Bird Checklists of the United States
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
![small state map showing location](images/dotbuff.gif)
Umbarger, Texas
The 7,664-acre Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 500 refuges thoughout the United States. These National Wildlife Refuges are administrated by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. the Fish and Wildlife Service mission is to work with others "to conserve, fish and wildlife and their habitat."
This leaflet lists 344 species of birds that have been seen on the refuge, and is in accordance with the sixth Edition of the A.O.U. checklist as amended. Accepted new names are used.
Symbols used in the list are defined as follows:
Sp - Spring - March-May
Su - Summer - June-August
F - Fall - September-November
W - Winter - December-February
* - Nests Locally
A - Abundant: A common species that is very numerous.
C - Common: Certain to be seen in suitable habitats.
U - Uncommon: Present, not certain to be seen.
O - Occaisonal: Seen few times during the season.
R - Rare: Seen at interbals of 2 to 5 years.
X - Accidental: Has been seen only once or twice.
For additional information, or to report unusual birds, please contact:
Loons Sp Su F W ___ Pacific Loon X - - - ___ Common Loon R - O R
Grebes Sp Su F W ___ Pied-billed Grebe* C U C U ___ Horned Grebe R - R X ___ Eared Grebe* C R C X ___ Western Grebe R - R X
Pelicans Sp Su F W ___ American White Pelican O X O X ___ Brown Pelican - - X -
Cormorants Sp Su F W ___ Double-crested Cormorant U O U R
Bitterns and Herons Sp Su F W ___ American Bittern O X O X ___ Great Blue Heron* C C C U ___ Great Egret O O O - ___ Snowy Egret R R R - ___ Little Blue Heron R R R - ___ Cattle Egret O O O - ___ Green Heron U U U - ___ Black-crowned Night-Heron* C C C X ___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron R R R -
Ibises and Spoonbills Sp Su F W ___ White-faced Ibis C U C - ___ Roseate Spoonbill - - X -
Swans, Geese, and Ducks Sp Su F W ___ Fulvous Whistling Duck - - X - ___ Tundra Swan X - R R ___ Trumpeter Swan - - - X ___ Greater White-fronted Goose R - O R ___ Snow Goose C - U C ___ Ross' Goose R - - R ___ Canada Goose C R A A ___ Wood Duck R - O R ___ Green-winged Teal A O A A ___ American Black Duck - - X X ___ Mallard* A U A A ___ Northern Pintail* A O A A ___ Blue-winged Teal* A U A X ___ Cinnamon Teal C U C X ___ Northern Shoveler A U A C ___ Gadwall C O C U ___ American Wigeon A O A A ___ Canvasback U - U U ___ Redhead C O C U ___ Ring-necked Duck U - U U ___ Lesser Scaup C - C U ___ Oldsquaw - - X X ___ Black Scoter - - X - ___ Surf Scoter - - X - ___ White-winged Scoter - - X - ___ Common Goldeneye U - U U ___ Barrow's Goldeneye - - - X ___ Bufflehead C - C C ___ Hooded Merganser R - R R ___ Common Merganser U - U C ___ Red-breasted Merganser - - X X ___ Ruddy Duck C O C U
Vultures Sp Su F W ___ Turkey Vulture* C C A -
Kites, Eagles, and Hawks Sp Su F W ___ Osprey O - O - ___ Mississippi Kite U O U - ___ Bald Eagle U - O C ___ Northern Harrier C O C C ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk U - U O ___ Cooper's Hawk U X U R ___ Northern Goshawk X - X X ___ Red-shouldered Hawk - - X - ___ Broad-winged Hawk R X R - ___ Swainson's Hawk* C C C - ___ Red-tailed Hawk C U C C ___ Ferruginous Hawk U X C C ___ Rough-legged Hawk U - U U ___ Golden Eagle O R O U
Falcons Sp Su F W ___ American Kestrel* C U C C ___ Merlin O - O R ___ Peregrine Falcon O - O R ___ Prairie Falcon U R U U
Pheasants and Quail Sp Su F W ___ Chukar X - - X ___ Ring-necked Pheasant* C C C C ___ Wild Turkey* C C U R ___ Northern Bobwhite* C C C C ___ Scaled Quail* U U U U
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots Sp Su F W ___ Virginia Rail - X X - ___ Sora O - O X ___ Common Moorhen R R - X ___ American Coot C C A U
Cranes Sp Su F W ___ Sandhill Crane A - A O ___ Whooping Crane - - X -
Plovers Sp Su F W ___ Black-bellied Plover O R O - ___ American Golden-Plover X X X X ___ Snowy Plover* U U U - ___ Semipalmated Plover U U U - ___ Killdeer* C C C O ___ Mountain Plover R X R -
Stilts and Avocets Sp Su F W ___ Black-necked Stilt U U U - ___ American Avocet* C C A -
Sandpipers and Phalaropes Sp Su F W ___ Greater Yellowlegs C C C X ___ Lesser Yellowlegs C C U X ___ Solitary Sandpiper U U U - ___ Willet O O O - ___ Spotted Sandpiper C U C - ___ Upland Sandpiper C C C - ___ Whimbrel X X - - ___ Long-billed Curlew U O C X ___ Hudsonian Godwit - X - - ___ Marbled Godwit O O O - ___ Ruddy Turnstone X X X - ___ Red Knot X X X - ___ Sanderling X - R - ___ Semipalmated Sandpiper C U C - ___ Western Sandpiper C C C - ___ Least Sandpiper A C A X ___ White-rumped Sandpiper R - R - ___ Baird's Sandpiper A C A - ___ Pectoral Sandpiper O R O - ___ Dunlin X - X - ___ Stilt Sandpiper C O C - ___ Buff-breasted Sandpiper - - X - ___ Short-billed Dowitcher - - X - ___ Long-billed Dowitcher C C C X ___ Common Snipe U O U R ___ Wilson's Phalarope A C A - ___ Red-necked Phalarope X X X -
Gulls and Terns Sp Su F W ___ Parasitic Jeager - - X - ___ Franklin's Gull U R C - ___ Bonaparte's Gull R - R X ___ Ring-billed Gull C O C C ___ Herring Gull O X O O ___ Glaucous Gull X - - X ___ Black-legged Kittiwake - - X X ___ Sabine's Gull - - X - ___ Caspian Tern X - - - ___ Common Tern X X X - ___ Forster's Tern U O U - ___ Least Tern X X X - ___ Black Tern C U C -
Pigeons and Doves Sp Su F W ___ Rock Dove* O O O O ___ Band-tailed Pigeon - X X - ___ Mourning Dove* A A A O ___ Inca Dove - - X - ___ Common Ground-Dove X - - -
Cuckoos and Roadrunners Sp Su F W ___ Black-billed Cuckoo - - X - ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo* C C C - ___ Greater Roadrunner* U U U U
Owls Sp Su F W ___ Barn Owl* U R U R ___ Eastern Screech-Owl X - - X ___ Great Horned Owl* U U U U ___ Burrowing Owl* C C C O ___ Long-eared Owl* O - O R ___ Short-eared Owl U - U O ___ Norther Saw-whet Owl X - - -
GOATSUCKERS Sp Su F W ___ Common Nighthawk* C C C - ___ Common Poorwill O - O - ___ Chuck-will's-widow R - - - ___ Whip-poor-will X - - -
Swifts Sp Su F W ___ Chimney Swift R R R -
Hummingbirds Sp Su F W ___ Broad-tailed Hummingbird - - X - ___ Rufous Hummingbirds - - X -
Kingfishers Sp Su F W ___ Belted Kingfisher O O U O ___ Green Kingfisher - - X -
Woodpeckers Sp Su F W ___ Lewis' Woodpecker - - X - ___ Red-headed Woodpecker R R O X ___ Golden-fronted Woodpecker X X X X ___ Red-bellied Woodpecker R X X R ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker U - U O ___ Red-naped Sapsucker - - U - ___ Wiliamson's Sapsucker X - X - ___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker* C C C C ___ Downy Woodpecker O R O R ___ Hairy Woodpecker R - R R ___ Northern Flicker C O C C
Tyrant Flycatchers Sp Su F W ___ Olive-sided Flycatcher C R C - ___ Western Wood-Pewee C O C - ___ Eastern Wood-Pewee R X R - ___ Willow Flycatcher C U C - ___ Least Flycatcher C U C - ___ Dusky Flycatcher - - X - ___ Gray Flycatcher - X - - ___ Black Phoebe X X X - ___ Eastern Phoebe U R U X ___ Say's Phoebe C R C R ___ Vermilion Flycatcher R X - - ___ Ash-throated Flycatcher C U C - ___ Great Crested Flycatcher R X R - ___ Cassin's Kingbird O X U - ___ Western Kingbird* A A C - ___ Eastern Kingbird* C C C - ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher* C U C -
Larks Sp Su F W ___ Horned Lark* C C C C
Swallows Sp Su F W ___ Purple Martin X - - - ___ Tree Swallow C U C X ___ Violet-green Swallow X - X - ___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow C U C - ___ Bank Swallow* U U U - ___ Cliff Swallow A C A - ___ Barn Swallow* C C A -
Jays and Crows Sp Su F W ___ Blue Jay U U U R ___ Western Scrub-Jay R - R R ___ Pinyon Jay - - R X ___ American Crow U O C U ___ Chihuahuan Raven O - O R ___ Common Raven - - X -
Titmice Sp Su F W ___ Carolina Chickadee X - - - ___ Tufted Titmouse X - X X
Bushtits Sp Su F W ___ Bushtit - - X X
Nuthatches Sp Su F W ___ Red-breasted Nuthatch O X O - ___ White-breasted Nuthatch - X R -
Wren Sp Su F W ___ Cactus Wren - - X X ___ Rock Wren* U C U X ___ Canyon Wren X - - - ___ Carolina Wren - X X - ___ Bewick's Wren U U U U ___ House Wren* C X C - ___ Winter Wren R - R X ___ Marsh Wren U - U U
Kinglets and Gnatcatchers Sp Su F W ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet O - O X ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet C - C O ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher U O U -
Thrushes Sp Su F W ___ Eastern Bluebird O X O R ___ Western Bluebird R - R - ___ Mountain Bluebird U - U O ___ Townsend's Solitaire O - O R ___ Veery R - R - ___ Gray-cheeked Thrush R - R - ___ Swainson's Thrush C R U - ___ Hermit Thrush C - C O ___ Wood Thrush X - X - ___ American Robin C O C U
Mockingbirds and Thrashers Sp Su F W ___ Gray Catbird O X O - ___ Northern Mockingbird* C C C O ___ Sage Thrasher O X O X ___ Brown Thrasher U O U O ___ Curve-billed Thrasher U U U U
Pipits Sp Su F W ___ American Pipit U - U O ___ Sprague's Pipit - - X -
Waxwings Sp Su F W ___ Cedar Waxwing A R U O
Silky Flycatchers Sp Su F W ___ Phainopepla - X - -
SHRIKES Sp Su F W ___ Northern Shrike R - R R ___ Loggerhead Shrike* C U C C
Starlings Sp Su F W ___ European Starling* u o u a
Vireos Sp Su F W ___ Bell's Vireo R R R ___ Solitary Vireo O R O - ___ Yellow-throated Vireo R - R - ___ Warbling Vireo U O U - ___ Philadelpia Vireo X - X - ___ Red-eyed Vireo R X R -
Wood-warblers Sp Su F W ___ Golden-winged Warbler X - - - ___ Tennessee Warbler R X X - ___ Orange-crowned Warbler C O C - ___ Nashville Warbler U O U - ___ Virginia's Warbler R X R - ___ Northern Parula R X R - ___ Yellow Warbler C U C - ___ Chestnut-sided Warbler R - R - ___ Magnolia Warbler R - - - ___ Cape May Warbler X - - - ___ Black-throated Blue Warbler X - R - ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler C - C R ___ Black-throated Gray Warbler R X R - ___ Townsend's Warbler O X R - ___ Black-throated Green Warbler O - O - ___ Blackburnian Warbler R - - - ___ Yellow-throated Warbler X - - - ___ Pine Warbler X - X - ___ Prairie Warbler - - X - ___ Palm Warbler X X X - ___ Bay-breasted Warbler R - X - ___ Blackpoll Warbler R - X - ___ Cerulean Warbler X - - - ___ Black-and-white Warbler O R O - ___ American Redstart U O U - ___ Prothonotary Warbler X - - - ___ Worm-eating Warbler X - - - ___ Ovenbird O - O - ___ Northern Waterthrush U O U - ___ Louisiana Waterthrush X - - - ___ Kentucky Warbler X - - - ___ Connecticut Warbler X - - - ___ Mourning Warbler X - X - ___ MacGillivray's Warbler U R U - ___ Common Yellowthroat U O U - ___ Hooded Warbler R - X - ___ Wilson's Warbler C U C - ___ Canada Warbler X - X - ___ Yellow-breasted Chat U R U -
Tanagers Sp Su F W ___ Summer Tanager R - R - ___ Scarlet Tanager X - X - ___ Western Tanager U O U -
Cardinals and Grosbeaks Sp Su F W ___ Northern Cardinal* U U U U ___ Pyrrhuloxia X - - X ___ Rose-breasted Grosbeak O R O - ___ Black-headed Grosbeak U O U - ___ Blue Grosbeak* C C C - ___ Lazuli Bunting O R O - ___ Indigo Bunting* O R O - ___ Painted Bunting O R O - ___ Dickcissel* U U U -
Sparrows Sp Su F W ___ Green-tailed Towhee U - U - ___ Spotted Towhee C - C C ___ Canyon Towhee R - R X ___ Cassin's Sparrow* C C U - ___ Rufous-crowned Sparrow* U U U R ___ American Tree Sparrow O - O U ___ Chipping Sparrow A O A R ___ Clay-colored Sparrow A O A - ___ Brewer's Sparrow O R O - ___ Field Sparrow O - O O ___ Vesper Sparrow C R C R ___ Lark Sparrow C C C - ___ Sage sparrow X - - X ___ Lark Bunting* A R A O ___ Savannah Sparrow C R C O ___ Baird's Sparrow X - X X ___ Grasshopper Sparrow* C C C - ___ LeConte's Sparrow X - X - ___ Fox Sparrow R - R R ___ Song Sparrow C - C C ___ Lincoln's Sparrow U R U O ___ Swamp Sparrow R - R X ___ White-throated Sparrow O - O - ___ White-crowned Sparrow A X A A ___ Harris's Sparrow R - R R ___ Dark-eyed Junco C - C C ___ McCown's Longspur U - U U ___ Lapland Longspur O - O O ___ Smith's Longspur X - - - ___ Chestnut-collared Longspur U - U U
Blackbirds and Orioles Sp Su F W ___ Red-winged Blackbird* A C A A ___ Eastern Meadowlark - - X - ___ Western Meadowlark* A A A A ___ Yellow-headed Blackbird A U A A ___ Rusty Blackbird - - X X ___ Brewer's Blackbird U - U U ___ Great-tailed Grackle O R O - ___ Common Grackle* U U U - ___ Brown-headed Cowbird* C C C U ___ Orchard Oriole* C C C - ___ Baltimore Oriole R - R - ___ Bullock's Oriole* C C C - ___ Scott's Oriole X - X -
FINCHES Sp Su F W ___ Purple Finch - - X - ___ House Finch* C C C C ___ Red Crossbill X - - - ___ Common Redpoll - - X X ___ Pine Siskin C R C C ___ Lesser Goldfinch - X O - ___ American Goldfinch C O C C ___ Evening Grosbeak R - R R
OLD WORLD SPARROWS Sp Su F W ___ House Sparrow* C C C C
Refuge Manager Buffalo Lake NWR P.O. Box 179 Umbarger, Texas 79091 Telephone: 806/449-3382This resource is based on the following source:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1997. Birds of Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.This resource should be cited as:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1997. Birds of Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.govbufflake.htm (Version 22MAY98).
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