Rio Grande Valley
Species Checklist
50 specialty and notable species of the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas coast, grouped by family. Print this page or save it as a PDF to track your sightings in the field.
Becards
- Rose-throated BecardPachyramphus aglaiae
Blackbirds & Orioles
- Altamira OrioleIcterus gularis
- Audubon's OrioleIcterus graduacauda
Cardinals & Allies
- Painted BuntingPasserina ciris
Chachalacas
- Plain ChachalacaOrtalis vetula
Cormorants
- Neotropic CormorantNannopterum brasilianum
Cranes
- Whooping CraneGrus americana
Cuckoos
- Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianus
- Groove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostris
Ducks
- Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Masked DuckNomonyx dominicus
- Mottled DuckAnas fulvigula
Falcons
- Aplomado FalconFalco femoralis
- Crested CaracaraCaracara plancus
Grebes
- Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus
Hawks
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Gray HawkButeo plagiatus
- Harris's HawkParabuteo unicinctus
- White-tailed HawkGeranoaetus albicaudatus
Hawks & Kites
- Hook-billed KiteChondrohierax uncinatus
- Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
- White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus
Herons
- Reddish EgretEgretta rufescens
- Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
Hummingbirds
- Buff-bellied HummingbirdAmazilia yucatanensis
Ibises & Spoonbills
- Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja
Jacanas
- Northern JacanaJacana spinosa
Jays & Crows
- Green JayCyanocorax yncas
Kingfishers
- Green KingfisherChloroceryle americana
- Ringed KingfisherMegaceryle torquata
Mockingbirds & Thrashers
- Long-billed ThrasherToxostoma longirostre
New World Sparrows
- Botteri's SparrowPeucaea botterii
- Olive SparrowArremonops rufivirgatus
Owls
- Elf OwlMicrathene whitneyi
- Ferruginous Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium brasilianum
Oystercatchers
- American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatus
Parrots
- Green ParakeetPsittacara holochlorus
- Red-crowned ParrotAmazona viridigenalis
Pigeons & Doves
- Inca DoveColumbina inca
- Red-billed PigeonPatagioenas flavirostris
- White-tipped DoveLeptotila verreauxi
Plovers
- Piping PloverCharadrius melodus
Tanagers
- White-collared SeedeaterSporophila morelleti
Thrushes
- Clay-colored ThrushTurdus grayi
Tyrant Flycatchers
- Couch's KingbirdTyrannus couchii
- Great KiskadeePitangus sulphuratus
- Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus
- Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicus
- Vermilion FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinus
Wood-Warblers
- Tropical ParulaSetophaga pitiayumi