2026 Texas Spring — Rio Grande, Hill Country and Whooping Cranes

Although it remains one of the most endangered birds in North America, Whooping Crane populations have steadily increased from a low of fifteen birds in the early twentieth century to well over three hundred. Nonetheless, despite ongoing conservation efforts to create new populations, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge hosts the wintering grounds of the only remaining self-sustaining population.

On our first morning in Texas we take a boat trip to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to observe these special birds, as well as a wide variety of coastal species such as Reddish Egret and Roseate Spoonbill.

After our boat trip we visit nearby Goose Island State Park in search of wintering sparrows and migrant warblers. This site may also provide us with our first taste of Texas specialties like Black-crested Titmouse, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, and Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Coastal sites along the way to Kingsville offer opportunities to catch up with any water, shore, or wading bird we may have missed earlier in the day.

Overnight: Kingsville

After an early breakfast we drive to the Norias Division of King Ranch. The habitat here features a subtropical savanna interspersed by live oak groves, favored by two of the rarest breeding species found north of the border: Tropical Parula and Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. This site also offers our best opportunity to observe the declining Audubon’s Oriole and the beautiful White-tailed Hawk on this itinerary.

In the afternoon, we continue our journey south to the lower Rio Grande to seek out flocks of Green Parakeet and Red-crowned Amazon heading to roost at urban sites in the valley.

Overnight: McAllen

We spend two full days of birding in the lower Rio Grande Valley, where an amazing diversity of birds flourish in the region’s wildlife sanctuaries, state parks, preserves, and other sites. Superb birding locales such as Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Estero Llano Grande State Park, and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge abound in the area, and our exact itinerary will depend mostly on the presence of any rarities.

Although no particular species is especially likely, the possibility of a Mexican stray such as a Crimson-collared Grosbeak or Blue Bunting adds excitement to the birding experience here. Regardless, a long list of Neotropical specialties awaits us, including the brilliant Altamira Oriole, noisy Plain Chachalaca, and impressive Ringed Kingfisher. Clay-colored Thrush, once a rarity, is now a relatively common breeding species that we may encounter.

We also spend one evening at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park to look for Elf Owl and Pauraque. During our time in the valley we can also explore nearby sod farms for migrating shorebirds, such as Upland Sandpiper and American Golden Plover.

Overnight: McAllen

Our schedule today depends on which targets we may still be missing from the valley. At some point after lunch we head about an hour north to the area around Falcon Dam. Here, the lush riparian woodlands so typical of the lower Rio Grande Valley grow only along the immediate riverbank. Nonetheless, several species hold onto a tenuous presence in the United States only around this thin strip of habitat, including Muscovy Duck and Red-billed Pigeon.

Overnight: Zapata

We spend the morning at either the town of Zapata or of San Ygnacio, depending on recent reports of the increasingly rare (for the U.S.) Morelet’s (White-collared) Seedeater. Due to an extensive taxonomic overhaul, this tiny bird is the only remaining member of the tanager family occurring in the United States.

Away from the river the landscape becomes an increasingly arid, hilly brushland, and the birdlife becomes similar to that of the American Southwest. Species we will look for in this dry habitat include the dapper Scaled Quail, boldly marked Black-throated Sparrow, and unique Verdin.

Overnight: Zapata

We have an extra morning to try for Morelet’s (White-collared) Seedeater. or any of the arid brushland specialties around Falcon Dam. Afterwards we continue to the scenic eastern portion of the Edwards Plateau, more popularly known as the Hill Country of Texas.

Due to its Cretaceous limestone composition, this rolling landscape of modest elevation (300-750m) features a karst topography of rugged hills, caves, and deeply cut valleys. Although it covers a relatively small area of Texas, it forms an overlap region, where the eastern and western bird faunas of the United States meet. In these wooded hills, Louisiana Waterthrush shares gurgling forest streams with Black Phoebe, Carolina Wren sings from the same valleys as Canyon Wren, and Carolina Chickadee feeds in the same trees and shrubs as Black-chinned Hummingbird.

We spend the afternoon exploring the vicinity of the Frio River and the surrounding area, which includes a range of habitats from dry hillside, covered in thorny vegetation, to wetter forests, dominated by oak and bald cypress. Our first walk through the Hill Country can produce species common on the plateau such as Field Sparrow, Canyon Wren, California Scrub Jay, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow.

By evening we will visit a nearby sinkhole to witness the emergence of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats in one of the largest mammalian congregations on the planet.

Overnight: Uvalde

As the state’s only breeding endemic, the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler is a flagship species of the Texas Hill Country. Found exclusively in mixed juniper and oak woodland, this warbler depends on the presence of Ashe juniper for nesting material. Birds use small strips of bark from mature juniper trees to construct their nests. Due to the clearing of habitat for agriculture and development, this species suffers from an increasingly fragmented distribution.

Lost Maples State Natural Area, famous for its relict population of bigtooth maples, protects one of the largest populations of Golden-cheeked Warbler left. We have the entire day to explore the trails of this lovely wilderness in search of this warbler and other species.

Black-capped Vireo, the other key species of this region, inhabits shrubby oaks on the sunny hillsides. Zone-tailed Hawk patrols these same hillsides, while Black-and-white Warbler and Yellow-throated Vireo sing incessantly from wetter forested areas. With so many species in full-song, it will really feel like spring!

Overnight: Kerrville

Kerr Wildlife Management Area hosts a thriving population of Black-capped Vireo, due to aggressive land management practices to create suitable habitat: live oak thickets with a low, dense understory. We have the entire morning to obtain views of this sharp passerine, before driving back to Corpus Christi for the afternoon.  Depending on the weather and time of our arrival, we can begin exploring sites near the city.

Overnight: Corpus Christi

Holding the title of “America’s Birdiest City” for more than a decade, Corpus Christi in April offers some of the most exciting birding in the country. Few places in the United States can boast such large and diverse spring movements of birds. If the weather is in our favor today, coastal migrant traps such as Paradise Pond and Packery Channel Park can be literally dripping with warblers.

Although it will be a bit early in the season to expect large concentrations of songbirds, early migrants such as Hooded, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, and Black-throated Green Warbler are still a distinct possibility. Taking into account the high diversity of resident species and migrating shorebirds in this area, we will potentially tally our highest day list of the entire trip.

Overnight: Corpus Christi

After some morning birding at nearby migrant traps to see if anything dropped in overnight, we transfer back to Corpus Christi International Airport, where the tour ends.

YES! – Assuming that everyone’s flight arrives before dark. One of our first targets is only a few minutes from from the airport.

Check the weather for the destination as close to your departure date as possible, and dress accordingly for your comfort level. You can also review our What to Bring page for more information.

There are many items the will be useful to you while on a Bird Treks tour. We have put together our list of recommendations on the What to Bring page.

Our tours are all conducted in English, but we do have some experience working with client that don’t speak English well – Some English would be needed for safety reasons. In locations where another language is predominately spoken, a native guide may accompany the tour.

Yes, we will always try our best to help with anything at all! We’re here to serve you. However, it is usually easier if you book your flight through your own travel agent as we can’t always get the best deals from your particular country. But we will help whenever needed!

While Day 1 is usually a travel (arrival) day, and the last day of the tour is usually also a travel day (departure), many people do like to arrive early and/or leave late. We can indeed book extra nights before and after the trip, and we in fact recommend you let us book them, as it avoids confusion and allows us to book the accommodation that is most convenient for the tour.

NOTE: Most often it is the same hotel or lodge that you use on the first night of the tour, but in some instances, it could be an airport hotel or an accommodation establishment where the guide is staying.

No, we do not. We find that it is better for trip participants to purchase their own medical, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance through their own insurance provider in the country they reside in. We expect all tour participants to have comprehensive insurance, and we encourage everyone to send us a copy of their insurance documents.

For most tours, meals are included in the tour price. This may include a hotel-provided breakfast, or guide-provided box lunches. For dinners, we strive to find interesting and delicious local restaurants – this allows us to give back to the local economy, and find exciting new place to eat.

Most people will not get sick, although you should take precautions if you are prone to motion sickness, as the weather can dictate how rough the ride will be. There are various remedies sold at local pharmacies and in our galley which can help relieve motion sickness and will make your trip more enjoyable.