By Jorjanna Price

Question: Which bird best represents Travis Audubon?

The Golden-cheeked Warbler, of course! That’s because this petite songbird has been the treasured emblem of our organization for decades. Of the thousands of bird species living in Texas or migrating through, the Golden-cheeked is the only one to breed and raise its young solely in Texas. This Lone Star native nests each spring in the Hill Country and is federally classified as endangered due to diminishing habitat.

Here’s another question: What bird best represents Texas?

That’s the question Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine posed in May 2024. They asked readers and social media followers to vote on one of eight iconic birds that best represents our state.

The winner was the speedy Roadrunner, known for zipping across the ground as fast as 20 mph. Second place – tah-tah! – went to our very own Golden-cheeked Warbler, which is identified by its rich black-and-gold plumage. The warbler even bested the Mockingbird, which has been Texas’ state bird since the 1920s and polled third.

The magazine received almost 2,000 responses to the survey.

Great Roadrunner: 25%
Golden-cheeked Warbler: 23%
Northern Mockingbird: 20%
Great-tailed Grackle: 9%
Crested Caracara: 7%
Painted Bunting: 6%
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: 5%
Whooping Crane: 3%
Loggerhead Shrike: 2%

Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, July issue