Birds of the Texas Panhandle

The vast, open plains of the Texas Panhandle appear deceptively void of bird life, but subtle regional variations provide a rich array of avifauna. Of the approximately six hundred species of birds sighted in Texas, more than two-thirds have been confirmed in the Texas Panhandle.

The wooded waterways of the eastern Panhandle attract such eastern nesting species as the red-headed woodpecker and Carolina chickadee. The terrain of the High Plains and its scattered rainwater lakes provide a winter habitat for a variety of migrating waterfowl. Canyons etched deeply into the otherwise flat land create sheltered places where 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 eye-opener for those skeptical of the abundance of bird life in the region. Residents of the Panhandle will find this a handy reference to places where they can view their winged neighbors.

About the Author:
Kenneth D. Seyffert is an avocational birder living in Amarillo, Texas, who is known throughout the state and nationally as an authority on the birds of the Panhandle. He is a past vice-president of the Texas Ornithological Society, a past president of the Texas Panhandle Audubon Society, and a founding member of the Texas Bird Records Committee. He is a regional director of the Texas Breeding Bird Atlas Project.