National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Southern Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Bird Checklist

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park is located in the Pedernales River valley in the Texas Hill Country, a relatively rugged landscape of grassy hills dotted with ashe juniper and live oak. The park’s two units, the Johnson Settlement district and LBJ Ranch, protect the historic structures and Hill Country landscapes linked to the ancestry, life, and legacy of President Johnson. The Texas Hill Country is known for its diversity of bird species as it contains a mix of species not found in other parts of the state. At least 191 bird species have been documented in Lyndon B. Johnson NHP. The LBJ Ranch is located on the north side of Pedernales River and includes the Texas White House along with other buildings associated with the life of the 36th president. Varied habitats in this district host more species than in the Johnson Settlement which is located in Johnson City. A variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, and waders including Mallard, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, and Great Egret are found in and along the river, especially during the winter. Songbirds Bird habitat near the reconstructed birthplace and woodpeckers including Northern (NPS photo) Cardinal, Summer Tanager, and Golden- fronted Woodpecker are found in the pecan galleries near the river. Eastern Phoebe, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Red-bellied Woodpecker are known to nest in the Ranch district. Species that utilize grassland and woodland habitats are found in the Johnson Settlement, including the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Blue Jay. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are distinctive with their long forked tails. They can be seen hunting for flying insects during the summer along on long stretches of fence lines. White-winged Dove, Northern Mockingbird, and Eastern Bluebird are found in grassland habitats in both districts. Eleven species of raptors have been documented in Lyndon B. Johnson NHP. The Red- tailed Hawk is the most commonly seen, but the Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, and American Kestrel are also present in the park. Kestrels are the smallest falcon in North America, and are about the size of a Blue Jay or Mourning Dove. Both the Turkey Vulture and the Black Vulture are common at Lyndon B. Johnson NHP. Turkey Vultures are distinguished by their red bald heads as well as light- colored feathers on the trailing edge of their underwings. Black Vultures have black heads and silvery tips to their underwings. Sometimes the two vultures are joined by Crested Caracaras, since carrion is also a Wild Turkeys next to the Pedernales River significant part of their diet. (NPS photo) 2 Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Checklist Key Abundance Abundance information is for suitable habitat and season. • Common — May be seen daily but not in large numbers • Uncommon — Likely to be seen monthly; may be locally common • Rare — Present, but usually seen only a few times each year • Occasional — Seen in the park at least once every few years, but not necessarily every year • Accidental – Seen no more than a few times; birds that have strayed out of their normal range/habitat Habitat • R — Riparian and Wetland: Narrow bottomlands of the Pedernales River and Town Creek with plants such as roughleaf dogwood, cypress, and sycamores and includes areas along, and including, the river • G — Grassland: Habitats dominated by two types: grazed bermuda grass pastures and native mixed-grass prairie with blue and sideoats grama, Texas wintergrass and invasive King Ranch bluestem • W — Woodland: Limited to uplands containing live oak and ash juniper Season • Resident — Found year-round • Summer — Found predominantly in the summer months (June–August) • Winter — Found predominantly in the winter months (November–February) • Migrant — Found predominantly during spring and/or fall migratory periods (March–May, September–October)

The information in this list is based on NPSpecies, Natural Resource Condition Assessments, and Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network Landbird Monitoring surveys at Lyndon B. Johnson NHP, and may not be a comprehensive list of all bird species in the park. The list is arranged by family and uses common names following the American Ornithological Society’s Checklist of North American Birds 7th edition and its supplements through 2019.

Birding Ethics Be mindful by following ethical birding guidelines that protect birds and enhance everyone’s birding experience: »» Keep your distance and avoid disturbing bird nesting sites; move away from alarmed pairs. »» Report bird observations to park rangers at the visitor center. This helps other birders and supports research. »» Do not use broadcasting calls to attract birds; calls interfere with nesting activity and may frustrate other birders. »» Report rare species nesting sites to appropriate park officials only. Use caution when posting bird sightings over social media. »» Do not set up bird feeding stations or feed birds in NPS-managed areas.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park 3 Checklist

Waterfowl (Anatidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Occasional R Migrant Wood Duck Uncommon R Resident Blue-winged Teal Uncommon R Resident Cinnamon Teal Uncommon R Winter Mallard Northern Shoveler Uncommon R Winter Gadwall Uncommon R Winter American Wigeon Uncommon R Winter Mallard Uncommon R Resident Northern Pintail Rare R Winter Green-winged Teal Uncommon R Winter Redhead Occasional R Winter Northern Pintail Ring-necked Duck Rare R Winter Lesser Scaup Rare R Winter Ruddy Duck Uncommon R Winter

New World Quail (Odontophoridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Northern Bobwhite Rare R, G, W Resident

Wild Turkey Partridges, Grouse, and Turkeys (Phasianidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Ring-necked Pheasant Occasional G Resident Wild Turkey Uncommon R, G, W Resident

Grebes (Podicipedidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season White-winged Dove Pied-billed Grebe Rare R Resident

Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Rock Pigeon Rare R, G Resident Eurasian Collared-Dove Uncommon R, G, W Resident Inca Dove Rare R, G, W Resident Mourning Dove Common Ground Dove Occasional R, G, W Migrant White-winged Dove Common R, G, W Summer Mourning Dove Common R, G, W Resident

Cuckoos and Roadrunners (Cuculidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Greater Roadrunner Occasional G Migrant Greater Roadrunner Yellow-billed Cuckoo Uncommon R, W Summer

4 Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Nighthawks (Caprimulgidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Lesser Nighthawk Occasional R, G Migrant Common Nighthawk Uncommon R, G, W Summer Chuck-Will's-Widow Uncommon R, W Summer

Swifts (Apodidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Lesser Nighthawk Chimney Swift Common R, G, W Summer

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Ruby-throated Hummingbird Uncommon R, G, W Migrant Black-chinned Hummingbird Common R, G, W Summer

Black-chinned Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) Hummingbird √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season American Coot Uncommon R Resident

Cranes (Gruidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Sandhill Crane Occasional R Migrant

Plovers (Charadriidae) American Coot √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Killdeer Uncommon R, G Resident

Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies (Scolopacidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Upland Sandpiper Occasional R, G Migrant Hudsonian Godwit Accidental R Migrant Killdeer Stilt Sandpiper Rare R Migrant Least Sandpiper Rare R Migrant Western Sandpiper Rare R Migrant Long-billed Dowitcher Occasional R Migrant Common Snipe Rare R Migrant Spotted Sandpiper Uncommon R Migrant Solitary Sandpiper Rare R Migrant Spotted Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Rare R Migrant Greater Yellowlegs Rare R Migrant Wilson's Phalarope Occasional R Migrant

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Franklin's Gull Rare R Migrant

Forster's Tern Occasional R Migrant Lesser Yellowlegs

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park 5 Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Double-crested Cormorant Uncommon R Resident

Bitterns, Herons, and Allies (Ardeidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season American Bittern Occasional R Migrant Great Blue Heron Uncommon R, G Resident Great Egret Uncommon R Migrant Snowy Egret Rare R Migrant Great Blue Heron Little Blue Heron Rare R Migrant Tricolored Heron Occasional R Migrant Cattle Egret Rare R, G Migrant Green Heron Uncommon R Migrant

New World Vultures (Cathartidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Black Vulture Common R, G, W Resident Turkey Vulture Common R, G, W Resident Turkey Vulture Ospreys (Pandionidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Osprey Rare R Migrant

Hawks, Kites, Eagles and Allies (Accipitridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Northern Harrier Rare R, G Migrant Sharp-shinned Hawk Rare R, G, W Migrant Osprey Cooper's Hawk Rare R, G, W Resident Mississippi Kite Rare R, W Summer Red-shouldered Hawk Uncommon R, G, W Resident Broad-winged Hawk Rare R, G, W Migrant Swainson's Hawk Rare G Migrant Red-tailed Hawk Common R, G, W Resident

Typical Owls (Strigidae) Northern Harrier √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Eastern Screech-Owl Rare R, G, W Resident Great Horned Owl Rare R, G, W Resident

Red-tailed Hawk

6 Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Ringed Kingfisher Occasional R Migrant Belted Kingfisher Uncommon R Resident Green Kingfisher Occasional R Migrant

Woodpeckers and Allies (Picidae) Belted Kingfisher √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Red-headed Woodpecker Occasional R, W Resident Golden-fronted Woodpecker Common R, W Resident Red-bellied Woodpecker Uncommon R, W Resident Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Uncommon R, W Winter Downy Woodpecker Uncommon R, G, W Resident Ladder-backed Ladder-backed Woodpecker Uncommon R, G, W Resident Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Rare R, W Resident Northern Flicker Uncommon R, G, W Winter

Falcons (Falconidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Crested Caracara Uncommon G Resident

American Kestrel Uncommon R, G, W Resident American Kestrel Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Ash-throated Flycatcher Occasional R, G, W Migrant Great Crested Flycatcher Uncommon R, G Summer Western Kingbird Common R, G, W Summer Eastern Kingbird Uncommon R, G, W Summer Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Common R, G, W Summer Say’s Phoebe Olive-sided Flycatcher Rare R, G, W Migrant Eastern Wood-Pewee Rare R, W Migrant Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Rare R, G, W Migrant Eastern Phoebe Uncommon R Resident Say’s Phoebe Occasional G Migrant Vermilion Flycatcher Occasional R, G, W Migrant

Shrikes (Laniidae) Vermilion Flycatcher √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Loggerhead Shrike Rare G Resident

Loggerhead Shrike

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park 7 Vireos (Vireonidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season White-eyed Vireo Rare R, W Migrant Bell's Vireo Uncommon R, G, W Summer Yellow-throated Vireo Rare R, W Migrant Blue-headed Vireo Rare R, W Migrant American Crow Red-eyed Vireo Rare R, W Migrant

Crows, Jays and Ravens (Corvidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Blue Jay Common R, W Resident American Crow Common R, G, W Resident Chihuahuan Raven Rare R, G, W Resident

Chihuahuan Raven Swallows (Hirundinidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Tree Swallow Uncommon R, G Migrant Northern Rough-winged Uncommon R, G, W Summer Swallow Purple Martin Common R, G, W Summer Barn Swallow Common R, G, W Summer Cliff Swallow Common R, G Summer Cave Swallow Rare R, G Summer Barn Swallow Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Carolina Chickadee Common R, W Resident Black-crested Titmouse Common R, G, W Resident

Nuthatches (Sittidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season White-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Rare R, W Migrant

Treecreepers (Certhiidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Brown Creeper Rare R, W Winter

Wrens (Troglodytidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season House Wren House Wren Rare R, G, W Winter Winter Wren Rare R, W Winter Carolina Wren Common R, G, W Resident Bewick's Wren Common R, G, W Resident

Bewick’s Wren

8 Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Uncommon R, G, W Migrant

Kinglets (Regulidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Golden-crowned Kinglet Rare R, W Winter Ruby-crowned Kinglet Uncommon R, G, W Migrant

Thrushes (Turdidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Eastern Bluebird Common R, G, W Resident Veery Accidental R, W Migrant Swainson's Thrush Rare R, W Migrant Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Uncommon R, W Winter American Robin Common R, G, W Resident

Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Gray Catbird Uncommon R, G, W Summer Brown Thrasher Uncommon R, G, W Resident Northern Mockingbird Common R, G, W Resident Gray Catbird

Starlings (Sturnidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season European Starling Uncommon R, G, W Resident

Waxwings (Bombycillidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Rare R, W Winter

Old World Sparrows (Passeridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season House Sparrow Uncommon R, G, W Resident

Pipits (Motacillidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season American Pipit Rare R, G Winter Sprague’s Pipit Rare G Winter Cedar Waxwing

Finches (Fringillidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season House Finch Uncommon R, G, W Resident Purple Finch Occasional R, W Winter Pine Siskin Rare R, G, W Winter Lesser Goldfinch Uncommon R, G, W Resident American Goldfinch Common R, G, W Resident House Finch Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park 9 New World Sparrows and Towhees (Passerellidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Grasshopper Sparrow Rare G Migrant Lark Sparrow Uncommon R, G, W Winter Chipping Sparrow Common R, G, W Winter Clay-colored Sparrow Occasional R, G, W Winter Field Sparrow Rare G Resident Lark Sparrow Fox Sparrow Rare R, G, W Winter Dark-eyed Junco Uncommon R, G, W Winter White-crowned Sparrow Common R, G, W Winter Harris's Sparrow Occasional G Winter White-throated Sparrow Uncommon R, G, W Winter Vesper Sparrow Uncommon R, G Winter LeConte's Sparrow Rare G Winter

Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Rare R, G Winter Song Sparrow Uncommon R Winter Lincoln's Sparrow Uncommon R, G Winter Rufous-crowned Sparrow Occasional G Migrant

Blackbirds, Orioles, and Allies (Icteridae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Yellow-headed Blackbird Occasional R, G Winter Eastern Meadowlark Uncommon G Resident Western Meadowlark Rare G Winter Yellow-headed Blackbird Orchard Oriole Common R, G, W Summer Bullock’s Oriole Rare R, G, W Migrant Red-winged Blackbird Uncommon R, G, W Resident Bronzed Cowbird Uncommon R, G, W Summer Brown-headed Cowbird Common R, G, W Resident Rusty Blackbird Occasional R, G, W Winter Brewer's Blackbird Common R, G, W Winter Common Grackle Common R, G, W Resident Great-tailed Grackle Uncommon R, G, W Resident Red-winged Blackbird

Bullock's Oriole

10 Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park New World Warblers (Parulidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Louisiana Waterthrush Rare R Migrant Blue-winged Warbler Occasional R, G, W Migrant Black-and-white Warbler Uncommon R, W Migrant Tennessee Warbler Rare R, W Migrant Orange-crowned Orange-crowned Warbler Uncommon R, G, W Migrant Warbler Nashville Warbler Rare R, W Migrant MacGillivray's Warbler Uncommon R, G, W Migrant Common Yellowthroat Uncommon R Summer Hooded Warbler Rare R, W Migrant American Redstart Uncommon R, W Migrant Magnolia Warbler Uncommon R, W Migrant Common Yellowthroat Blackburnian Warbler Occasional R, W Migrant Yellow Warbler Uncommon R, W Summer Chestnut-sided Warbler Occasional R, W Migrant Yellow-rumped Warbler Uncommon R, G, W Migrant Black-throated Green Warbler Uncommon R, G, W Migrant Yellow Warbler Wilson's Warbler Uncommon R, G, W Migrant

Piranga Tanagers, Cardinals and Allies (Cardinalidae) √ Common Name Abundance Habitat Season Summer Tanager Common R, W Summer Northern Cardinal Common R, G, W Resident Rose-breasted Grosbeak Rare R, G, W Migrant Blue Grosbeak Uncommon R, G, W Summer Summer Tanager Indigo Bunting Uncommon R, G, W Summer Painted Bunting Uncommon R, G, W Summer Dickcissel Uncommon R, G, W Summer

Northern Cardinal

Blue Grosbeak

Acknowledgments All bird identification photos were generously provided courtesy of Robert Shantz (rshantz.com). The Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network is one of 32 National Park Service inventory and monitoring networks that assess the condition of park ecosystems and develop a stronger scientific basis for stewardship of natural resources.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park 11 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Southern Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

December 2020