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State of Texas

Green Jay Cyanocorax luxuosus ©Andy Morffew (CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons) Website

Texas is the most populous state in the South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west, and an international border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south and southwest. Texas has a coastline on the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast. It covers over 695,000 km2 (over 268,000 square miles), and has around 31 million residents. It is the second-largest state by both area and population. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State for its former status as an independent republic. The Lone Star can be found on the Texas state flag and the Texas state seal.

Texas is in the south-central part of the United States. The Rio Grande forms a natural border with Mexico. The Red River forms a natural border with Oklahoma and Arkansas to the north. The Sabine River forms a natural border with Louisiana to the east.

With 10 climatic regions, 14 soil regions and 11 distinct ecological regions, regional classification becomes complicated with differences in soils, topography, geology, rainfall, and plant and animal communities. One classification system divides Texas, in order from southeast to west, into the following: Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and Basin and Range Province.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf Coastal Plains – ©Larry D. Moore CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Gulf Coastal Plains region wraps around the Gulf of Mexico on the southeast section of the state. Vegetation in this region consists of thick piney woods. The Interior Lowlands region consists of gently rolling to hilly forested land and is part of a larger pine-hardwood forest. The Cross Timbers region and Caprock Escarpment are part of the Interior Lowlands. The Great Plains region in Central Texas spans through the state’s panhandle and Llano Estacado to the state’s hill country near Lago Vista and Austin. This region is dominated by prairie and steppe.

The most varied of the regions, this area includes Sand Hills, the Stockton Plateau, desert valleys, wooded mountain slopes and desert grasslands.

Texas has 3,700 named streams and 15 major rivers, with the Rio Grande as the largest. Other major rivers include the Pecos, the Brazos, Colorado, and Red River. While Texas has few natural lakes, Texans have built more than a hundred artificial reservoirs.

The large size of Texas and its location at the intersection of multiple climate zones gives the state highly variable weather. The Panhandle of the state has colder winters than North Texas, while the Gulf Coast has mild winters. Texas has wide variations in precipitation patterns. El Paso, on the western end of the state, averages less than 9 inches of annual rainfall, while parts of southeast Texas average as much as 64 inches. Dallas in the North Central region averages a more moderate 37 inches (940 mm) per year. Night-time summer temperatures range from 14 °C in the West Texas mountains to 27 °C in Galveston.

Palo Duro State Park in the Texas Panhandle – ©Peter Fitzgerald CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Texas is the home to 65 species of mammals, 213 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the American green tree frog, and the greatest diversity of bird life in the United States, 590 species in all. At least 12 species have been introduced and now reproduce freely in Texas. During the spring Texas wildflowers such as the state flower, the bluebonnet, line highways throughout Texas.

Birding Texas

Texas is a haven for birds and birders. No other state in the United States has more species within its boundaries. There are currently over 620 species documented in Texas, that is almost 75 percent of all bird species recorded in the continental United States. One of the reasons Texas is so birdy is due to its variety of habitats. Mountains, deserts, beaches, grasslands, swamps, riparian woodlands and coniferous forest can all be found and each holds its own variety of birds and other wildlife.

Texas has many locations to enjoy birds. Numerous state parks and national parks can be found throughout. The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail extends along the entire Texas coast for 500 miles listing well over 300 birding sites. Accompanying maps help the visiting birder get to these sites and list some of the possible bird species that can be found. Another birding trail will extend from South Texas to North Texas.

A week long birding competition is held every April. The Great Texas Birding Classic is a competition in which birding teams compete against each other in trying to locate as many bird species as possible within a 24-hour period. All money raised goes to bird conservation projects. Texas is a birder-friendly state and it wants everyone to know about it. Texas also leads the country in the number of birding-related events and festivals.

Big Bend National Park – ©Yinan Chen, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Many bird species are found here that do not occur elsewhere in the US. Texas is the only state in the US where Golden-cheeked and Colima Warblers can be found. Many endangered and threatened birds are either residents in, or winter visitors to the state. Many restaurants, hotels and lodges are aimed at attracting birdwatchers.

A trip to Texas is strongly recommended for both expert and novice birders. It is a state with memorable scenery and birdlife. Please visit the links below for more information.

Birding The Rio Grande Valley

The southernmost tip of Texas known as the Rio Grande Valley is one of the most popular birding and butterfly watching hotspots in the world. The four counties of Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron form a subtropical coastal region with mild, dry winters and hot and humid summers. Inland, the drier landscape is dominated by thick spiny brush. The unique climate in South Texas attracts nature aficionados from all over the nation, especially for birding and butterfly watching. The majority of Texan birds, butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles and mammals can be found in South Texas – making it a premier spot for nature parks and wildlife.The Rio Grande Valley also hosts eight annual nature festivals, as well as having many nature trails, viewing areas and events.

(If you can only visit one area I thoroughly recommend the lower Rio Grande Valley where one not only has lots of the US special birds, but also a lot of birds more commonly associated with Central America! – Fatbirder)

Top Sites

Aransas NWR
Webpage Satellite View
This is the site for overwintering Whooping Cranes and an observation tower has been built to give long views over the marshes and island where they may be found. The tower is ramped for wheelchair users and gives terrific views of many waterbirds and waders. [Brilliant for herpetologists too with many species of snakes sunning themselves on tracks in the early mornings]
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Satellite View
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park features more than 325 species of birds and over 250 species of butterflies on 760 acres of riparian woodland. Witness amazing hawk migrations, and enjoy bird walks and natural history tours at this key migratory stopover…
Chihuahua Woods Perserve
Satellite View
Chihuahua Woods Perserve in southern Hidalgo County is west of Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, just south of the railroad tracks, immediately south of Business Highway 83 and west of FM 1427. It is a creation of the Nature Conservancy of Texas.
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands
Satellite View
A 40-acre wetlands oasis in the midst of a lively urban landscape, the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands offers watchable wildlife year-round in a setting friendly to birds, butterflies and other water-loving creatures…
Estero Llano Grande State Park
Satellite View
At the geographic center of the World Birding Center network, Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco attracts a spectacular array of South Texas wildlife with its varied landscape of shallow lake, woodlands and thorn forest. Even beginning birders and nature lovers will enjoy exploring this 176-acre refuge, which is convenient to all the Rio Grande Valley has to offer…
Falcon State Park
Satellite View
Falcon State Park in Zapata County - This is a Texas State Park. Day use, and Camping are allowed. Public access to Falcon Lake, (part of the Rio Grande behind Falcon Dam) is provided by this park.
Laguna Atascosa NWR
Satellite View
Laguna Atascosa NWR is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, an oasis for wildlife with few alternatives. The refuge's 45,000 acres become more valuable with each acre lost to development--valuable to wildlife and valuable to those who enjoy wildlife in wildlands….
Sabal Palm Sanctuary
Satellite View
The Center is home to many native species of plants and animals that reach the northernmost limit of their Mexican range here and do not occur elsewhere in the U.S. Cradled in a bend of the Rio Grande along the U.S./Mexico border, the Sabal Palm Audubon Center harbors one of the most beautiful and critical ecosystems of South Texas and Northern Mexico….
Santa Ana NWR
Satellite View
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is a 2,080-acre natural preserve on the banks of the Rio Grande seven miles south of Alamo in Hidalgo County. The refuge is noted for its unusual birds, mammals, butterflies, and plants…
South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
Satellite View
A slender thread of land between the shallow Laguna Madre and the rolling Gulf of Mexico, South Padre Island anchors the World Birding Center with nature adventures in every season…
Trinity River Water Bird Rookery
Facebook Page Satellite View
There is a new handicapped accessible board walk at the Trinity River Water Bird Rookery in Chambers County. It leads to an observation platform where there are benches. This is located where Interstate 10 crosses the Trinty River. From the observation platform one may observe the following egrets and herons: Great, Snowy, Great Blue, Little Blue, Green, Tri-colored, Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night Herons. There are also nesting Neo-tropical Cormorants and Anhingas, White Ibis, and many Roseate Spoonbills. There are wintering waterfowl there as well as migrants in season. In the spring there are also many Trans-Gulf migrant passerines and flycatchers. This location is less than a half hour from the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.

Contributors

Sue Levy
Upper Texas Coast | Slevy53@aol.com
Oscar Carmona
Kerrville, Texas | hookbilledkite@hotmail.com
Website

Number of Species

Number of bird species: 687

(As at October 2024)
State Bird: Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Checklist

Avibase
PDF Checklist
This checklist includes all bird species found in Texas , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.
Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC)
Checklist
Presumptive Species List The following is the official TBRC list of species for which written descriptions of sight records have been accepted by the TBRC but the species has not yet met the requirements for full acceptance on the Texas List (identifiable specimen, photo, video, or audio recording).
Texas Parks & Wildlife
PDF Checklist
A Checklist of Texas Birds
Wikipedia
Annotated List
The list of birds of Texas is the official list of species recorded in the U.S. state of Texas according to the Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC) of the Texas Ornithological Society. As of January 2024, the list contained 664 species.
eBird
PDF Checklist
This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.

Useful Reading

A Birder's Guide to the Rio Grande Valley

| By Mark W Lockwood, William B McKinney, James N Paton and Barry R Zimmer | ABA | Edition 4 | 2008 | Paperback | 328 pages, b/w photos, b/w maps | ISBN: 9781878788498 Buy this book from NHBS.com
ABA Field Guide to Birds of Texas

| By Mark W Lockwood & Brian E Small | Scott & Nix, Inc | 2016 | Paperback | 321 pages, colour photos | ISBN: 9781935622536 Buy this book from NHBS.com
All About Birds Texas & Oklahoma

| By Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO) | Princeton University Press | 2022 | Paperback | 320 pages, 952 colour photos, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9780691990064 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Backyard Birdwatching in Houston

| (An Introduction to Birding and Common Backyard Birds of Southeastern Texas) | by Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Waterford Press | 2019 | Unbound | 12 pages, colour illustrations | ISBN: 9781620053560 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birders Guide to Texas

| By Edward A Kutac | Rowman & Littlefield | 1998 | Paperback | 383 pages, Illustrations, maps | ISBN: 9780884155515 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding Trails: Texas Prairies and Pineywoods, Panhandle

| By Jim Foster | Sandhill Crane Press | 2011 | Paperback | 376 pages, 200+ colour photos, colour maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9781932098907 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Texas

| By Todd Telander | Falcon Guides | 2012 | Paperback | 96 pages, colour illustrations | ISBN: 9780762774203 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Texas Field Guide

| By Stan Tekiela | Adventure Publications | Edition 2 | 2020 | Paperback | 448 pages, colour photos | ISBN: 9781647550622 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Texas: A Field Guide

| By JH Rappole & GW Blacklock | Texas A & M University Press | 1994 | Hardback | 280 pages, 614 colour photos, 622 maps | ISBN: 9780890965443 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Book of Texas Birds

| By Gary Clark & Kathy Adams Clark | Texas A & M University Press | 2022 | Paperback | 500 pages, 500 colour photos | ISBN: 9781648430701 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Chasing Birds Across Texas

| (A Birding Big Year) | Mark T Adams | Texas A & M University Press | 2006 | Paperback | 254 pages, 15 colour photos, b/w illustrations, maps | ISBN: 9781585442966 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Feeder Birds of Texas

| (A Folding Pocket Guide to Common Backyard Birds) | By Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO) | Waterford Press | 2017 | Unbound | 12 pages, colour illustrations | ISBN: 9781620052204 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Finding Birds in South Texas

| By Dave Gosney | Easybirder | 2011 | Paperback | 40 pages, b/w maps | ISBN: 9781907316319 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Great Texas Birds

| Edited by Suzanne Winkler & John P O'Neill | University of Texas Press | 2000 | Hardback | 120 pages, 48 colour plates, 1 b/w figures | ISBN: 9780292760530 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Nesting Birds of a Tropical Frontier

| The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas | By T Brush | Texas A & M University Press | 2005 | Paperback | 245 pages, 31 Colour photos, 6 maps, illustrations | ISBN: 9781585444908 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Raptors of Texas

| A Natural History of Diurnal Birds of Prey | By C Craig Farquhar & Clint W Boal | Texas A & M University Press | 2022 | Hardback | 319 pages, 91 colour & 1 b/w photos, 30 colour & b/w illustrations, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781623499204 Buy this book from NHBS.com
The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds

| By Mark W Lockwood & Brush Freeman | Texas A & M University Press | 2014 | Paperback | 467 pages, 64 plates with 150 colour photos; 8 b/w illustrations, 641 b/w distribution maps, tables | ISBN: 9781623491208 Buy this book from NHBS.com

Birding Aps

BirdsEye Texas Ornithological Society
Apple iOS |
| Birds In The Hand, LLC | 20.6 MB | Requires iOS 7.0 or later |

Texas Ornithological Society provides this FREE app to help you find birds around Texas!!

Festivals & Bird Fairs

Balcones Canyonlands Songbird Festival
Webpage
The Balcones Canyonlands Songbird Festival is a celebration of nature through a collection of interpretive events designed to help you experience both bird species and their habitat. Experienced guides host bird walks on closed portions of the refuge and help birders from around the world add to their life lists.
Birding The Border
Webpage
Every spring, bird enthusiasts flock to Val Verde and Kinney counties, Texas, for Birding the Border, an extraordinary event set against the vibrant backdrop of the Central Flyway. Nestled at the crossroads of three distinct ecoregions, this location offers unparalleled opportunities to observe a diverse array of avian species in the unique borderlands of southwest Texas.
Celebration of Flight
Webpage
This festival is a celebration of raptor migration of the Corpus Christi HawkWatch at Hazel Bazemore County Park.
Davis Mountains Hummingbird Celebration
Website
FeatherFest
Website
If you’re a serious or casual bird-watcher or nature photographer…..an experienced or new outdoor enthusiast…..or someone who wants some exercise, fresh air and sunshine and something different to do…..you’ll want to join us at FeatherFest.
Galveston FeatherFest
Website
Galveston is one of the top locations for birding in the nation, and FeatherFest is held during early spring migration - a great time to visit world-renowned birding hot spots like Bolivar Flats and High Island. Also see their Facebook page
Great Texas Birding Classic
Webpage
The biggest, longest, wildest birdwatching tournament in the U.S.!
HummerBird Celebration
Webpage
Welcome to the 37th Annual Rockport-Fulton HummerBird Celebration! We offer speaker programs, shopping, birding trips, hummer home bus tours and much more. You don't want to miss the spectacular annual hummingbird migration through Rockport and Fulton, Texas.
Laredo Birding Festival
Website
Blessed with a rich and diverse river eco-system, Laredo is home to hundreds of species of local and migratory birds. Our prized birds include the White-collared Seedeater (recently renamed Morelet’s Seedeater), Scaled Quail, Gray Hawk, Audubon’s and Altamira Orioles, Green Parakeets, Muscovy Duck, Red-billed Pigeon and Clay-colored Thrush, among many others.
Matagorda Bay Birdfest
Website
...an educational event in Palacios, TX connecting people birds and nature...
Rio Grande Birding Festival
Website
Every November! The Rio Grande Valley (actually a delta, where the Rio Grande meets the sea) is the place for the single greatest concentration of unique, endemic avian species in the continental U.S. And they’re eye-popping sub-tropical species…
Spring Chirp
Website
Wing it to Weslaco for the wonders of spring!
The Birdiest festival in America
Website
With a whopping 659 species, South Texas is home to many species of birds, some that are found nowhere else in America. This abundance and variety peaks during the Spring Migration.
Whooping Crane Festival
Website
Port Aransas welcomes you and hopes that you will pardon our dust, as there is much to celebrate this year. The Whooping Crane population is at a record high –an estimated 431 cranes wintered at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge last year. This summer, a record 63 Whooping Crane chicks fledged on the cranes’ breeding grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada. The Whooping Crane Festival celebrates the annual return of the cranes to their wintering habitat. The Texas Coastal Bend is the only place where you can see the world’s last naturally-occurring population of Whooping Cranes.

Observatories

About Kerrville Bird Observatory Network
Observatory Website Satellite View
The Kerrville Bird Observatory Network (KBON) is an educational initiative consisting of up to sixteen new bird blinds around the City of Kerrville.
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
Observatory Website Satellite View
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory is an independent non-profit organization headquartered on the upper Texas coast.
Heard Wildlife Sanctuary
Banding Station Satellite View
The station shares data with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) and participates in The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) “MAPS” program (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) by contributing our data to an international effort.
Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
Observatory Website Satellite View
The Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory is a program of the Austin Water Utility's Center for Environmental Research at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant. The 1200-acre Hornsby Bend site is located in southeast Austin, Texas...
LLELA's Banding Station
Banding Station Satellite View
The LLELA Bird Banding Station is operated by the University of North Texas Institute of Applied Science.
Trinity River Audubon Center,
Banding Station Satellite View
At Trinity River Audubon Center, we began a long-term bird monitoring program in the summer of 2023. During the summer and winter when birds are on their home territories, we capture birds using traps called mist-nets, place bands on the birds, and collect data on age, sex, and body condition. A priority is placed on the safety and well-being of the birds, and the trained researchers and volunteers working on this project handle the birds carefully and quickly before releasing them back into the wild.

Museums & Universities

Dallas Museum of Natural History & The Mudge Library
Museum
The Museum holds the second largest scientific collection of birds in Texas, consisting of over 6,600 specimens. Although most of these are preserved as study skins, 1,400 specimens, representing some 500 species, have been taxidermy mounted for display. Among the more significant included in this collection are a Passenger Pigeon and three Ivory-billed Woodpeckers (two of which are on permanent display). There are also a number of specimens collected by H.P. Attwater, for whom Attwater's Prarie Chicken is named. Specimens from the Attwater Collection date back to the 1880s. The Mudge Library is one of the finest collections of illustrated bird books in the country. It contains rare bird books dating back to 1536, with works by such noted naturalist-artists as Audubon, Gould, Wilson, Sharpe, Lear, Catesby, and Baird. All of these collections are available by appointment to interested parties.
Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary
Museum
Over 220 birds species have been observed at the Heard and 61 species have been documented nesting at Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Museum
The new dioramas in the Education Wing have been a regular part of the museum for several decades. When their occupied space was deemed essential for renovation, museum staff was unable to simply throw away these dioramas with their rich and fine detail. Instead we decided to make an effort to do what museums do best – conserve these precious historical antiquities, preserving them for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.

Organisations

Audubon Society in Texas
Website
Offices & Chapters; Centers & Sanctuaries; Upcoming Events
Audubon Dallas
Website
Today, Audubon Dallas consists of approximately 2,700 members with a focus on birds and wildlife. One of our primary goals is to raise funds in order to expand our current programs, field trips and volunteer efforts in order to reach more children and family groups. We hope these family programs will foster discussions in the home, and make every family aware of the important role it plays in the local environmental community. We teach about our local flora and fauna including the importance of the preservation of local ecosystems through conservation. We post regularly on our Facebook Page and keep records of the birds of Dallas County.
Audubon Texas HQ
Website
Audubon Texas is the state program of the National Audubon Society. We are working with local chapters, cities, state agencies, and public and private landowners to restore three million acres of grassland habitat, manage 13,000 acres of island sanctuaries along the Texas coast and educate 50,000 students and adults on an annual basis…
Bastrop County Audubon Society
Website
Bastrop County is located in the southeastern portion of central Texas, 30 miles east of Austin, the capital of the state. Our mission is to promote the conservation, restoration, and enjoyment of natural resources and habitats for birds and other wildlife.
Bexar Audubon
Website
Nature conservation for the San Antonio area...
Big Country Audubon Society
Website
We hope you find it informative — we've got all the latest birding news. We hope you find it helpful — we've got directions to birding places. And we hope you find it attractive — we've posted lots of pictures of our birds in the Big Country.
Central Texas Audubon Society
Facebook Page
Organized in 1969, this group became a member of National Audubon and continues to work with the community on issues about the environment...
Century Club
Webpage
The TOS Century Club is a fun competition to encourage you to get out and explore the great state of Texas and discover the diversity in each county! Texas has 254 counties, and the goal of Century Club participants is to log at least 100 species in at least 100 counties. There's no time limit and lists can be combined over different periods. And you don't have to stop there. Feel free to keep exploring!
Coastal Bend Audubon
Website
The Coastal Bend of Texas has one of the most diverse and abundant bird populations in North America. Situated next to the largest hypersaline lagoon and longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island on earth, it is a unique area where tropical meets sub-tropical, sea meets semi-arid land, and two major flyways converge. The Coastal Bend Audubon Society is committed to conserving, protecting, and promoting the wildlife and habitat of our remarkable little corner of Texas.
Corpus Christi Audubon Outdoor Club
Website
Cultivating the natural beauty of Corpus Christi through preservation, activism and education - The Audubon Outdoor Club was founded by forward-thinking residents of Corpus Christi in 1957 to guarantee the continued stewardship of the city's unique natural and ecological resources.
El Paso Trans-Pecos Audubon Society
Facebook Page
We are a chapter of the National Audubon Society. We have a large territory, all of Texas west of the Pecos River ("Trans-Pecos"). Our members are found throughout the Trans-Pecos, but most live in the region's largest city, El Paso. Birds, birding, wildlife, the environment, and our community are the concerns of the El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society (EP/TPAS).
Fort Worth Audubon Society
Website
The Fort Worth Audubon Society meets the second Thursday of each month (except June, July and August). The meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. but please come early for the mini-ID class that begins at 6:50 PM. Meetings are held in Room 100 (known as the Everett Lecture Hall), in the Research and Education (RES) building at the University of North Texas Health Science Center on 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard (at Montgomery Street). Use Parking Lot 6 on Clifton Street. Enter the RES building ground floor at the northwest corner of Parking Lot 6, turn right and go down the hall keeping the south-facing windows on your right.
Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Website
The mission of the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge shall be to educate the public regarding the flora, fauna, and natural environment of the Refuge, through functions and educational events, promote public support for the Refuge by encouraging and organizing volunteer services, and solicit public donations for use in supporting, assisting, and enhancing ongoing conservation projects on the Refuge.
Frontera Audubon
Website
The mission of Frontera Audubon is to preserve and promote the natural and historical environment for the education and enjoyment of the South Texas community.
Golden Triangle Audubon
Website
Golden Triangle Audubon is dedicated to promoting an increased awareness of birds in Texas. Golden Triangle Audubon is for everyone! Founded in 1996, the organization has a growing number of amateurs and professionals interested in birds and birding in Texas. Golden Triangle Audubon hosts a series of Field Trips throughout the year - opportunities to hone your birding skills. Our publication, the Brown Pelican, is a wealth of information featuring articles about Texas birds, birders, and birding locales; illustrations and photography, research paper, seasonal highlights, and much more! Golden Triangle Audubon welcomes everyone to explore our web site. Learn more about our organization and ways to become involved with Texas bird life.
Houston Audubon Society
Website
Houston Audubon is a regional nonprofit conservation, education and advocacy organization that focuses on protecting the natural environment for birds and people. A significant part of our work is owning and managing nature sanctuaries to protect habitat for birds and provide people recreational opportunities in nature. We were accredited as a land trust in July 2017.
Huntsville Audubon Society
Website
A Texas Chapter of the National Audubon Society - Our chapter meets the third Thursday of each month, January - May and September - November (there are no meetings June - August). Meetings are held in the Parish Hall at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church - 5019 Sam Houston Ave, Huntsville, TX 77340 and begin at 6:00 pm.
Llano Estacado Audubon Society - Lubbock
Facebook Page
Positioned within the Central Flyway and encompassing diverse habitats including: canyons, farmlands, grass- lands, thousands of playa wetlands, range, reservoirs, riparian areas, saline lakes, and urban areas. The LEAS territory is vital for birds, especially neotropical migrants and wetland birds.
Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club
Website
The Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club is a non-profit conservation organization, dedicated to the preservation and educational study of the birds of Texas.
Monte Mucho Audubon Society
Website
To promote conservation and preservation of a healthy habitat in the South Texas region, to encourage the appreciation of birds and other wildlife and to provide educational programs to garner public support on environmental issues.
Nature Conservancy in Texas
Webpage
Donate today to keep Texas’ natural environment thriving for future generations.
Northeast Texas Field Ornithologists
Facebook Page
Northeast Texas Field Ornithologists (NETFO) is an independent, non-profit organization formed in 1990 for the purpose of encouraging the observation, study, appreciation and conservation of birds and to promote the discovery and dissemination of knowledge about birds, particularly in the Northeast Texas area.area…
Outdoor Nature Club
Website
The Outdoor Nature Club (ONC) is a nonprofit educational and scientific organization for all ages.
Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society
Website
Organized in 1980, Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society serves Collin County and surrounding counties. We invite you and your family to join our all volunteer range of nature-oriented activities. Monthly meetings are scheduled the 4th Tuesday, 6:30pm, September through November and January through May. They are free and open to the public. Programs are related to wildlife, ecology, conservation and of course, BIRDS!
Rio Brazos Audubon Society
Website
The Rio Brazos Audubon Society promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation of native birds and their habitat through birding classes, local and regional field trips, habitat restoration, and conservation advocacy. We are committed to service and education for residents and visitors to the Brazos Valley.
Rio Grande Delta Audubon Society
Webpage
Dedicated to conservation of our native habitat for the protection of birds and other wildlife, and to the enhancement and appreciation of our environment.
San Antonio Audubon Society
Website
San Antonio Audubon Society (SAAS) is a local independent birding club. SAAS promotes the appreciation, understanding, protection and conservation of native birds and their habitats through participation and educational activities. SAAS offers monthly meetings, field trips throughout the year, and volunteer opportunities. Members are involved with education/outreach programs throughout the community. Additionally they sponsor and endorse citizen science projects such as the Great Backyard Bird Count, eBird, bird surveys, and the annual Bexar County Christmas Bird Count. Also see our Facebook page.
Texas Birds Records Committee
Website
The TBRC has officially added White-crowned Pigeon and Great Black Hawk to the state list. A White-crowned Pigeon was found injured near the Galveston Ferry (Galveston County) on 7 Oct 2017 while the Great Black Hawk was a surprising bird on South Padre Island (Cameron County) on 24 Apr 2018. The acceptance of these 2 species brings the State List to 649 in good standing.
Texas Ornithological Society
Website
The Texas Ornithological Society (TOS) was founded in 1953 as a nonprofit organization. The purpose of the Society is to promote the discovery and dissemination of knowledge of birds; to encourage specifically the observation, study and conservation of birds in Texas; to encourage the formation of local birding clubs; and to stimulate cooperation among professional ornithologists.
Texas Panhandle Audubon Society
Website
The Texas Panhandle Audubon Society (TPAS) is the oldest environmental organization in the Texas panhandle. Founded in 1952 by a small group of conservationists, TPAS members engaged in social bird-watching activities but also undertook scientific work. Specifically, by 1962, the group engaged in the annual Christmas Bird Count and other counts that have produced a substantive record of avian population and migration over the decades.
Texas Panhandle Bird Club
Website
Being a member of the Panhandle Bird Club brings you lots of benefits. Your whole family (household) can join for $15.00 a year. You get a monthly newsletter and the dates of the three field trips per month. The newsletter includes rare bird reports, field trip reports, a gardening for birds article, and other articles from our members. If you want to become a member to the Panhandle Bird Club, e-mail us at Panhandle Bird Club and we will send you a newsletter and you can then fill out the form and send your money.
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Webpage
Activities and Events for Birders
Travis Audubon Society
Website
Travis Audubon protects native habitat for birds and other wildlife. In 1952, our founders recognized the vital connection between conserving wildlife habitat and the ecological balance necessary for healthy and sustainable communities. Members enjoy many benefits and privileges, including exclusive access to our three sanctuaries, and discounts on exciting programs and classes. Join us, get involved, and find inspiration in nature. You can read our 2017 Annual Report here. Scroll down to see the latest posts from our Signal Smoke Blog.
Twin Lakes Audubon Society
Website
TLAS was founded in 1986 with 37 members and Stan Casto, who had been the driving force behind starting the chapter, as president. Other presidents have been: Grant Critchfield. Past presidents: Joye Johnson, Corky Johnson, Tom Robbins, Charles Pekins, Woody Taylor, O.K. Smith, Scott Summers, Rich Kostecke, Gil Eckrich, and Sandy Lowry. For a number of years the chapter maintained the Owl Creek Nature Area on Lake Belton. The chapter has participated in the Christmas Bird Count since its beginnings. Our CBC count circle is designated as TXBU and covers a wide variety of habitats. Participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count in February is encouraged by individuals.
Tyler Audubon Society
Website
Tyler Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. Everyone is welcome to our meetings, with free programs of interest to nature fans of all ages. You can also find current information about upcoming birding trips and other events. Check our other links for helpful information, recent sightings, and other birding opportunities.
World Birding Center
Webpage
This eco-tourism headquarters is located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, one of the richest bird habitats in the world
Youth Birding Club (Environmental Institute of Houston)
Webpage
EIH's youth birding club meets on the third Saturday of the month, January–June and September–December, at 9 a.m. (approx. 90 minutes). The club is open to children aged 7-13 and their parents (or grandparents) interested in birds and birding—no experience necessary. We will be exploring the beautiful UHCL campus, or other local birding hot spots, and the many bird species that live and visit here with an experienced birder and birding educator.

Reserves

Abbreviations Key

*Protected areas of Texas
Observatory Website Satellite View
Lists all the parks, forests, nature centra etc alphabetically or by county
BS Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
Webpage Satellite View
At first glance, you might not see the special qualities of Bolivar Flats, a unique area combining salt marsh, mud flats and beach, each habitat quite different from the other. Every year hundreds of thousands of birds discover that Bolivar Flats is a special place…
BS Boy Scout Woods - High Island
Webpage Satellite View
The woods of High Island have undoubtedly been an important stopping place for migratory birds for thousands of years. However, they have only been attracting birdwatchers since the 1940s, when birders from nearby Beaumont began to haunt the woods every spring…
BS Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary
Webpage Satellite View
Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary is open and operating under a successful partnership with Gorgas Science Foundation. Sabal Palm remains one of the most treasured birding locations in Texas and is serving children and adults who are both residents and visitors to the Rio Grande Valley.
NC Baytown Nature Center
Information Satellite View
The Baytown Nature Center is both a recreation area and a wildlife sanctuary that is home to hundreds of bird species, mammals, reptiles, and aquatic species.
NC Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center
Website Satellite View
Located 16 miles south of downtown Dallas in Cedar Hill, Dogwood Canyon is part of the White Rock Escarpment. Nowhere in North Texas can one find a greater variety of rare species than in Dogwood Canyon. Plants and animals from east, west and central Texas converge here, making the Canyon the only place in the world where one can find the Black-chinned Hummingbird of west Texas nesting in the flowering dogwood tree of east Texas…
NC Dolan Falls Preserve
Webpage Satellite View
Site contains occupied Black-capped Vireo breeding territories as well as habitat for a number of other species of conservation concern such as Painted Bunting and Bell's Vireo. Population surveys at the property are representative of the minimum number of breeding pairs.
NC Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
Website Satellite View
Outdoor education, conservation, and world-class birding on reclaimed natural habitat – leaders on the south side of San Antonio
NC Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
Website Satellite View
Our wetland habitat is one of the last critical stopover grounds before the Texas Coast, where 98.5% of long-distance migratory bird species in the US pass through, many which are about to fly for hours or days over open ocean. Not only are we one of the best spots for birding in San Antonio, we also open our doors to more than 4,000 students annually for outdoor science and conservation education, which most students do not get in traditional schooling. So, come explore our habitat, walk our native gardens, take a class or a tour, volunteer, or give your support to our education and conservation programs. Whatever your age or interests we have a way to help connect you the wild and beautiful natural place we live, just far enough south of downtown to melt away everyday life.
NC Quinta Mazatlan
Facebook Page Satellite View
Our nature center is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday nights until dark…
NC Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary
Webpage Satellite View
Sabal Palm Audubon Sancatuary is a treasured birding location in Texas
NC Trinity River Audubon Center
Website Satellite View
Nestled in the Great Trinity Forest, we offer a 120-acre outdoor classroom and a state-of-the-art nature center along the Trinity River…
NC Trinity River Audubon Center
Website Satellite View
Hello Trinity River Audubon Center friends! Wondering what our center is like? Click here for a preview! Please see below for visitor information.
NC Valley Nature Center
Website Satellite View
The Valley Nature Center's 6 acre park is home to a wide variety of the LRGV's native plants and animals. Many plants were transplanted during the past 25 years to this protected area from sites which were slated for development. There is an on-going effort to enhance the plant diversity of the park.
NP Big Bend
Webpage Satellite View
here is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and diversity of species is the best in the country. This magical place is Big Bend.
NR Chihuahua Woods
Information Satellite View
The 349-acre Chihuahua Woods Preserve is a relic of what the Rio Grande Valley once was: a unique ecosystem with an expansive variety of trees, shrubs and thickets. Today, less than 5 percent of that original Tamaulipan thornscrub habitat remains in its native condition. The preserve is home to many species native to the Valley, and its plant life provides a range of seasonal foods and cover for wildlife
NR Edinburg Scenic Wetlands
Webpage Satellite View
A 40-acre wetlands oasis in the midst of a lively urban landscape, the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands offers watchable wildlife year-round in a setting friendly to birds, butterflies and other water-loving creatures…
NR Los Ebanos Preserve
Information Satellite View
Visit the Rio Grande Valley's new and unique 82-acre private nature park to view birds and butterflies and enjoy native plants and trees. This special property boasts butterfly-friendly gardens, trails and tropical landscaping, including many varieties of palms. Our lake is host to numerous species of water birds…
NR Love Creek Preserve
Webpage Satellite View
Occupied territories for Black-capped Vireos and Golden-cheeked Warbler. Also protects habitat for a number of other species of concern such as Bell's Vireo and Painted Bunting.
NS Harlingen Wetland
WebpageThe Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) will design and construct a five-acre wetland system at Ramsey Park and produce preliminary designs for Phases II through IV, which include a 40-acre wetland system at High Ramsey World Birding Center, a 40-acre wetland system at the Thicket, a 10-acre wetland system at McCullough Park, and a 10-acre wetland system at McKelvey Park. TWRI will also conduct at least two education and outreach sessions annually to highlight the benefits and advantages of the development and implementation of the phased approach for a regional wetland system.Satellite View
The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) will design and construct a five-acre wetland system at Ramsey Park and produce preliminary designs for Phases II through IV, which include a 40-acre wetland system at High Ramsey World Birding Center, a 40-acre wetland system at the Thicket, a 10-acre wetland system at McCullough Park, and a 10-acre wetland system at McKelvey Park. TWRI will also conduct at least two education and outreach sessions annually to highlight the benefits and advantages of the development and implementation of the phased approach for a regional wetland system.
NWR Aransas
Webpage Satellite View
Today, this landscape is best known for its prominent place in the American wildlife conservation movement. In 1941, when only 15 whooping cranes survived in the wild, the iconic bird became an emblem of alarm and concern for all endangered and threatened species. Aransas became a focal point of the national and worldwide effort to rescue the species from extinction.
NWR Balcones Canyonlands
Webpage Satellite View
The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) is one of the nation’s largest urban preserves, covering more than 32,000 acres – about 50 square miles. It is made up of more than 140 individual tracts managed by both public and private partners. Check out the preserve map to learn more - click on any tract for additional information.
NWR Laguna Atascosa
Webpage Satellite View
The south Texas landscape is a unique blending of temperate, subtropical, coastal, and desert habitats. Mexican plants and wildlife are at the northernmost edge of their range, while migrating waterfowl and sandhill cranes fly down for the mild winters…
NWR Santa Ana
Webpage Satellite View
Along the banks of the lower Rio Grande is the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,088 acre refuge established in 1943 for the protection of migratory birds. Considered the ‘jewel’ of the refuge system, this essential ‘island’ of thorn forest habitat is host or home to nearly 400 different types of birds and a myriad of other species, including the indigo snake, malachite butterfly and the endangered ocelot….
SP Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley
Webpage Satellite View
The crown jewel of Rio Grande Valley parks, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park well deserves its status as headquarters of the World Birding Center…
SP Estero Llano Grande
Webpage Satellite View
At the geographic center of the World Birding Center network, Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco attracts a spectacular array of South Texas wildlife with its varied landscape of shallow lake, woodlands and thorn forest. Even beginning birders and nature lovers will enjoy exploring this 176-acre refuge, which is convenient to all the Rio Grande Valley has to offer…
SP Falcon
Webpage Satellite View
Gently rolling hills are covered by mesquite, huisache, wild olive, ebony, cactus native grasses. Falcon Lake is a big fishing paradise, especially for those seeking black and white bass, catfish, and stripers (Link to detailed lake and fish info). The area is very popular with bird watchers; varied and interesting bird life consisting of common resident birds, which range throughout the American Southwest, and many of the tropical species for which this is the northwesternmost outpost. Also, there are uncommon varieties such as the small green kingfisher and the varied bunting.
SP Resaca de la Palma
Webpage Satellite View
Brownsville’s Resaca de la Palma State Park boasts the largest tract of native habitat in the World Birding Center network. Etched by ancient curves of the Rio Grande, its 1200 semi- tropical acres provide a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of an international urban center only a few miles away. Through the cooperation of local, state and federal land management agencies, a wilderness preserved from days gone by is open to nature adventurers for the first time…
Texas State Parks
Webpage Satellite View
There are three state parks in Bastrop and Caldwell counties: Buescher State Park, Bastrop State Park and Lockhart State Park.
WMA Richland Creek
Website Satellite View
Birding and more at the huge east Texas reconstructed wetland. The Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a 13,783-acre site consisting of bottomland forests, previously cleared agricultural lands and riparian forests along the Trinity River. It was formed in 1987 as compensatory mitigation for wetland impacts associated with the construction and inundation of the Richland Chambers Reservoir. In 1996, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) entered into an easement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to allow the conversion of up to 2000 acres of land, largely former agricultural land, to constructed marshes.

Sightings, News & Forums

TexBirds
Mailing List
Texbirds is an email discussion list (listserve) for Texas birders and those interested in Texas birds and their ecology.
eBird
Sightings
eBirding This Month
eBird - Texas Rare Bird Alert
Sightings
The report below shows observations of rare birds in Texas.

Guides & Tour Operators

Aransas Bay Birding Charters
Local Tour Operator
Aransas Bay Birding Charters is pleased to announce the addition of a new Captain and boat. Captain Lori and her new boat the, Lady Lori, will be doing tours of the Aransas Wildlife Refuge as well as tours to Port Aransas to photograph the Lydia Ann Lighthouse. The Lighthouse tours can be sunrise or sunset, depending on the type of photo you are looking for.
Bird Treks
Tour Operator
Bird Treks has been providing small group and custom birding tours for over 20 years. Visit their website to see the incredible tours available, including the Rio Grande Valley for Texas specialties!
BirdFinders
Tour Operator
Texas in spring is birding heaven: from the last of the Whooping Cranes before they migrate north, to the Rio Grande Valley with its Plain Chachalacas, Green Jays and Green and Ringed Kingfishers, to the Edwards Plateau with its Black-capped Vireos and Golden-cheeked Warblers and the grand finale at High Island with its migrant falls of buntings, orioles, sparrows, thrushes and up to 30 species of vireos and warblers.
BirdQuest
Tour Operator
The Ultimate tour to the Lone State, from the Gulf Coast to West Texas
Birding Ecotours
Tour Operator
Birding Ecotours, a leader in small group and custom-made birding adventures worldwide, offers an amazing tour to South Texas for local specialties and wintering Whooping Cranes!
EagleEye Tours
Tour Operator
The upper Texas coast is a birding paradise this time of year as tens of thousands of migrating birds pass through this region...
FieldGuides
Tour Operator
Springtime on the Texas coast is Texas at its best. Each evening flights of warblers, vireos, buntings, grosbeaks, and orioles launch from the southern rim of the Gulf of Mexico and strike out over the dark waters...
HeatherLea
Tour Operator
South Texas in Winter
Huth Avian Services
Local Guide
I have been birding in Central Texas for over 25 years, and serve on the Texas Bird Records Committee. (The primary purpose of TBRC is to validate records of birds from the state of Texas and adjacent ocean.) I grew up in the area, and know the local hotspots and serve as a reviewer on BirdingHotspots.org
King Ranch Nature Tours
Local Tour Operator
Spend a day on the Ranch and see a variety of tropical and migratory birds, white tailed deer, and javelinas. Group tours and packages, tailored specifically for your group, are also available
Limosa Holidays
Tour Operator
High Island & Houston Woods
McIntyre Birding Tours
Local Guide
Private Guided Birding Tours in South Texas - Jon McIntyre has been an avid birder for over 10 years. He has lived in Texas all his life and currently resides in Corpus Christi. He is involved with Christmas bird counts, the Great Backyard Bird Count, birding surveys, and the Rockport Hummingbird Festival. He has also worked two winters aboard the Skimmer Whooping Crane Tour Boat
Naturalist Journeys
Tour Operator
Birding Texas is almost like birding in another country. And with so many habitats, we are pleased to offer multiple Texas birding trips.
Nature Travel Birding
Tour Operator
Sheer numbers and incredible variety, that’s why you should join our Texas Birding Tour!
NatureNinja
Local Guide
I'm Tiffany Kersten, a professional bird guide based in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I spent 2021 traveling, birding, and gifting personal safety alarms to women birders I met on the trails along the way during my Lower 48 States Big Year. In 2022, I founded Nature Ninja Birding Tours, offering customized private tours in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
NatureTrek
Tour Operator
The Best of Texas in Early Spring
Rockjumper
Tour Operator
Spring Migration Tour
Rockport Birding & Kayak Adventures
Local Guided Tour
This Texas Boat Safari guarantees you’ll see whooping cranes and we typically point out 30 to 60 different species during our 3-hour trip.
Sabrewing Nature Tours
Tour Operator
Texas: Birding the Rio Grande Valley
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Local Tour
World Birding Center Birding Tours etc.
Tropical Birding Tours
Tour Operator
Birding the Upper Texas Coast and Hill Country
WINGS
Tour Operator
Texas: The Rio Grande Valley in Spring

Trip Reports

2004 [11 November] - BFA Trips
Report
This is a report on an 11-day guided bird-watching tour of Texas with a dba [disabled birders association] group (now known as BFA)...
2016 [01 January] - Chris Benesh - South Texas Rarities I
Report
...we managed good views of a few of them. The best of the bunch was probably the Northern Jacana that performed well for us at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. In addition, the female type Crimson-collared Grosbeak showed up, and while furtive, did sit still long enough to enjoy. Other rarities included a nice Tropical Parula...
2016 [01 January] - Chris Benesh - South Texas Rarities II
Report
This Rio Grande Rarities tour was a big success. Our luck held out pretty much throughout the tour. The weather was generally really good with the exception of one very cold and windy day
2016 [03 March] - Chris Benesh & Cory Gregory
Report
...One of the main events of the tour came on our first full day; a birding cruise aboard the Skimmer to Aransas NWR led by Captain Tommy Moore. Not only were we graced with dozens of Whooping Cranes (some being nice and close!), but the rest of the cruise also was loaded with highlights like singing Seaside Sparrows, more than a dozen shorebird species, and even a fly-by Aplomado Falcon!...
2016 [04 April ] - Chris Benesh & Cory gregory - Big Bend
Report
...Our first morning at Big Bend saw us visiting Blue Creek Canyon where we were able to track down our first Varied Buntings, Gray Vireo, and at least three different Lucifer Hummingbirds. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was also there. Another Olive-sided was a highlight of our afternoon visit to Dugout Wells. But not before we were able to get nice views of a pair of Black-capped Vireos. A pair of Yellow-headed Blackbirds added a splash of color to the Dugout Wells experience....
2016 [04 April] - John Coons
Report
We had a great week in the Big Thicket of East Texas and on the Upper Texas Coast. Wonderful views of breeding specialties in the Piney Woods and a few days of fantastic migration fallouts on the coast made for top-notch birding....
2016 [04 April] - John Coons II
Report
...We also had a number of great birds in the surrounding marshes, rice fields and mudflats. Both King and Clapper rails put on good shows for us in the marshes, as did Purple Gallinules and those Seaside and Nelson's sparrows...
2017 [01 January] - Chris Benesh - South Texas Rarities
Report
The 2017 South Texas Rarities Tour was a really pleasant experience. We had some decent weather and a nice variety of highlights along the way. We started things off in Harlingen, visiting a nearby reservoir before heading down to Brownsville and Sabal Palm Sanctuary. We then headed out to South Padre Island and searched some for falcons before heading back to Brownsville for the big evening parrot fly in at Oliveira Park.
2017 [02 February] - Stephen Burch - Houston, Galveston & Gulf Coast
Report
...Having visited the USA about 6 times over the last 30+ years, my USA list is now higher than my UK one! Hence the number of possible lifers for me on this trip was limited, with Whooping Crane being the main one. I was also keen to find a large flock of Snow Geese, as the only ones I have seen in the UK have been odd stragglers often viewed at a great distance. Finding some smaller Ross' Geese in amongst them was also a key target. Having missed Red-cockaded Woodpecker on a visit to Florida several years ago, this one another target in my sights. Having seen the controversial but splendid Hooded Merganser at Radipole Lake a couple of years ago, finding a definitely tickable one would be good as well...
2017 [11 November] - Michael O'Brien
PDF Report
We had a very pleasant visit to this bird-rich part of the country, and we enjoyed a wonderful mix of wintering waterbirds, South Texas residents, and of course, the magnificent Whooping Cranes. Before arriving, we had concerns about how well this area was rebounding after being devastated by Hurricane Harvey back on August 25. Rockport was at ground zero when this storm made its first landfall, and the damage was considerable. Much cleanup remains to be done, and rebuilding will likely take years, but we were pleased to see that many businesses were fully operational and most birding sites reasonably intact.
2018 [02 February] - Doug Gochfeld & Doug Hitchcox
Report
This was the inaugural tour of the partnership between Field Guides and Maine Audubon, and what a place to start! The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most iconic birding destinations in the United States, with a great mix of migrants from the north, regional specialties, and a slew of charismatic Mexican species whose ranges just barely make it across the river and into Texas. We were treated to overall good weather, especially when compared with the rest of the atypically frigid winter the valley has been experiencing. A big rainstorm passed the day before the tour started, and the strong winds at the bottom of a big cold front held off until the very last morning of the tour, as we headed to the airport.
2018 [04 April] - Bob Behrstock
PDF Report
...A stop at a feedlot just west of Sabinal yielded the hoped for Yellow-headed Blackbirds, plus Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Purple Martins, Common GroundDoves, Least Sandpipers, and a locally uncommon Lesser Yellowlegs...
2018 [04 April] - Mike Neale
PDF Report
Illustrated checklist
2018 [08 August] - Michael Marsden
PDF Report
...It's a wonderful birding spot with a pond and lots of mature cottonwoods. Birds in the area included Scaled Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Golden-frontend Woodpecker, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed & Olive-sided Flycatchers, Western Wood-Pewee, lots of Vermillion Flycatchers, Say’s Phoebe, Bell’s Vireo, Yellow Warbler and blue Grosbeak...
2019 [04 April] - Bob Behrstock
PDF Report
It was a warm afternoon and bird activity was subdued but by walking a short trail through the oaks and sweetgums, we encountered some widespread forest birds such as Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-eyed and White-eyed
2019 [04 April] - Michael Marsden -Texas Big Bend
PDF Report
... the cottonwoods in the Park were even birdier, with several family groups of Vermilion Flycatchers, as well as Orchard & Bullock’s Orioles, Summer Tanagers, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, and Cassin’s, Western, & Scissor-tailed Flycatchers...
2019 [05 May] - Dave Mehlman - Big Bend Birding
PDF Report
Our first destination was Rio Grande Village, adjacent to the Rio Grande. At this well-known birding site, we had our first encounters with many of Big Bend’s riparian bird species, including a nesting Common Black Hawk, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Painted Buntings, some Black Vultures, and a pretty tame Javelina. After birding around the Village area, we moved to the nearby Rio Grande Village Nature Trail in the adjacent campground.
2019 [07 July] - Michael Marsden
PDF Report
The road into the Post from Marathon was gratifyingly productive, with an array of characteristic species of the area including Scaled Quail, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cactus Wren, Lark Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, and Pyrrhuloxia. The pond and cottonwoods at the Post itself held Vermilion Flycatchers, Orchard Orioles, Summer Tanagers, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, and Black Phoebe.
2020 [03 March] - Michael Marsden - South Texas Birding & Nature
PDF Report
We initially drove north by way of Mustang Island and the birding hotspots of Port Aransas. Along the way, we came across just about all the expected waders and shorebirds, including Little Blue Herons, Reddish Egrets, and a sole Piping Plover in a flock of Semipalmated Plovers...
2021 [03 March] - Bryan Calk - South Texas
PDF Report
...At the nearby Birding Center, we were greeted with a few warblers including Black-and-whites and Yellow-throated, and as soon as we hit the boardwalk, a Capper Rail was walking out in the open, quickly disappearing into some shrubbery. The fantastic boardwalk here allows intimate views of many bird species exhibiting a range of behaviors. One particularly interesting moment came when a Great-tailed Grackle took to terrorizing any bird it could get to – Green-winged Teal, Laughing Gulls, and Common Gallinules were all his victims!..
2021 [04 April] - Dave Mehlman
PDF Report
...excellent viewing of the ubiquitous, but cryptically colored and hard to see, Bell’s Vireo. But the hits just kept on coming—some searching by the guides yielded interesting and hard to find species there (also with pretty good views) including Blue Grosbeak...
2021 [04 April] - Greg Smith - South Texas
PDF Report
...Estero Llano has a wonderful wetland in front of the entrance station. Least Sandpiper, a small calling flock of dowtichers, with one Long-billed calling out, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Black-necked Stilt, Northern Shovelers and other waterfowl. But the wetland highlight was the Stilt Sandpiper parading around out front...
2021 [04 April] - Steve Shunk - Texas Coast
PDF Report
...‘Jones’ serves as a tiny oasis for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers surrounded by rampant residential development. And this spunky little woodpecker did not disappoint. Shortly after entering the north stand of the preserve, we heard the distinctive chatter of Red-cockadeds, and a family group of at least 4 birds entertained us for some time. We watched them flaking bark and chasing each other right in front of us, with some birds feeding below our eye level! This experience proved to be one of the major highlights of the entire tour. But this was just the auspicious start to what would prove to be an eventful trip...
2021 [05 May] - Dave Mehlman
PDF Report
...Other species included Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Lark Sparrow, and Lark Bunting. Dave indulged his inner swallow passion and was able to pick out a Bank Swallow flying along with lots of Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows...
2022 [04 April] - Dave Mehlman
PDF Report
...Arriving at the park, we assumed our positions near a telephone pole and began the nightly vigil. Sure enough, at about 8:39pm, an Elf Owl appeared in the hole in the pole and peered out at the crowd—success! Everyone got good looks, though the light was not so great at that hour, and many took photos. The owl in the bag, we returned to the hotel for another night’s rest...
2022 [04 April] b- Steve Shunk
Annotated Species List
...’ve never seen such a hustle and bustle of nesting birds! One of the big highlights of April birding in the Texas Hill Country is the season itself. The migratory breeders have arrived and they have joined the resident avifauna in a bird nesting bonanza. This trip does not boast a long species list, but it does boast an amazing diversity and density of special nesting songbirds...
2022 [05 May] - Dave Mehlman
PDF Report
...A walk through the picnic area yielded some nice birds, including Lark Sparrow, Acorn Woodpecker, Plumbeous Vireo, Black-crested Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Hepatic Tanager. After this nice start to the day, we headed back down the mountain to the Davis Mountains State Park for the rest of the morning...
2023 [03 March] - Bryan Shirley
PDF Report
Annotated list
2023 [05 May] - Dave Mehlman
PDF Report
Annotated list
2023 [05 May] - Greg Butcher - Big Bend
PDF Report
Annotated list
2023 [05 May] - Peter Burke - Big Bend
PDF Report
Annotated list
2023 [11 November] - Luis Gonzales
PDF Report
When it comes to birding within the US, few places rank as high as the Lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. The region is home to over 30 species that regularly make it across the Rio Grande into the US, but it also has the potential of many vagrants, and during winter, the species variety is boosted with many species looking for a comfortable winter home. The trip in question was made by a friend and me and outside of have a guide to enter private property for a special target, the birding was done exclusively by us and it was extremely easy and enjoyable. The overall trip total gave us 179 species, of which, 26 were prime targets of the region.
2024 [02 February] - James Peterson
PDF Report
Annotated List
2024 [04 April] - John Coons
Report
...One of the trip highlights was the time we spent watching and listening to this Bachman’s Sparrow sing in the piney woods of East Texas. We observed this bird for about ten minutes as it continued to sing quite close, where it seemed oblivious to our presence. This species has a quite specific habitat type amongst the grasses under tall open pine stands (photo by John Coons)...
2024 [04 April] - John Coons
Report
...At Sabine Woods and High Island we saw many species coming to the water drips to bathe and rehydrate after a long flight. Here at Sabine Woods, Paul Demkovich captured this Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and Indigo Bunting as they refreshed...
2024 [05 May] - Dave Mehlman
PDF Report
...There were many highlights to this tour, starting with the landscapes, particularly of Big Bend, which has large quantities of desert, canyons, and sheer rock faces. Some of the avian highlights included incredibly good views of Montezuma Quail at Davis Mountains State Park, lengthy views of male and female Lucifer Hummingbirds at the Christmas Mountains Oasis (one of only 2 places in the U.S. where this species can be reliably found), a Colima Warbler high in the Chisos at Boot Spring (for those opting for the long hike), and large numbers of migrating warblers and sparrows...

Places to Stay

Canyon of the Eagles - Lake Buchanan
Accommodation
Canyon of the Eagles is a place designed for enjoying nature. Most of the 940 acres of Canyon of the Eagles Park have been set aside as a nature preserve for wildlife, such as Bald Eagles, Black-capped Vireo, and Golden-cheeked Warbler…
Deer Lake Cabins - Scroggins
Accommodation
An Extraordinary Ranch Resort Tucked Away In The Towering Hardwoods & Pines
The Bayhouse at Smith Point
Accommodation
...Our little house sits on about 2 acres of waterfront property. A bayou on the north and TrinityBay on the west, provides a perfect environment for wildlife of all kinds...

State of Texas

Birding Texas

Birding The Rio Grande Valley

Aransas NWR

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park

Chihuahua Woods Perserve

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands

Estero Llano Grande State Park

Falcon State Park

Laguna Atascosa NWR

Sabal Palm Sanctuary

Santa Ana NWR

South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center

Trinity River Water Bird Rookery

Sue Levy

Oscar Carmona

Number of bird species: 687

Avibase

Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC)

Texas Parks & Wildlife

Wikipedia

eBird

A Birder's Guide to the Rio Grande Valley

ABA Field Guide to Birds of Texas

All About Birds Texas & Oklahoma

Backyard Birdwatching in Houston

Birders Guide to Texas

Birding Trails: Texas Prairies and Pineywoods, Panhandle

Birds of Texas

Birds of Texas Field Guide

Birds of Texas: A Field Guide

Book of Texas Birds

Chasing Birds Across Texas

Feeder Birds of Texas

Finding Birds in South Texas

Great Texas Birds

Nesting Birds of a Tropical Frontier

Raptors of Texas

The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds

BirdsEye Texas Ornithological Society

Balcones Canyonlands Songbird Festival

Birding The Border

Celebration of Flight

Davis Mountains Hummingbird Celebration

FeatherFest

Galveston FeatherFest

Great Texas Birding Classic

HummerBird Celebration

Laredo Birding Festival

Matagorda Bay Birdfest

Rio Grande Birding Festival

Spring Chirp

The Birdiest festival in America

Whooping Crane Festival

About Kerrville Bird Observatory Network

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

Heard Wildlife Sanctuary

Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory

LLELA's Banding Station

Trinity River Audubon Center,

Dallas Museum of Natural History & The Mudge Library

Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Audubon Society in Texas

Audubon Dallas

Audubon Texas HQ

Bastrop County Audubon Society

Bexar Audubon

Big Country Audubon Society

Central Texas Audubon Society

Century Club

Coastal Bend Audubon

Corpus Christi Audubon Outdoor Club

El Paso Trans-Pecos Audubon Society

Fort Worth Audubon Society

Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Frontera Audubon

Golden Triangle Audubon

Houston Audubon Society

Huntsville Audubon Society