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Texas

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

USA

USA bird books

The Upland and Webless Migratory Game Birds of Texas

Leonard A Brennan, Damon L Williford, Bart M Ballard, William P Kuvlesky, Jr, Eric D Grahmann, Stephen J DeMaso

2017

"Authored by some of the state's top wildlife scientists, The Upland and Webless Migratory Game Birds of Texas presents the most up-to-date and comprehensive information covering twenty-one species of game birds. Ranging from the most well-known, like the Wild Turkey and Mourning Dove, to the marsh-loving rails and other more elusive species, these birds have widespread appeal among both hunters and birders and underscore the diverse challenges facing wildlife scientists, land managers, and conservationists in Texas today. From cultural significance to taxonomy and evolutionary history, The Upland and Webless Migratory Game Birds of Texas provides a wealth of background information on these species. Additionally, the book offers illustrated species accounts, detailed range maps, and information about habitat and management requirements, hunting regulations, and research priorities. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of these game birds and the array of terrestrial and wetland landscapes key to their survival. This will serve as a convenient and thorough reference volume for wildlife biologists and enthusiasts, as well as landowners and hunters."

Attracting Birds in the Texas Hill Country: A Guide to Land Stewardship

W. Rufus Stephens and Jan Wrede

2017

"After years of working with landowners, land managers, naturalists, county officials, and others about wildlife management and land stewardship for birds in the Texas Hill Country, biologist Rufus Stephens and educator Jan Wrede teamed up to write a practical guidebook on how to improve habitat for birds on both small and large properties throughout the Hill Country. Because each bird species has specific needs for cover, food, water, nesting, and rearing their young, the book is organized by Hill Country habitat types: wooded slopes and savannahs; grasslands; rivers and creeks; canyons, seeps, and springs; tanks and ponds; plus residential backyards."

Feeder Birds of Texas: A Folding Pocket Guide to Common Backyard Birds

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

2017

"For bird enthusiasts, offering food at feeders is a way to enjoy a close-up view of target species while helping them survive and thrive. This guide profiles 40 common feeder birds found in Texas, along with feeder types and recommended foods for attracting each species. Also included are comments about each species' habitat and behaviors."

Nature Watch Big Bend: A Seasonal Guide

Lynne Weber and Jim Weber

Texas A & M University Press

2017

"In this information-packed, month-to-month guide to the wildlife, plants, and natural events that define the seasonal cycles in Big Bend National Park, naturalists Lynne and Jim Weber offer a richly illustrated guide to the natural rhythms of this beautiful and remote region in far West Texas. If you're on the lookout for deer in January, tracking hummingbirds in August, photographing wildflowers in September, or listening to frog choruses after a summer rain-the authors provide "Where to Watch" suggestions on when and how to see these and many other park inhabitants, from beavers and bats to lizards and dragonflies."

Book of Texas Birds

Gary Clark

Texas A & M University Press

2016

"Drawing on the knowledge and insight gained from a lifetime of watching, studying, and enjoying birds, this book is full of information about more than four hundred species of birds in Texas, most all of which author Gary Clark has seen first hand. Organized in the standard taxonomic order familiar to most birders, the book is written in a conversational tone that yields a wide-ranging discussion of each bird's life history as well as an intimate look at some of its special characteristics and habits. Information regarding each species' diet, voice, and nest is included as well as when and where it can be found in Texas. Magnifi cent photographs by Kathy Adams Clark accompany each bird's entry. For those just beginning to watch birds to those who can fully relate to the experiences and sentiments communicated here by a veteran birder, this book reveals the kind of personal connection to nature that careful attention to the birds around us can inspire."

Field Guide to Birds of Texas

Mark Lockwood

American Birding Association

Scott & Nix Inc

2016

"The American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Texas includes more than 300 species birders are most likely to see in the state. Illustrated with hundreds of crisp, color photographs, it includes descriptions written by an expert Texas birder along with tips of when and where to see them. It’s the perfect companion for anyone interested in the amazing diversity and beauty of the birds of Texas."

Explore Texas: A Nature Travel Guide

Mary O. Parker

Texas A & M University Press

2016

"Organized by the seven official state travel regions, Explore Texas features descriptions of almost one hundred nature-oriented sites, including information about the best time to visit and why it’s worth going; location, and other logistics; and a "learn" section on the observations and natural phenomena a visitor might expect to experience. Photographs by professional photographer Jeff Parker accompany the accounts, and handy color-coded icons help guide readers to the activities of their choice. Perfect for planning the family’s next outing or vacation, this book also contains a message of how nature tourism helps to protect biodiversity, promote conservation, and sustain the state’s tourism economy."

A Naturalist's Guide to the Texas Hill Country

Mark Gustafson

Texas A & M University Press

2015

"In this guide, biologist Mark Gustafson introduces residents and visitors to the history, geology, water resources, plants, and animals found in the nineteen counties occupying the eastern part of the Edwards Plateau, the heart of the Hill Country. He profiles three hundred of the most common and unique species from all of the major groups of plants and animals: trees, shrubs, wildflowers, cacti, vines, grasses, ferns, fungi, lichens, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates. Color photographs are included for each species along with a brief description. He closes with a chapter on significant state parks and natural areas in the region as an invitation to visit and explore the Texas Hill Country."

Border Sanctuary: The Conservation Legacy of the Santa Ana Land Grant

M.J. Morgan

2015

"The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge lies on the northern bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, about seventy miles upriver from the Gulf of Mexico. In Border Sanctuary, M.J. Morgan uncovers how 2,000 acres of rare subtropical riparian forest came to be preserved in a region otherwise dramatically altered by human habitation. The story she tells begins and ends with the efforts of the Rio Grande Nature Club to protect one of the last remaining stopovers for birds migrating north from Central and South America. In between, she reconstructs a hundred-year human and environmental history of the original "two square leagues" of the Santa Ana land grant and of the Mexican and Tejano families who lived, worked, transformed, and ultimately helped save this forest on the river’s edge."

The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds

Mark W. Lockwood & Brush Freeman

Texas A&M University Press

2nd edition

2014

Birding Trails Texas: Gulf Coast

Jim Foster

2014

"The Texas Gulf Coast is one of the most outstanding birding locations in North America. From whooping cranes to sandhill cranes, ducks, geese, raptors and the hundreds of song birds that migrate every year to the Texas Gulf make this a birder's paradise. There are numerous public sites that make for easy birding. Each year, during the last week of February, there is a Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas and Mustang Island that attracts thousands of birders. It features workshops, demonstrations, speakers, and many guided birding trips to local birding locations. Jim Foster is a noted birder. He describes each birding trail with a list of key birds, the best time of year to visit each trail, the type of terrain, size, and complete directions to each area, many with maps of each trail."

Texas Waterfowl

William P. Johnson and Mark W. Lockwood

2013

"In this beautifully illustrated guide, two practicing wildlife biologists describe the life histories of forty-five species of ducks, geese, and swans that occur in Texas. For common species and those that breed in the state, each account begins with an interesting fact (such as, "Red-headed Mergansers have been clocked at over 80 mph, the fastest recorded flight speed for a duck . . .") and provides information on Texas distribution and harvest, population status, diet, range and habitats, reproduction, and appearance. Exquisite photographs, informative distribution maps, and a helpful source list accompany the species descriptions, and Texas Waterfowl offers a glossary and full bibliography for those who want to explore the literature further."

Wildlife of the Concho Valley

Terry C. Maxwell

Texas A & M University Press

2013

"In Wildlife of the Concho Valley, Maxwell provides the first comprehensive summary of the animal life in this undercovered region of the state, which also happens to be his home territory. Uniquely qualified after a lifetime of study and field work, Maxwell places the region in its biogeographic context and then charts the history of vertebrate investigation there from the seventeenth century to the present. Following this ecological and historical perspective are accounts of all the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals reliably known by zoologists and naturalists to have occurred in the Concho Valley over the past 150 years. The species accounts include Latin and English names; distribution and abundance status; remarks, where the author elaborates on habitat preference, behavior, and other aspects of natural history; specimens reported; and subspecies and synonyms. This important work of traditional natural history is liberally illustrated with Maxwell’s own drawings, photographs, and maps. An invaluable reference, Wildlife of the Concho Valley is a major contribution from one of the state’s most respected biologists and teachers."

Southern Birds: Backyard Guide

Bill Thompson III

2013

"Inside, you'll find profiles of the 55 most common birds in the South, complete with large color photos, gender-specific physical descriptions, nesting and feeding information, bird call particulars, and interesting stories about each species. Thompson also introduces the reader to the basics of bird watching: essential gear, bird-friendly food and plantings, housing tips, and observational techniques. This guide covers North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and eastern Texas."

Birds of Texas

Todd Telander

Falcon Press

2012

Birding Trails: Texas: Prairies and Pineywoods, Panhandle

Jim Foster

2011

"Texas Birding Trails features 220 birding trails and locations. Jim Foster, a noted birder, describes each trail with a list of key birds, the best time of year to visit the site, directions, terrain and size of the area, and complete directions to each trail. There are over 200 full-color photos of the key species of birds and over 30 trail maps and a birder's check list."

Finding Birds in South Texas

Dave Gosney

2011

A 40 page guide to birdwatching sites in South Texas.

A Field Guide to the Southeast Coast & Gulf of Mexico: Coastal Habitats, Seabirds, Marine Mammals, Fish, & Other Wildlife

Noble S. Proctor & Patrick J. Lynch

2011

"This superb book, with its unique focus on the entire marine coastal environment, is the most comprehensive and up-to-date field guide available on the southeastern Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast. Not just for beachgoers, the book is essential for birders, whale watchers, fishers, boaters, scuba divers and snorkelers, and shoreline visitors. Features of the guide include: entries on 619 coastal and ocean species; more than 1,100 color illustrations; 450 up-to-date range maps; and overviews of key ecological communities, including mangroves, salt marshes, beaches, sand dunes, and coral reefs; special attention to threatened and endangered species; and discussions of environmental issues, including such catastrophic events as Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon blowout."

Birds of the Great Plains: Breeding Species and Their Distribution

Paul A. Johnsgard

2009

This is a revised, electronic edition of a book that was originally published in 1980. This revised edition contains new range maps for many species, a new essay 'Three Decades of Change in Great Plains Birds,' and an updated bibliography of breeding bird surveys and state, regional, national, and species references.

"This book is the first to describe systematically all of the species of birds known to have bred or to breed at present in the Great Plains, a major ecological unit that encompasses all or part of part of eleven states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas."

A Birder's Guide to the Rio Grande Valley

Mark W. Lockwood, William B. McKinney, James N. Paton, Barry R. Zimmer

American Birding Association

4th edition

2008

"A Birder's Guide to the Rio Grande Valley is designed to help you locate not only the specialty birds of the Rio Grande Valley - those not occurring elsewhere in North America - but also to find the more common birds of the region. Birding begins in the wonderland of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, detailing routes designed to help you make the most of your visit at any time of year. The guide deviates from "the Valley" to cover the Edwards Plateau, the Davis Mountains, the Pecos Valley, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Special attention is given to the world-renowned regional hotspots: Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Big Bend National Park, the Davis Mountains, as well as the El Paso and Las Cruces, NM, areas. In addition to descriptions of over 230 birding sites, the authors - all of them long-time Texas birders - have completely updated the Annotated Checklist, covering more than 500 species."

Finding Birds on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas Coast

Ted Lee Eubanks Jr., Robert A. Behrstock, Seth Davidson

2008

"For those familiar with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's maps to the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, this book on the Upper Texas Coast offers more - more information, more convenient and detailed maps, more pictures, more finding tips, and more birding advice from one of the trail's creators, Ted Lee Eubanks Jr., and trail experts Robert A. Behrstock and Seth Davidson. For those new to the trail, the book is the perfect companion for learning where to find and how to bird the very best venues on this part of the Texas coast. In an opening tutorial on habitat and seasonal strategies for birding the Upper Texas Coast, the authors include tips on how to take advantage of the famous (but elusive) fallouts of birds that happen here. They then briefly discuss the basics of birding by ear and the rewards of passive birding before turning to the trail itself and each of more than 120 birding sites from the Louisiana-Texas border, through Galveston and Houston, to just south of Freeport."

Backyard Birds of Texas: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds

Bill Fenimore

2008

"Backyard Birds is an exciting series of books that explores the top twenty-five backyard birds most commonly found in each state. It includes a profiled size scale that allows the reader to quickly identify the correct bird, and each bird entry is accompanied by a stunning color photograph and specific description, including identification marks, behavior, habitat, and nesting style-even the song the bird makes! As an added feature, author Bill Fenimore also provides expert tips for building the ultimate backyard bird sanctuary, from creating birdbaths and planting proper foliage to offering a bird's favorite foods."

Birds of the US-Mexico Borderland: Distribution, Ecology, and Conservation

Editors: J.M. Ruth, T. Brush, and D.J. Krueper

Cooper Ornithological Society

2008

"A collection of articles by ornithology experts on distribution and abundance, population trends, ecology, and conservation."

Basic Texas Birds: A Field Guide

Mark W. Lockwood

2007

"Finding all the birds in Texas can be a lifetime pursuit. "Basic Texas Birds", an easy-to-use field guide, will help you identify over 180 species of birds that are found across the state, including a selection of the rarer 'Texas specialties' that draw birders to Texas from around the world. These are the birds that form the basis of a birder's life list for Texas."Basic Texas Birds" is organized by bird families to aid in identifying any bird you see in the wild. It is loaded with resources, including: 200 full-color, close-up photos of the birds; state-of-the-art range maps - the most accurate of any currently available - that show each species' distribution within the state; up-to-date species accounts that provide a wealth of current and historical information, including each bird's appearance, habitat, status, and distribution, and that also identify similar species; a glossary of terms used in bird identification; a list of selected reading for learning more about birds found in Texas; and, the Texas Ornithological Society's list of birds documented in Texas. Much more convenient for identifying common birds than a comprehensive state or national field guide, "Basic Texas Birds" is a must-have resource for both beginning and experienced birders."

Birding Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend: More Than 75 Prime Birding Sites

Jamie Ritter

Falcon Press

2007

"Named the Birdiest City in the United States since 2003, Corpus Christi has one of the richest collections of birdlife in the United States - with more than 510 species concentrated in this southeastern part of Texas, from the vagrant Cape May Warbler to the common Red-Winged Blackbird. Birding Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend guides you to seventy-eight of the best birding locations between Tivoli and Rivera. Here you can see a huge assortment of shorebirds and nesting waterbirds, wintering species, tropical surprises from the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and migrating birds from the Eastern, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. Organized by region, this comprehensive guide includes everything you need for a successful birding trip."

Exploring the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: Highlights of a Birding Mecca

Mel White

Falcon Press

2007

"Once someone has discovered the joys and challenges of birding, it doesn't take long to learn that there are places in the United States that experienced birders visit as surely as geese fly south in the fall. These spots are to birders what the Rockies are to skiers, or Pebble Beach is to golfers. Such a place is the region encompassing the Texas Gulf Coast and the lower Rio Grande Valley - now the home of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, a state-designated driving route connecting more than 300 birdwatching sites from the Louisiana state line to the Mexican border. Brown highway signs, marked with the profile of a Black Skimmer, point the way to these bird-rich destinations. Exploring the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail examines highlights of this popular route: locations ranging from national wildlife refuges with tens of thousands of acres to small city parks to stretches of isolated road passing through birdy habitat. In this guide, expert birder/writer Mel White profiles more than 80 of the best sites along the trail, chosen for diversity of habitat, species, and seasonality; productivity; and accessibility. Site listings give general (and often specific) directions, contact information (including websites when available), advice about when and how to bird the location, and a listing of some of the notable species that might be found."

Learn about . . . Texas Birds

Mark W. Lockwood

2007

"Children from six to twelve are introduced to the most frequently seen and interesting Texas birds. Youngsters can color eye-catching line drawings of various birds in typical habitats, while an easy-to-read text gives important facts about the birds, and several fun games are instructive and challenging."

Birds of Texas

Keith Arnold and Gregory Kennedy

2007

"Located on the migratory paths of many western hemisphere species, Texas is a birding mecca. This beautifully illustrated field guide features over 400 species either common or particularly notable in the Lone Star state. Descriptions of each bird, as well as the illustrations and range maps, help you identify birds and understand their habits. A checklist helps you keep a list of your birding accomplishments."

Response of the Golden-cheeked Warblers (Dendroica Chrsoparia) to Wildfires at Fort Hood, Texas

John T. Baccus, Maria E. Tolle And John D. Cornelius

2007

Birdlife of Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas Coast

Ted L. Eubanks Jr., Robert A. Behrstock, Ron J. Weeks

2006

"In the last thirty years, the Upper Texas Coast has become a "must go" destination for birders around the globe. This book will serve as an essential companion to the customary field guide and pair of binoculars for all visitors to Houston, High Island, Galveston, Freeport, or any of the area's other exciting birding spots. It also places the birdlife of the region, a seven-county area with a larger bird list than forty-three states, into historical and ecological contexts."

A Checklist of Texas Birds

Kelly Bryan; Tony Gallucci; Greg Lasley; Mark Lockwood; David H. Riskind

Texas Parks & Wildlife

2006

"A Checklist of Texas Birds was first published in 1984. This, the seventh edition of the checklist, continues to provide Texas birders with a quick reference list and accurate status designations so that accidentals, hypotheticals and species new to Texas may be easily noted and carefully documented. The Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC), of the Texas Ornithological Society, assesses the status of Texas' avifauna and maintains an accurate listing of the state's birds."

A Birder's Guide to the Texas Coast

Mel Cooksey and Ron Weeks

American Birding Association

2006

"One of the world's premier birding destinations, the Texas coast is home to an amazing number of migrating and wintering birds, as well as many "specialty" resident and nesting species. The habitat diversity ranges from the Pineywoods to the Gulf prairies, from the coastal wetlands to the South Texas subtropics. The spring migration of neotropical birds along the coast is one of North America's most remarkable birding spectacles. And the region is host to some the nation's largest congregations of herons, egrets, rails, shorebirds, gulls, and terns at any season. The long-awaited revision by Mel Cooksey and Ron Weeks, will be an indispensable as your field guide. There are Species Accounts for over 170 Texas specialties, and more than 70 new sites, for a total of over 200 birding stops, as well as bar-graphs for 388 regularly occurring Texas Coast species."

The Birds of Tanglewood

Karle Wilson Baker

2006

"In the intimate language of one who watched birds daily, Karle Wilson Baker brought readers face to face with the wonders of the East Texas woods in the 1930s. She wrote about tiny warblers, industrious chickadees, and purple finches; the aery trills and tantalizing color flashes of the hummingbirds; the bell tones of the wood thrush; the daily visits and rare drop-ins of the prolific bird life of the region. In a daily diary she kept throughout her life, Baker recorded her observations of the many birds that lived in the heavily wooded setting of her Nacogdoches home, called Tanglewood. When her family moved from the house, she collected her essays on bird life into this volume, illustrated by her daughter Charlotte and published in 1930. Her little classic speaks with the voice of her times to readers today who enjoy their avian companions."

Field Guide to Birds: Texas

Jonathan Alderfer

2005

"National Geographic Field Guide to Birds provides affordable, portable, reliable region-specific information, perfect for the novice or experienced birder. In each guide, an introduction by an expert birder from the region offers guidance on where to look for key birds. An opening section gives pointers on how to look for key birds and what to focus on when you spot them. Each guide features approximately 150 birds, grouped by family. Two indexes: one alphabetical and one color-coded help readers identify a bird quickly. Each entry has a vivid photograph showing the bird in its native habitat. On the facing page, there is a list of bulleted points of field identification clues as well as behavioral and habitat information, and the best local places to find the bird. Special field notes give additional i.d. or behavioral information and detailed maps show the range of each bird's habitat. With comprehensive coverage of the region and valuable advice from experts, these user-friendly guides will quickly become favorite companions on the journey to lifelong birding."

Nesting Birds of a Tropical Frontier: The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas

Timothy Brush

2005

"Halfway between Dallas and Mexico City, along the last few hundred miles of the Rio Grande, lies a subtropical outpost where people come from all over the world to see birds. Located between the temperate north and the tropic south, with desert to the west and ocean to the east, the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas provides habitat for a variety of birds seen nowhere else in the United States. If you want to see a Hooked-billed Kite, Muscovy Duck, or Altamira Oriole, this is the place. Drawing on years of personal observation and study, Timothy Brush has written a classic work of natural history about the little-known breeding bird communities of the Valley and the diversity of nesting strategies and behaviors that can be seen. Brush estimates that there are more than 150 current breeding species in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In Nesting Birds of a Tropical Frontier, he describes the habits, distribution, changes in occurrence, and general outlook of these as well as former breeders, concentrating on Valley specialties and other birds of particular interest in the Valley."

Hummingbirds of Texas

Clifford E. Shackelford, Madge M. Lindsay, C. Mark Klym

2005

"Written for a general audience, with spectacular images for birders and nature enthusiasts at every level, "Hummingbirds of Texas" reveals the enormous appeal of this tiniest and shiniest of birds. The book opens with a look at the many manifestations of the human attraction to these flying jewels. The Hummingbird Roundup, a citizen-science project run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has recruited hundreds of people to feed hummingbirds and record their activities throughout the state. The Rockport-Fulton Hummingbird Celebration, one of several festivals dedicated to hummingbirds, draws thousands of people each fall to the Texas coast where birds gather in huge numbers before migrating south. Bird-loving landowners invite the public to enjoy hummingbirds that live and breed on their ranches. Tips make attracting hummingbirds to your own lawn or garden easy, such as what to plant in the ground or in pots and how to choose and take care of feeders. The authors then showcase the nineteen different hummingbird species that have appeared in the region covered by the book."

Birds of the Great Plains: Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas

Bob Jennings, Ted Cable and Roger Burrows

2005

"Encounter 325 of the most common or notable birds found in the Great Plains states, presented with beautiful full-color illustrations and comprehensive notes on habitat, nesting, feeding and voice, as well as best sites for viewing. 312 color illustrations, 313 maps."

The Texas Ornithological Society Handbook of Texas Birds

Mark W. Lockwood and Brush Freeman

Texas A & M University Press

2004

"The most ambitious edition yet of the Texas Ornithological Society checklist of Texas birds now includes range maps and color photographs of the birds much of the world comes to Texas to see. Based on the work of the Texas Bird Records Committee over almost three decades, The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds provides authoritative annotations on the abundance, status, and distribution of all species encountered in Texas; lists rare, introduced, and hypothetical species in the appendices; and offers a comprehensive reference section."

Birding the Southwestern National Parks

Roland H. Wauer

2004

"In this book, veteran parks interpreter Ro Wauer introduces the pleasures of birding in the national parks of the American Southwest. From California to Texas, from hugely popular destinations such as Arizona's Grand Canyon to the mostly undiscovered shores of Amistad National Recreation Area, Wauer visits seventeen sites and gives us his advice on what birds to expect to see and where and how to find them. Written by a birder for birders, this book introduces readers to some of the best birding north of the Mexican border, as well as some of the most impressive scenery anywhere. Wauer takes readers on a personal tour, pointing out where to go to see a vast array of each park's bird life: Le Conte's Thrashers in Death Valley, Clark's and Western Grebes at Lake Mead, Phainopeplas at Organ Pipe Cactus, Lucy's Warblers at Saguaro, Peregrine Falcons in Grand Canyon, Cave Swallows at Carlsbad Caverns, Magnificent Hummingbirds at Guadalupe Mountains, and Colima Warblers in Big Bend. Birding the Southwestern National Parks is written for anyone visiting, planning to visit, or dreaming of visiting the Southwestern national parks."

Chasing Birds Across Texas: A Birding Big Year

Mark T. Adams

Texas A & M University Press

2003

"On the morning of January 1, 2000, Mark T. Adams started counting birds. His goal was to find the largest possible number of species in one year in Texas, an undertaking known in birding parlance as a Big Year. By the evening of December 31, he had tied the record of 489 species seen or heard within the state's borders in a single calendar year. Traveling 30,000 miles across Texas by car and 18,000 miles by plane, Adams alone saw 92 percent of all bird species reported in the state in 2000. In Chasing Birds across Texas, Adams invites birders and others with a broad interest in the outdoors to join him in exploring Texas' varied habitats on his quest for birds - from the upper coast to the lower coast; into the Hill Country, the Panhandle, and the Chihuahuan Desert; and up the Davis, Chisos, and Guadalupe Mountains. As he happily celebrates the bounty of the Valley's spring migration or desperately searches for a Panhandle rarity, we watch him grow as a naturalist, exult in the Texas landscape, and benefit from the company of some of the world's best birders. Informative, inspiring, and great fun, Chasing Birds across Texas conveys as perhaps no other bird book can the humor, obsession, dedication, and adventure that are all part of the sport of birding."

Birds of Texas: Field Guide

Stan Tekiela

2003

"Learn about and identify birds using Stan Tekiela's state-by-state field guides. The full-page, color photos are incomparable and include insets of winter plumage, color morphs and more. Plus, with the easy-to-use format, you don't need to know a bird's name or classification in order to easily find it in the book. Using this field guide is a real pleasure. It's a great way for anyone to learn about the birds in your state."

Faces of the Great Plains: Prairie Wildlife

Bob Gress and Paul A. Johnsgard

2003

"The Great Plains are America's biological melting pot, drawing creatures from surrounding regions to create a rich diversity of wildlife. This book illuminates the enormous variety and uniqueness of prairie wildlife - featuring 150 of the most interesting and important species."

Records Accepted by the Texas Bird Records Committee (1987-2003)

Mark W. Lockwood

2003

Birds of Texas

Fred J. Alsop

DK Publishing

2002

"The most comprehensive series of field guides to North American birds ever. Smithsonian Handbooks are the most comprehensive field guides to North American birds on the market. Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, these amazing guides are an absolute staple for any birder or amateur ornithologist. Each local species receives its own profile, along with descriptions of habitats and annotated photographs that highlight specific characteristics and other points of interest."

Birds of Northeast Texas

Matt White

Texas A & M University Press

2002

"The Birds of Northeast Texas is an annotated guide, for both novice and experienced birders, to the 390 species of birds that have been reliably recorded in northeast Texas. It is designed to augment field identification with commentary on status, distribution, and occurrence in this orinthologically rich region, which includes twenty-two counties in the state. Brief introductory chapters introduce the area's geography and habitats and give readers an idea of where the best birdwatching spots are. The species accounts explain each species' status, distribution, and period of occurrence in the region. They often also include a short narrative about habitat preference, unusual records, or some other interesting or unique aspect of a particular species. The species accounts are followed by lists of poorly documented "hypothetical" species, extinct species, and introduced species. A vibrant color section highlights the region's "specialty" birds, as well as rare finds."

The Behavior of Texas Birds

Kent Rylander

University of Texas Press

2002

"Whether it's the sudden, plunging dives of Brown Pelicans, the singing and aerial displays of Northern Mockingbirds, or the communal nesting of Purple Martins, innate and learned behaviours are some of the most fascinating things to observe in Texas birds. Even casual birdwatchers eventually ask, 'why do they do that?' while serious birders and ornithologists seek to understand all the behaviours involved in feeding, flying, mating, and rearing young. But until now, it has been hard to find this information in one handy source. In this comprehensive, yet easy-to-use book, Kent Rylander distils data from many sources to provide an authoritative guide to the behaviour of Texas birds. He begins by explaining the principles of animal behaviour and illustrating how they can be applied to interpreting bird behaviours in the field. The majority of the book is devoted to accounts of more than 400 species of birds that are most likely to be encountered by Texas birdwatchers. Each account describes such behaviours as feeding, courtship, parenting, and other behaviours that are significant for that species."

The Early History of Ornithology in Texas

Stanley D. Castro

2002

Part 1: Birds Reported by Missionaries and Explorers in Texas, 1535-1778

Part 2: Cultural Ornithology of the Indians of Texas

Birds of the Texas Panhandle: Their Status, Distribution, and History

Kenneth D. Seyffert

Texas A & M University Press

2001

"For each of the more than four hundred species found in this region, author Kenneth D. Seyffert provides information on the bird's status, occurrence, and nesting habits. Ten elegant line drawings also accompany the text. Birds of the Texas Panhandle is a must for those already familiar with the avifauna of the Panhandle and an eyeopener for those skeptical of the abundance of bird life in the region. Residents fo the Panhandle will find this a handy reference to places where they can view their winged neighbors."

Of Birds and Texas

Stuart and Scott Gentling

University of Texas Press

2001

"As John James Audubon's Birds of America was the most magnificent ornithological publication of the nineteenth century, "Of Birds and Texas" may rightfully claim that honour for the twentieth. Originally published in a twenty-three-by-twenty-nine-and-a-half-inch elephant folio limited edition in 1986, this collection of forty exquisitely detailed bird portraits and ten Texas landscapes, with accompanying commentary by the artists Scott Gentling and Stuart Gentling and a personal essay by Texas' most respected writer, John Graves, won widespread acclaim.A. C. Greene praised it as 'the most stunning and prodigious book in Texas history (and possibly forever),' while the "Dallas Morning News" deemed it 'the most magnificent book ever produced in Texas'. This edition is intended to bring "Of Birds and Texas" to a wider audience. Maintaining the high standards of design and production that characterised the limited edition, it amplifies the original publication by including nearly thirty additional bird paintings or remarques, which the Gentling brothers produced for subscribers who helped underwrite the first printing. It also contains a new essay by Stuart Gentling, 'Of Birds and Texas, Audubon and Us,' in which he describes not only how the brothers' deep admiration for John James Audubon led to the creation of this book, but also how their serendipitous discovery of a long-lost Audubon painting saved the project when a lack of funds threatened to end it."

Birds of the Texas Hill Country

Mark W. Lockwood

University of Texas Press

2001

"Situated in the centre of a state renowned for its abundant and varied birdlife, the Texas Hill Country provides habitat for 419 resident and migratory species, including the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. Mark Lockwood, a biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, has monitored these and other bird populations throughout the Hill Country for many years.In this book, he offers a complete, up-to-date guide to the status and distribution of every bird species reliably reported on the Edwards Plateau. The species accounts focus on four key characteristics of each bird: relative abundance, distribution within the region, habitat, and timing of occurrence. In addition, Lockwood discusses species that have been reported, but not documented, in the Hill Country, as well as those that might be expected to occur. For birders and ornithologists less familiar with the region, Lockwood also gives a general introduction to the ecology of the Edwards Plateau and to the flora and birdlife found in eighteen parks and birding areas."

Birds of the Gulf Coast

Photographs: Brian K Miller

Text: William R. Fontenot

2001

"Featuring over 140 color photographs by nature photographer Brian K. Miller and essays by natural history columnist and lecturer William R. Fontenot, Birds of the Gulf Coast depicts the mystery and majesty of the Gulf Coast's bird population. The essays introduce climate and cultural conditions peculiar to each season on the temperature Gulf Coast, pointing out annual peaks and wanes of various bird species, and the photos are arranged according to the seasonal calendar. Among the many birds included in the book are waders and seabirds, waterfowl, night jars, owls, hummingbirds, thrushes and mimic thrushes, warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers and larks."

Naturally . . . South Texas: Nature Notes from the Coastal Bend

Roland H. Wauer

University of Texas Press

2001

"The Golden Crescent of South Texas, a fifteen-county region along and inland from the middle Gulf Coast, is often called 'the Crossroads' because of its natural diversity. Located in the heart of the Gulf Coast Prairie and Marshes, the area also encompasses the trailing edges of the South Texas Plains, Post Oak Savannah, and Blackland Prairie. This confluence of ecological zones makes it a wonderful place for birding and for observing the changing face of nature, especially during seasonal transitions. In this book, Ro Wauer describes a typical year in the natural life of South Texas. Using selected entries from his weekly column in the "Victoria Advocate" newspaper, he discusses numerous topics for each month, from the first appearance of butterflies in January, to alligators making a comeback in July, to the Christmas bird count in December.His observations are filled with intriguing natural history lore, from what sounds mockingbirds will imitate (almost any noise in their neighbourhood) to how armadillos swim (by inflating themselves to increase their buoyancy)."

Breeding Avifaunal Baseline for Big Bend National Park, Texas

Ronald H. Wauer

2001

Birds of the Gulf Coast

Photographs: Brian K. Miller

Text: William R. Fontenot

2001

"The moist, sultry northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico hosts a remarkably diverse bird community of more then three hundred species. Waders and seabirds, waterfowl, hummingbirds, warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers, larks, blackbirds, sparrows, and finches all thrive in the various ecosystems of the Gulf Coast and swirl in and out with the seasons. Featuring 170 color photographs by nature photographer Brian K. Miller and essays by natural history expert William R. Fontenot, Birds of the Gulf Coast depicts the mystery and majesty of these beautiful creatures and highlights the importance of the region to the bird's conservation. Fontenot introduces the conditions peculiar to each season on the temperate Gulf Coast, and Miller's images are arranged by the calendar. The waterfowl, raptors, and seabirds of winter; the songbirds and shorebirds of spring and fall; and the wading birds of summer - their numbers peak and wane on schedule, and the chapters vividly reflect the dramatic variation in the bird population throughout the year. Miller captures sights that thrill human eyes - the stately gaze of a bald Eagle; the splendor of an Osprey in full flight; the quiet concentration of a Sora studying his reflection in the marsh. His vibrant portraits illustrate the brilliant hues of nature: the dazzling pinks and reds of the Roseate Spoonbill, the rainbow plumage of the Painted Bunting, the bright splash of the Yellow-throated Warbler."

Naturalist's Big Bend

Roland H. Wauer and Carl M. Fleming

Texas A & M University Press

2001

"An introduction to the trees and shrubs, wildflowers, cacti, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish, and insects of Big Bend National Park."

Heralds of Spring in Texas

Roland H. Wauer

Texas A & M University Press

1999

"We know by the calendar when spring officially begins, but how does nature tell us spring has come? In Heralds of Spring in Texas Roland H. Wauer walks us through Texas, from the Rio Grande to the Panhandle, as spring arrives. In addition to offering us his own special memories of spring in Texas, Wauer brings together here the thoughts of other Texas naturalists, professional and avocational, and augments both with background information about the particular herald being considered. Harbingers of spring explored include birds, trees, flowers, mammals, even the night sky."

Great Texas Birds

John P. O'Neil

University of Texas Press

1999

"What makes any bird a 'great' bird? For some birders, it's the rarity of a species that they've finally added to their life list after years of patient watching. Others will tell you that the great birds are the most beautiful ones. But most people know that the great birds are simply the ones we like the best, rare or common - the ones that have imprinted themselves indelibly on our lives. This beautiful book presents exquisite paintings of forty-eight Texas birds chosen by John O'Neill and Suzanne Winckler as their own personal 'greats'. Some of the birds are as common as they are beloved. Others are definitely life-list birds - rare, beautiful, exotic-sounding, or all three at once. The authors have also gathered a flock of well-known Texas birders and nature writers to offer personal, scientific, or literary observations about each bird. In all, forty-eight writers, one to a bird, are included here. These beautifully detailed paintings and the observations that accompany them make a convincing case that these are, indeed, the great Texas birds. Whether you're a serious birder or simply a backyard bird watcher, you'll find in this book a 'lovely edifice' where people who care about birds can be together."

Birds of Texas

Roger Tory Peterson

Houghton Mifflin

1998

"All the birds of Texas and most of those found in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana are illustrated here in 60 plates that show key features. Descriptions of 542 species, silhouettes, and comparisons of similar species help with accurate identification."

Birder's Guide to Texas

Edward E. Kutac

Taylor Trade Publishing

1998

"For Texas residents and visitors alike, this book is your best guide to the outstanding birding opportunities in the Lone Star State. It reveals where you can find resident, migrant, and rare birds. Explicit driving directions, maps, checklists, and detailed descriptions of hot birding sites make this book the perfect guide for nature lovers, casual bird observers, Life List compilers, and dedicated ornithologists."

Birds of the Trans-Pecos

Jim Peterson and Barry R. Zimmer

Drawings: Gail Diane Yovanovich

Corrie Herring Hooks Series

University of Texas Press

1998

"The Trans-Pecos, that huge region of Texas west of the Pecos River, is richer in recorded bird species than all but three of the United States. Hundreds of birders come here each year in search of species such as the Colima Warbler which are rarely if ever spotted in other parts of the country. Yet, until now, there was no comprehensive birding guide devoted to the entire region. Designed for intermediate to advanced birders, Birds of the Trans-Pecos provides an annotated checklist of all 482 species found in the region. The species accounts include seasonal distribution, documentation of nesting, most likely habitat, and the bird's status as a "Texas Review Species." The authors also describe the geography and bird habitats of the Trans-Pecos; federal and state parklands in the area (including Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains), with the species that occur in each; and the mountain-breeding birds and species of special interest."

Ecology and Management of Migrant Shorebirds in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas

Craig Davis, Loren M. Smith

Wildlife Society

1998

From the abstract: "During spring and fall migration, shorebirds rely on stopover areas to replenish energy reserves and fulfill nutrient requirements. Most studies of stopover areas have focused on wetlands in the Northern Great Plains; little attention has been given to wetlands in the Southern Great Plains, especially the Playa Lakes Region (PLR). Our objectives were to determine migrant-shorebird species compositions, abundances, migration chronologies, use of habitats, and feeding ecologies in the PLR during spring and fall migration."

Saving the Best of Texas: A Partnership Approach to Conservation

Richard Bartlett

Foreword: Robert L. Thornton III

Introduction: Andrew Sansom

Corrie Herring Hooks Series

University of Texas Press

1995

"With a deep belief in partnerships for conservation, Richard C. Bartlett, Chairman of The Nature Conservancy of Texas, explores the past and ongoing efforts of individuals and groups - private, public, federal, and state - to save the best of Texas' natural landscapes and the myriad species of plants and animals they support. Drawing on some 100,000 miles of backroads travel, Bartlett vividly describes many of the areas that, through a commitment to partnerships, have already been preserved in their natural state."

Birds of Texas: A Field Guide

John H. Rappole & Gene W. Blacklock

Texas A&M University Press

1994

"There are certain pilgrimages that must be made by the serious North American birder: Santa Ana in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Hawk Mountain, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware Bay, the Everglades, High Island, Point Reyes, and Big Bend, to name a few. It is no accident that many of these ornithological shrines are located in Texas, which has the most diverse avifauna in North America north of Mexico. Texas comes by this enormous diversity honestly, with rugged mountains, vast deserts, lush semi-tropical woodlands, prairies, bayous, cedar brakes, thorn forests, and one of the richest temperate migration corridors in the world located along the western Gulf Coast. Birds of Texas: A Field Guide provides an introduction and ready access to this spectacular variety. The text provides detailed information on identification, habitat preferences, voice, seasonal occurrence, abundance, and distribution. Maps show precisely where in the state the bird can be found. Photos of the bird in the field put the species in the proper visual context for identification; in fact, the photos for over half of the 622 species were taken in Texas. Texas is a unique region of the hemisphere, and its birdlife is an important part of what makes it special."

Birds and Other Wildlife of South Central Texas: A Handbook

Edward A. Kutac and S. Christopher Caran

University of Texas Press

1994

Nesting Birds of Coastal Islands: A Naturalist's Year on Galveston Bay

John C. Dyes

University of Texas Press

1993

"Superb color and black-and-white photographs document the year's cycle for birds on the rookery islands along the Texas Gulf coast. The text explains the behavior of over 20 species of terns, gulls and colonial wading birds."

The Birds of Texas

John L. Tveten

1993

The Birds of North Central Texas

Warren M. Pulich

Texas A & M University Press

1988

"The Birds of North Central Texas is the culmination of a seven-year study by Warren M. Pulich, who set out to assess and evaluate the avifauna within the 25,000-square-mile area rather than to produce a field guide. With the aid of trusted observers, the author has compiled information on arrival and departure dates and peak numbers during migration for approximately 400 species. Texas' large variety of bird species is due to the convergence of four vegetation zones in the north central region of the state. In effect, species predominating in the moister eastern portions of the region mingle with species inhabiting the mesquite and cacti of the dry western reaches of the study area. The presence of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and its numerous birders and visitors has ensured volumes of data for sorting and study."

Birds of the Texas Coastal Bend: Abundance and Distribution

John H. Rappole and Gene W. Blacklock

1985

Birds of the Great Plains: Breeding Species and Their Distribution

Paul A. Johnsgard

1980

"This book is the first to describe systematically all of the species of birds known to have bred or to breed at present in the Great Plains, a major ecological unit that encompasses all or part of part of eleven states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Although the original Great Plains ecosystem - the grassland biome - has been greatly altered by modem agriculture, remnants still exist in national and state parks, grasslands, and refuges, as well as in rural cemeteries, railroad rights-of-way, and small nature reserves. These areas support populations of nearly all the original and introduced birdlife - approximately 320 species - of the Great Plains."

Bird Life of Texas

Harry C. Oberholser

Corrie Herring Hooks Series

University of Texas Press

1975

Two volumes in a slipcase.

The Birds Of Brewster County, Texas

Josselyn Van Tyne and George Miksch Sutton

Miscellaneous Publications No. 37

Museum Of Zoology, University of Michigan

1937

Opening lines:

This study of the birds of Brewster County, Texas, was begun at the suggestion of Mr. Frederick M. Gaige that the Big Bend region and especially the Chisos Mountains had been little explored biologically and merited further investigation. The first expedition was supported by Mr. William G. Pargo. The party, consisting of Frederick M. Gaige, leader and entomologist, Helen T. Gaige, herpetologist, and Josselyn Van Tyne, ornithologist, arrived at Alpine on June 8, 1928, and four days later moved to Marathon. On June 14 headquarters were shifted to Glenn Spring, where there was a Texas Ranger station and the post office for the southeastern part of the county. On June 29 and July 31 the party made one-day trips to Upper Juniper Spring in the Chisos Mountains, and from July 5 to 23 camped there and collected in many parts of the mountains, even reaching the top of Emory Peak. During the rest of the period from June 14 to August 7 the W. D. Burnham ranch at Glenn Spring was used as a base, and explorations were made by car, mainly in the area between Chilicotal Spring and Glenn Spring on the north and San Vicente, I-lot Springs, and Boquillas on the south and southeast (about fifty man-days devoted to birds).