Telander - Birds of Texas

Birds of Texas

Todd Telander

To my wife, Kirsten, my children, Miles and Oliver, and my parents, all of whom have supported and encouraged me through the years. Special thanks to Mike Denny for his expert critique of the illustrations.

Copyright 2012 Morris Book Publishing, LLC

Illustrations 2012 Todd Telander

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

FalconGuides is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.

Falcon Field Guides is a trademark and Falcon, FalconGuides, and Outfit Your Mind are registered trademarks of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.

Project editor: David Legere

Text design: Sheryl P. Kober

Layout: Sue Murray

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

ISBN 978-0-7627-7420-3

Contents

Introduction

Texas, the largest state in the Lower 48, consists of a great variety of habitats: the coastal plains and Piney Woods forests near the Gulf of Mexico to the east, tropical brush to the south, dry desert to the west, and high plains to the north. This geographic diversity, with its accompanying array of climatic and vegetative zones, provides for an incredible number and variety of bird species. Texas supports habitat for resident breeders and seasonal visitors, as well as those birds passing through on migration to and from South America and Canada. Although Texas is home to or visited by over 600 species of birds, this guide describes the birds you are most likely to encounter here and includes some that are not found anywhere else in the United States, like the Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Great Kiskadee.

Notes about the Species Accounts

Order

The order of species listed in this guide is based on the most recent version of the Check-List of North American Birds, published by the American Ornithologists Union. The arrangement of some groups, especially within the nonpasserines, may be slightly different than that of older field guides but reflects the most recent accepted arrangement.

Names

Both the common name and the scientific name are included for each entry. Since common names tend to vary regionally, or there may be more than one common name for each species, the universally accepted scientific name of genus and species (such as Pyrocephalus rubinus, for the Vermillion Flycatcher) is more reliable to be certain of identification. Also, one can often learn interesting facts about a bird by the English translation of its Latin name. For instance, the generic name, Pyrocephalus, derives from the latin pyro, meaning fire, and cephalus, meaning head, describing the fire-red plumage on the head of this flycatcher.

Families

Birds are grouped into families based on similar traits, behaviors, and genetics. When trying to identify an unfamiliar bird, it can often be helpful to first place it into a family, which will reduce your search to a smaller group. For example, if you see a long-legged, long-billed bird lurking in the shallows, you can begin by looking in the family group of Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets), and narrow your search from there.

Size

The size given for each bird is the average length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail if the bird was laid out flat. Sometimes females and males vary in size, and this variation is described in the text. Size can be misleading if you are looking at a small bird that happens to have a very long tail or bill. It can be more effective to judge the birds relative size by comparing the size difference between two or more species.

Season

The season given in the accounts is the time when the greatest number of individuals occur in Texas. Some species are year-round residents that breed here. Others may spend only summers or winters here, and some may be transient, only stopping during the spring or fall migration. Even if only part of the year is indicated for a species, be aware that there may be individuals that arrive earlier or remain for longer than the given time frame. Plumage also changes with the season for many birds, and this is indicated in the text and illustrations.

Habitat

A birds habitat is one of the first clues to its identification. Note the environment where you see a bird and compare it with the description listed. This can be especially helpful when identifying a bird that shares traits with related species. For example, Bonapartes Gulls and Laughing Gulls are similar, but Bonapartes Gulls may be found far inland while Laughing Gulls are strictly coastal.

Illustrations

The illustrations show the adult bird in the plumage most likely to be encountered during the season(s) it is in Texas. If it is likely that you will find more than one type of plumage during this time, the alternate plumage is also shown. For birds that are sexually dimorphic (females and males look different), illustrations of both sexes are usually included. Other plumages, such as those of juveniles and alternate morphs, are described in the text.

Bird Topography and Terms

Bird topography describes the outer surface of a bird and how various anatomical structures fit together. Below is a diagram outlining the terms most commonly used to describe the feathers and bare parts of a bird.

NONPASSERINES

DUCKS, GEESE

Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis

Family Anatidae (Ducks, Geese)

Size: 21"

Season: Year-round resident in southeast Texas

Habitat: Shallow lakes, ponds, and marshes with nearby trees

The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is a medium-size duck with a flat head and a very long neck and legs, making it appear like a small goose. The back, lower neck, and breast are rusty brown with a black belly, tail, and undertail coverts. The head and upper neck are gray with a dark brown stripe along the crown and nape. The bill is large and orange, and the eyes have white eye-rings. The wings are rounded with a long white stripe, and it holds the head and legs low in flight. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks often feed at night for small invertebrates or plants from marshy fields and ponds. The voice is a series of high, whistled, squeaky notes. It is also known as the tree duck due to its habit of roosting and nesting in trees. An adult is illustrated.

DUCKS, GEESE

Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens

Family Anatidae (Ducks, Geese)

Size: 28"

Season: Winter

Habitat: Grasslands, marshes

The Snow Goose forms huge, impressive flocks when it visits Texas during spring and fall migrations between the arctic tundra and southern North America and Mexico, or as it winters here. It has two color forms: the blue and the more common white. The white form is predominantly white, with black outer wing feathers and a pale yellowish wash to the face during summer. The blue form retains the white head and lower belly but is otherwise dark slate gray or brownish-gray. In both morphs, its bill is pink, thick at the base, and has a black patch where the mandibles meet. The legs of both types are pink. Snow Geese feed mostly on the ground, eating shoots, roots, grains, and insects. The similar Rosss Goose is smaller and has a shorter bill. The white morph adult is illustrated.