The list of birds of Texas is the official list of species recorded in the U.S. state of Texas according to the Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC) of the Texas Ornithological Society. As of January 2024, the list contained 664 species. Of them, 170 are considered review species. Eight species were introduced to Texas, two are known to be extinct and another is thought to be, and a fourth is extirpated and possibly extinct. An additional accidental/historical species has been added from another source. Other additional accidental and hypothetical species have been added from different sources.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Texas as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:
(R) Review species- species "for which documentation for review is requested for any record" by the TBRC (I) Introduced – introduced to Texas by humans, directly or indirectly. (E) Extinct – species which no longer exist (RI) Reintroduction in progress - per the TBRC, two species are present but have not been reestablished following earlier extirpation (u) Uncertain – per the TBRC, two species have "stable to increasing populations of introduced/native origin"
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 1994 Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis West Indian whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arborea (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 1993 Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Emperor goose, Anser canagica (accidental) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla (R) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (accidental) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (accidental) (not on the AOS Check-list) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (R) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (accidental) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Wood duck, Aix sponsa Garganey, Spatula querquedula (R) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (R) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Mexican duck, Anas diazi American black duck, Anas rubripes (R) Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (R) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Common pochard, Aythya ferina (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 2005 Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (accidental) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis King eider, Somateria spectabilis (R) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (R) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (R) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri (accidental) Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (R) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (R) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Guans, chachalacas, and curassows Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae
The chachalacas, guans, and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae. These are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments.
Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus Scaled quail, Callipepla squamata Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii Montezuma quail, Cyrtonyx montezumae
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (hypothetical) Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (RI) Lesser prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber (R)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (R) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They feed on seeds, fruit, and plants.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus (accidental) White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (R) Red-billed pigeon, Patagioenas flavirostris Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur (accidental) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) Inca dove, Columbina inca Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti (R) Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana (R) Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 1987 Gray-fronted dove, Leptotila rufaxilla (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 1996 White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata (accidental) Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 2002 Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani (R) Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus (R) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor (R) Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii (hypothetical) Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 2000 Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger (R) White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (R) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (accidental) White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (R) Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii (R) Black-crested coquette, Lophornis helenae (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 1999 Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens Plain-capped starthroat, Heliomaster constantii (hypothetical) Blue-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis clemenciae Amethyst-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis amethystinus (R) Lucifer hummingbird, Calothorax lucifer Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris White-eared hummingbird, Basilinna leucotis (R) Violet-crowned hummingbird, Leucolia violiceps (R) Azure-crowned hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanocephala (hypothetical)Texas Bird Records Committee Report for 2008 Berylline hummingbird, Saucerottia beryllina (R) Antillean crested hummingbird, Orthorhyncus cristatus (hypothetical) Buff-bellied hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis Rufous-tailed hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl (hypothetical)
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Paint-billed crake, Neocrex erythrops (R) Spotted rail, Pardirallus maculatus (R) Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans King rail, Rallus elegans Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. It is found in marshes with some trees or scrub.