Texas is home to countless species of birds, native and migratory, that birding beginners and veteran enthusiasts alike will want to check off their lists. From the mountains of Big Bend to the marshes of the Gulf Coast, interesting and rare birds can be found in every corner of the state — on your next outdoor adventure, keep your eyes on the skies.
South Texas
The Rio Grande Valley is a major bird migration corridor, making it the perfect place to see numerous tropical bird species you can’t find anywhere else in the country — and making it the perfect place to house the World Birding Center. This unique birding experience across nine locations — including three state parks — is for both beginner and expert birders to enjoy. The various sites travel east to west across 120 miles of a historic river road between Roma and South Padre Island. In addition to almost 500 sought-after bird species — like the cattle tyrant, previously never-before-seen in North America — visitors can also delight in the Center’s educational exhibits, guided walks, and float trips down the river road. Turn the visit into a multi-night camping trip at one of the three state park locations, where you can also hike, bike, or board a tram to explore the natural area. Make the trip during any season — there are always birds to watch here.
Hill Country
A great place to spot some feathery friends is Kickapoo Cavern State Park, just west of San Antonio in Brackettville. Among the park’s abundance of wildlife are about 240 migrant and resident bird species — so keep your eyes peeled while you hike, bike, or camp along the trails. The endangered black-capped vireo makes this park its home during the warm spring and summer months, soaring through the breathtaking canyons of the state park. And cave swallows can be found hanging around the park’s 20 known caves — while you’re there explore Kickapoo Cavern on a guided tour, or watch Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from Stuart Bat Cave at dusk. Want to cool off after a day of exploring? At nearby Garner State Park, you can rent a tube and float down the Frio River for a fun afternoon with friends and family.
Piney Woods
Out east in Caddo Lake State Park, a harmony of chirping songbirds greets visitors as they paddle down the park’s scenic canals, which are lined with impressive bald cypress trees perfect for building nests. While you’re on the water, you can easily spot the bright yellow coloring of both prothonotary and yellow-throated warblers flitting about the Spanish moss hanging overhead. It’s just as important to look down at the water though — these wetlands are home to a healthy population of waterbirds, which can be found fishing alongside you in the 26,810-acre Caddo Lake or floating in Saw Mill Pond. These park shorelines are also great for fishing, hiking, and camping (possibly inside a historic cabin, if one is available to snag). In the nearby town of Jefferson, enjoy the quaint shop-lined streets of their charming downtown.
Gulf Coast
Texas’s coastal prairies are home to a whole host of wildlife sanctuaries, including the Refugio-Goliad Prairie (around 660,000 acres between Victoria, Goliad, and Refugio) and the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge near Eagle Lake. While visiting one of these protected locales, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Attwater’s prairie chicken, one of the most endangered bird species in Texas — only two wild populations exist today, one within each sanctuary. Or head to the Gulf to hit the beach while you bird! As you swim, fish, or boat in coastal waters off Galveston, Port Arthur, and Corpus Christi, you might spy several waterfowl enjoying the waves along with you. After a day on the water, make sure to stop in town for a delicious dinner of fresh Gulf seafood with an ocean view.
Big Bend Country
Folks flock to Davis Mountains State Park for beautiful hikes, clear night skies, and rare bird sightings. The state park’s bird blind provides an enclosed viewing space where you can watch birds of all kinds at the designated feeders and watering stations. This is the best spot to see the rare Montezuma quail, which can be difficult to find out in the open. Be on the lookout for other feathery friends as you traverse the stunning West Texas mountains — here you can hike, bike, or even ride a horse along miles of winding trails through rugged terrain. Learn more about the park’s birds, as well as stargazing, geocaching, and local history, on park ranger-lead programs offered throughout the year. The University of Texas McDonald Observatory is also nearby, a must-visit for curious minds, both young and old.
Panhandle Plains
Along the cliffs of the second largest canyon in the country, visitors of Palo Duro Canyon State Park are sure to spot canyon and rock wren hopping to and fro among the rocks. These tiny brown birds pack a big voice — their melodic songs echoing through the canyon to create beautiful background music for your hike, bike ride, or horseback ride along the park’s 30+ miles of trails. Keep an eye out while you explore the canyon and the banks of the Red River that runs through it. Here during the summer? Make sure you also check out the TEXAS Outdoor Musical at the park’s Pioneer Amphitheater, where you’ll hear the stories of the state’s early settlers. The park also offers “glamping” options for those who want to stay the night in luxurious style!
Prairies and Lakes
Is that the Loch Ness monster?! In Texas?! No, it’s only an Anhinga swimming sneakily in the Navasota River or the lakes of Fort Parker State Park, it’s snakelike neck and head poking through the surface of the water as it hunts for fish. You might run across this large waterbird while you explore this unique park — only 90 miles south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex — on foot, bike, or kayak. Stay the night at a campsite here and catch one of the most stunning sunsets you’ll find in this part of the Lone Star State. Or, venture out to Fort Worth for a fun night out on the town, where you can find line and swing dancing at many dance halls like Rodeo Exchange and Pearl Dancehall and Saloon.
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