Wildlife

Birds

From Crested Caracaras to Whistling Ducks

The refuge supports over 250 species of birds besides the Attwater’s prairie-chicken. They may not receive as much attention as the refuge namesake, but your chances of seeing a number of them are much higher. Among the ranks are some impressive birds that you don’t have a chance to spot just every day.

Both fulvous and black-bellied whistling ducks inhabit refuge marshes. A far cry from a typical stubby duck with a familiar quack, these birds sport long legs and necks and yes, they whistle.

White-tailed hawks soar over the prairies. Crested caracaras and vultures keep a sharp lookout for carrion. These scavengers are like the janitors of the grasslands, cleaning up after other wildlife.

During the summer months, scissor-tailed flycatchers and dickcissels grace the grasslands. In the marshes, roseate spoonbills carry the pink glow of a morning sunrise on their wings. You might see anhingas perched on branches with their wings spread wide to dry.

In winter, geese abound in neighboring fields, while the refuge hosts a diversity of ducks, sandhill cranes, Sprague’s pipit, and several types of sparrows.

Birds of Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR
(species list)

Mammals
Reptiles and Amphibians