Nestled between the Louisiana border and Interstate 45, the East Texas Pineywoods is a region unlike any other in Texas. Often called the “Rainforest of Texas” due to its lush vegetation and high annual rainfall (35–60 inches), this area features rolling hills, deep pine forests, hardwood bottomlands, and cypress-tupelo swamps. The landscape is a mosaic of loblolly, shortleaf, and longleaf pines interspersed with magnolia, beech, and oak, creating a rich tapestry of habitats that attract both resident and migratory birds. Birders are drawn here for the chance to encounter southern forest specialties and a remarkable diversity of migratory species, making the Pineywoods a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an immersive birding adventure.
May is a peak month for bird migration in the Pineywoods. The forests come alive with the songs and movements of birds arriving from their wintering grounds. The dense canopy and varied habitats support a wide array of species, many of which are difficult to find elsewhere in Texas. Regional specialties include Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Bachman's Sparrow. The Pineywoods is also renowned for its warbler population including species such as Pine, Prairie, Swainson's, Prothonotary, Kentucky, and Hooded Warblers.
The Pineywoods’ unique combination of habitats and its position along migratory flyways make it a hotspot for both resident breeders and transient migrants. Birders should be prepared for patient listening, slow walks, and scanning multiple canopy layers to fully appreciate the spectacle of migration in this “Rainforest of Texas”.
Explore regional birding hotspots including Angelina National Forest, Sandy Creek Park, Big Thicket National Preserve, and WG Jones State Forest.
Spot rare and iconic forest specialties such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, currently listed as a threatened species.
Enjoy close encounters with a dazzling array of warblers including the Swainson’s Warbler – one of the region’s most sought-after specialties.
Scan the skies for Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites.
Observe wintering loons and diverse waterbirds and waterfowl along the shorelines of Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Immerse yourself in the “Rainforest of Texas” and experience the lush, vibrant landscapes that have earned the Pineywoods its nickname.
Dates: May 14-18, 2026
May 13-17, 2027
Price: $2,150 per person (DBL)
$400 single supplement
Deposit: $300 per person
Starts/Ends:
Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Each tour is limited to 8 participants
Status: OPEN
The package includes all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5, ground transportation during the tour, entrance fees to parks/preserves, accommodations as stated in the itinerary, and guided services provided by the tour leader(s). It does not include travel expenses including but not limited to airfare to and from the tour destination, travel insurance, extended stays (before and/or after the tour), alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and items/expenses of personal nature.
OSCAR CARMONA
Moderate (2-3 miles of daily walking). Field time each day is typically between 7-10 hours (weather permitting). Most of the birding is done on trails, boardwalks, beaches and along the road as we drive to various birding locations. Walking on uneven, soggy terrain, or in the rain is possible. Days start with breakfast at the hotel and departure for the field between 6:30 to 7:00 am. We bird throughout the morning, take a break for lunch and resume birding until 5:00 pm followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour - along with a possibility of viewing 20+ species of warblers.
Day 1: Arrive in Houston at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) before 2 pm. Participants will transfer to the hotel where a room will be reserved in their name. The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service from the airport. We will meet in the hotel lobby at 5:00 p.m. for a brief orientation and welcome dinner. Overnight: SpringHill Suites Houston Intercontinental Airport, Houston.
Day 2: WG Jones State Forest and Big Thicket to Jasper. We head to the nearby WG Jones State Forest in search of Pineywood specialties including the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Pine Warbler and other species. Around mid-morning, we head east towards the Big Thicket region, stopping along the way for brief birding stops. Big Thicket National Preserve was established in 1974 to protect the high biodiversity that characterizes the East Texas piney-woods and wetland ecosystem. With more than 113,000 acres of bottomland forest along the Trinity and Neches River drainages, this rich area provides extensive habitat for a wide variety of breeding songbirds. We spend time birding along the road in the Big Thicket area looking for Prairie Warbler. We may also encounter other warbler species as well as Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites, Northern Parula, Summer Tanager, Indigo Bunting, White-eyed Vireo, Pileated Woodpecker, and Yellow-throated Vireo. After an afternoon of birding the Big Thicket we drive to Jasper which will be our base for the next two nights. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Jasper.
Day 3: Angelina National Forest and Sandy Creek Park. This morning we’ll begin at Angelina National Forest, home to more than 150,000 acres of longleaf and loblolly pine stands, hardwood sloughs, riparian corridors, and reservoir edges along Lake Sam Rayburn. Our focus will be on searching for several pine forest specialties, particularly Red-cockaded Woodpecker (if not found at WG Jones State Forest) and Bachman’s Sparrow. We are also likely to see Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Pine Warbler, and possibly Louisiana Waterthrush. Later, we’ll visit Sandy Creek Park along the shores of Lake Steinhagen – a hidden gem for birding in the East Texas Pineywoods, offering a mix of lake, wetland, and forest habitats where birders can expect to see everything from waterfowl and raptors to colorful warblers and orioles. Here we have a good chance of finding Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Wood Thrush, and numerous warblers including Prothonotary, Swainson’s, Kentucky, and Yellow-throated. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Jasper
Day 4: Jasper to Beaumont and back to Houston. Today we drive toward Beaumont on the Upper Texas Coast, sitting at the intersection of two major migratory flyways and offering access to wetlands, pineywoods, and coastal habitats. We start at Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands and Boardwalk. This 900-acre refuge within Tyrrell Park is one of Beaumont’s signature birding destinations. With 8+ miles of trails and a raised boardwalk, birders can observe species such as Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Painted Bunting, Purple Gallinule, Fish Crow, Boat-tailed Grackle, among many others. By late afternoon, we’ll start traveling back to Houston. Overnight: SpringHill Suites Houston Intercontinental Airport, Houston.
Day 5: Tour Conclusion & Departures. Participants may arrange departing flights from Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) any time today.
