Rare bird seen in Texas, likely first time ever in U.S.
Bird enthusiasts flocked to Corpus after the news broke.
By Priscilla AguirreNov 17, 2023
Amanda Cherutte/Getty Images
Many bird enthusiasts flocked to Corpus Christi after hearing about a rare bird being spotted in the Texas beach town on Sunday, November 13, according to a Facebook post from Visit Corpus Christi. Texas birders believe the sighting of the rarely-seen bird may be one of the first in the United States.
The bird spotted was a Cattle Tyrant, according to Visit Corpus Christi. The medium-sized flycatcher has a fairly widespread range in South America, according to eBird. The bird is unique for typically being found on or near the ground, where pairs or small flocks follow grazing animals. It's usually found in open habitats, including farmland and marshes.
Joan Holt, a bird enthusiast, told 3News that the bird had never been seen in the United States before and happened to be in downtown Corpus Christi last weekend. He drove to Corpus Christi from Port Aransas to see the bird after it was first spotted around Corpus Christi on Saturday.
This isn't the first time bird enthusiasts traveled to the Texas coast for a bird sighting. Galveston Island posted about an "extremely rare" Mangrove Cuckoo sighting that occurred in May 2023. It was the first sighting of the Mangrove Cuckoo in the Galveston area since 1982.
Outside of its small range in Florida, the Mangrove Cuckoo is widespread from northern Mexico south through the West Indies and Central America to South America. The birds rarely stray from Mexico north into Texas and the Gulf Coast.
Nov 17, 2023
mysanantonio.com
Range of the Cattle Tyrant:
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