page_title: Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
section_title: Wildlife
hierarchical_section_title: Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail / Wildlife
caption_attribution_description: English: Closeup shot of 2 Black Skimmer birds
context_page_description: The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail is a state-designated system of trails, bird sanctuaries, and nature preserves along the entire length of the Texas Gulf Coast in the United States. As the state of Texas hosts more bird species than any other state in the U.S. the trail system offers some of the most unusual opportunities for bird-watching in the world. The "trail" is actually 43 separate hiking and driving trails that include 308 birding sites. The sites themselves feature a variety of viewing opportunities with boardwalks, observation decks, and other amenities. The trails boast more than 450 bird species. The trail system is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as part of the Great Texas Wildlife Trails which also include the Heart of Texas Wildlife Trail, the Panhandle Plains Wildlife Trail, and the Prairies and Pineywoods Wildlife Trail.
  Apart from bird watching the trail system includes many nature preserves which feature a wide variety of wildlife. In addition the various sites cover many types of natural terrain and flora including forests, marshes, and beaches.
context_section_description: Typical varieties of birds along the length of the system include ducks, geese, and seagulls with many other species found in particular locations. The endangered whooping cranes that winter in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge are among the most famous. The black skimmer, adopted as a symbol of the trail system, can be found throughout almost the entire coastline.
  Apart from the many varieties of bird species, many other types of animals can be found along the trails. American alligators, bobcats, coyotes, and nutria are common in areas of the Upper Coast. Collared peccaries, the Texas spiny lizard, and the Texas indigo snake can be found further south. In the Central Coast the western cottonmouth snake is prominent, not to mention dolphins and other marine mammals along the Gulf. Nine-banded armadillos and white-tailed deer can be seen throughout. The Rio Grande Valley is particularly known for the many varieties of butterflies that inhabit the area (celebrated by the annual Texas Butterfly Festival in Mission). Resident species include the Julia, zebra, Mexican bluewing, and white peacock.
caption: Black skimmer
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