Birds of Galveston & the Upper Texas Coast

The birds people come here for

Roseate SpoonbillPink wading birds on the bay flats; year-round.

Reddish EgretThe dancing heron of the flats; year-round on the coast.

American AvocetBig flocks at Bolivar Flats in fall and winter.

Black SkimmerSkimming the shallows at dusk; nests on the beaches in summer.

Piping PloverThreatened winter visitor on Bolivar Flats.

Royal TernThe big orange-billed tern on every Gulf beach; year-round.

Photographed in Galveston 47

ShorebirdsAmerican AvocetRecurvirostra americanaShorebirdsAmerican OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusShorebirdsBlack-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarolaShorebirdsBlack-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanusSongbirdsBlue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caeruleaVireosBlue-headed VireoVireo solitariusBlackbirds & OriolesBoat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus majorRaptorsBroad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSeabirdsBrown BoobySula leucogasterPelicans & CormorantsBrown PelicanPelecanus occidentalisWaterfowlBuffleheadBucephala albeolaGulls & TernsCaspian TernHydroprogne caspiaPigeons and DovesCommon Ground DoveColumbina passerinaVireosEastern Warbling VireoVireo gilvusGulls & TernsGlaucous GullLarus hyperboreusMockingbirds & ThrashersGray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWaterfowlGreen-winged TealAnas creccaSparrowsHorned LarkEremophila alpestrisShorebirdsHudsonian WhimbrelNumenius hudsonicusGulls & TernsLaughing GullLeucophaeus atricillaGulls & TernsLesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusShorebirdsLong-billed CurlewNumenius americanusSparrowsNelson's SparrowAmmospiza nelsoniPelicans & CormorantsNeotropic CormorantNannopterum brasilianumWaterfowlNorthern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWarblersOrange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataRaptorsOspreyPandion haliaetusShorebirdsPiping PloverCharadrius melodusWading BirdsRoseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajajaGulls & TernsRoyal TernThalasseus maximusShorebirdsRuddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresShorebirdsSanderlingCalidris albaCranesSandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWrensSedge WrenCistothorus stellarisWading BirdsSnowy EgretEgretta thulaShorebirdsSnowy PloverAnarhynchus nivosusRaptorsSwainson's HawkButeo swainsoniWarblersSwainson's WarblerLimnothlypis swainsoniiSparrowsSwamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWading BirdsTricolored HeronEgretta tricolorWading BirdsWhite IbisEudocimus albusShorebirdsWilletTringa semipalmataShorebirdsWilson's PloverCharadrius wilsoniaWarblersWilson's WarblerCardellina pusillaThrushesWood ThrushHylocichla mustelinaWarblersWorm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorumRaptorsYellow-headed CaracaraMilvago chimachima

Also seen in Galveston 180

Birds Bryan has recorded here whose photos below were taken elsewhere in Texas.

FlycatchersAcadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescensRails, Gallinules, CootsAmerican CootFulica americanaCrows and JaysAmerican CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosShorebirdsAmerican Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaFinchesAmerican GoldfinchSpinus tristisGulls & TernsAmerican Herring GullLarus smithsonianusRaptorsAmerican KestrelFalco sparveriusSongbirdsAmerican PipitAnthus rubescensWarblersAmerican RedstartSetophaga ruticillaThrushesAmerican RobinTurdus migratoriusPelicans & CormorantsAmerican White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchosWaterfowlAmerican WigeonMareca americanaPelicans & CormorantsAnhingaAnhinga anhingaBlackbirds & OriolesBaltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSwallows & SwiftsBarn SwallowHirundo rusticaKingfishersBelted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyonGulls & TernsBlack SkimmerRynchops nigerGulls & TernsBlack TernChlidonias nigerRaptorsBlack VultureCoragyps atratusWarblersBlack-and-white WarblerMniotilta variaWaterfowlBlack-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalisHummingbirdsBlack-chinned HummingbirdArchilochus alexandriWarblersBlack-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensCardinals, Grosbeaks & BuntingsBlue GrosbeakPasserina caeruleaCrows and JaysBlue JayCyanocitta cristataWaterfowlBlue-winged TealSpatula discorsWarblersBlue-winged WarblerVermivora cyanopteraGulls & TernsBonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaGulls & TernsBridled TernOnychoprion anaethetusBlackbirds & OriolesBronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneusBlackbirds & OriolesBrown-headed CowbirdMolothrus aterShorebirdsBuff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisWaterfowlCanada GooseBranta canadensisWaterfowlCanvasbackAythya valisineriaWarblersCape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSongbirdsCarolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensisWrensCarolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianusSwallows & SwiftsCave SwallowPetrochelidon fulvaSongbirdsCedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSwallows & SwiftsChimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaSparrowsClay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSwallows & SwiftsCliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonotaRails, Gallinules, CootsCommon GallinuleGallinula galeataWaterfowlCommon GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaBlackbirds & OriolesCommon GrackleQuiscalus quisculaLoons & GrebesCommon LoonGavia immerNightjarsCommon NighthawkChordeiles minorGulls & TernsCommon TernSterna hirundoWarblersCommon YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasRaptorsCooper's HawkAccipiter cooperiiRaptorsCrested CaracaraCaracara plancusCardinals, Grosbeaks & BuntingsDickcisselSpiza americanaPelicans & CormorantsDouble-crested CormorantNannopterum auritumWoodpeckersDowny WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensShorebirdsDunlinCalidris alpinaFlycatchersDusky-capped FlycatcherMyiarchus tuberculiferLoons & GrebesEared GrebePodiceps nigricollisThrushesEastern BluebirdSialia sialisFlycatchersEastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannusBlackbirds & OriolesEastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaFlycatchersEastern PhoebeSayornis phoebeFlycatchersEastern Wood-PeweeContopus virensPigeons and DovesEurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSongbirdsEuropean StarlingSturnus vulgarisGulls & TernsForster's TernSterna forsteriGulls & TernsFranklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanWaterfowlFulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorWaterfowlGadwallMareca streperaSongbirdsGolden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapaWading BirdsGreat Blue HeronArdea herodiasFlycatchersGreat Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusWading BirdsGreat EgretArdea albaOwlsGreat Horned OwlBubo virginianusBlackbirds & OriolesGreat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus mexicanusWaterfowlGreater ScaupAythya marilaShorebirdsGreater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWading BirdsGreen HeronButorides virescensCuckoosGroove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostrisThrushesHermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWaterfowlHooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWarblersHooded WarblerSetophaga citrinaFinchesHouse FinchHaemorhous mexicanusSparrowsHouse SparrowPasser domesticusPigeons and DovesInca DoveColumbina incaCardinals, Grosbeaks & BuntingsIndigo BuntingPasserina cyaneaShorebirdsKilldeerCharadrius vociferusWoodpeckersLadder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisShorebirdsLeast SandpiperCalidris minutillaGulls & TernsLeast TernSternula antillarumWaterfowlLesser ScaupAythya affinisShorebirdsLesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSparrowsLincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWading BirdsLittle Blue HeronEgretta caeruleaSongbirdsLoggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianusWarblersLouisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacillaSeabirdsMagnificent FrigatebirdFregata magnificensWarblersMagnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaWaterfowlMallardAnas platyrhynchosShorebirdsMarbled GodwitLimosa fedoaRaptorsMerlinFalco columbariusParrotsMonk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWaterfowlMottled DuckAnas fulvigulaPigeons and DovesMourning DoveZenaida macrouraWarblersMourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaWarblersNashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaCardinals, Grosbeaks & BuntingsNorthern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisWoodpeckersNorthern FlickerColaptes auratusRaptorsNorthern HarrierCircus hudsoniusWrensNorthern House WrenTroglodytes aedonMockingbirds & ThrashersNorthern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosWarblersNorthern ParulaSetophaga americanaWaterfowlNorthern PintailAnas acutaSwallows & SwiftsNorthern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennisWarblersNorthern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisWarblersNorthern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaBlackbirds & OriolesOrchard OrioleIcterus spuriusWarblersOvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaCardinals, Grosbeaks & BuntingsPainted BuntingPasserina cirisWarblersPalm WarblerSetophaga palmarumShorebirdsPectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosRaptorsPeregrine FalconFalco peregrinusLoons & GrebesPied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWarblersPine WarblerSetophaga pinusSwallows & SwiftsPurple MartinProgne subisWoodpeckersRed-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWaterfowlRed-breasted MerganserMergus serratorVireosRed-eyed VireoVireo olivaceusRaptorsRed-shouldered HawkButeo lineatusRaptorsRed-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisBlackbirds & OriolesRed-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusWading BirdsReddish EgretEgretta rufescensWaterfowlRedheadAythya americanaGulls & TernsRing-billed GullLarus delawarensisWaterfowlRing-necked DuckAythya collarisPigeons and DovesRock PigeonColumba liviaCardinals, Grosbeaks & BuntingsRose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSongbirdsRuby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaHummingbirdsRuby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisWaterfowlRuddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisGulls & TernsSandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSparrowsSavannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensisFinchesScaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataTanagersScarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaFlycatchersScissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusOwlsShort-eared OwlAsio flammeusWaterfowlSnow GooseAnser caerulescensShorebirdsSolitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSparrowsSong SparrowMelospiza melodiaRails, Gallinules, CootsSoraPorzana carolinaShorebirdsSpotted SandpiperActitis maculariusShorebirdsStilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusTanagersSummer TanagerPiranga rubraWaterfowlSurf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataThrushesSwainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusWarblersTennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaWarblersTownsend's WarblerSetophaga townsendiSwallows & SwiftsTree SwallowTachycineta bicolorRaptorsTurkey VultureCathartes auraThrushesVeeryCatharus fuscescensFlycatchersVermilion FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinusSparrowsVesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusRails, Gallinules, CootsVirginia RailRallus limicolaWading BirdsWestern Cattle-EgretArdea ibisBlackbirds & OriolesWestern MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSparrowsWhite-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysVireosWhite-eyed VireoVireo griseusWading BirdsWhite-faced IbisPlegadis chihiShorebirdsWhite-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisRaptorsWhite-tailed HawkGeranoaetus albicaudatusRaptorsWhite-tailed KiteElanus leucurusPigeons and DovesWhite-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaShorebirdsWilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorShorebirdsWilson's SnipeGallinago delicataWrensWinter WrenTroglodytes hiemalisWaterfowlWood DuckAix sponsaWoodpeckersYellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusCuckoosYellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanusWarblersYellow-breasted ChatIcteria virensWarblersYellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWarblersYellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominica

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Other birds possible in the area include 40

40 more species Bryan has recorded in Galveston — all fair game on a tour, photos to come:

• American Barn Owl
• Amur Stonechat
• Baird's Sandpiper
• Black Rail
• Black-billed Cuckoo
• Black-crowned Night Heron
• Black-whiskered Vireo
• Brewer's Blackbird
• Brown Thrasher
• California Gull
• Chuck-will's-widow
• Clapper Rail
• Elegant Tern
• Fish Crow
• Glossy Ibis
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Greater White-fronted Goose
• Gull-billed Tern
• Iceland Gull
• Kentucky Warbler
• King Rail
• Least Bittern
• Least Grebe
• LeConte's Sparrow
• Long-billed Dowitcher
• Marsh Wren
• Northern Gannet
• Pomarine Jaeger
• Prothonotary Warbler
• Red Knot
• Seaside Sparrow
• Semipalmated Plover
• Semipalmated Sandpiper
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Short-billed Dowitcher
• Sprague's Pipit
• Swallow-tailed Kite
• Western Sandpiper
• Yellow-crowned Night Heron
• Yellow-throated Vireo

Other wildlife photographed here

Ghost CrabHorsesSea Purslane