This tour offers the ultimate Texas winter birding experience, combining an opportunity to see one of the world’s most endangered crane species with the incredible diversity of wintering waterfowl, raptors, and specialty birds of South Texas.
As the winter home to the world’s only wild, self-sustaining population of Whooping Cranes, we take a boat excursion into the marshes of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see these majestic birds. The pristine salt marshes also host a diverse array of wintering ducks, shorebirds, and waterfowl, including species such as Reddish Egret, Brown Pelican, and Roseate Spoonbill. We also dedicate a full day of the tour exploring the historic King Ranch, Norias Division. The ranch is located south of Kingsville and it is the best place in Texas to see the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl.
Winter is also an ideal time to observe Rio Grande Valley specialty birds along with any rarities that may be present in the region. Located at the southernmost tip of South Texas, the area supports a variety of bird species found nowhere else in the country such as Audubon’s Oriole, Ringed Kingfisher, Red-billed Pigeon, Brown Jay, Hook-billed Kite, and Green Jay. Recent sightings of rarities include Bat Falcon, Grey-collared Becard, Crimson-collared Grosbeak, and Roadside Hawk.
From the majestic Whooping Cranes wintering in the coastal marshes of the Central Texas Coast to brightly colored Altamira Orioles and Green Jays in the subtropical thornscrub of the Rio Grande Valley, this tour showcases why South Texas leads the nation in bird diversity and memorable birding experiences.
Enjoy a boat trip through the coastal waterways of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to get close views of Whooping Cranes.
Look for desert species such as Black-throated Sparrow, Scaled Quail, Cactus Wren and Greater Roadrunner at Falcon State Park.
Marvel at the variety of tropical bird species that reach their northernmost range in this region including Green Jay, Altamira Oriole, Ringed Kingfisher, Plain Chachalaca, Morelet’s Seedeater and Hook-billed Kite.
Look for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Audubon’s Oriole, and Northern Beardless Tyrannulet in the oak mottes and mesquite savannas of the legendary King Ranch.
Observe large numbers of wintering waterfowl and shorebirds at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and South Padre Island.
Spot several raptor species including Gray Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Harris’s Hawk, Crested Caracara, Hook-billed Kite and Aplomado Falcon.
Witness the nightly flight of Amazon parrots and Green Parakeets as they come to their evening roost.
Welcome the possibility of seeing rare vagrant birds from south of the border.
Dates: January 14-22, 2026
February 18-26, 2026
Price: $4,050 per person (DBL)
$680 single supplement
Deposit: $300 per person
Starts/Ends:
Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP)
Each tour is limited to 8 participants
Status: OPEN
The package includes all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 9, 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). This tour also includes a 3-hour boat tour to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see Whooping Cranes and a King Ranch tour to see the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. 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.
CAMERON COX
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.
ITINERARY - Winter in South Texas & Whooping Cranes
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Day 1: Arrive at Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) before 2 pm. After meeting everyone at the airport, we head north to Rockport to check in to our hotel. If time allows, we try to get in a few hours of birding at local sites before the evening orientation session and welcome dinner. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites, Rockport-Fulton.
Day 2: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. This morning, we take a boat trip to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see the Whooping Cranes and a variety of other wading, shore, and water birds. We have the opportunity to get close looks at family groups of Whooping Cranes as we cruise through these marshes that are brimming with bird activity. We are likely to see a large variety of waterfowl including Brown and American White Pelicans, White Ibis, Tricolored Heron and a variety of wintering ducks. After the boat trip, we spend the remainder of the day birding in the Rockport area and Mustang Island. The Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center is a great location with boardwalks going through coastal marshes where we will see a large variety of bird species including Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret as well as a variety of wintering ducks, shorebirds and passerines. The pastures and agricultural fields in the area provide opportunities to see groups of Sandhill Cranes and wintering sparrows. Overnight: Hampton Inn and Suites, Rockport-Fulton.
Day 3: King Ranch and drive to Rio Grande Valley. We spend the day birding the Norias Division of the King Ranch. Norias is located on the southern end of the vast 825,000 acre ranch. The mesquite brushlands and oak mottes in this area are one of the few places in Texas where our target bird, the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, can be seen with some degree of regularity, although it is not guaranteed due to its secretive nature. Additional uncommon species of interest we may see include Tropical Parula, Audubon’s Oriole, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, and Botteri’s Sparrow. The various habitats in the ranch host many species predominantly found in south Texas, including Harris’s Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Hooded Oriole, Green Jay, Olive Sparrow and Long-billed Thrasher. The King Ranch is a haven for wildlife; we have a good chance of seeing White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Javelina, and exotic Nilgai antelope. We then start our journey southward to the Rio Grande Valley which will be our base for the next six days of the tour. Overnight: Hampton Inn and Suites, Harlingen.
Day 4: South Padre Island, Coastal Plains, and Brownsville. Today we depart for South Padre Island to visit the Convention Center Boardwalk as well as the Valley Land Fund Migratory Bird Sanctuary lots which provide habitat for neotropical migrants and overwintering species. The coastal marshes and mudflats are brimming with birds including Wilson’s Plover, Snowy Plover, Reddish Egret, Brown Pelican among others. We also spend time along the Gulf beach looking for any ducks, shorebirds or pelagic species. The island can be full of avian surprises as there have been a number of rare visitors including Great Black-Hawk, Yellow-billed Loon, Slate-throated Redstart, and Flame-colored Tanager. In the afternoon we bird the coastal prairies located between Brownsville and Port Isabel. Our main target in this location will be the Aplomado Falcon, which has re-established a small population in this area after disappearing in the 1930s. Other birds we may see in the coastal prairies include White-tailed Hawk, Chihuahuan Raven and a variety of shorebirds and sparrows. We end our day in Brownsville visiting Oliveira Park to witness the nightly flight of Amazon parrots coming into the park to roost. Here we can observe Red-crowned, Red-lored, Yellow-headed and White-fronted Parrots in addition to Green Parakeet. Overnight: Hampton Inn and Suites, Harlingen.
Day 5: Estero Llano Grande State Park, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. We focus our efforts on the mid-valley visiting Estero Llano Grande State Park, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Estero Llano Grande State Park is a small park offering a variety of habitats and with that a large array of bird species. We can find Common Pauraque and Plain Chachalaca in the wooded areas as well as White-tailed Kite, Least Grebe and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in the open fields and wetlands. We continue west to the iconic Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge has a long history of being one of the top birding spots in the country and has hosted such rarities as Crane Hawk and Bat Falcon. We spend a few hours exploring the subtropical woodlands and ponds in the refuge where we may see Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Green Kingfisher. The refuge has a hawk watch tower which we visit to get a bird’s eye view of the park’s canopy and open skies. Our final destination for the day is Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, which has hosted many rarities in the past including Masked Tityra, Stygian Owl and Collared Forest-Falcon. Here we have a chance to see an extensive list of Valley specialties including White-tipped Dove, Green Jay, Olive Sparrow, Altamira Oriole, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet and more. Like Santa Ana, Bentsen has a hawk watch tower which is an excellent place to scan the treetops and sky above the park for both Hook-billed Kite and Gray Hawk. Overnight: Home2 Suites, McAllen.
Day 6: Anzalduas County Park and Mid-Valley. Located right on the Rio Grande River, Anzalduas County Park is a great location to look for mixed species flocks which often include Tropical Parula and Black-throated Gray Warbler. The fields near the entry of the park make this location an ideal spot to look for wintering raptors, sparrows, and Sprague’s Pipit. We spend the afternoon visiting local sites including Frontera Audubon Nature Preserve in Weslaco and Quinta Mazatlán in McAllen. Although both sites are in residential areas, these locations offer a surprising variety of bird species with vagrants like Crimson-collared Grosbeak and Mexican Violetear reported in recent years. We end the day in McAllen visiting a local Green Parakeet roosting location. In addition to seeing a number of these tropical parakeets, we may also see a few Bronzed Cowbirds amongst the hundreds of Great-tailed Grackles. Overnight: Home2 Suites, McAllen.
Day 7: Falcon State Park, Starr County Park, and Fronton. We head upriver to the western end of the Rio Grande Valley to bird the arid thorn scrub and riparian areas along the Rio Grande River. Our first stop is Falcon State Park, which sits on the shores of Falcon Lake. We explore the location in search of Black-throated Sparrow, Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia, Greater Roadrunner and other desert birds. The lake can also be a good place to see American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant and a variety of wintering ducks. The nearby Starr County Park offers many of the same bird species as Falcon State Park but provides us a second chance to pick up species we may have not seen at Falcon including Vermilion Flycatcher and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Later in the day we visit Fronton, which is located along the Rio Grande River below Falcon Dam. The extensive river cane and brush in this location provide a great habitat for the highly localized Morelet’s Seedeater. We drive some of the back roads in the area where we may add Scaled Quail, Rock Wren, and Lark Bunting. If time allows, we may spend some late afternoon time at Salineño to scan the Rio Grande River for Muscovy Duck, Mexican Duck and kingfishers. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Rio Grande City.
Day 8:Santa Margarita Ranch and Salineño. We return to the Upper Valley to pick up where we left off. Our first stop is Santa Margarita Ranch, which is a private ranch located downriver from Falcon Dam. This location offers a unique birding experience as you stand on high bluffs overlooking the Rio Grande River and the riparian woodlands of the property. Currently, the ranch is the only location in the United States where you can reliably see Brown Jay. In addition to the jays, we have a good chance to see Muscovy Duck, Red-billed Pigeon, Hook-billed Kite, Ringed Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher and a large number of wintering ducks in the river below. In recent years, several rare bird species have been observed on the ranch, including the Crane Hawk, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, and Mottled Owl. Depending on what we saw yesterday and this morning, we may either spend time at Salineño or drive northwest to Zapata if we still need to locate Morelet’s Seedeater to finish our day. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Rio Grande City.
Day 9: Tour Conclusion and Departures. Today we leave the Rio Grande Valley and make the drive to Corpus Christi. We will arrive at the airport by no later than 12 pm. Participants may arrange departing flights from Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) after 2 pm.
