpiper ........................................ U V U____ Upland Sandpiper ......................................... IT IT IT____ Long-billed Curlew ....................................... IT IT____ Wilson’s Snipe ............................................... I I____ American Woodcock ..................................... X____ Wilson’s Phalarope ....................................... V____ Ring-billed Gull ............................................. IT IT____ Rock Pigeon ................................................... R R R R____ Eurasian Collared-Dove ............................... U U U U____ Mourning Dove ............................................. C C* C R____ White-winged Dove ...................................... R R____ Inca Dove ....................................................... V V V V____ Black-billed Cuckoo ...................................... X____ Yellow-billed Cuckoo ................................... C C* C____ Greater Roadrunner ..................................... U U* U U____ Barn Owl ........................................................ R R* R R____ Eastern Screech-Owl ..................................... U U* U U____ Great Horned Owl ........................................ U U* U U____ Burrowing Owl .............................................. V____ Long-eared Owl ............................................. V V____ Common Nighthawk .................................... U U+ U____ Common Poorwill ........................................ U U* U____ Chimney Swift ............................................... IT____ White-throated Swift .................................... I I____ Black-chinned Hummingbird ...................... V____ Belted Kingfisher .......................................... U U* U U____ Red-headed Woodpecker ............................. U U* U U____ Golden-fronted Woodpecker ..................... C C* C C

Sp S F W

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____ Red-bellied Woodpecker .............................. V V V____ Red-naped Sapsucker ................................... R R R____ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ............................. U U R____ Williamson’s Sapsucker ............................... V V V____ Ladder-backed Woodpecker ........................ C C* C C____ Downy Woodpecker ..................................... I V I I____ Hairy Woodpecker ........................................ V V____ Northern Flicker ........................................... C U* C C____ Olive-sided Flycatcher .................................. U R U____ Western Wood-Pewee ................................... U R U____ Eastern Wood-Pewee .................................... X V____ Empidonax sp. ............................................... C R C V____ Black Phoebe ................................................. X____ Eastern Phoebe ............................................. U I* U____ Say’s Phoebe .................................................. U U* U V____ Vermilion Flycatcher .................................... V____ Ash-throated Flycatcher ............................... C C* C____ Great Crested Flycatcher ............................. R R*____ Thick-billed Kingbird ................................... X____ Western Kingbird .......................................... U U* U____ Eastern Kingbird ........................................... R V R____ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher .............................. U U* U____ Northern Shrike ............................................ I I I____ Loggerhead Shrike ........................................ U R+ U U____ White-eyed Vireo .......................................... X X X____ Bell’s Vireo ..................................................... V____ Warbling Vireo .............................................. U I* U____ Philadelphia Vireo ..................................... V V____ Red-eyed Vireo .............................................. V V____ Blue Jay .......................................................... U U* U V____ Western Scrub-Jay ......................................... U U* U U____ American Crow ............................................. U U* U U____ Chihuahuan Raven ....................................... IT____ Horned Lark ................................................. U U* U C____ Tree Swallow ................................................. IT IT____ Violet-green Swallow .................................... X____ Northern Rough-winged Swallow .............. U* U U____ Bank Swallow ................................................ IT IT____ Cliff Swallow ................................................ A A* A____ Barn Swallow ................................................ C R* C____ Carolina Chickadee ...................................... U U* U U

Sp S F W

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____ Black-crested Titmouse ................................ C C* C C____ Verdin ............................................................. R R* R R____ Bushtit ............................................................ U U* C C____ Red-breasted Nuthatch ................................. V U V____ White-breasted Nuthatch ............................. I I I____ Brown Creeper .............................................. U U U____ Rock Wren ...................................................... C C* C U____ Canyon Wren ................................................. C C* C C____ Carolina Wren ............................................... I I+ I I____ Bewick’s Wren .............................................. C C* C C____ House Wren ................................................... U V U V____ Winter Wren ................................................. I I I____ Marsh Wren ................................................... U U U____ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher .................................. U U* U____ Golden-crowned Kinglet .............................. U U U____ Ruby-crowned Kinglet .................................. C C U____ Eastern Bluebird ........................................... U I* U U____ Western Bluebird .......................................... I I____ Mountain Bluebird ....................................... U C C____ Townsend’s Solitaire .................................... U U U____ Swainson’s Thrush ....................................... R R____ Hermit Thrush............................................... U U R____ Wood Thrush ................................................. V____ American Robin ............................................ A I* A A____ Gray Catbird .................................................. I I X____ Northern Mockingbird ................................. C C* C U____ Sage Thrasher .............................................. U U I____ Brown Thrasher ............................................ U U U____ Curve-billed Thrasher ................................. U U* U U____ European Starling ......................................... C C* C C____ American Pipit ............................................... U U____ Bohemian Waxwing .................................... X____ Cedar Waxwing ............................................. A U C____ Phainopepla ................................................... X____ McCown’s Longspur ...................................... IT IT IT____ Lapland Longspur ......................................... IT IT____ Chestnut-collared Longspur ........................ IT IT IT____ Ovenbird ......................................................... V____ Worm-eating Warbler ................................... X ____ Northern Waterthrush .............................. V____ Black-and-white Warbler ............................. R R

Sp S F W

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____ Orange-crowned Warbler ............................. U U____ Nashville Warbler ......................................... U U____ Virginia’s Warbler ......................................... I____ MacGillivray’s Warbler................................. U V U____ Common Yellowthroat ................................. U U____ Hooded Warbler ............................................ X ____ American Redstart ........................................ R R____ Northern Parula ............................................ I____ Magnolia Warbler ......................................... R R____ Bay-breasted Warbler ................................... I I____ Blackburnian Warbler .................................. X____ Yellow Warbler .............................................. C V C____ Chestnut-sided Warbler................................ I I____ Blackpoll Warbler ......................................... I I____ Pine Warbler .................................................. V____ Yellow-rumped Warbler ............................... C C R____ Black-throated Gray Warbler ...................... I I V____ Townsend’s Warbler ..................................... I I____ Black-throated Green Warbler .................... V I V____ Wilson’s Warbler ........................................... C V C____ Yellow-breasted Chat .................................... R V R____ Green-tailed Towhee .................................... R R V____ Spotted Towhee............................................. C C C____ Eastern Towhee ............................................. V R R____ Rufous-crowned Sparrow ............................ U U* U U____ Canyon Towhee ............................................. C C* C C____ Cassin’s Sparrow........................................... U U* U____ Chipping Sparrow ........................................ C C____ Clay-colored Sparrow ................................... C C____ Brewer’s Sparrow ......................................... R R V____ Field Sparrow ............................................... U I+ U U____ Vesper Sparrow ............................................. C C____ Lark Sparrow ................................................ C C* C V____ Black-throated Sparrow ............................... R R* R I____ Lark Bunting .................................................. A I A____ Savannah Sparrow ........................................ C C I____ Grasshopper Sparrow .................................. U I+ U____ Baird’s Sparrow ............................................ R R____ Le Conte’s Sparrow ...................................... V V____ Fox Sparrow ................................................... I I I____ Song Sparrow ................................................ C C C

Sp S F W

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____ Lincoln’s Sparrow ......................................... U U U____ Swamp Sparrow ............................................ I____ White-throated Sparrow .............................. U U U____ Golden-crowned Sparrow ............................ X X____ White-crowned Sparrow .............................. C C C____ Harris’s Sparrow ........................................... I I I____ Dark-eyed Junco ............................................ A C A____ Summer Tanager ........................................... I V____ Scarlet Tanager .............................................. X ____ Western Tanager ........................................... U U____ Northern Cardinal ........................................ C C* C C____ Pyrrhuloxia .................................................... R V R R____ Rose-breasted Grosbeak .............................. R R X____ Black-headed Grosbeak ............................... U V U____ Blue Grosbeak ............................................... C C* C____ Lazuli Bunting ............................................... R I R____ Indigo Bunting .............................................. R I* R____ Painted Bunting ............................................ C C* C____ Dickcissel ........................................................ V____ Red-winged Blackbird .................................. U U* IT IT____ Western Meadowlark.................................... C C* C C____ Yellow-headed Blackbird ............................. IT V IT____ Rusty Blackbird ............................................. V____ Brewer’s Blackbird ....................................... IT IT IT____ Great-tailed Grackle ..................................... V V____ Common Grackle .......................................... V V____ Bronzed Cowbird .......................................... V____ Brown-headed Cowbird ............................... C C* C V____ Orchard Oriole .............................................. R V R____ Hooded Oriole ............................................... X____ Bullock’s Oriole ............................................. C C* C____ Pine Grosbeak ............................................... X____ Purple Finch .................................................. X____ House Finch ................................................... C C* C C____ Red Crossbill ................................................ I____ Pine Siskin ..................................................... C V C C____ Lesser Goldfinch ........................................... R R* U V____ American Goldfinch ..................................... C V C C____ Evening Grosbeak ......................................... I I I____ House Sparrow .............................................. C C* C C

Sp S F W

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Natural Resources ProgramTexas Parks and Wildlife4200 Smith School Road

Austin, Texas 78744

© 2012 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PWD BK P4506-007A (2/12)In accordance with Texas Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.