Birds of the Texas Panhandle

Book excerpt: The vast, open plains of the Texas Panhandle appear deceptively void of bird life, but subtle regional variations provide rich and varied avifauna. Of the approximately six hundred species of birds sighted in Texas, more than two-thirds have been confirmed on the Texas Panhandle. The wooded waterways of the plains of the eastern Panhandle attract such eastern nesting species as the Red-headed Woodpecker and Carolina Chickadee. The gently rolling terrain of the High Plains and its scattered rainwater lakes, or playas, provide a winter habitat for a variety of migrating waterfowl. Canyons etched deeply into the otherwise flat terrain create sheltered places where such western birds as the Western Scrub-Jay and Bushtit thrive and breed. For each of the more than four hundred species found in this region, author Kenneth D. Seyffert provides information on the bird's status, occurrence, and nesting habits. Ten elegant line drawings also accompany the text. Birds of the Texas Panhandle is a must for those already familiar with the avifauna of the Panhandle and an eyeopener for those skeptical of the abundance of bird life in the region. Residents fo the Panhandle will find this a handy reference to places where they can view their winged neighbors.