The weather in the Rio Grande Valley ranges from the fifties in the winter (with occasional dips into the 40s and very seldom a light freeze), and triple digits in the summer. The main birding season runs from late October through mid-May, with the major limiting factor being the heat of the summer in the other months. The majority of the Rio Grande Valley specialty birds are non-migratory and are year-round residents. Of the few exceptions to this are the Groove-billed Ani and Botteri's Sparrow, very late spring arrivals who come to breed and depart by fall. Ultimately, the best time to bird the Rio Grande Valley if your focus is on our local, South Texas specialty birds, is November through early March, before our local birds begin breeding and become a bit skulkier. The majority of our Mexican rarities are found in the winter months, between November and March. Peak spring migration is mid-April through the first week in May, so if your main interest is in migrants, or sheer diversity, those weeks are your best bet. Migrants trickle through sporadically in the fall, with the bulk of the birds coming through in October.
We suggest dressing in layers, as we often have cool mornings with warm afternoons. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended for sun, bugs, and thorns.
Here is a list of the main birding spots in the RGV, from west to east, to help with itinerary planning. When possible, they are linked to their most relevant website.
I've also listed some of our team's favorite local, quick bite dining suggestion(s) nearby to some of the nature sites!
Starr County
Falcon State Park - Arid park with a large lake. Don't miss Michael's feeders at campsite #119 (until March 21) and the feeders by the clubhouse.
Falcon County Park - a small park with free camping (though rustic), along the road to Falcon State Park
Salineno Birding Center - Short walking trail along the river (open year-round), plus a seasonal feeding station (Nov 1 to mid-March)
Santa Margarita Ranch - Private ranch with $40 access fee; required to book a guide in order to enter
Rancho Lomitas (by pre-reservation only, contact info in web link)
Yturria Brush Tract
Hidalgo County
Bentsen State Park - 500 acre park with tram shuttle every hour
Restaurant Suggestion: Le Chez Bleu (cafe onsite in HQ building) or Taco Express
National Butterfly Center - 70 acre park; bird feeding 2x/day, year-round (8:30 and 1:30)
Restaurant Suggestion: Le Chez Bleu (two miles down the road at Bentsen State Park)
Mission Nature Park - Mission Hike & Bike Trailhead - good for Cactus Wren
Restaurant Suggestion: Ana Liz Taqueria (open for lunch only)
Anzalduas County Park - small site on the Rio Grande with a covered picnic area overlooking the river - good spot for getting out of the sun / rain (closed on all federal holidays and often a week or more over Christmas/New Year's)
Restaurant Suggestion: Riverside Club (not particularly great food, but fun experience dining on the river)
McAllen Nature Center - 20 acre urban park with trails. Free admission. Check Facebook page for operating hours.
Dining Suggestion: Los Asados Mexican Restaurant
Roselawn Cemetery
Quinta Mazatlan - 20 acre urban site with a historic home
Dining Suggestion - Siempre Natural
Edinburg Birding Center - 40 acre urban site with several wetlands
Sal Del Rey - Unique salt lake that often contains snowy plovers, etc, in winter
San Juan Wetlands - Small urban site
Progreso Sod Farms (now a residential neighborhood but can still be good birding)
Delta Lake
Valley Nature Center - 3 acre urban site near the epicenter of Red-crowned Parrots in morning and evening
Dining Suggestion: Blue Onion or Nana's Taqueria
Frontera Audubon - (closed Sunday mornings and Mondays) -
Dining Suggestion: Blue Onion or Nana's Taqueria
Estero Llano Grande State Park - 200 acre park with wetlands and a beautiful covered deck overlooking a pond (front pond currently dry as of Feb 2024)
Dining Suggestion: Blue Onion or Nana's Taqueria
Blue Bunting Lodge - (pre-reservation only - email jeff@bluebuntinglodge)
Cameron County
Dining Suggestion: Calacas Tacos & Beer
Dining Suggestion: La Playa Mexican Cafe or Station 1
San Benito Wetlands (open only during Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival)
South Texas Ecotourism Center - Short viewing platform overlooking coastal prairie. Free admission.
Laguna Vista Nature Trail - Short gravel trail with multiple viewing blinds.
Resaca de la Palma State Park - Extensive pristine Tamaulipan Thornscrub habitat with hiking trails and a large walking / biking / tram loop.
Sabal Palm Sanctuary - Often slow birding, but one of the last remaining stands of old growth Sabal Palm forest in the US, and the only place to see Speckled Racer (snake).
TPWD Fisheries Field Station
UTRGV Brownsville - Impressive habitat right on campus with several wetlands
Dining Suggestions: Taqueria Ultimo Taco, La Vill Taqueria, Dodici Pizza & Wine
Olivieria Park - City park with ball fields - the number one spot for a full roosting Red-crowned Parrot experience!
South Padre Birding & Nature Center
South Padre Valley Land Fund Lots - Small residential-sized lots that can be great for migrants during migration. They often remain pretty quiet for the remainder of the year.
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