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Nueces County, Texas Checklist

The purpose of this list is to fully include all naturally-occurring bird species positively recorded in Nueces County, Texas. The general criteria for the list, in the case of rarities or extralimitals, is that the record be published in a respected, peer-reviewed publication. These records are generally from North American Birds and its predecessor publications: Audubon Field Notes, American Birds and Field Notes. Certain records published in these journals have NOT been included, if there was doubt regarding identification or provenance of the record. In the case of Texas Ornithological Society Review Species, it is required that the sighting be Accepted by the Texas Bird Records Committee in order to be included here. We also include records that are supported by specimen or archived photograph, but may have not been published.  We have included certain records which have been archived in eBird with substantiating photographs. 


This list is a work-in-progress, and will be amended as records occur and we add to our knowledge of Nueces County avifauna. Certain older records are still being sought or researched. I would value the input of birders and ornithology researchers as to comments, additions, corrections, etc.
 

It is our hope that this checklist effort may inspire other Texas birders to create a similar database for their own county. These detailed historical studies may enable us to use more accuracy in reporting to national databases and journals regarding the rarity of a certain species. We may think of a modern-day rarity record of being a “first” or “second” county record, for example, when, in fact, we later find a specimen or detailed published report was obtained many years ago. 


Taxonomic sequencing and nomenclature follows the 65th Supplement, 7th edition of The Checklist of North American Birds, American Ornithologists Union, July 2024, as well as the Texas Ornithological Society Checklist, updated June, 2024.


Abundance Terms: 

Accidental: Extremely rare. Not expected to re-occur. 

Rare: Only a few records, usually seen less than annually. 

Occasional: Seen a few times each season

Uncommon:  Usually low density species, can be found with some effort

Fairly Common: Should be found during a normal day’s birding activity

Common: Hard to miss


Geese, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae) 

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Common to abundant year-round resident. Has increased  in numbers and range since the 1960s.  

Fulvous Whistling-Duck 

Dendrocygna bicolor  

Fairly common migrant and breeder, especially during wet seasons. 

Snow Goose 

Anser caerulescens  

 Ross’s Goose 

Anser rossii  

Winter resident, uncommon and in small numbers.

Greater White-fronted Goose 

Anser albifrons  

Common winter resident

Brant 

Branta bernicla   

Accidental.  One accepted record: 

15 Jan 1995, Port Aransas  (TBRC 1995-10) (NAB)

Cackling Goose 

Branta hutchinsii 

Until the 1980’s, “white-faced” geese were plentiful in bays and estuaries around Corpus Christi. The hutchinsii race of Canada Goose, as this species considered at that time, was among the most plentiful of the “races”. White-faced geese of both species are rare to uncommon in Nueces County since the 1980s.

Canada Goose 

Branta canadensis  

Uncommon winter resident. Formerly common in larger numbers. 

Tundra Swan 

Accidental. 

Winter 1970, “several small flocks in Rockport and Corpus Christi areas” (AFN 1970)

There are several reports of this species from the early 1900s, and it may have been fairly regular in small numbers in winter during that time. 

Wood Duck 

Aix sponsa  

Uncommon winter resident and possibly a breeder along Nueces River in the western part of the county.  

Blue-winged Teal 

Spatula discors 

Common winter resident and rare breeder 

Cinnamon Teal 

Spatula cyanoptera  

Uncommon winter resident

Northern Shoveler 

Spatula clypeata  

Common winter resident and occasional breeder

Gadwall 

Mareca strepera  

Common winter resident

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Accidental: One record

23 Nov- 7 Dec, 2024, Port Aransas Wetland Overlook. TBRC # pending

American Wigeon 

Mareca americana 

Common winter resident

Mallard 

Anas platyrhynchos 

Uncommon winter resident

American Black Duck 

Anas rubripes  

Accidental: One accepted record:

15 Jan. 1890. Corpus Christi, Specimen in the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH 79453) 

Mottled Duck 

Anas fulvigula  

Common permanent resident 

Northern Pintail 

Anas acuta 

Common winter resident

Green-winged Teal 

Anas crecca  

Common winter resident

Canvasback 

Aythya valisineria  

Fairly common winter resident

Redhead 

Aythya Americana

Common winter resident

Ring-necked Duck 

Aythya collaris 

Common winter resident

Greater Scaup 

Aythya marila  

Uncommon winter resident

Lesser Scaup 

Aythya affinis 

Common winter resident

Common Eider 

Somateria mollissima  

Accidental: One accepted record; an adult male shot by a hunter in the Laguna Madre 

8 Jan. 2007 N. Laguna Madre, NUE (TBRC 2007-11; TPRF 2480)

Harlequin Duck 

Histrionicus histrionicus

Accidental. Two females found at Port Aransas Jetty, Feb. 19-20, 2022 (TBRC 2022-24; TPRF 3946)

Surf Scoter 

Melanitta perspicillata  

Rare winter visitor

White-winged Scoter 

Melanitta fusca  

Rare winter visitor

Black Scoter 

Melanitta nigra  

Rare winter visitor 

Long-tailed Duck 

Clangula hyemalis  

Rare winter visitor

Bufflehead 

Bucephala albeola  

Common winter resident

Common Goldeneye 

Bucephala clangula  

Uncommon winter resident

Hooded Merganser 

Lophodytes cucullatus 

Fairly common winter resident

Red-breasted Merganser 

Mergus serrator 

Common winter resident

Masked Duck 

Nomonyx dominicus 

Rare to accidental. Three accepted records: 

10 Nov-5 Dec 1968  (1-10) Corpus Christi, NUE (*WWF 1532; TPRF 293) (AFN 23:78; Oberholser 1974; Rappole and Blacklock 1985)

20 Dec 1992-1 Jan 1993  (1-2) Corpus Christi, NUE (1*TCWC 12926; TBRC 1993-52; TPRF 1162) (AB 47:275, 845)

15-20 Jun 1996   Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1996-112) (FN 50:969)

Many sight records

Ruddy Duck 

Oxyura jamaicensis

Common winter resident   


Gallinaceous Birds (Galliformes) 


Plain Chachalaca
Ortalis vetula
Rare. One record:
13 Feb and 8 Apr 2009; Several birds photographed in extreme Southwest Nueces County. These birds are from an original 1960s or 1970s introduction release by Texas Parks and Wildlife in adjoining Kleberg County. This population has been self-sustaining since the release.  Published in Wildlife in Focus, 2010. Pending TPRF file number.

Northern Bobwhite 

Colinus virginianus 

Fairly common permanent resident, declining in number

Scaled Quail 

Callipepla squamata  

One published record:

Blacklock saw two in the Nueces Bay area Mar. 21 and 25, 1962. Formerly ranged to the Central Coast. (AFN 1962)

Wild Turkey 

Meleagris gallopavo  

Fairly common permanent resident


Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae)


American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Accidental 

One accepted record

Port Aransas 21 Oct.-14 Dec. 2023 (TBRC 2023-99)

A single American Flamingo was present at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center from April 20, 2024 until at least early September, 2024. Pending TBRC action.


Grebes (Podicipediformes) 


Least Grebe 

Tachybaptus dominicus 

Fairly common permanent resident. 

Pied-billed Grebe 

Podilymbus podiceps 

Common permanent resident, population highest in winter months. 

Horned Grebe 

Podiceps auritus

Rare winter visitor

Eared Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis  

Common winter resident 

Western Grebe 

Aechmophorus occidentalis 

One published record:

9 Dec., 1968 from a pond at Oso Golf Course, and described by Blacklock as “first Nueces County record”.

27 Mar - May 15, 2013 One photographed from Port Aransas Jetty, NAB Vol. 67 No. 3, pg. 479


Pigeons and Doves (Columbiformes) 


Rock Pigeon 

Columba livia 

Common permanent resident

Red-billed Pigeon 

Patagioenas flavirostris 

Accidental 

Two published sight records:

Jan. 26, 1969 Flour Bluff by an experienced observer, AFN-1969)

March 3-5, 1988 Corpus Christi, with photo, TPRF 615, (AB-1988)

Eurasian Collared-Dove 

Streptopelia decaocto 

Common permanent resident

Inca Dove 

Columbina inca 

Common permanent resident

Common Ground-Dove 

Columbina passerina 

Common permanent resident

White-tipped Dove 

Leptotila verreauxi 

Uncommon permanent resident, subject to northern range expansion

White-winged Dove 

Zenaida asiatica 

Common permanent resident

Mourning Dove 

Zenaida macroura 

Common Permanent resident


Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis (Cuculiformes) 


Groove-billed Ani 

Crotophaga sulcirostris 

Fairly common summer resident

Greater Roadrunner 

Geococcyx californianus 

Common permanent resident

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 

Coccyzus americanus 

Common migrant and summer resident

Mangrove Cuckoo 

Coccyzus minor 

Accidental

One accepted record: 

3-4 May 2000  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2000-30; TPRF 1912)

Black-billed Cuckoo 

Coccyzus erythropthalmus 

Uncommon migrant in spring, rare in fall


Goatsuckers (Caprimulgiformes) 


Lesser Nighthawk 

Chordeiles acutipennis 

Common migrant and uncommon summer resident

Common Nighthawk 

Chordeiles minor 

Common migrant and summer resident

Common Pauraque 

Nyctidromus albicollis 

Common permanent resident

Common Poorwill 

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

Rare migrant and visitor

One specimen record:

1993 (date?)  TCWC specimen number 13137

Several sight records

Chuck-will’s-widow 

Caprimulgus carolinensis 

Common spring and fall migrant

Eastern Whip-poor-will 

Caprimulgus vociferus 

Fairly common spring and fall migrant


Swifts and Hummingbirds (Apodiformes) 


Chimney Swift 

Chaetura pelagica 

Common summer resident

White-throated Swift 

Aeronautes saxatalis 

One published sight record: 

16 Apr 1965  “Five White-throated Swifts were seen at very close range at Hazel Bazemore Park on the Nueces on April 16 (Gene Blacklock), a very unusual record for the Central Coast” (AFN 1965)
Mexican Violetear 

Colibri thalassinus 

Accidental

Four accepted records:

6 May-25 Jun 1995  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1995-60; TPRF 1374) (FN 49:276, 951

7-13 May 2000  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2000-64; TPRF 1787

2-3 Apr 2002 Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2002-48; TPRF 1972)

17 Apr 2009  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2009-35; TPRF 2717)

Green-breasted Mango 

Anthracothorax prevostii 

Accidental

6-27 Jan 1992          Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1992-10; TPRF 1133) (AB 46:289, 451)

3-8 Nov & 29 Nov-21 Dec 1997  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1997-150; TPRF 1632) (AB 98th CBC issue: 398; FN 52:89; 224)

12 Aug 2000   Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2009-80; TPRF 2746)

6-16 July 2021 Calallen, NUE (TBRC 2021-78; TPRF 3897)

Blue-throated Mountain-gem 

Lampornis clemenciae 

Accidental

Two published record, several sight records

17 Nov 1973 Corpus Christi (AB, 1974)

21-29 Nov 1995 Calallen area, Corpus Christi

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 

Archilochus colubris 

Common migrant, rare non-breeding summer visitor, rare in winter

Black-chinned Hummingbird 

Archilochus alexandri 

Common summer resident

Anna’s Hummingbird 

Calypte anna 

Rare winter visitor

Calliope Hummingbird 

Stellula calliope 

Rare: Five records 

(Date?) 1995 One female,Corpus Christi

20 Feb- 13 April 2003 female banded and recaptured, Calallen area, Corpus Christi

17-24 Dec 2011 One female photographed Dec. 24 2011 to TPRF
Sept 17-20 2012 one female photographed at Hazel Bazemore County Park, photo to TPRF

Sept. 3-6 Hazel Bazemore County Park, eBird photo

Rufous Hummingbird 

Selasphorus rufus 

Uncommon migrant and winter visitor

Allen’s Hummingbird 

Selasphorus sasin 

Rare to occasional migrant and winter visitor, several banding records

Seven TBRC records prior to delisting in 2004. Several sight records

Broad-tailed Hummingbird 

Selasphorus platycercus 

Rare to occasional winter visitor

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cyanthus latirostris

Accidental. One record:

1 April, Packery Channel, eBird photo

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Amazilia violiceps
Accidental: One record
21 April - 11 May, one male  at feeder west portion of Corpus Christi. (TBRC 2018-45, TPRF 3583)
Buff-bellied Hummingbird 

Amazilia yucatanensis 

Common permanent resident, more numerous in summer


Rails, Gallinules, Coots, and Cranes (Gruiformes) 


King Rail 

Rallus elegans 

Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Probably nests in wet seasons.

Clapper Rail 

Rallus crepitans

Common permanent resident. 

Virginia Rail 

Rallus limicola 

Common migrant and winter resident.

Sora 

Porzana carolina 

Common migrant and winter resident

Common Gallinule 

Gallinula galeata    

Common permanent resident

American Coot 

Fulica americana  

Common permanent resident

Purple Gallinule 

Porphyrio martinica  

Uncommon summer resident, occasional in winter

Yellow Rail 

Coturnicops novaboracensis

Rare to uncommon winter resident. Status not well known.

Two documented records

28 April 2022 audio-recorded on Mustang Island as part of a TPWD marsh bird survey. 

12 October 2023: a rehabilitated bird found at the dune line on Mustang Island by park rangers. eBird photos. 

Black Rail 

Laterallus jamaicensis  

Rare to uncommon resident in spartina marshes. Status and distribution poorly known. 

Limpkin

Aramus guarauna

Accidental: two eBird records with photos:

April 25, 2023 Lakeview Park, Corpus Christi

Sept. 19, 2023, Port Aransas Jetty

Sandhill Crane 

Antigone canadensis 

Common winter resident

Whooping Crane 

Grus americana 

One published sight record with photos. Nov. 4-6 2005 from Wooldridge Road, near Cayo del Oso, NAB

Several sight records, photo records 2015-2024


Shorebirds (Charadriiformes) 


Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae) 


Black-necked Stilt 

Himantopus mexicanus 

Common permanent resident

American Avocet 

Recurvirostra Americana

Fairly common permanent resident 


Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) 


American Oystercatcher 

Haematopus palliatus 

Fairly common permanent resident


Plovers (Charadriidae) 


Black-bellied Plover 

Pluvialis squatarola 

Common winter resident. A few non-breeders spend the summer. 

American Golden-Plover 

Pluvialis dominica 

Common spring migrant, rare fall migrant.

Killdeer 

Charadrius vociferus 

Common permanent resident 

Semipalmated Plover 

Charadrius semipalmatus 

Common in winter and migration, less numerous in summer

Piping Plover 

Charadrius melodus 

Fairly common winter resident

Wilson’s Plover 

Anarhynchus wilsonia 

Common summer resident, rare in winter

 Anarhynchus montanus 

Uncommon winter resident in agricultural fields

Snowy Plover 

 Anarhynchus nivosus 

Fairly common permanent resident


Northern Jacana
Jacana spinosa
Accidental: one adult at Corpus Christi Botanical Garden April 14-18, 2018 (TBRC 2018-38, TPRF)


Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies (Scolopacidae) 


Upland Sandpiper 

Bartramia longicauda 

Common spring and fall migrant

Whimbrel 

Numenius phaeopus 

Fairly common spring and fall migrant in small numbers

Long-billed Curlew 

Numenius americanus 

Common migrant and winter resident

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Accidental. Two accepted records:

9 Aug - 26 Oct. 2014  Oso Bay,  TBRC 2014-44; TPRF 

20 Nov 2022-23 Jan 2023 (TBRC 2022-88; TPRF 4013, returning 5 Oct. 2023 to 20 Feb 2024

Hudsonian Godwit 

Limosa haemastica 

Fairly common spring migrant

Marbled Godwit 

Limosa fedoa 

Common migrant and winter resident

Ruddy Turnstone 

Arenaria interpres 

Common migrant and winter resident

Red Knot 

Calidris canutus 

Fairly common migrant and winter resident. Numbers decreasing

Surfbird 

Aphriza virgata 

Accidental spring migrant 

Four  accepted records: 

April 4-11, 1975, Port Aransas (TBRC 1994-87; TPRF 1263) AB 29:876

April 21 1983 (2 birds) Port Aransas (TPRF 513) (AB 37:889)

May 1-9, 2009 Port Aransas, (TBRC 2009-40; TPRF 2722)

22 Mar - 1 April , 2012 Packery Channel Jetties (TBRC 2012-30, TPRF 30-22

Ruff 

Philomachus pugnax 

Accidental, two records:

Oct. 19, 1968- Jan. 11, 1969, Cayo del Oso, (Welder Wildlife Foundation ph S-27; TPRF 568) 

(AFN 23; 79,497. Oberholser 1974)

2-6 March 2023, Charlie's Pasture South, Port Aransas. (TBRC 2023-15)

Stilt Sandpiper 

Calidris himantopus 

Common migrant, fairly common winter resident

Curlew Sandpiper 

Calidris ferruginea 

Accidental

Two accepted records: 

Aug. 21-27, 2002, Port Aransas, (TBRC 2002-97; TPRF 2083)

Aug. 17-Sept. 4, 2009, Cayo del Oso, (TBRC 2009-71; TPRF 2741)

Sanderling 

Calidris alba 

Common migrant and winter resident; smaller numbers during summer months.

Dunlin 

Calidris alpina 

Common fall and spring migrant, common winter resident

Purple Sandpiper 

Calidris maritima

Accidental 

Three accepted records: 

April 16-28, 1996, Port Aransas (TBRC 1996-58: TPRF 1508) (FN 50:302

Feb. 22, 2009 Port Aransas (TBRC 2009-26; TPRF 2711)

28 March 2012 Packery Channel Jetties (TBRC 2012-31 TPRF 3023)

Baird’s Sandpiper 

Calidris bairdii 

Fairly common spring and fall migrant

Least Sandpiper 

Calidris minutilla 

Common migrant and winter resident.

White-rumped Sandpiper 

Calidris fuscicollis 

Common spring migrant, rare in fall.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper 

Tryngites subruficollis 

Fairly common fall and spring migrant

Pectoral Sandpiper 

Calidris melanotos 

Common spring and fall migrant

Semipalmated Sandpiper 

Calidris semipalmatus

Common spring and fall migrant

Western Sandpiper 

Calidris mauri 

Common migrant and winter resident      

Short-billed Dowitcher 

Limnodromus griseus 

Common migrant and winter resident

Long-billed Dowitcher 

Limnodromus scolopaceus 

Common migrant and winter resident

American Woodcock 

Scolopax minor 

Occasional winter resident

Wilson’s Snipe 

Gallinago delicata 

Common winter resident

Spotted Sandpiper 

Actitis macularius 

Common migrant and winter resident

Solitary Sandpiper 

Tringa solitaria 

Fairly common migrant and occasional winter resident

Lesser Yellowlegs 

Tringa flavipes 

Common winter resident, with a few non-breeders lingering in summer

Willet 

Tringa semipalmata 

T.s. semipalmata, Eastern Willet,  is a common summer resident and migrant, T.s. inoratus, the Western Willet,  is a common winter resident, while T.s.semipalmatais is absent in winter.

Greater Yellowlegs 

Tringa melanoleuca 

Common winter resident and migrant. A few linger in summer.  
Wilson’s Phalarope 

Phalaropus tricolor 

Common spring and fall migrant, rare in winter

Red-necked Phalarope 

Phalaropus lobatus 

Rare spring and fall migrant

Red Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicarius

One accepted record:
Apr 1, 2012 Packery Channel jetties area (TBRC 2012-32; TPRF3024) 

Oct. 12, 2019 Port Aransas, (TBRC 2020-57; TPRF 3393)


Skuas and Jaegers (Stercorariidae) 


Pomarine Jaeger 

Stercorarius pomarinus 

Rare visitor in Gulf of Mexico, mainly winter

Parasitic Jaeger 

Stercorarius parasiticus

Rare visitor to Gulf of Mexico, mainly winter 

Long-tailed Jaeger 

Stercorarius longicaudus

Accidental 

Two accepted records:

6 Jun 1987    Port Aransas (*WFVZ 50394; TBRC 1990-62; TPRF 869)
31 Aug 2018 Offshore Nueces Waters (TBRC 2018-69, TPRF 3603)


Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae) 


Black-legged Kittiwake 

Rissa tridactyla 

Accidental. 

Nine accepted records: 

Winter 1981-Mar 1982 Port Aransas (TPRF 885) (AB 36:872) 

7 Dec 1990 Port Aransas (TBRC 1991-97; TPRF 1011)

1 Dec 1993 Mustang Island (TBRC 1994-16; TPRF 1234; FN 48:226)

1 Jan 1996 Port Aransas (TBRC 1997-131 *TCWC 13332; TPRF 1538)

13 Mar 1997 Port Aransas (TBRC 1997-127; *TCWC 13331; TPRF 1537) (FN51:894)

3 April 2010 Port Aransas (TBRC 2010-79; TPRF)

2 Dec. 2012 Packery Channel NUE, (TBRC 2017-40)
31 Dec  2012 to 10 Mar 2013 Mustang Island State Park and Port Aransas (TBRC 2013-02; TPRF 3147)

29 Dec 2013 - 26 Feb 2014 Port Aransas (TBRC 2014-07; TPRF)

Sabine’s Gull 

Xema sabini 

Rare coastal migrant, mainly in fall

Bonaparte’s Gull 

Chroicocephalus philadelphia 

Fairly common winter resident

Little Gull 

Hydrocoloeus minutus 

Accidental winter visitor

Four Accepted records, prior to removal from the TOS Review list in September 2012.

12 Jan 1992 Mustang Island  (TBRC 1992-11; TPRF 1081) (AB 46;288)

1 Feb - 31Mar 2011, Port Aransas (2) (TBRC 2011-018 TPRF 2942)

13-15 Feb 2012 (2)  Port Aransas (TBRC 2012-15 TPRF 3012)

18 Feb – 9 Mar 2012 (TBRC 2012-48  TPRF 3015)

Multiple documented records since 2012

Laughing Gull 

Leucophaeus atricilla 

Common permanent resident

Franklin’s Gull 

Leucophaeus pipixcan 

Common spring and fall migrant

Black-tailed Gull 

Larus crassirostris 

Accidental: one accepted record:
6 Mar, 2004 Corpus Christi (TBRC 2004-23; TPRF 2189) 

Heermann’s Gull 

Larus heermanni 

Accidental 

One accepted record: 

Feb. 8 1983 (TBRC 1988-137; TPRF 648) (AB 37; 889)

Short-billed Gull
Larus brachyrhynchus
Accidental
Two accepted records:
12 Jan – 6 April, 2020 Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas (TBRC 2020-11; TPRF 3710)
4 Feb, 2020 Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge (TBRC 2020-17; TPRF 3707)
Ring-billed Gull 

Larus delawarensis 

Common migrant and winter resident
Western Gull
Accidental
Two accepted records:
25-27 Jan 2018, Port Aransas jetty (TBRC 2018-85, TPRF 3612)
22-26 Nov 2019 Corpus Christi Marina (TBRC 2019-75)

Kelp Gull

Larus dominicanus

One record: Mustang Island, Dec. 26, 2024-Jan. 6, 2025 TBRC # pending
California Gull 

Larus californicus 

Rare migrant and winter visitor

Herring Gull 

Larus argentatus 

Common winter resident

Yellow-Legged Gull 

Larus michahellis

Accidental

Two accepted records:

Corpus Christi Ayres landfill

24 Jan- 4 Apr. 2004 Corpus Christi Ayres landfill  (TBRC 2004-15; TPRF 2673)

4 Mar 2004 Corpus Christi Ayres landfill (Corpus Christi Ayres landfill TBRC 2004-25; TPRF 2508)

Iceland Gull 

Larus glaucoides 

Rare in winter. 11 accepted TBRC records prior to TBRC delisting in 2004.

Thayer’s Gull, Larus thayeri, was lumped with Iceland Gull in 2017. 

All Nueces records have been thayeri race. All records are December to April.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 

Larus fuscus 

Uncommon to rare winter resident

Slaty-backed Gull 

Larus schistisagus 

Accidental

Two accepted records: 

21-24 Dec, 2003 Cayo del Oso (TBRC 2004-27: TPRF 2191)

23 Feb. 2012 Port Aransas area  TBRC 2012-21; TPRF 3118) 

Glaucous Gull 

Larus hyperboreus 

Rare winter visitor, 11 accepted records from Dec.-April prior to TBRC delisting in 1997 

Great Black-backed Gull 

Larus marinus 

Rare winter visitor: ten accepted TBRC records:

4 Jan, 1986 Port Aransas (TBRC 1988-110) (AB 40:917)

27 Sept, 1988 Port Aransas (TBRC 1996-187; TPRF 1658)

11 Nov- 23 Jan, 1992  Mustang Island (TBRC 1991-136; TPRF 1028) (AB 46:120, 288)

31 Dec. 1992 (TBRC 1993-54; TPRF 1160) (AB 47:275)

2 Jan 1993    Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1994-60)

14 Dec 1993 Mustang Is., NUE (TBRC 1994-59; TPRF 1340) (FN 48:226)

9 Nov 1996    Mustang Is., NUE (TBRC 1997-107; TPRF 1659)

3-12 Mar 2001 Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2001-53; TPRF 1987)

11 Nov 2010 Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2010-66; TPRF )

21-22 Dec 2016 Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2017-01 TPRF) 

Brown Noddy 

Anous stolidus 

Rare spring, summer visitor

Eight accepted records:

20 Jun 2006  Packery Channel jetties, NUE (TBRC 2006-77; TPRF 2436)

16 Jul 2006 (2)  Off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2006-120; TPRF 2463)

8 Aug-8 Sep 2009  (2)  Port Aransas, NUE/ARA (TBRC 2009-72; TPRF 2742)

17 Jun-23 July 2011 (2) Offshore 26 mi. E of  Port Aransas NUE (TBRC 2011-071 TPRF 2978) 

10 Aug 2013 Offshore from Port Aransas (TBRC 2013-51)

21 May 2022 Port Aransas Jetty, (TBRC 2022-37 TPRF 3959)

1-25 Oct. 2023 Port Aransas Jetty (TBRC 2023-88)

26 May 2024 Packery Channel Jetty (TBRC 2024-66)

Black Noddy 

Anous minutus  

Two accepted records

22 Jun 1975  N. Padre Is., NUE (TBRC 2002-91; TPRF 77) (AB 29:1004 and 30:97)

26 April - 14 May 2024 Port Aransas Jetty (TBRC 2024--31)

Sooty Tern 

Onychoprion fuscatus 

Rare summer visitor in open Gulf of Mexico and occasional breeder in Laguna Madre 

Bridled Tern 

Onychoprion anaethetus 

Occasional visitor and summer resident in open Gulf of Mexico

Four accepted records prior to TBRC delisting in 1997, several sight records since.

Least Tern 

Sternula antillarum 

Common summer resident

Gull-billed Tern 

Gelochelidon nilotica 

Fairly common permanent resident, more numerous in summer

Caspian Tern 

Hydroprogne caspia 

Common permanent resident

Black Tern 

Chlidonias niger 

Common migrant and non-breeding summer resident 

Roseate Tern 

Sterna dougallii 

Accidental: One record: 

10 Apr 1901  Corpus Christi, NUE (*ROM 39704; TBRC 1996-111; TPRF 1535) (Oberholser 1974

Common Tern 

Sterna hirundo 

Common migrant including non-breeding summer birds

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaea

Rare vagrant, one pending record

A non-breeding  Arctic Tern was seen and photographed on Aug. 27, 2024 along North Padre Island Beach near the Kleberg County line. The bird was photographed in both counties and pending TBRC action. There had been a total of three Arctic Terns found at Padre Island National Seashore, Kleberg and Kenedy Counties beaches from late June through early August, 2024.

Previously, there had been several sight records for this species from Nueces County, but no TBRC-accepted record. One of the most compelling sight records is from the Port Aransas jetty 19 Aug 1968, in which a bird identified as an Arctic Tern was seen while feeding with Common Terns.(AFN-1969)  All observers, Victor Emanuel, John Rowlett and Edgar Kincaid, were familiar with the species. 

Forster’s Tern 

Sterna forsteri 

Common permanent resident

Royal Tern 

Thalasseus maximus 

Common permanent resident

Sandwich Tern 

Thalasseus sandvicensis 

Common resident spring through fall, uncommon in winter

Elegant Tern 

Thalasseus elegans 

Accidental: two records:

25 Jul 1889   Corpus Christi, NUE (*British MNH 91-10-20-92; TPRF 1460) (Peterson 1960; Oberholser 1974)

10 Sept- 10 Nov, 2022 (1-3) (TBRC 2022-69 TPRF 4006)

Black Skimmer 

Rynchops niger 

Common permanent resident


Tropicbirds (Phaethontiformes) 


Red-billed Tropicbird 

Phaethon aethereus  Accidental in open Gulf of Mexico. One accepted record: 

22 June, 2010 Off Port Aransas, TBRC # 2010-43.

26 July 2020, Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2020-61; TPRF 3745)


Loons (Gaviiformes) 


Red-throated Loon  

Gavia stellata  One accepted record prior to TBRC delisting in 2002

11 Jan 1992  Mustang Is., NUE (TBRC 1992-83; TPRF 1115)

15 Feb. 2013 One near Naval Air Station in Laguna Madre, NAB Vol.67, No. 3, pg. 30  

29 Dec. 2015 Mustang Island eBird

8 April 2017 Laguna Madre eBird

Pacific Loon 

Gavia pacifica     

Rare in winter. Two TBRC accepted records prior to delisting in 1996. Several sight records.

One at Ingleside-on-the-Bay, NUE 2 Jan  2011 + NAB Vol. 65 No. 2, pg. 305.
One was present at Ingleside-on-the-Bay Dec. 31, 2016, and Dec. 14, 2017, pending publishing in NAB 

Common Loon 

Gavia immer 

Common winter resident

Yellow-billed Loon 

Gavia adamsii  

Accidental: One accepted record:

25-27 Mar 2006        Flour Bluff, NUE (TBRC 2006-33; TPRF 2402)


Shearwaters, Petrels, and Storm-Petrels (Procellariiformes) 


Leach’s Storm-Petrel 

Oceanodroma leucorhoa  

Rare but fairly regular in spring and summer in Gulf of Mexico waters. Seven accepted TBRC records:

31 May 1970 Corpus Christi, NUE (TPRF 7) (AB 37:1004; Oberholser 1974)

9 Jul 1976     Corpus Christi, NUE (*CCM 76A136) (AB 30:976; Blacklock and Peabody 1983; Rappole and Blacklock 1985)

1 Jun 1991   off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 1991-69) (AB 45:1135)

15 Jun 1991  off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 1991-78) (AB 45:1135)

18 Jul 2011 off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2011-73, TPRF 3105)

22 Jul 2021 SE of Port Aransas (TBRC 2021-87; TPRF3910)

23 Feb. 2024 78 miles ESE of Port Aransas (TBRC 2024-22)

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel 

Oceanodroma castro  

Fairly common in summer in the Gulf of Mexico in summer and fall. Two accepted TBRC records prior to the species’ delisting in 1997.  Several records since 1997. 

Trindade Petrel 

(Pterodroma arminjoniana)

Accidental: One record

22 Feb 2022 Port Aransas Jetty, (TBRC 2022-28 TPRF 3947)

Stejneger’s Petrel 

Pterdeoma longirostris

Accidental: One record:

15 Sep 1995 Port Aransas, NUE (*TCWC 13351) (TBRC 1997-59; TPRF 1746)

Cory’s Shearwater 

Calonectris borealis

Fairly common fall and winter resident in open Gulf of Mexico. 

Scopoli's Shearwater 

Calonectris diomedia

Split from Cory's Shearwater by AOS July 2024. Apparently a fairly common fall and winter resident to the Gulf of Mexico. Several eBird photos.. 

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

(Ardenna pacifica)

Accidental

One bird photographed Oct. 23, 2023,  34 Miles southeast of Mustang Island (TBRC 2023-101)

Sooty Shearwater 

Puffinus griseus  

Rare but apparently regular in open Gulf of Mexico at all seasons, likely more expected in migration. Eight accepted TBRC records. 

19 Jun 1952       Port Aransas, NUE (*TCWC 9081) (Peterson 1960; Oberholser 1974)

19 May 1988        Mustang Is., NUE (TBRC 1988-234; TPRF 680) (AB 42:458)

20 Jun 1989         N. Padre Is., NUE (*CCM 90-A-0024; TBRC 2001-55; TPRF 1898)

11 Jun 1993         Mustang Is., NUE (*TCWC 13000; TBRC 1993-107; TPRF 1166) (AB 48:127)

10 Oct 1993         Mustang Is., NUE (*TCWC 13001; TBRC 1993-140; TPRF 1238) (AB 48:127)

11 Jun 2007         Mustang Is., NUE (*TCWC 14,625; TBRC 2009-28; TPRF 2713)

6 Sep 2013    1 mile offshore, Port Aransas Jetty, NUE (TBRC 2013-53; TPRF 3156)

10 Jul 2016   Mustang Island, NUE (TBRC 2016-47; TPRF )

6 May 2024 Port Aransas Jetty (TBRC-2024-43)

Great Shearwater 

Puffinus gravis 

Rare, but apparently regular in open Gulf of Mexico at all seasons. Twenty-two  accepted TBRC records. 

27 Dec 1971 Mustang Is., NUE (TBRC 2006-02; TPRF 2361)

13 Oct 1984   off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 1985-14; TPRF 544) (AB 39:75)

29 Jun 1998  Mustang Is., NUE (*TCWC 13368; TBRC 1998-94; TPRF 1619) (FN 52:475)

6 Oct 2002     off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2002-108; TPRF 2078)

10 Oct 2006   Mustang Is., NUE (*TCWC 14,668; TBRC 2009-29; TPRF 2714)

31 Jul 2010   off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2010-50; TPRF 2822)

18 Dec. 2012 Port Aransas NUE (TBRC 2016-51  TPRF TPRF *TCWC 23867)

25 Nov 2015 Offshore near Hospital Rock, NUE (TBRC 2015-75 ; TPRF )

25 Aug. 2016 48 mi. SE of Port Aransas NUE (TBRC 2016-55 TPRF)

2 Oct 2019 Mustang Island, NUE (TBRC 2020-77; TPRF 3742)

4 Oct 2019 Mustang Island, NUE (TBRC 2020-78; TPRF 3743)

13 Dec 2020 ~ 21 miles southeast of Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2020-125; TPRF 3804) 

10 Sept 2022 60 miles SE of Port Aransas NUE (TBRC 2022-71; TPRF 4001)

10 Jul 2023 Mustang Island, (TBRC 2023-87; TPRF 4084)

22 Jul 2023 ~15 miles east of Packery Channel, (TBRC 2023-64; TPRF 4085)

16 Sep 2023 ~15 miles southeast of Port Aransas, (TBRC 2023-82; TPRF 4090)

4 Oct 2023 Mustang Island, (TBRC 2023-92; TPRF 4099)

9 Oct 2023 ~27 miles southeast of Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2023-94; TPRF 4101)

25 Oct 2023 Mustang Island, (TBRC 2023-138)

26 Oct 2023 Mustang Island, (TBRC 2023-139)

27 Oct 2023 along beach, south of Port Aransas, (TBRC 2023-103)

27 Oct 2023 along beach, south of Port Aransas,  (TBRC 2023-102)

Manx Shearwater 

Puffinus puffinus

Rare in Gulf of Mexico waters. Eight accepted TBRC records.

15 Feb 1975    N. Padre Is.,  (*CCM 84A007) (AB 29:1006)

11 Aug 1980    Mustang Is.,  (*WFVZ 50099) (AB 35:201)

13 Nov 1984    Mustang Is.,  (*TCWC 12163; TBRC 1988-139; TPRF 628) 

7 Oct 1987      Mustang Is.,  (*TCWC 12162; TBRC 1988-138; TPRF 629) (AB 42:100)

21 Jun 1993    Mustang Is., (TBRC 1993-101; TPRF 1170) (AB 47:1125)

27 July 2020 near jetty, Mustang Island State Park, (TBRC 2020-63; TPRF 3747)

29 Aug 2021 Mustang Island (TBRC 2021-119; TPRF 3911)

19 Aug 2022 Port Aransas (TBRC 2022-78, TPRF 4000)

26 Oct 2023 Mustang Island, (TBRC 2023-136)

Sargasso Shearwater 

Puffinus lherminieri  

Regular and fairly common in Gulf of Mexico waters, more common in summer months and migration. Eight accepted TBRC records prior to delisting in 1997. Regularly recorded on most pelagic trips. 


Storks (Ciconiiformes) 


Jabiru 

Jabiru mycteria  

Accidental. One record;  

6-18 Sept.1981 Oso Bay, TBRC # 1981-6 TPRF 251

Wood Stork 

Mycteria americana 

Fairly common summer and fall visitor. 


Frigatebirds, Boobies, Cormorants, Anhinga (Suliiformes) 

Magnificent Frigatebird 

Fregata magnificens 

Uncommon summer resident in Gulf of Mexico.

Masked Booby 

Sula dactylatra 

Uncommon in Gulf of Mexico, mainly summer.

Brown Booby 

Sula leucogaster  

Historically rare in Gulf of Mexico, mainly summer. Increasing numbers beginning ca. 2005, and the species was delisted as a review species by TBRC, July 2017. Nineteen accepted Nueces records prior to delisting. 

20 Sep 1971 Port Aransas, NUE (*WFVZ 50106; WWF ph P-15) (AB 26:85) 

30 Aug 1975 off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 1977-8) (AB 30:95)

20 Aug 1977  (2)      Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 1988-52) (AB 32:227)

11 Aug 1980        Mustang Is., NUE (*WFVZ 50107) (AB 35:201)

13 Jul 20o4         off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2004-62)

27 Jul 2004         off Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2004-64)

26 Feb-4 Mar 2005  Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2005-47; TPRF 2299)

29 Sep 2005             Port Aransas, NUE (*TCWC 14,321; TBRC 2006-12; TPRF 2366)

16 Jul 2008      North Packery Jetty, NUE (TBRC 2008-68; TPRF 2595)             

19 Mar 2013 (5)        Corpus Christi Bay, near Indian Point Park, NUE (TBRC 2013-27; TPRF 3106)

15 Dec 2013 – 30 Jul 2014 (1-5)   Corpus Christi & Nueces Bays, NUE/SAP (TBRC 2013-79; TPRF 3201)

29 Mar 2015  Corpus Christi Bay, NUE (TBRC 2017-82)
30 Apr 2015  offshore from Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2105-39; TPRF 3308)        

11 April 2016 Port Aransas Jetty, NUE, (TBRC 2017-77)
27 June 2016 Corpus Christi Bay near Ingleside (TBRC 2016-43)
10 Oct 2016   Corpus Christi Bay, NUE (TBRC 2016-69; TPRF)
17 Mar 2017 Corpus Christi Bay, NUE (TBRC 2017-68)
5 May 2017 JFK Causeway, NUE, (TBRC 2017-18)
10 Jul 2017 35 mi. offshore from Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2017-40)
Red-footed Booby

Sula sula 

Accidental. One accepted record.

17 Nov 2021 Port Aransas (TBRC 2021-110; TPRF 3923)

Northern Gannet 

Morus bassanus 

Fairly common winter resident in open Gulf of Mexico.

Anhinga 

Anhinga anhinga  

Fairly common permanent resident.

Double-crested Cormorant 

Nannopterum auritum  

Common winter resident.

Neotropic Cormorant 

Nannopterum brasilianum

Common permanent resident. 


 Pelicans, Herons (Pelecaniformes) 


American White Pelican 

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Common in winter, with a small summering population. 

Brown Pelican 

Pelecanus occidentalis 

Common permanent resident.

Least Bittern 

Botaurus exilis 

Fairly common summer resident. A few remain in mild winters.

American Bittern 

Botaurus lentiginosus

Uncommon migrant and winter resident. 

Little Blue Heron 

Egretta caerulea 

Fairly common permanent resident

Tricolored Heron 

Egretta tricolor 

Common permanent resident

Reddish Egret 

Egretta rufescens 

Common permanent resident

Snowy Egret 

Egretta thula  

Common permanent resident

Yellow-crowned Night Heron 

Nyctanassa violacea

Fairly common permanent resident, numbers increased during migration

Black-crowned Night Heron 

Nycticorax nycticorax 

Common permanent resident

Green Heron 

Butorides virescens  

Fairly common permanent resident.

Great Egret 

Ardea alba 

Common permanent resident.

Western Cattle Egret 

Ardea ibis 

Common permanent resident

Great Blue Heron 

Ardea herodias 

Common permanent resident. 

White Ibis 

Eudocimus albus  

Common permanent resident

Glossy Ibis 

Plegadis falcinellus 

Rare. Has occurred at all seasons.

White-faced Ibis

 Plegadis chihi  

Fairly common permanent resident

Roseate Spoonbill 

Platalea ajaja  

Common permanent resident
  

New World Vultures (Cathartiformes) 


Black Vulture 

Coragyps atratus  

Common permanent resident

Turkey Vulture 

Cathartes aura  

Common permanent resident


Osprey, Kites, Eagles and Hawks (Accipitriformes) 


Osprey 

Pandion haliaetus 

Winter resident; occasional non-breeders in summer

White-tailed Kite 

Elanus leucurus  

Uncommon permanent resident

Swallow-tailed Kite 

Elanoides forficatus  

Uncommon spring and fall migrant

Golden Eagle 

Aquila chrysaetos 

Rare fall and winter visitor 

Northern Harrier 

Circus hudsonicus 

Common winter resident

Sharp-shinned Hawk 

Accipiter striatus 

Common migrant and winter resident

Cooper’s Hawk 

Accipiter cooperii  

Common migrant and winter resident; local breeder

Bald Eagle 

Haliaeetus leucocephalus  

Rare visitant. Most records along Nueces River in fall.

Mississippi Kite 

Ictinia mississippiensis 

Common spring and fall migrant

Common Black Hawk

Butogallus anthracinus

Accidental. One record

3 Feb - 27 Feb Port Aransas, eBird, photos, pending NAB publishing

Harris’s Hawk 

Parabuteo unicinctus 

Common permanent resident

White-tailed Hawk 

Buteo albicaudatus 

Common permanent resident

Gray Hawk 

Buteo plagiatus

Accidental

Two  documented records

19 Aug 2017 Hazel Bazemore County Park , Texas Bird Images

19 Oct. 2021 Hazel Bazemore County Park, detailed sight record, eBird

There is also a compelling sight record from 1948 from Naval Air Station, Encinal Peninsula by Fred Packard. 

Red-shouldered Hawk 

Buteo lineatus

Common permanent resident

Broad-winged Hawk 

Buteo platypterus 

Common spring and fall migrant

Short-tailed Hawk 

Buteo brachyurus  

Accidental. Three accepted records;All from Hazel Bazemore Hawk Watch

20 Oct 1999   Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1999-119)

2 Sep 2005    Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2005-117)
14 Nov 2017 Corpus Christi, NUE (TRRC 2018-10, TPRF)

14 Sept 2021 Hazel Bazemore County Park (TBRC 2021-98)

Swainson’s Hawk 

Buteo swainsoni

Common sping and fall migrant. Rare in winter. 

Zone-tailed Hawk 

Buteo albonotatus 

Rare visitant, possible at any time of year.

Red-tailed Hawk 

Buteo jamaicensis

Common winter resident. Has nested in small numbers.

Rough-legged Hawk 

Buteo regalis

Accidental. One specimen record, scattered historical sight records.
12 Mar 1887 female specimen, Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology # 252650 collected at 27.7795504° -97.4892041° which is central Corpus Christi. Collector not listed. 

5 Dec 2021 One photographed in southern Nueces County. Photo, eBird. 

Ferruginous Hawk 

Buteo regalis 

Uncommon winter resident

    

  

Owls (Strigiformes) 


American Barn Owl 

Tyto furcata

Common permanent resident

Flammulated Owl 

Psiloscops flammeolus 

Accidental

Two published records:

30 Oct. 1980, Port Aransas, Photographed, (AB)

24 Nov. 2007, A bird brought to the Ark rehab center in Port Aransas (AB)

30 Nov. 2012 one bird found in south Corpus Christi, taken to ARK, where it was determined to
be underweight but uninjured. NAB Vol. 67, No. 1, pg. 113. 

Eastern Screech-Owl 

Megascops asio 

Common permanent resident

Great Horned Owl 

Bubo virginianus 

Common permanent resident

Burrowing Owl 

Athene cunicularia 

Uncommon winter resident

Barred Owl 

Strix varia 

Fairly common permanent resident

Long-eared Owl 

Asio otus 

Four records:

4 Jan 1910 Nueces County, J. Priour, (publication?) Blacklock/Rappole 1985

4 Nov 1977 One bird found dead in “Corpus Christi area”. AB

7 Apr 1995 One found dead on Mustang Island, AB

11-12 Nov 2011 One bird photographed at a condo on Mustang Island.

Short-eared Owl 

Asio flammeus 

Uncommon winter resident


Kingfishers (Coraciformes) 


Ringed Kingfisher 

Megaceryle torquata 

Rare visitor or resident, possibly breeds along Nueces River

Belted Kingfisher 

Megaceryle alcyon 

Common winter resident

Green Kingfisher 

Chloroceryle americana 

Uncommon winter resident, probably increasing in numbers, possibly breeds along Nueces River


Woodpeckers (Piciformes) 


Lewis’s Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

Accidental. One record.

13-20 Nov, 2021  Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. Photo, eBird.

Red-headed Woodpecker 

Melanerpes erythrocephalus 

Rare, most records are first year birds

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

Accidental: One eBird record with photos: Hazel Bazemore County Park, Nov. 15, 2024

Golden-fronted Woodpecker 

Melanerpes aurifrons 

Common permanent resident

Red-bellied Woodpecker 

Melanerpes carolinus 

Accidental 

29 Jan - 31 Mar 2012 at Pollywog Pond.with photo eBird record of 6 Mar 2012. NAB Vol. 66 No. 2, Pg. 312. 

Several older sight records. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 

Sphyrapicus varius 

Common migrant and winter resident

Red-naped Sapsucker 

Sphyrapicus nuchalis 

Rare winter visitor

Downy Woodpecker 

Picoides pubescens 

Occasional visitor, mainly winter

Ladder-backed Woodpecker 

Picoides scalaris 

Common permanent resident

Northern Flicker 

Colaptes auratus 

Fairly common winter resident, “Yellow-shafted” is about 75% of sightings, “Red-shafted” 25%


Caracaras and Falcons (Falconiformes) 


Crested Caracara 

Caracara plancus

Common permanent resident.

American Kestrel 

Falco sparverius 

Common winter resident

Merlin 

Falco columbarius 

Uncommon winter resident

Aplomado Falcon 

Falco femoralis 

Uncommon permanent resident 

This species historically ranged over the grasslands of South Texas, but was apparently quite rare in Nueces County. Its historic status in the county is uncertain, and there are no records of breeding, and no nest or egg specimens. A hacking/introduction program has been in operation in South Texas, Matagorda Island, etc. since the early 1990s. Another introduction program was conducted on Mustang Island in 2008-2012, and Aplomados have been seen as a result of this program. The species is generally thought of as being established in Texas as a result of the introduction programs. It is unclear as to whether Nueces County birds will become self-supporting.  Only two historic records are known:

1897-1904 A Corpus Christi, Nueces County specimen was collected. Attributed to O. Salvin and F.D. Goodman as collectors. (Oberholser) This record is confusing and the following is from Packard and Hagar, 1950:

19 Mar 1898, “F. B. Armstrong collected an Aplomado Falcon at Corpus Christi, which appears to be the only specimen from the Central Coast from the days of naturally-occurring birds.  The specimen is housed at the British Museum.” Are these records actually one and the same?  Specimen location is unknown. 

Peregrine Falcon 

Falco peregrinus 

Fairly common migrant and winter resident

Prairie Falcon 

Falco mexicanus 

Rare migrant and winter visitor.

Lories, Parakeets, Macaws, and Parrots (Psittaciformes) 

Monk Parakeet 

Myiopsitta monachus 

Established exotic with sustaining populations 


Perching Birds (Passeriformes)

 

Small-billed Elaenia

(Elaenia parvirostris)

Accidental. One record

17 May, 2021 Mustang Island, TBRC  2021-122, TPRF 3930 


Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) 


Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens 

Uncommon summer resident, rare in winter

Nutting's Flycatcher 

Myairchus nuttingi

Accidental 

One accepted record:

27-28 April 2024 Mustng Island 

(TBRC 2024-46)

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus 

Common spring and fall migrant

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus 

Common summer resident, rare in winter

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus 

Common resident, increasing in numbers

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris 

Accidental

6 Accepted records: 

27-29 Aug 1993       Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 1994-20) (AB 48:129)

30 Apr-2 May 2003  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2003-38; TPRF 2098)

22 May 2011 Paradise Pond, Port Aransas (TBRC 2014-42; TPRF 

29 Sept 2013 Paradise Pond, Port Aransas (TBRC 2013-56; TPRF 3157)
1-3 May 2014 Packery Channel (TBRC 2014-26; TPRF 3196) 

25 April 2019 Rose Hill Cemetery (TBRC 2019-68, TPRF 3640)

 Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius 

Accidental: One accepted record:

3-6 May 2008  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2008-32; TPRF 2549)

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus 

Uncommon resident, increasing in numbers.

30 Dec  2001 One calling bird at Rose Hill Cemetery (NAB)

26 Sept -15 Oct. 2011 Paradise Pond, Port Aransas, one bird calling 

May 25-Oct 2011 A family group of TRKIs found at Heritage Park, downtown Corpus Christi, with an adult bird seen feeding a fledgling.June-July 2013 A family group of five birds seen in North Park, included young juveniles.

Several records yearly since 2011

Couch’s Kingbird

Tyrannus couchii 

Common permanent resident

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans
Accidental, 1 Record:
8 Oct 2017 Flour Bluff, Photo, eBird, Texas Bird Images 

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis 

Common migrant, rare breeder

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus 

Common migrant

Gray Kingbird

Tyrannus dominicensis 

Accidental: Three records:

23 May-1 Jun 1992  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1992-74; TPRF 1082) (AB 46:449)

26-29 Oct 2006        Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2006-115; TPRF 2458)

6-21 Nov 2007         Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2007-83; TPRF 2518)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Common migrant and summer resident 

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana 

Accidental: Two accepted records:

30 Apr 2011 Pollywog Ponds, Corpus Christi, (TBRC 2011-053)

22 April 2015 Paradise Pond, Port Aransas (TBRC 2015-028)

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi 

Common spring and fall migrant

Western Wood-Pewee

Contopus sordidulus 

Two records: 

1 Oct. 2011 One bird audio-recorded and photographed on Mustang Island, TPRF, NAB Vol. 66, pg. 124. 

11 Oct. 2011 One at Paradise Pond, identified by vocalization, TPRF. 

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus virens 

Common migrant, formerly a rare breeder

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris 

Common migrant

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens 

Fairly common migrant

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum 

Common migrant

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii 

Fairly common migrant

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus 

Common migrant

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii 

Accidental: three records

10 Oct 1988, one bird studied in detail (AB 1989)

16 Jan  2011-early March 2011 One bird at Rose Hill Cemetery, photo. (NAB Vol. 65, No 2.)

One at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas. April 14, 2016 eBird photo, NAB Vol. 70, No. 3, pg. 349

Gray Flycatcher

Empidonax wrightii 

Accidental: One record

29 Aug 2001 North Padre Island, one bird video-taped. (NAB Vol. 56, No. 2, 2002)

Western Flycatcher

Empidonax dificilis

Rare winter visitor

One record; Pollywong Pond, 12 Jan 2024 eBird photo

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans 

Rare visitor in winter

Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebe 

Common winter resident

Say’s Phoebe

Sayornis saya 

Rare visitor in spring, fall, winter

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus 

Uncommon migrant and winter resident


Vireos (Vireonidae)


Black-capped Vireo

Vireo atricapilla 

Five records: 

21 April 2006 one bird from Calallen section of Corpus Christi (NAB)

2 June 2006 one adult bird at Blucher Park, photographed (TPRF) 

11 April 2022 Blucher Park, eBird photos

30 April 2023 Packery Channel, eBird 

Photos

16-19 April 2024 Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, eBird photos

White-eyed Vireo

Vireo griseus 

Common permanent resident

Bell’s Vireo

Vireo bellii 

Uncommon migrant

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons 

Fairly common spring and fall migrant 

Cassin’s Vireo

Vireo cassinii 

Rare winter visitor

16 Nov 1999 one bird photographed, video-taped and audio-recorded at Rose Hill Cemetery, 

Since 2000, several photo and audio records. Identification issues persist due to similarity with dull Blue-headed Vireos.

 Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitarius 

Common migrant and winter resident

Plumbeous Vireo

Vireo plumbeus 

Rare winter visitor

Several records

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus 

Common spring and fall migrant

Warbling Vireo

Vireo gilvus 

Common spring and fall migrant

One documented winter record, Jan. 23, 2013

Red-eyed Vireo

Vireo olivaceus 

Common spring and fall migrant

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis 

Rare migrant

Two records prior to delisting from TBRC review list in 2004, several sight and photographic records since that date.

25 May 2002 North Padre Island, NUE (TBRC 2002-63)

1 Jun 2002    North Padre Island, NUE (TBRC 2002-70)

9 July 2014, Blucher Park, nesting observed, young being fed, nest empty two days later.

Sept. 27-28,2015 Mustang Island,  eBird photo

17 May 2023, Packery Channel eBird photo

27 April 2024 Port Aransas eBird photo

Black-whiskered Vireo

Vireo altiloquus 

Rare migrant

Nine accepted records: 

15 Apr 1992  Packery Channel, NUE (TBRC 1992-67) (AB 46:450)

17 May 1992  Packery Channel, NUE (TBRC 1992-80) (AB 46:450)

30 Apr-1 May 1993  Packery Channel, NUE (TBRC 1993-87; TPRF 1132) (AB 47:432)

24 Apr 1995   Packery Channel, NUE (TBRC 1995-90) (FN 49:277)

12 May 2009  Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2009-47)

10 April 2011 Port Aransas( TBRC 2011-039 TPRF 2952)

16 May 2011 Port Aransas (TBRC 2011-63)

17 April 2024 Mustang Island (TBRC 2024-28)

9 May 2024 Port Aransas (TBRC 2024-57)


Shrikes (Laniidae)


Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus 

Common permanent resident


Jays and Crows (Corvidae)


Green Jay

Cyanocorax yncas 

Fairly common permanent resident, populations increasing

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata 

Rare winter visitor

Tamaulipas Crow
Accidental
One accepted record:
22 April 2019 Packery Channel (TBRC 

Verdins (Remizidae)


Verdin

Auriparus flaviceps

Common permanent resident


Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae)


Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis 

Rare visitor, mainly winter

Black-crested Titmouse

Baeolophus atricristatus 

Common permanent resident


  Larks (Alaudidae)


Horned Lark

Eremophila alpestris 

Common permanent resident


Swallows  (Hirundinidae) 


Bank Swallow

Riparia riparia 

Common spring and fall migrant

  Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

Common migrant and uncommon winter resident

 Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis 

Common spring and fall migrant, rare in winter

Purple Martin

Progne subis 

Common migrant and summer resident 

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica 

Common spring and fall migrant, occasional breeder

Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 

Common migrant and summer resident

Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon fulva 

Common migrant and summer resident. A few are present in winter.


Kinglets (Regulidae)


Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Corthylio calendula 

Common winter resident

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa 

Uncommon migrant and winter resident

  

Waxwings (Bombycillidae)


Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum 1

Fairly common and irregular winter visitor, with occurrences into late spring.


Nuthatches (Sittidae)


Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis 

Rare and irregular winter visitor


Creepers (Certhiidae)


Brown Creeper

Certhia americana 

Rare fall and winter visitor


Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae)


Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea 

Common migrant and winter resident, occasional non breeding birds in summer


Wrens (Troglodytidae)

  

Rock Wren

Salpinctes obsoletus 

Accidental, two published records

Late Nov. 1977 Two at Port Aransas for about two weeks (AB, 1978)
Oct. 1, 2016, one at Hazel Bazemore, TPRF- Texasbirdimages.com, eBird w/photo

Cactus Wren 

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Rare in Nueces, fairly common in drier areas of counties

Bewick’s Wren 

Thryomanes bewickii

Common permanent resident

Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus 

Common permanent resident

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon 

Common migrant and winter resident 

Winter Wren

Troglodytes hiemalis 

Uncommon winter resident

Sedge Wren

Cistothorus stellaris

Common winter resident

Marsh Wren

Cistothorus palustris 

Common winter resident


Mimids (Mimidae) 


Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

Common winter resident and migrant

Curve-billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre

Uncommon resident in western portion of the county

Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum

Uncommon winter resident and migrant

Long-billed Thrasher

Toxostoma longirostre

Common permanent resident

Sage Thrasher

Oreoscoptes montanus

Rare fall and winter visitor

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottus

Common permanent resident


European Starling 

Sturnus vulgaris

Common permanent resident


Thrushes (Turdidae)


Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis 

Fairly common winter resident, uncommon breeder

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides 

Rare winter visitor, several records

Townsend’s Solitaire

Myadestes townsendi 

Accidental. One record

Dec. 24, 2011 – Jan. 2, 2012 Port Aransas Paradise Pond (pending publication, photos to TPRF)

(There is also a Nueces County specimen of this species collected by Armstrong or Priour 14 Feb. 1886; American Museum of Natural History #3088. Since this specimen was taken prior to county boundary realignments, and since we do not know the specific locale of the specimen at this time, we cannot be certain that it was not taken in what is modern-day Kleberg or Jim Wells County.)

Veery

Catharus fuscescens 

Fairly common spring migrant, uncommon fall migrant

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus 

Common spring migrant, uncommon fall migrant

Swainson’s Thrush

Catharus ustulatus 

Common spring migrant, uncommon fall migrant

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus 

Common winter resident

Wood Thrush

Hylocichla mustelina 

Common spring and fall migrant, rare in winter

Clay-colored Thrush

Turdus grayi 

Rare visitor: mainly in winter. Five accepted records in TBRC prior to de-listing in 1998.

Several sightings since 1998

American Robin

Turdus migratorius 

Uncommon to common winter resident; irregular

Aztec Thrush

Ridgwayia pinicola 

Accidental: two accepted records:

30 Jan 1979  Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 1988-27) (AB 33:296) 

16-20 May 1996  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1996-71; TPRF 1496) (FN 50:304)
    

Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus 

Common permanent resident


Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae)

American Pipit

Anthus rubescens 

Common migrant and winter resident

Sprague’s Pipit

Anthus spragueii 

Uncommon migrant and winter resident


Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies (Fringillidae)


House Finch

Carpodacus mexicanus 

Occasional visitor. Common slightly further westward

Purple Finch

Carpodacus purpureus 

Rare: Several sightings, 

11 Nov, 1962 “In the Nueces”, which was a term applied to the lower Nueces River floodplain in and around Corpus Christi.  (AFN-1963)

22-23 February, 1967, “A minor influx with several birds at Sablatura Park on Feb. 22-23, K. McCracken.” (AFN-1967)

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra 

Accidental 

28 Jan, 1969, One bird in Corpus Christi, briefly seen by experienced observer (AFN-1969)

13 Nov. 1972 Thirteen birds at Port Aransas seen by Warren Pulich (AFN-1972)

Pine Siskin

Spinus pinus 

Fairly common, irregular winter resident

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria 

Fairly common permanent resident

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis 

Common winter resident


Longspurs (Calcariidae)


Chestnut-collared Longspur

Calcarius ornatus 

Rare winter visitor, many sight records

Smith’s Longspur

Calcarius pictus 

Mar. 26, 1973 One bird in breeding plumage seen by two observers in a grassy area on Mustang Island. (AB 1973)

Thick-billed Longspur

Rhynchophanes mccownii

Accidental

Likely a rare, but regular winter visitor during the 19th and early 20th Century. No recent documented records. Three specimens in the American Museum of Natural History, Skin 406118, 406119, and 406120 collected Feb 8-16 1899, by Frank Armstrong, locality: Corpus Christi 


Towhees and Sparrows (Passerellidae)


Botteri's Sparrow
Peucaea botterii

Accidental. Two specimens collected by Armstrong, Corpus Christi, May 27, 1899 and May 2, 1904. This species nests in appropriate bunchgrass habitat in southern Kleberg County, and may have nested in Nueces County prior to establishment of large-scale agricultural operations.

Cassin’s Sparrow

Peucaea cassinii 

Common permanent resident

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum 

Olive Sparrow

Arremonops rufivirgatus 

Common permanent resident

Black-throated Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineata 

Rare. Two published records. Several sight records. 

8 April 2008 from North Padre Island, photographed (NAB 2008) 

3-5 March 2020 Oso Wetlands Nature Preserve, photo, eBird.

(The Field Museum in Chicago possesses five specimens of this species collected between 1896 and 1899. The locality where the birds were collected is unknown, so we cannot be certain that these are valid to modern-day Nueces County, since both Kleberg and Jim Wells Counties were included in Nueces at that time.)

Lark Sparrow

Chondestes grammacus 

Common permanent resident

Lark Bunting

Calamospiza melanocorys 

Uncommon winter resident

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina 

Common migrant and winter resident

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallida

Common migrant, occasional winter resident

Field Sparrow

Spizella pusilla 

Fairly common migrant and winter resident

Brewer’s Sparrow

Spizella breweri 

Rare migrant and winter visitor

records:

17 April 1998  one at Packery Channel, North Padre Island, (NAB 1998)

25 Nov 2000 one at Pollywog Pond, Corpus Christi

Oct , 2011 One seen at Packery Channel (exact date?) with photo. 

5 April 2022 , sight record near Oso Bay

26 March 2024, eBird photo record, Port Aransas

Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca 

Rare to occasional winter resident

 American Tree Sparrow 

Spizella arborea 

Accidental. Two records:

Dec. 19, 2004 one found on North Padre Island, photographed (NAB 2005)

Nov. 18, 2005 One bird found at exact spot of 2004 sighting (NAB 2006)

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis 

Occasional winter visitor

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Fairly common winter resident

Harris’s Sparrow

Zonotrichia querula 

Rare in winter. Several sightings. 

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis 

Uncommon winter resident

Vesper Sparrow

Pooecetes gramineus 

Fairly common migrant and winter resident

LeConte’s Sparrow

Ammodramus leconteii 

Uncommon winter resident

Seaside Sparrow

Ammodramus maritimus 

Fairly common permanent resident

Nelson’s Sparrow

Ammodramus nelsoni 

Uncommon winter resident

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis 

Common winter resident

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia 

Uncommon winter residedent

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii 

Common winter resident

Swamp Sparrow

Melospiza georgiana 

Common winter resident

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Aimophila ruficeps

Accidental: One record

Winter, 1980 One at feeder in Calallen (AB 1981)

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus 

Occasional to rare winter visitor. 

Spotted Towhee

Pipilo maculatus 

Fairly common winter resident.

Eastern Towhee

Pipilo erythrophthalmus 

Occasional winter resident


Chats (Icteriidae)


Yellow-breasted Chat

Icteria virens 

Common spring and fall migrant. Rare in winter


Blackbirds, Orioles (Icteridae)


Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus 

Occasional migrant and winter visitor

Bobolink

Dolichonyx oryzivorus 

Occasional migrant, mainly spring

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna 

Common permanent resident

Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta 

Common winter resident

Black-vented Oriole
Icterus wagleri
Accidental, one accepted record:
23-25 April 2019 Packery Channel (TBRC 2019-31, TPRF 3639)
Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius 

Common spring and fall migrant

Hooded Oriole

Icterus cucullatus 

Uncommon migrant and breeder. 

Bullock’s Oriole

Icterus bullockii 

Fairly common summer resident
Altamira Oriole

Icterus gularis
Accidental; one record: Packery Channel April 23-29, 2018, TPRF
Audubon’s Oriole

Icterus graduacauda 

Rare to occasional permanent resident

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula                          

Common spring and fall migrant

Scott’s Oriole

Icterus parisorum

Accidental. Three records
20 Sept. 2014 Blucher Park, NAB Vol. 69 No. 1 pg. 119  multiple observers

22 Sept. 2016 Hazel Bazemore County Park, photos, eBird. Texas Bird Images 

25 March, 2022, Mustang Island, adult male, photos, eBird, NAB.

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus 

Common permanent resident

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus 

Commonn permanent resident

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater 

Common permanent resident

Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinus 

Rare: A few sight records, two photographed records:

2 Jan- mid March, 2011, Five birds present at Pollywog Ponds (TPRF)

1 Mar 2015 One on North Padre Island, TPRF 

Brewer’s Blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus 

Fairly common winter resident

Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula 

Rare to Occasional visitor, mainly winter

Boat-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major 

Accidental. Status not fully known. 

31 Mar 2014 One bird photographed at Port Aransas, TPRF 

8 Mar, 15 Mar 2015 One photographed at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, eBird photo, Texas Bird Images  

Nov.  2023 one male, perhaps more, seen and heard on multiple dates from Port Aransas Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center and Charlie;s Pasture South boardwalks.

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus 

Common permanent resident


Wood-Warblers (Parulidae)


Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapilla 

Common spring and fall migrant, uncommon in winter

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum 

Fairly common spring migrant, uncommon fall migrant

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla 

Common spring and fall migrant

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis 

Common spring and fall migrant, occasional in winter

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera 

Fairly common spring migrant, occasional fall migrant

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera 

Common spring migrant, fairly common fall migrant

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia 

Common spring and fall migrant, a few winter

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea 

Common spring migrant, fairly common fall migrant

Swainson’s Warbler

Limnothlypis swainsonii 

Uncommon spring migrant, occasional fall migrant

Tennessee Warbler

Oreothlypis peregrina 

Common spring and fall migrant

Orange-crowned Warbler

Oreothlypis celata 

Common winter resident

Lucy's Warbler

Setophaga luciae

Accidental. One record:

11-12 Oct. 2014 Port Aransas NAB Vol. 69, No. 1, pg. 118

Nashville Warbler

Oreothlypis ruficapilla 

Common spring and fall migrant
Virginia's Warbler

Accidental: one accepted record
28 April - 1 May 2020, Packery Channel (Texasbirdimages.com, eBird photo)
MacGillivray’s Warbler

Geothlypis tolmiei 

Rare but regular migrant, several sight records

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia 

Fairly common spring migrant, common fall migrant

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa 

Common spring and fall migrant

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas 

Common migrant and winter resident

Hooded Warbler

Setophaga citrina 

Common spring migrant, fairly common fall migrant

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla 

Common spring and fall migrant

Cape May Warbler

Setophaga tigrina 

Rare but regular spring migrant, rare fall migrant

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea 

Uncommon spring migrant, rare fall migrant

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana 

Common spring and fall migrant. Rare in winter.

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi 

Rare visitor, mainly in spring. There are several sight and photographed records. 

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia 

Common spring and fall migrant

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea 

Fairly common spring migrant, rare fall migrant

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca 

Common spring migrant, fairly common fall migrant

Yellow Warbler

Setophaga petechia 

Common spring and fall migrant. Rare in winter. 

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica 

Common spring migrant, fairly common fall migrant

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata 

Fairly common spring migrant, occasional fall migrant

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga cerulescens 

Rare migrant, spring and fall records. 

Palm Warbler

Setophaga palmarum 

Uncommon spring and fall migrant. Occasional in winter. 

Pine Warbler

Setophaga pinus

Fairly common winter resident

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Setophaga coronata 

Common winter resident

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica 

Fairly common spring and fall migrant. Uncommon in winter.

Prairie Warbler

Setophaga discolor 

Rare spring and fall migrant

Grace's Warbler

Setophaga graciae

Accidental. One record:

23 Sept 2014 (1) Paradise Pond, Port Aransas NAB Vol. 68 No. 1 pg. 109 

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Setophaga nigrescens 

Rare migrant. Several sight and photographed records.

Townsend’s Warbler

Setophaga townsendi 

Rare migrant, mainly spring. Several sight and photographed records.

Hermit Warbler

Setophaga occidentalis 

Rare to Accidental: Five records:

1 May 2005 A female was photographed at Packery Channel, North Padre Island (NAB)

21 Apr 2007 A female was found at Paradise Pond, Port Aransas (NAB)

9 April  2008 A male was photographed at Paradise Pond, Port Aransas (NAB)

3 April 2010 One at Paradise Pond, Port Aransas (NAB)

18 April 2015 One at Charlie’s Pasture, Port Aransas, eBird, TPRF photos
2-5 May 2019 Female at Rose Hill Cemetery, eBird photos 

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens 

Common spring and fall migrant. Rare in winter. 

Rufous-capped Warbler

Basileuterus rufifrons 

Accidental: One record: 

19 Dec 1992 Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 1993-55) (AB 47:277, 845)

Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus 

Accidental: One accepted record:

25-29 Apr 2001 Packery Channel, NUE (TBRC 2001-90; TPRF 1941)

Canada Warbler

Cardellina canadensis 

Common spring and fall migrant

Wilson’s Warbler

Cardellina pusilla 

Fairly common spring migrant, common fall migrant

Red-faced Warbler

Cardellina rubrifrons 

Accidental: One record:

5-10 May 2005  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2005-70; TPRF 2312)

Painted Redstart

Myioborus pictus 

Accidental: Two records: 

Oct. 2, 2001, one bird photographed at  Packery Channel, North Padre Island, 

April 12, 2004, One bird photographed at Packery Channel, North Padre Island

Slate-throated Redstart

Myioborus miniatus 

Accidental: One record:

10 Apr 2002 (2)  Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2002-49; TPRF 2032)

   

Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Cardinals (Cardinalidae)


Hepatic Tanager

Piranga flava 

One confirmed record: 

May 25, 1920 (Blacklock and Rappole) by A. H. Cordier. Several sight records.

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra 

Common migrant, has bred nearby Nueces County.

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea 

Fairly common spring migrant, uncommon fall migrant.

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana 

Rare but regular visitor, most records from winter and spring.

Flame-colored Tanager

Piranga bidentata

Accidental 

One accepted record:

11-14 May 2024 Mustang Island (TBRC 2024-44)

Crimson-collared Grosbeak

Rhodothraupis celaeno 

Accidental. Four accepted records:

12-23 Dec 2010        Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2010-86; TPRF )

17-20 Nov 2020 Port Aransas, NUE (TBRC 2020-107; TPRF 3789)

25 Dec 2020 Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2020-144; TPRF 3800) 

4-27 Jan, 2021 Corpus Christi, NUE (TBRC 2021-03; TPRF 3819)

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis 

Common permanent resident

Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis sinuatus 

Common permanent resident

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus 

Common spring and fall migrant. Rare in winter. 

Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus 

Rare migrant and winter visitor

Blue Bunting

Cyanocompsa parellina 

Accidental. One accepted record.

19-31 March 2011 Corpus Christi (TBRC 2011-037)

Blue Grosbeak

Passerina caerulea 

Common spring and fall migrant. Has nested in the county.

Lazuli Bunting

Passerina amoena 

Rare visitor, mainly spring and fall, but winter records exist.

Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea 

Common spring and fall migrant, uncommon winter resident.

Varied Bunting

Passerina versicolor 

Rare visitor,with several spring sightings.

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris 

Common migrant and summer resident

Dickcissel

Spiza americana 

Common migrant and summer resident

Morelet’s Seedeater

Sporophila morelleti

Accidental Visitor, one record

28 July 1964, AFN Oct 1964, Vol. 18 #5, p. 523, “One singing in Blacklock’s Census Area”


Hypothetical Records


Eurasian Wigeon 

Anas penelope  

There is one published sight record;

20 Dec 1921: Otto Widmann writes in the Auk (volume, page?) that “On Dec. 20, 1921, Mr. Sidney T. Bixby of St Louis shot from the yacht of Mr. Jos. Pulitzer, Jr. at Corpus Christi, Texas, a fine male European Widgeon. It was at first taken for a hybrid and has been mounted by Mr. F. Schwarz of St. Louis….:  O. Widmann, St. Louis, Mo.” No further details are provided, location of specimen is unknown, and the record is not treated as an accepted record by TBRC.

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinators

This species likely occurred as a winterer in Nueces County in the 19th Century, but status is not well known. A specimen was reported to be collected in 1890 by H.P. Attwater, but the location of the specimen is not known (Oberholser).

Red-necked Grebe  

Podiceps grisegena 

Has likely occurred as a rare winter visitor, but there are no documented records.

Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

There are sight records for this species in 21 Sept. 1972 and 24 Sept. 1983. There are only two TBRC-accepted records for this species for Texas, both from El Paso County. 

Vaux’s Swift

Chaetura vauxi 

There are sight records from as early as May 6-8, 1946, a flock of birds in Corpus Christi sighted by C. Hagar. No documented records of this species have been produced for the state of Texas, and the TBRC maintains the species on the Presumptive Species list. 

White-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon lepturus

There is one record for Kleberg County; 3 Jul 2010, a bird that was rescued and rehabilitated at the Animal Rehabilitation Keep in Port Aransas.There have been several historic sight records of this species but there is no specimen or photograph, needed for comfirmation. 

Yellow-nosed Albatross  

Thalassarche chlororhynchos  

There is an accepted record from Aransas County, two from Willacy County, and a sight record from Kenedy County. Almost certainly occurs rarely in offshore Nueces County Gulf waters.

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel

Oceanites oceanicus

There have been several historic sight records of this species, but no documented records. It is apparently present in the western Gulf of Mexico in small numbers, with only one documented record in Texas waters.

.Northern Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis  

There are two unaccepted TBRC records, from Oct. 10, 1999 and Oct. 26, 2019. 

Green Parakeet

Psittacara holochlorus

There are several sight records for this species from the 1980s and early 1990s, but there is no evidence of a sustaining population.

Red-crowned Parrot

Amazona viridigenalis 

Free-flying birds have been seen for many years, but no evidence of a sustaining population.

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos 

One published record of a single bird south of Corpus Christi 2 Nov 1985 which could be questioned for origin, since the species is common as a captive pet. This species is common south to the Guadalupe River basin, and may have historically ranged into Nueces County. (AB Spring 1986, Vol. 40, No. 1)

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina 

There are several sight records for this species, but no photo, specimen or published record exists. 

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor 

There are constant sight reports for this species, which can most likely be attributed to juvenile Black-crested Titmouse, with paler crests. Tufted is a sedentary species that does not occur less than 50 to 75 miles from Nueces County in its pure form. Then, there is a wide hybrid belt, in which most, or all birds are Tufted x Black-crested mixtures, which have a tan or brown forehead. 

Varied Thrush

Ixoreus naevius 

One sight record: “Downtown Corpus visiting bird bath” 4-6 April 1974 ( AB: 28:824) reported by Kay McCracken. This is an example of a TBRC review species that was apparently not circulated, and is treated as a "historical" record at this time. This record was at the early onset of the Texas Bird Records Committee. More information is desired on this sighting. 

Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus 

A sight record from Corpus Christi in late March, 1978 was probably an accurate record. The bird was well-studied, and a good description was made by the observer. It was not submitted to TBRC. The sighting was the subject of a column by Kay McCracken published in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times at that time. There was a confirmed Bohemian Waxwing in San Antonio that same winter, indicating there may have been some sort of movement of the species.

Henslow’s Sparrow 

Ammodramus henslowii 

There are sight records, but no specimen or photograph for this species for Nueces County.

Connecticut Warbler:

Oporornis agilis

Although there are several sight records in Nueces County for this species, there has never been a record that has been accepted by the TBRC. 


Expirpated or Extinct Species:


Eskimo Curlew

Numenius borealis

Considered to be extinct. One accepted record: March 8, 1877, from N. Padre Island. This species was almost certainly an abundant migrant on the prairies of Nueces County. 

Carolina Parakeet

Conuropsis carolinensis 

Extinct. This species apparently ranged south and east to Nueces County in the 19th century. 


Abbreviations:

AB = American Birds Magazine

FN = Field Notes Magazine

NAB = North American Birds

TBRC = Texas Bird Records Committee 

Thanks to Gene Blacklock and Matt Heindel for reviewing the checklist document and for helpful comments and suggestions.


References:

Rare Birds of Texas Master List of Review Species, August May 2024 with updates, Eric Carpenter, Greg W. Lasley, Mark W. Lockwood, and Chuck Sexton (excerpts reproduced with author’s permission).

The Texas Ornithological Society Handbook of Texas Birds, Mark W. Lockwood, Brush Freeman. 2004

Birds of the Texas Coastal Bend, Abundance and Distribution, John H. Rappole and Gene W. Blacklock, 1985

The Bird Life of Texas, Harry C. Oberholser, 1874

Birds of the Central Coast of Texas, Packard and Hagar, 1950

A Birder's Guide to the Texas Coast, ABA/Lane Birdfinding Guide, American Birding Association, Harold R. Holt,1993 

A Birder's Guide to the Texas Coast, ABA/Lane Birdfinding Guide, American Birding Association, Mel Cooksey and Ron Weeks, 2006 Audubon Field Notes

Audubon Field Notes, American Birds, Field Notes, North American Birds

© Mel Cooksey, 2024                 





 

                    


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