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See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.
Birding along the Rio Grande at Salineno. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
It was a pleasant week in south Texas during our Rio Grande Rarities tour. The one thing missing from the valley this year- rarities. But even so, we did manage to see quite a few cool things including Groove-billed Ani and Flammulated Owl (or at least the bits and pieces that were exposed while it was on its day roost). The valley is also a great place for all of those Rio Grande specialties, and we had a great time with a lot of these. White-collared Seedeater, three species of kingfisher, Clay-colored Thrush, a huge flock of Green Parakeets, a roosting Zone-tailed Hawk, along with Green Jay, Altamira Oriole, and Great Kiskadee.
Thanks to all of you for coming along. I had a great time birding with all of you and look forward to catching up with each of you again in future. Until then I wish you the best in birding.
-- Chris
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
BIRDS
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna bicolor) – We were fortunate to see a sneaky bird darting in and out of the reeds at Santa Ana NWR.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Anser albifrons)
SNOW GOOSE (Chen caerulescens)
ROSS'S GOOSE (Chen rossii) – One was mixed in with the flock of Snows and White-fronteds.
WOOD DUCK (Aix sponsa) – Judy J spotted a pair of these at Estero Llano Grande!
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
AMERICAN WIGEON (Anas americana)
MOTTLED DUCK (Anas fulvigula)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors)
CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
CANVASBACK (Aythya valisineria)
REDHEAD (Aythya americana)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis)
BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala albeola)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
One of the Scaled Quail seen at Falcon State Park. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata) – Great looks in the blind at Falcon State Park.
NORTHERN BOBWHITE (Colinus virginianus) [*]
Gaviidae (Loons)
COMMON LOON (Gavia immer)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – Quite a few seen including a huge flight flushed by the air boats at Salineno.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
American Bittern hunting on South Padre Island. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea)
TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
REDDISH EGRET (Egretta rufescens)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nyctanassa violacea) – Some terrific views at Estero Llano Grande.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
The wonderful Zone-tailed Hawk seen at its evening roost in Weslaco. (Video by guide Chris Benesh)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus)
NORTHERN HARRIER (AMERICAN) (Circus cyaneus hudsonius)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus)
GRAY HAWK (Buteo nitidus) – We saw as many as four during the trip. Make note that the taxonomy of this triplist is slightly out of date and the scientific name is now Buteo plagiatus.
WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albicaudatus) – Our best views ended up being those at the Brownsville Landfill.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – A fantastic view of one at an evening roost at Frontera when we were looking for parrots.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis) – Notable was a Harlan's Hawk seen on the way to Laguna Atascosa.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
MERLIN (Falco columbarius) – Three seen was a good total.
One of a pair of Aplomado Falcons seen near Port Isabel. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata) – A relatively recent split from the Old World Moorhen.
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Gruidae (Cranes)
SANDHILL CRANE (Grus canadensis)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
PIPING PLOVER (Charadrius melodus) – We were able to compare these with the nearby Semipalmateds.
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus palliatus)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
WILLET (Tringa semipalmata)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus)
A roosting Eastern Screech-Owl. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
HERRING GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri)
ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus)
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
Psittacidae (Parrots)
GREEN PARAKEET (Aratinga holochlora) – A spectacular showing of these in the streets of McAllen with possibly as many as a thousand birds present.
RED-CROWNED PARROT (Amazona viridigenalis) – We saw as many as a dozen of these in flight in Weslaco, but were unable to track down their whereabouts later.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus) – Nice looks at a couple of these at Laguna Atascosa.
A lone Groove-billed Ani overwintering at Laguna Atascosa. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba)
Strigidae (Owls)
FLAMMULATED OWL (Otus flammeolus) – Bits and pieces of this well hidden rarity. Most spend the winter in Mexico.
EASTERN SCREECH-OWL (MCCALL'S) (Megascops asio mccallii) – Nice view of one roosting in a ceramic tube at Laguna Atascosa.
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) – Great look at one at Falcon County Park.
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris)
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus)
BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia yucatanensis)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata) – Great looks at the Bentsen resaca and then later at Salineno.
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
The wonderful male Green Kingfisher at the Edinburg Wetlands. A dirty bill... maybe he's excavating a nest cavity. (Video by guide Chris Benesh)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes aurifrons)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius)
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe) – We were really lucky with this one. Soon after we arrived at Estero, one began singing in the trees just next to the deck.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans) – Rather plentiful compared to some years.
EASTERN PHOEBE (Sayornis phoebe)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) – Good lucks at one on our first afternoon.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – Great looking bird! The best were the ones in Zapata.
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
COUCH'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus couchii) – This species was super scarce this winter. We saw our single bird near Laguna Atascosa.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
Vireonidae (Vireos)
WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo griseus)
BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Vireo solitarius)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
The amazing Green Jay! (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
CAVE SWALLOW (TEXAS) (Petrochelidon fulva pallida)
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus atricristatus)
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
CAROLINA WREN (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis) – Nice looks at a few during our ranch visit on the first afternoon.
CLAY-COLORED THRUSH (Turdus grayi) – Great looks at one at Santa Ana NWR and again at Bentsen. Formerly known as the Clay-colored Robin.
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
A Great Kiskadee flares its crown. (Video by guide Chris Benesh)
LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre) – One of the few species that were starting to sing some. Gearing up for the breeding season.
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre) – One of the last new birds of the trip.
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata) – Wow, this species is super common in south Texas in winter. They were everywhere!
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
NORTHERN PARULA (Setophaga americana)
PINE WARBLER (Setophaga pinus)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga coronata coronata)
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Setophaga dominica)
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Setophaga virens)
Emberizidae (Buntings, Sparrows and Allies)
We connected with the highly sought-after White-collared Seedeater in Laredo. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
OLIVE SPARROW (Arremonops rufivirgatus)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata) – This one was enjoyed in the desert scrub near Salineno.
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus) – Great looks at this species on the last day.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) – There was one overwintering at Bentsen that we got a good look at.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna)
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta) – We had a single calling bird near Salineno.
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
ALTAMIRA ORIOLE (Icterus gularis)
AUDUBON'S ORIOLE (Icterus graduacauda) – Good looks at Salineno thanks to the volunteers that keep the feeders going there.
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
A tiny part of the huge flock of Green Parakeets seen in McAllen. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus niger)
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 178 bird taxa and 5 mammal taxa