Aransas/Matagorda Island

National Wildlife Refuge Complex

P.O. Box 100

Austwell, Texas 77950

361/286-3559

361/286-3722 Fax

Texas State Relay Service

1 800/735-2989

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

http://southwest.fws.gov

For information on the

National Wildlife Refuge System

1 800/344-WILD

May 2004

Great Egret

Photograph by F.G. Prieto
Aransas

NationalWildlife

Refuge

Birds

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Welcome to

Birding at

Aransas and

Matagorda Island

National Wildlife

Refuges

“Birding” is the sport of watching,

listening to, and marveling at the

colors, shapes, sounds, and antics of

birds. People of all ages are

discovering that a little time and

patience will be well rewarded by the

ability to identify and understand

many species of birds. For the

beginner, a word of caution: birding is

habit-forming! Should you become

hooked on this delightful pastime

there is no known cure.

Aransas carries the distinction of

having the second highest species

count in the National Wildlife Refuge

System. A total of 397 species have

been recorded at Aransas, a number

which results from several factors:

the refuge location along the Gulf

coast (major “funnelling” area for

many species of birds during

migration), and the variety of

habitats on the refuge, from salt

marsh to grassland to oak woodland.

There is no best single season for

birds at Aransas, since each season

has its own specialities. Popular

times, however, include the winter

and spring, with whooping cranes and

large numbers of migrating

songbirds, respectively. If you can

only make it in the summer, you will

be treated to, among other things,

painted buntings, wood storks, and

magnificent frigatebirds. And the fall

brings myriads of shorebirds in

August and waterfowl in October and

November. In all seasons, Aransas

truly is a birder’s paradise.

Whooping Crane

chick and adult.

FWS photograph
How to use your

checklist

Most birders rely upon three major

field guides for Texas birds: Birds of

North America by D.A. Sibley, Sibley

Guide to Birds (2000), and the series

of regional field guides (eastern,

western, and Texas) by R.T.

Peterson. The Aransas checklist

follows the order of the 7th edition

(1998) A.O.U. checklist and the 42nd

Supplement to the AOU Checklist

(July 2000).

South Texas birds do not recognize

traditional calendar seasons: fall

migration often begins in July, and

wintering birds arrive from

September through November.

Therefore, seasonal designations for

species, intended as general

guidelines, are treated as follows on

the checklist:

Spring March – May

Summer June – July

Fall August – November

Winter December – February

Federally endangered or threatened

species are listed in italics.

(I) after species name denotes an

introduced species

* after species name denotes a

regularly nesting species on, or in

close proximity to, the Refuge. It

does not necessarily indicate that

a certain species nests every year.

^ after species name denotes a

species which has nested at

Aransas in past years (but not

believed to currently be nesting).

Explanation of the

Symbols

Exotic Status

Breeding Status

White Pelican

Photograph by

F.G. Prieto
C – Common; suitable habitat is –

widespread; should not be missed

during appropriate season.

U – uncommon; present, but in –

moderate numbers (often due to

low availability of suitable

habitat); not seen on every visit

during season (s).

O – occasional; present, observed –

only a few times per season; also

includes those species which do

not occur each year, while in some

years may be fairly common.

R – rare; observed only every 3 to 5 –

years; records for species at

Aransas are sporadic and few.

L – casual; a species out of its –

normal range, but the proximity to

Aransas of the regular range

increases the likelihood that the

species may continue to occur; less

than half a dozen records exist of

the species for the refuge.

X – accidental; a species –

considerably out of its regular

range; sighting dates listed in

‘Notes’ column.

The following codes are used to

describe a bird species’ general

habitat preference. However, birds

are not restricted to the habitats

listed for them.

Q – Aquatic (lakes, ponds, open –

bays, open gulf, etc.)

B – Brushland (area of mixed –

brush and grasses)

F – Forest. Woodland (includes –

oak mottes)

G – Grassland –

M – Marsh (freshwater and/or –

saltwater)

I – Matagorda Island

If you should find an unlisted or rare

species during your visit, please

contact the Refuge staff and provide

a description. We welcome visitor

wildlife reports to help augement

our records.

May we wish you Good Birding!

Abundance

Habitat (Hbt)
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Loons

___Red-throated Loon X 04/15/76

___Common Loon U R U Q

Grebes

___Least Grebe* O O O O M,Q

___Pied-billed Grebe* C O U U M,Q

___Horned Grebe O M,Q

___Red-necked Grebe X Q 12/31/44

___Eared Grebe U U C Q

___Western Grebe R R Q

Shearwaters

___Sooty Shearwater X Q 05/07/95 I

Tropicbirds

___White-tailed Tropicbird X X 1937,1945

1994, 1995

Boobies and Gannets

___Masked Booby X Q 07/88 I

___Brown Booby X Q 06/25/48

___Northern Gannet R R Q I

Pelicans

___American White Pelican^ COCC Q

___Brown Pelican* CCCC Q

Cormorants

___Neotropic Cormorant U U U U M,Q

___Double-crested Cormorant C O C C M,Q

Darters

___Anhinga U O O O M

Frigatebirds

___Magnificent Frigatebird O U U R Q

Bitterns, Herons and Egrets

___American Bittern U R U U M,Q

___Least Bittern^ U U U R M,Q

___Great Blue Heron* C C C C M,Q

___Great Egret* C C C C M,Q

___Snowy Egret* C C C C M,Q

___Little Blue Heron* C U C U M,Q

___Tricolored Heron* C C C C M,Q

___Reddish Egret* U U U U M,Q

___Cattle Egret* CCCO M,Q,G

___Green Heron* U U U O M,Q

___Black-crowned Night-Heron* U U U U M,Q

___Yellow-cr. Night-Heron* U O U R M,Q

Ibises and Spoonbills

___White Ibis* C C C C M,Q

___White-faced Ibis* U U U U M,Q

___Roseate Spoonbill* C U C C M,Q

Storks

___Wood Stork R U U M,Q

Vultures

___Black Vulture* CCCC F,G,B

___Turkey Vulture* CCCC F,G,B
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Flamingos

___Greater Flamingo X 04/28/01

Ducks, Geese and Swans

___Black-bellied Whistling-Duck*U C U O M,Q

___Fulvous Whistling Duck* O O O R M,Q

___Greater White-fronted Goose O U C M,Q,G

___Snow Goose U U C M,Q,G

___Ross’s Goose O O M,Q,G

___Canada Goose OLCC M,Q,G

___Brant X 01/02/76

___Barnacle Goose X 12/26/66

___Tundra Swan L Q

___Wood Duck^ OOOO M,Q,G,F

___Gadwall^ C R U C M,Q

___American Wigeon C R C C M,Q

___American Black Duck L L M,Q

___Mallard^ O L O O M,Q

___Mottled Duck* C C C C M,Q

___Blue-winged Teal^ C O C C M,Q

___Cinnamon Teal O O O M,Q

___Northern Shoveler C R U C M,Q

___Northern Pintail C O C C M,Q

___Green-winged Teal U X U C M,Q

___Canvasback U R O U M,Q

___Redhead U R U C M,Q

___Ring-necked Duck O O O M,Q

___Greater Scaup R Q

___Lesser Scaup C R U C M,Q

___Harlequin Duck X 01/29/45

___Surf Scoter X R

___White-winged Scoter R Q

___Black Scoter X 12/25/48

___Long-tailed Duck L Q

___Bufflehead C O C Q

___Common Goldeneye O X O U Q

___Hooded Merganser O O U M,Q

___Common Merganser R R R Q

___Red-breasted Merganser U O C Q

___Masked Duck L L M,Q

___Ruddy Duck C R O C Q

Hawks, Kites, and Eagles

___Osprey U R C C M,Q

___Swallow-tailed Kite O F,G,B

___White-tailed Kite* U O U U G,B

___Mississippi Kite O O G,B

___Bald Eagle^ RRRR G,B,Q

___Northern Harrier C C C M,G,B

___Sharp-shinned Hawk U R U U F,B

___Cooper’s Hawk O R U U F,B,G

___Harris’s Hawk R R G,B
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Hawks, Kites, and Eagles, Continued

___Red-shouldered Hawk U L U C F,B

___Broad-winged Hawk U O O F,B

___Swainson’s Hawk U O R G,B

___White-tailed Hawk* C C C C G,B

___Zone-tailed Hawk X 11/92

___Red-tailed Hawk U U U C B,G,F

___Ferruginous Hawk R R R G,B

___Golden Eagle L L G,B

Caracaras and Falcons

___Crested Caracara* C C C C G,B

___American Kestrel C C C B,G

___Merlin U U O B,G

___Aplomado Falcon* X X B,G

___Peregrine Falcon OLOO G,Q,B

___Prairie Falcon L L G

Grouse and Turkeys

___Attwater’s Gr. Prairie-ChickenExtirpated G

___Wild Turkey* O O O O F,B

New World Quail

___Northern Bobwhite* C C C C G,B

Rails, Gallinules and Coots

___Yellow Rail R R R M,G

___Black Rail* R R R X M,G

___Clapper Rail* UUUU M

___King Rail* O O O U M

___Virginia Rail OLOO M

___Sora^ C R O U M

___Purple Gallinule* U U O X M,Q

___Common Moorhen* C U U C M,Q

___American Coot C O C C Q,M

Cranes

___Sandhill Crane U L C C G,M,Q

___Whooping Crane U R U U M,G,Q

Plovers

___Black-bellied Plover C O C C Q,M

___American Golden-Plover O R G,Q

___Snowy Plover^ U O U U Q

___Wilson’s Plover* UUUR M,G,Q

___Semipalmated Plover U R U O Q,M

___Piping Plover U R U U Q,M

___Killdeer* C C C C M,Q

___Mountain Plover R R Farms

Oystercatchers

___American Oystercatcher* UUUU Q

Stilts and Avocets

___Black-necked Stilt* C U C O Q,M

___American Avocet^ U O U C Q,M
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Sandpipers, Phalaropes and Allies

___Greater Yellowlegs C U C C Q,M

___Lesser Yellowlegs C U C C Q,M

___Solitary Sandpiper U R O R Q,M

___Willet* C C C C Q,M

___Spotted Sandpiper U O U U Q,M

___Upland Sandpiper U R U G

___Whimbrel U R O R Q,M,G

___Long-billed Curlew C U C C M,Q,G

___Hudsonian Godwit O R Q,G

___Marbled Godwit C O U Q,M

___Ruddy Turnstone U O U U Q

___Red Knot R R R Q,M

___Sanderling C O C C Q,M

___Semipalmated Sandpiper U C Q,M

___Western Sandpiper C O C C Q,M

___Least Sandpiper C O C C Q,M

___White-rumped Sandpiper U R Q,M

___Baird’s Sandpiper U R Q,M

___Pectoral Sandpiper U X U X Q,M

___Dunlin C X U C Q,M

___Stilt Sandpiper U R U R Q,M

___Buff-breasted Sandpiper O X O G, Farms

___Short-billed Dowitcher U O O O Q,M

___Long-billed Dowitcher U O C C Q,M

___Common Snipe U L U U Q,M

___American Woodcock X R R Q,M

___Wilson’s Phalarope U L O F,B

___Red-necked Phalarope X 04/2004

Gulls, Terns and Skimmers

___Pomarine Jaeger X 06/13/37 I

___Laughing Gull* C C C C Q,M

___Franklin’s Gull U O R Q,M

___Little Gull X 03/07/88

___Bonaparte’s Gull U R C M

___Ring-billed Gull U L U C Q,M

___Herring Gull U L U U Q,M

___Lesser Black-backed Gull L L Q,M

___Great Black-backed Gull X 02/26/95

___Gull-billed Tern* C U U O Q,M

___Caspian Tern* C C C C Q,M

___Royal Tern* U U U U Q,M

___Sandwich Tern* C U U O Q,M

___Roseate Tern X 03/1998 I

___Common Tern O O O Q

___Forster’s Tern* C C C C Q,M

___Least Tern* U U U Q,M

___Sooty Tern L Q I

___Black Tern U U U Q,M

___Black Skimmer* U U U U Q,M
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Pigeons and Doves

___Rock Dove (I) R R R R F,B

___Band-tailed Pigeon X 12/18/71

___Eurasian Collared-Dove (I) L B,G 04/15/00

___White-winged Dove R R R B,G

___Mourning Dove* CCCC B,G,F

___Inca Dove* U U U U F,B

___Common Ground-Dove^ O O O O B,F,G

Cuckoos, Roadrunners and Anis

___Black-billed Cuckoo O X F,B

___Yellow-billed Cuckoo* C U U F,B

___Greater Roadrunner^ R R R R G,B

___Groove-billed Ani R O U O F,B

Barn Owls

___Barn Owl* O R O O F,B,G

Typical Owls

___Eastern Screech-Owl R R R R F,B

___Great Horned Owl* U U U U F,B

___Burrowing Owl R R G

___Barred Owl R R F

___Short-eared Owl O O U G

Goatsuckers

___Lesser Nighthawk R G,B

___Common Nighthawk* C C C L B,G

___Common Pauraque* U U O U F,B

___Common Poorwill R R B,G

___Chuck-will’s-widow U O F,B

___Whip-poor-will U O F,B

Swifts

___Chimney Swift C R U B,G

___White-throated Swift X 04/29/72

Hummingbirds

___Green Violet-ear X 06/1998

___Buff-bellied Hummingbird* U U U R F,B

___Ruby-throated Hummingbird C R C F,B

___Black-chinned Hummingbird R R F,B

___Broad-tailed Hummingbird L L F,B

___Rufous Hummingbird R O F,B

Kingfishers

___Belted Kingfisher C O C C Q,M

___Green Kingfisher X 02/09/73

Woodpeckers

___Red-headed Woodpecker R R R F

___Acorn Woodpecker X 12/20/1994

___Golden-fr. Woodpecker* O O O O G,B

___Red-bellied Woodpecker^ UUUU F

___Yellow-bellied Sapsucker U U U F

___Red-naped Sapsucker X F 12/29/98

___Ladder-back. Woodpecker* U U U U F,B
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Woodpeckers, Continued

___Downy Woodpecker RRRR F

___Northern Flicker O O O F,B

___Pileated Woodpecker L L L F

Tyrant Flycatchers

___Olive-sided Flycatcher U U F,B

___Eastern Wood-Pewee C C F,B

___Yellow-bellied Flycatcher O O F,B

___Acadian Flycatcher U O F,B

___Alder Flycatcher O O F,B

___Willow Flycatcher O U F,B

___Least Flycatcher U O F,B

___Gray Flycatcher X 12/28/00

___Eastern Phoebe U C C F,B

___Say’s Phoebe L L C,Q

___Vermilion Flycatcher R R R R B,Q

___Dusky-capped Flycatcher X B,G 06/11/72

___Ash-throated Flycatcher O B,G,F

___Great Crested Flycatcher C U F,B

___Brown-crested Flycatcher* U U U R F,B

___Great Kiskadee L L L B

___Couch’s Kingbird O O O B,G

___Western Kingbird O O B,G

___Eastern Kingbird^ C R C B,G

___Scissor-tailed Flycatcher* C C C R B,G

___Fork-tailed Flycatcher X X B 1958,1989

Shrikes

___Loggerhead Shrike* U O C C B,G,Q

Vireos

___White-eyed Vireo* C C C C F,B

___Bell’s Vireo O O O R B

___Yellow-throated Vireo U R F

___Blue-headed Vireo U U U F

___Warbling Vireo U R F

___Philadelphia Vireo U R F

___Red-eyed Vireo C R U F

___Yellow-green Vireo X 05/25/98

Crows and Jays

___Blue Jay R L R R F,B

___American Crow R R R G,B

___Chihuahuan Raven X G 04/29/37

Larks

___Horned Lark* UUUU G

Swallows

___Purple Martin^ U O O F,B

___Tree Swallow U R U O F,C,B

___No. Rough-winged Swallow C R U F,B,G

___Bank Swallow U U F,B,G

___Cliff Swallow* C C C F,B,G

___Cave Swallow^ R B,G

___Barn Swallow* C U C R F,B,G
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Chickadees and Titmice

___Carolina Chickadee R R R R F,B

___Tufted Titmouse* O O O O F,B

___(Black-crested) Titmouse R R R R F,B

Verdins

___Verdin L L B

Nuthatches

___Red-breasted Nuthatch L F

Creepers

___Brown Creeper L L F

Wrens

___Cactus Wren L B

___Rock Wren X 10/11/88

___Carolina Wren* C C C C F,B

___Bewick’s Wren* O O O O B,F

___House Wren U U C F,B

___Winter Wren O R O F,B

___Sedge Wren C C C B,G,M

___Marsh Wren* C U U M

Kinglets

___Golden-crowned Kinglet O O U F,B

___Ruby-crowned Kinglet C C C F,B

Gnatcatchers

___Blue-gray Gnatcatcher^ U R U U F,B

Thrushes

___Eastern Bluebird R O O B,G,F

___Mountain Bluebird X 1938/1946

___Veery U L F

___Gray-cheeked Thrush O R F

___Swainson’s Thrush U O F

___Hermit Thrush U O C F,B

___Wood Thrush U R L F,B

___Clay-colored Robin X 2/7-11/88

___American Robin U L O C F,B

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

___Gray Catbird C C U F,B

___Northern Mockingbird* C U C C B,G

___Sage Thrasher L B

___Brown Thrasher C C C F,B

___Long-billed Thrasher* U O O U F,B

___Curve-billed Thrasher OOOO B

Starlings

___European Starling (I) O R O F,B

Pipits

___American Pipit O U C G,M,Q

___Sprague’s Pipit O O U G

Waxwings

___Cedar Waxwing O O O F,B

Silky-flycatchers

___Phainopepla X 01/27/73
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Wood-Warblers

___Blue-winged Warbler U R F

___Golden-winged Warbler U R F

___Tennessee Warbler C O X F

___Orange-crowned Warbler U U C F

___Nashville Warbler U U O F

___Northern Parula C U R F

___Tropical Parula L L

___Yellow Warbler U U F

___Chestnut-sided Warbler C O F

___Magnolia Warbler C O F

___Black-throated Blue Warbler L F

___Yellow-rumped Warbler

___Myrtle Warbler C C C F,B

___Audubon’s Warbler R F,B

___Black-throated Gray Warbler L L L F,B

___Golden-cheeked Warbler X 07/11/99

___Black-thr. Green Warbler C U O F

___Townsend’s Warbler X F 12/1979

___Blackburnian Warbler C R F

___Yellow-throated Warbler U L R L F

___Pine Warbler R O U F

___Prairie Warbler R R R F,B

___Palm Warber O U O F,B

___Bay-breasted Warbler C R F

___Blackpoll Warbler R F

___Cerulean Warbler O F

___Black-and-white Warbler C O C O F,B

___American Redstart C U R F

___Prothonotary Warbler U O F

___Worm-eating Warbler U R L F

___Swainson’s Warbler* U U U F,B

___Ovenbird U O R F,B

___Northern Waterthrush U O O F,M,Q

___LouisIana Waterthrush U O R F,M,Q

___Kentucky Warbler U R F

___Connecticut Warbler X F

___Mourning Warbler O R F

___Common Yellowthroat* C C C C M,B

___Hooded Warbler^ C O U F,B

___Wilson’s Warbler U U O F,B

___Canada Warbler U O F

___Red-faced Warbler X 05/06/01 I

___Painted Redstart X 04/1988 I

___Yellow-breasted Chat* C R U R F,B

Tanagers

___Summer Tanager C R U F

___Scarlet Tanager U R F

___Western Tanager L L F
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Sparrows, Towhees, and Allies

___Olive Sparrow R R B

___Green-tailed Towhee L B

___Spotted Towhee O B,F

___Eastern Towhee U O U B,F

___Cassin’s Sparrow* UUUR G

___Botteri’s Sparrow X 05/1989

___American Tree Sparrow X G,B 1942; 1962

___Chipping Sparrow U U C B,F

___Clay-colored Sparrow R R R B,G

___Field Sparrow U O U B,G

___Vesper Sparrow U O U B,G

___Lark Sparrow U R U U B,G

___Black-throated Sparrow L G,B

___Lark Bunting R R G

___Savannah Sparrow C C C G

___Grasshopper Sparrow* U O O U G,B

___Henslow’s Sparrow L G

___Le Conte’s Sparrow O O G,B

___Nelson’s Sharp-tld. Sparrow R R M

___Seaside Sparrow* OOOO M

___Fox Sparrow R B,M

___Song Sparrow U R U B

___Lincoln’s Sparrow U O U B,M

___Swamp Sparrow C O C M,Q,B

___White-throated Sparrow C O C B,F

___Harris’s Sparrow L B

___White-crowned Sparrow R R O B,G

___Golden-crowned Sparrow X B 02/17/73

___Dark-eyed Junco

___Slate-colored R R R B,F

___Oregon X B 12/1972

Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings

___Crimson-collared Grosbeak X X F,B 02/04/88

___Northern Cardinal* C C C C F,B

___Pyrrhuloxia O R R O B

___Rose-breasted Grosbeak U O F

___Black-headed Grosbeak L L F,B

___Blue Grosbeak* C U U B

___Lazuli Bunting L B

___Indigo Bunting C U R B

___Painted Bunting* C C O B

___Dickcissel* U U O G,B
Sp Su F W Hbt Notes

Blackbirds

___Bobolink O G

___Red-winged Blackbird* CCCC M,G,Q

___Eastern Meadowlark* C C C C G,B

___Western Meadowlark R R R G

___Yellow-headed Blackbird O R G,M

___Rusty Blackbird L G

___Brewer’s Blackbird O R U G,B

___Common Grackle O O G,B

___Boat-tailed Grackle* U U U U G,M

___Great-tailed Grackle* U U U U G,M

___Shiny Cowbird X G 04/07/01 I

___Bronzed Cowbird* U U O O G,B

___Brown-headed Cowbird* C U C C G,B

___Orchard Oriole C O U B,F

___Bullock’s Oriole X 05/21/40

___Baltimore Oriole C U B,F

Finches and Allies

___Purple Finch L L F,B

___House Finch R R F,B

___Pine Siskin R R F,B

___Lesser Goldfinch R R R F,B

___American Goldfinch U O C F,B

Old World Sparrows

___House Sparrow (I) O O O O F,G

Killdeer

Photograph by

F.G. Prieto

Mottled Duck

Photograph by

F.G. Prieto