Galveston - Lafitte's Cove
Texas · Southeast
Moderate
October-April
Free
Open daily, dawn to dusk
About This Location
Galveston - Lafitte's Cove is a productive birding destination in Texas, with 329 species recorded on eBird. This coastal habitat attracts Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Blue-winged Teal, and Northern Shoveler among many others. Mild winters attract waterfowl and sparrows, while spring and fall migration bring neotropical songbirds.
Location
Loading map...
Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Contopus virens
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Sandwich Tern (Cabot's x Cayenne)
Thalasseus sandvicensis
Groove-billed Ani
Crotophaga sulcirostris
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Empidonax flaviventris
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Horned Lark
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Mottled Duck
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Common Gallinule
Laughing Gull
Royal Tern
Neotropic Cormorant
White Ibis
Little Blue Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Blue Jay
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
House Sparrow
Birding Tips
- 1
Check rocky shorelines and jetties at low tide for shorebirds.
- 2
Scan offshore waters with a spotting scope for seabirds and waterfowl.
- 3
Check for wintering sparrows in brushy edges from November through February.
- 4
Onshore winds can push pelagic species closer to shore, making post-storm days excellent for rarities.
- 5
Bring quality optics — a good pair of binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) makes all the difference in species identification.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Galveston Island State Park
- East Beach
- Moody Gardens
More in Texas
High Island
Legendary Texas coast migrant trap where trans-Gulf birds make landfall during spring fallouts.
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
Subtropical Rio Grande Valley forest with rare Mexican species found nowhere else in the US.
Big Bend National Park
Remote Chihuahuan Desert park with the only US breeding population of Colima Warbler.
Texas Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Texas →