Birding Tour USA: Texas Winter — Whooping Cranes and Rio Grande

Texas needs no introduction. The “Lone Star State” covers a vast area of the southern US, and incorporates a wide mix of habitats ranging from pinewoods and marshes along its eastern border with Louisiana, through to deserts and arid shrublands characteristic of America’s southwest (reminiscent of Arizona), and the verdant riverine woodlands of the Rio Grande Valley, a prelude to what lies further south in Mexico. The phrase, ‘everything is big in Texas’ holds true – Houston, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth are some of the largest and most populous cities and metropolitan areas in the country, and the state is also home to one of the largest national parks in the country – Big Bend National Park (we arrange private tours here in the spring/summer, to look for the rare Colima Warbler – please specifically ask us about this!). The official bird list of the state, true to form, is also massive – numbering well over 650 species – which is a significant portion of the total species within the US.

The gorgeous Altamira Oriole is one of the Rio Grande Valley specials we’ll be searching for.

This short tour, timed at the start of winter, sees us focusing on the many resident specials of the state, and in particular, trying to find as many of the Mexican/Neotropical species as possible.  Indeed, a great deal of bird species can only be reliably found in Texas, within the US. First and foremost is Whooping Crane. This species has a tragic history, having been on the verge of extinction with fewer than 20 individuals left in the wild, before a great rehabilitation and reintroduction program was set in motion. With non-stop work over decades, this species has been down-listed to Endangered by the IUCN Red List, and now some 300+ individuals survive in the wild. This is an important target for us on this tour, and we dedicate time around Corpus Christi, at the start of this tour, where we can access the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, specifically targeting this highly sought-after species.

Whooping Crane (left) is an incredibly desirable North American endemic bird.

Following on, this tour ventures into the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where a number of days are spent exploring the excellent and vast network of state parks, preserves and wildlife areas. This wild part of the state supports a range of species more typically found further south in Mexico, and indeed the Neotropics. Perhaps no better example of this exists with the fact that Ocelot occur in the area, though a great deal of luck is needed to see this secretive and rare cat. A wide range of species will be targeted, including such charismatic species as Plain Chachalaca, Aplomado Falcon, Ringed Kingfisher, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Green Jay and Long-billed Thrasher. We will also make a special effort for rare species like Morelet’s (White-collared) Seedeater, and will keep an ear to the ground for any rarities that may be present in the area – which may include such sought-after species as Northern Jacana and Crimson-collared Grosbeak. In addition, a number of waterbirds will be seen, everything from spoonbills to pelicans and curlews, and a number of species more regularly associated with the drier American southwest, such as Greater Roadrunner and Black-throated Sparrow, should also feature.

The large Ringed Kingfisher is a feature along the Rio Grande.