This is my birding life list.
It includes observed species since 2020, with earliest positive identification date and location, plus a couple of earlier incidental exceptions that sparked my interest in birding initially.
I am currently a casual and novice birder, so for now the majority of the species included on this list will be more or less local to me and comparatively easy to identify.
Organization based on:
Texas State List of the Texas Bird Records Committee of the Texas Ornithological Society:
texasbirdrecordscommittee.org
Checklist of the American Ornithological Society:
checklist.americanornithology.org
Anseriformes
Anatidae / Waterfowl
- Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
May 2023
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
December 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
November 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
November 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
December 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula)
May 2025
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake
Galliformes
Cracidae / Chachalacas
Odontophoridae / New World quail
Phasianidae / Pheasants
Phoenicopteriformes
Phoenicopteridae / Flamingos
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae / Grebes
Columbiformes
Columbidae / Doves
- White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
April 2020
Galveston, Texas | Campus of University of Texas Medical Branch - Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
February 2025
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Cuculiformes
Cuculidae / Cuckoos
Caprimulgiformes
Caprimulgidae / Nightjars
- Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
June 2023
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Apodiformes
Apodidae / Swifts
Trochilidae / Hummingbirds
- Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
April 2020
Galveston, Texas | Campus of University of Texas Medical Branch
Gruiformes
Rallidae / Rails
- American Coot (Fulica americana)
November 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus)
August 2019
Galveston, Texas | Campus of University of Texas Medical Branch
Aramidae / Limpkins
- Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)
November 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake
Gruidae / Cranes
Charadriiformes / Shorebirds
Haematopodidae / Oystercatchers
Charadriidae / Plovers
- Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
December 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake
Scolopacidae / Sandpipers
Stercorariidae / Jaegers
Laridae / Gulls
- Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
October 2020
Galveston, Texas | John M O’Quinn I-45 Estuarial Corridor - Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
March 2023
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
May 2025
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake
Gaviiformes
Gaviidae / Loons
Procellariiformes / Petrels
Hydrobatidae / Storm petrels
Procellariidae / Petrels
Ciconiiformes
Ciconiidae / Storks
Suliformes
Fregatidae / Frigatebirds
Sulidae / Sulids
Anhingidae / Anhingas
Phalacrocoracidae / Cormorants
- Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianus)
December 2022
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Pelecaniformes
Pelecanidae / Pelicans
- Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
October 2020
Galveston, Texas | John M O’Quinn I-45 Estuarial Corridor
Ardeidae / Herons
- Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
December 2022
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - Tricolor Heron (Egretta tricolor)
May 2025
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
October 2022
Galveston, Texas | John M O’Quinn I-45 Estuarial Corridor - Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
December 2022
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - Great Egret (Ardea alba)
February 2023
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)
October 2020
Galveston, Texas | John M O’Quinn I-45 Estuarial Corridor - Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
November 2021
Houston, Texas | Clear Brook Hike and Bike Trail
Threskiornithidae / Ibises
- White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
September 2023
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
May 2025
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)
October 2020
Galveston, Texas | John M O’Quinn I-45 Estuarial Corridor
Cathartiformes
Cathartidae / New World vultures
- Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
October 2020
Galveston, Texas | John M O’Quinn I-45 Estuarial Corridor
Accipitriformes
Pandionidae / Ospreys
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
June 2024
Melbourne, Florida | Coconut Point Sanctuary
Accipitridae / Raptors
- Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
April 2021
Galveston, Texas | Campus of University of Texas Medical Branch - Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
September 2024
Stafford, Texas | The Fountains Shopping Center - Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
February 2025
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)
May 2025
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
April 2022
Houston, Texas | Clear Brook Hike and Bike Trail
Strigiformes
Tytonidae / Barn owls
Strigidae / Owls
- Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
February 2026
Houston, Texas | Campus of San Jacinto College South
Coraciiformes
Alcedinidae / Kingfishers
Piciformes
Picidae / Woodpeckers
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
December 2022
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
March 2025
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake
Falconiformes
Falconidae / Falcons
- Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)
December 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
February 2025
Houston, Texas | Parker Williams Branch Library
Psittaciformes
Psittacidae / Parrots
- Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)
November 2024
Pearland, Texas | Pearland High School Stadium
Passeriformes
Tyrannidae / Flycatchers
- Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
December 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake
Vireonidae / Vireos
- White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
December 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake
Laniidae / Shrikes
Corvidae / Corvids
- Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
March 2020
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
January 2026
Houston, Texas | Campus of University of Houston Clear Lake
Remizidae / Penduline tits
Paridae / Tits
- Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
March 2021
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Alaudidae / Larks
Hirundinidae / Swallows
- Purple Martin (Progne subis)
September 2024
Stafford, Texas | The Fountains Shopping Center - Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
May 2023
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Aegithalidae / Long-tailed tits
Pycnonotidae / Bulbuls
Regulidae / Kinglets
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)
February 2021
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Bombycillidae / Waxwings
- Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
March 2021
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Ptiliogonatidae / Silky flycatchers
Sittidae / Nuthatches
Certhiidae / Treecreepers
Polioptilidae / Gnatcatchers
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
March 2022
Galveston, Texas | Campus of University of Texas Medical Branch
Troglodytidae / Wrens
- Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
September 2025
Houston, Texas | Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
Mimidae / Mockingbirds
- Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
March 2020
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Sturnidae / Starlings
- European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
November 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake
Turdidae / Thrushes
- Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
November 2024
Houston, Texas | Exploration Green in Clear Lake - American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
December 2024
Houston, Texas | Campus of University of Houston
Estrildidae/ Waxbills
- Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
September 2025
Houston, Texas | Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary [EXOTIC]
Passeridae / Old-World sparrows
Motacillidae / Pipits
Fringillidae / Finches
- House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
May 2023
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington
Calcariidae / Longspurs
Passerellidae / New-World sparrows
Icteriidae / New-World chats
Icteridae / New-World blackbirds
- Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
March 2025
Houston, Texas | El Dorado Park & Ride of Harris County Metro - Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
April 2020
Galveston, Texas | Campus of University of Texas Medical Branch
Parulidae / New-World warblers
- Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
March 2018
Galveston, Texas | Campus of University of Texas Medical Branch - Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
February 2021
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington - Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
September 2025
Houston, Texas | Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
Cardinalidae / Cardinals
- Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
March 2020
Houston, Texas | Neighborhood in South Belt – Ellington