ANGELINA COUNTY

DestinationLufkinLufkin Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Heart of the Texas Forest Country

Birds Of AngelinaCounty,Texas

A Seasonal Checklist

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Birds Of AngelinaCounty,Texas

A Seasonal Checklist

IntroductionAngelina County is the central county in a region of eastern Texas known as the Pineywoods. Four often sought after species, Bachman’s Sparrow, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and in winter Henslow’s Sparrow, are regularly reported in the county. Other birds of significant interest include the Swainson’s Warbler, and the Prairie Warbler. A number of Bald Eagles can be found within the county, particularly near Sam Rayburn Reservoir in winter.

Angelina County is 807 square miles of gently rolling hills. Much of the county is covered with mixed pine hardwood forests. There are primarily four species of pine represented: long-leaf, short leaf, slash, and loblolly. Hardwoods are represented by gum, magnolia, elm, hickory, and oak. The remaining rural areas are much altered by man and include pine plantations, clearcuts, and pastures. Other than Sam Rayburn Reservoir, there are few areas of open water and many of the them are not available to the public. There are a limited number of wetland habitats represented as well as some bottomland hardwood forest.

Compiled by:Louis DebetazCarroll Moore

Angelina

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Some good birding spotsLufkin:Azalea TrailThe trail stretches from Grace Dunn Richardson Park to Kiwanis Park. It can be accessed from either. Grace Dunn Richardson Park is near Loop 287 on the south side of Lufkin. It is a 1.5 mile trail through riparian habitat.

Angelina College Fitness TrailThis 0.9 mile trail is located on the northwest corner of the campus of Angelina College, which is found on the south side of Lufkin on US 59. The trail meanders through 20 acres of mixed pine hardwood forest beside Hurricane Creek.

Ellen Trout Zoo and LakeWalking loops surround a 31 acre lake. The trails pass through mixed pine hardwood forests, near one of the best small city zoos in Texas. The zoo and lake are on Loop 287 on the north side of Lufkin near George H. Henderson, Jr., Exposition Center.

Diboll:Old Orchard ParkThe city park adjacent to the Neches Pines Golf Course contains mixed pine hardwood forest interspersed with nice walking trails and ball fields along White Oak Creek. It is found off Durham Hall Street on the east side of Diboll.

Near Sam Rayburn Reservoir:Cassells-Boykin County ParkThis park is hilly and covered with mixed pine hardwood forest. It allows access to a stretch of shoreline on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. It is found east of Zavalla off TX 147 four miles down FM 3123. Check out the SH 147 bridge and causeway nearby.

Marion’s Ferry ParkThe park and boat launch are found on FM 1669 just off TX 103 about 17 miles east of Lufkin on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. It is surrounded by pine forests and contains good shoreline habitat. It is one of the better spots for shorebirds when lake levels are low. Don’t forget the SH 103 bridge and causeway across Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

There are four other parks on the southwestern shore of Sam Rayburn Reservoir within Angelina County.

Near Zavalla:Bouton Lake CampgroundWithin the Angelina National Forest, this area offers a variety of hardwoods and mixed pine hardwood forests. It connects to nearby Boykin Springs Recreation Park just across the county border in Jasper County by the Sawmill Trail. It is on TX 63 in the far southeastern part of the county near Zavalla.

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Using this checklistSome species are strongly associated with specific habitats while others are found within many different habitats. Abundance categories are determined within appropriate habitat. As a result, abundance categories may be inappropriate outside that habitat. For example, a bird listed as common may only be common within its limited and specific habitat. It is also true that abundance may vary within a defined season. For instance, bird migrations in the spring may be quite concentrated in relatively brief time periods rather than having an equal abundance throughout the season.

Birds listed as present during the summer season should not be assumed to be nesting since they may also represent early or late migrants, non-breeding populations, or vagrants.

Birds listed as vagrants have been reported fewer than five times in the 35 years, while species listed as rare have been infrequently but regularly reported. They may also have been reported more commonly but within only a very few years, as is the case with some irruptive species.

This checklist is based on sightings collected over a thirty-five year period by a number of individuals. There are 293 species listed with AOU Check-list 7th Edition ordering (47th Supplement).

checklist LegendSEASONAL ABUNDANCE

In appropriate habitat in proper season:A - Abundant, Seen on almost all trips, usually in large numbersC - Common, Seen most of the timeU - Uncommon, Usually present but in low numbers or locallyR - Rare, Found infrequentlyV - Vagrant, Seen only a very few times* - Nesting species, Nesters or probable nester in the county

SEASONS

Sp - Spring, March - MaySu - Summer, June - JulyFa - Fall, August - NovemberWi - Winter, December - February

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Geese & Ducks Sp Su Fa WiBlack-bellied Whistling-Duck* R R RGreater White-fronted Goose R U VSnow Goose U U RRoss’s Goose V VCackling Goose V V VCanada Goose U U RTundra Swan VWood Duck* C C C CGadwall U R C CAmerican Wigeon U U UMallard U V U CMottled Duck V VBlue-winged Teal C R C RCinnamon Teal VNorthern Shoveler U U CNorthern Pintail U U UGreen-winged Teal U C UCanvasback U U CRedhead R R URing-necked Duck C C CGreater Scaup U U ULesser Scaup U V U USurf Scoter VWhite-winged Scoter VLong-tailed Duck V VBufflehead U U UCommon Goldeneye R RHooded Merganser U R U UCommon Merganser RRed-breasted Merganser R R URuddy Duck U R U C

TurkeyWild Turkey V V V V

QuailNorthern Bobwhite* U U U U

LoonsCommon Loon U U U

GrebesPied-billed Grebe* C R C CHorned Grebe U U URed-necked Grebe V VEared Grebe R R RWestern Grebe V V

PelicansAmerican White Pelican U V U UBrown Pelican V V

CormorantsNeotropic Cormorant R R R RDouble-crested Cormorant* C R C A

DartersAnhinga* U U U R

Bitterns, Herons, & EgretsAmerican Bittern V V VGreat Blue Heron* C C C CGreat Egret* C C C USnowy Egret* U U CLittle Blue Heron* U U U

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Tricolored Heron R R UCattle Egret* C C A VGreen Heron* C C CBlack-crowned Night-Heron R V R RYellow-crowned Night-Heron* U U U

Ibises & SpoonbillsWhite Ibis C C C VWhite-faced Ibis R V RRoseate Spoonbill R R V

StorksWood Stork U U

VulturesBlack Vulture* C C C CTurkey Vulture* C C C A

Hawks, Kites, & EaglesOsprey* U R U RSwallow-tailed Kite VWhite-tailed Kite V VMississippi Kite U R UBald Eagle* U R R UNorthern Harrier U U USharp-shinned Hawk* U R U UCooper’s Hawk U R U URed-shouldered Hawk* C C C CBroad-winged Hawk* R U RSwainson’s Hawk VRed-tailed Hawk* C U C CGolden Eagle V V

FalconsAmerican Kestrel* U R U CMerlin R R RPeregrine Falcon V V

Rails, Gallinules, & CootsVirginia Rail RSora R RPurple Gallinule* R R RAmerican Coot* C R C A

CranesSandhill Crane V V

PloversBlack-bellied Plover U VAmerican Golden-Plover U VSemipalmated Plover UPiping Plover RKilldeer* C C C C

Stilts & AvocetsBlack-necked Stilt RAmerican Avocet V U

Sandpipers & SnipesSpotted Sandpiper U R U RSolitary Sandpiper U V U VGreater Yellowlegs U U U VWillet R R VLesser Yellowlegs U U UUpland Sandpiper U UHudsonian Godwit VRuddy Turnstone VSanderling V R

Sp Su Fa Wi

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Semipalmated Sandpiper R U UWestern Sandpiper R U ULeast Sandpiper U U U RWhite-rumped Sandpiper RBaird’s Sandpiper R UPectoral Sandpiper U UDunlin V V VStilt Sandpiper R UBuff-breasted Sandpiper V UShort-billed Dowitcher RLong-billed Dowitcher U VWilson’s Snipe U U UAmerican Woodcock* U R U U

Gulls & TernsLaughing Gull V V R VFranklin’s Gull R R VBonaparte’s Gull R URing-billed Gull U U CHerring Gull R R RLeast Tern VCaspian Tern R U RBlack Tern UCommon Tern VForster’s Tern U R U C

Pigeons & DovesRock Pigeon* A A A AEurasian Collared-Dove* C C C CWhite-winged Dove V V VMourning Dove* A A A AInca Dove* U U U UCommon Ground-dove V

Cuckoos, Roadrunners, & AnisYellow-billed Cuckoo* U U UBlack-billed Cuckoo RGreater Roadrunner* R R R RGroove-billed Ani V

OwlsEastern Screech-Owl* C C C CGreat Horned Owl* U U U UBarred Owl* C C C C

NightjarsCommon Nighthawk* C R U VChuck-will’s-widow* U U RWhip-poor-will U

SwiftsChimney Swift* A C A

HummingbirdsRuby-throated Hummingbird* C C CRufous Hummingbird R R R

KingfishersBelted Kingfisher* U U U U

Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, & FlickersRed-headed Woodpecker* U U U URed-bellied Woodpecker* C C C CYellow-bellied Sapsucker C C CDowny Woodpecker* C C C CHairy Woodpecker* U U U URed-cockaded Woodpecker* R R R R

Sp Su Fa Wi

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Northern Flicker* U R C CPileated Woodpecker* U U U U

Tyrant FlycatchersOlive-sided Flycatcher R REastern Wood-Pewee* C C UYellow-bellied Flycatcher R VAcadian Flycatcher* C C UWillow Flycatcher VLeast Flycatcher U UEastern Phoebe* C R C CVermilion Flycatcher VGreat Crested Flycatcher* C C UWestern Kingbird REastern Kingbird* C C UScissor-tailed Flycatcher* C C C

ShrikesLoggerhead Shrike* U U U U

VireosWhite-eyed Vireo* A A C RBell’s Vireo V VYellow-throated Vireo* U U UBlue-headed Vireo U U UWarbling Vireo U UPhiladelphia Vireo U URed-eyed Vireo* C C C

Jays & CrowsBlue Jay* A A A AAmerican Crow* A A A A

LarksHorned Lark V

Martins & SwallowsPurple Martin* C C U RTree Swallow U V UNorthern Rough-winged Swallow U V U VBank Swallow U UCliff Swallow* U U UBarn Swallow* A A C

Chickadees & TitmiceCarolina Chickadee* A A A ATufted Titmouse* C C C C

NuthatchesRed-breasted Nuthatch R R UWhite-breasted Nuthatch* R R R RBrown-headed Nuthatch* U U U U

Tree CreepersBrown Creeper U U U

WrensCarolina Wren* A A A ABewick’s Wren V R RHouse Wren U U UWinter Wren U U USedge Wren R U UMarsh Wren U R

KingletsGolden-crowned Kinglet R U URuby-crowned Kinglet C C C

GnatcatchersBlue-gray Gnatcatcher* C U C U

Sp Su Fa Wi

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ThrushesEastern Bluebird* C C C CVeery RGray-cheeked Thrush RSwainson’s Thrush UHermit Thrush R U UWood Thrush* U U RAmerican Robin* C U C A

Mockingbirds & ThrushesGray Catbird* U R U RNorthern Mockingbird* A A A ABrown Thrasher* U U C U

StarlingsEuropean Starling* C C C C

PipitsAmerican Pipit U U USprague’s Pipit R

WaxwingsCedar Waxwing U C A

Wood-WarblersBlue-winged Warbler U UGolden-winged Warbler U VTennessee Warbler C ROrange-crowned Warbler U U CNashville Warbler U CNorthern Parula* C C C VYellow Warbler C UChestnut-sided Warbler U RMagnolia Warbler C RCape May Warbler VYellow-rumped Warbler C C ABlack-throated Green Warbler C UBlackburnian Warbler U RYellow-throated Warbler* C C UPine Warbler* A A A APrairie Warbler* U U RPalm Warbler R RBay-breasted Warbler UBlackpoll Warbler RCerulean Warbler RBlack-and-white Warbler* C U U VAmerican Redstart* C R RProthonotary Warbler* C C RWorm-eating Warbler R VSwainson’s Warbler* U U ROvenbird R VNorthern Waterthrush U ULouisiana Waterthrush U U RKentucky Warbler* U U RMourning Warbler R RCommon Yellowthroat* C U C RHooded Warbler* C C C Wilson’s Warbler U U VCanada Warbler U UYellow-breasted Chat* C C U

TanagersSummer Tanager* C C CScarlet Tanager U R

Sp Su Fa Wi

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Western Tanager VSparrows, Towhees, Juncos, & Longspurs

Spotted Towhee VEastern Towhee U U UBachman’s Sparrow* R R R RChipping Sparrow* C U C AClay-colored Sparrow VField Sparrow* U R U CVesper Sparrow R U ULark Sparrow* U U U VLark Bunting VSavannah Sparrow C U CGrasshopper Sparrow V RHenslow’s Sparrow RLe Conte’s Sparrow U U UNelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow VFox Sparrow USong Sparrow U U CLincoln’s Sparrow U U USwamp Sparrow U U UWhite-throated Sparrow C C AHarris’s Sparrow RWhite-crowned Sparrow U U UDark-eyed Junco U C CLapland Longspur V

Cardinals & GrosbeaksNorthern Cardinal* A A A ARose-breasted Grosbeak C RBlack-headed Grosbeak V VBlue Grosbeak* U U ULazuli Bunting VIndigo Bunting* C C CPainted Bunting* U U RDickcissel* R R

Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Grackles, & OriolesBobolink R VRed-winged Blackbird* C C C CEastern Meadowlark* C C C CWestern Meadowlark V RYellow-headed Blackbird VRusty Blackbird RBrewer’s Blackbird R RCommon Grackle* C C C AGreat-tailed Grackle R VBrown-headed Cowbird* C C C COrchard Oriole* C C RBaltimore Oriole* C R U

FinchesPurple Finch U R UHouse Finch* U U U URed Crossbill R V V RPine Siskin U R UAmerican Goldfinch C C C

Old World SparrowsHouse Sparrow* C C C C

Sp Su Fa Wi

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Special thanks to:David Wolf for his review of the early draft of this checklist as well as his extensive contributions of sightings data.Cliff Shackelford, Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, for reviewing the draft of this checklist.

Compiled May 2007

Major Contributor:Nancy BirdOther Contributors:

Clarence A. BassingerCharles Dean Fisher, Ph.D.Jack Windsor

Compiled by:Louis DebetazCarroll Moore

Photography by:Doug FincherMichael Musumeche

LufkinTEXAS800-409-5659www.visitlufkin.com

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