New species of birds were seen in the state of the Texas during 2014, according to a press release by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The bird species are pending approval from the Texas Ornithological Society.
These birds are the red-legged honeycreeper and a pair of common cranes.
The red-legged honeycreeper drew people to Estero Llano Grande State Park on Thanksgiving Day.
A pair of gray-crowned finch was seen north of Dalhart in the Panhandle region on Nov. 20. Common cranes were spotted on Dec. 6 at the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, another Panhandle destination.
This represents almost as many rare birds in Texas this year as in the previous five years combined.
Bird experts are calling these uncommon sightings “vagrants,” oddities that stray from their typical ranges.
Some birders speculate a continental cold snap last month may have encourages lots of birds to move in search of food and cover.
Other possible reasons for the new species are better binoculars and cameras, audio recorders to capture bird calls plus social media and mobile applications.
“This kind of stuff awaits any observer who’s out there looking,” said Cliff Shackelford, a bird biologist with the TPWD. “There will always be vagrants because birds are so mobile. They can show up anywhere, including people’s back yards.” Read more in the weekend Bowie News.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. (Logo provided by the TPWD, no copyright infringement inferred)