Texas Wildlife Sighting – Rare Visitor Spotted Again for the First Time Since 1961

Birdwatchers across Texas dropped everything this past weekend after a stunning announcement lit up the state’s birding circles—a double-striped thick-knee had been spotted in Wilson County. This strange and rarely seen shorebird hadn’t been documented in Texas since 1961, making the sighting a once-in-a-lifetime event for even the most seasoned birders.

Discovery

The story began quietly on private property near the small town of Nixon, Texas. It wasn’t a seasoned birder who spotted the rare bird—it was the landowner’s grandchildren. They knew it looked unusual and brought it to the attention of their family, who then contacted Ginger Coleman, a known figure in the birding community. She shared a photo in a local birding Facebook group, and from that moment on, things escalated quickly.

Scramble

Within minutes of the post going live, phones buzzed and travel plans were made. Birders packed their gear and hit the road. Dania Sanchez, a birder from the Gulf Coast, didn’t hesitate. “I was sitting at home when I saw the message and quickly got dressed and got on the road with two other local birders,” she told Chron.

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Sanchez wasn’t the only one. Dozens of birders flocked to Nixon, some driving in from as far as Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Harlingen. They knew the odds of seeing a thick-knee in Texas were slim to none—it had only happened once before, more than 60 years ago.

Species

So what exactly is a double-striped thick-knee?

Despite being classified as a shorebird, it doesn’t hang out near water like a sandpiper or heron. Instead, it prefers dry grasslands and open pastures. Its natural range includes southern Mexico, Central America, and parts of northern South America.

The bird is hard to miss. It’s tall and lanky with long yellow legs, a thick bill, and huge eyes that give it an almost cartoonish appearance. It’s also mostly nocturnal, spending its days resting in shade and becoming more active at dusk. That might explain why it stayed hidden in a mesquite thicket for most of the day.

Sighting

The lucky few who arrived early got the best views. Sanchez described the bird as “alert, maybe a little confused, but healthy and able to vocalize and fly.” As more people arrived—over 40 in total—the bird grew more elusive.

But those who stayed until nightfall were rewarded. As the sun set, the thick-knee finally emerged and took flight across an open field. “It flew over us to an open field where the remainder of the birders who stayed late got a treat and saw it for 20 minutes, then we all left,” Sanchez shared.

Rarity

For birders like Sanchez, the trip was absolutely worth it. The thick-knee marked her 531st lifer in Texas and No. 604 in the Lower 48. She called it one of the six rarest birds she’s ever seen in the state.

She ranks it alongside other legendary Texas sightings, including:

• Mercedes southern lapwing
• Galveston yellow-headed caracara
• Anahuac Amur stonechat
• Brownsville gray-collared becard
• Corpus Christi cattle tyrant

That’s some serious company—and only adds to the bird’s status as a “mega rarity” in birding circles.

History

The last time this species was officially recorded in Texas was back in 1961 on King Ranch in Kleberg County. That’s a 64-year gap between sightings, which explains why the birding world was buzzing with excitement.

And this wasn’t the only rare sighting this month.

Bonus

Earlier in September, a snail kite—another Central and South American species—was reported in Fort Bend County. Though the endangered raptor is usually found only in Florida within U.S. borders, this marked just the sixth time it had been recorded in Texas.

For birders, it’s been a month of surprises. And the double-striped thick-knee might just be the highlight of them all.

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