Setophaga chrysoparia
Silhouette: Dylan GE Gomes · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) is an endangered species of bird that breeds in Central Texas, from Palo Pinto County southwestward along the eastern and southern edge of the Edwards Plateau to Kinney County. The golden-cheeked warbler is the only bird species with a breeding range endemic to Texas.
The golden-cheeked warbler is very striking due to its bright yellow cheeks that are contrasted by its black throat and back. It is also identified by its unique buzzing song emerging from the wooded canyons where it breeds. Golden-cheeked warblers breed in 33 counties in central Texas and are dependent on ashe juniper (blueberry juniper or cedar) for their fine bark strips used as nesting material.
The golden-cheeked warbler can be found in numerous state parks within Texas. These parks include Colorado Bend State Park (SP), Dinosaur Valley SP, Garner SP, Guadalupe River SP, Honey Creek State Natural Area (SNA), Hill Country SNA, Kerr Management Area, Longhorn Cavern SP, Lost Maples SNA, Meridian SP, Pedernales Falls SP, Possum Kingdom SP, and South Llano River SP.
The golden-cheeked warbler is endemic to Texas and Mexico... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celaque National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 2 | La Tigra National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 3 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Cañón del Sumidero National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Antonio | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Golden-cheeked Warbler sighting in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park on a given day, based on 54 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 150th most-seen of the 275 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March and June
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Golden-cheeked Warbler in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April–May and July–February, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Golden-cheeked Warbler sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
3rd of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Golden-cheeked Warbler sightings, Cumbres de Monterrey National Park ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Celaque National Park (Honduras, about 10%) and La Tigra National Park (Honduras, about 10%).
Same genus: Setophaga
The closest relatives of the Golden-cheeked Warbler that you can see in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (genus Setophaga, Setophaga Warblers) are Tropical Parula (about 30%), Yellow-rumped Warbler (about 30%) and Black-throated Green Warbler (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Golden-cheeked Warbler is recorded against all the birds logged in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (54 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
