Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
Texas · Southeast
Moderate
October-April
$5 per vehicle
Open daily, sunrise to sunset
About This Location
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is a productive birding destination in Texas, with 362 species recorded on eBird. This wetland habitat attracts Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, and Northern Shoveler among many others. Mild winters attract waterfowl and sparrows, while spring and fall migration bring neotropical songbirds.
Location
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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
Northern Waterthrush
Parkesia noveboracensis
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Altamira x Audubon's Oriole (hybrid)
Icterus gularis x graduacauda
Orange-crowned Warbler
Leiothlypis celata
Mexican Duck
Anas diazi
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Tennessee Warbler
Leiothlypis peregrina
Northern Harrier
Circus hudsonius
Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis
Wilson's Warbler
Cardellina pusilla
Purple Gallinule
Porphyrio martinica
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Mottled Duck
Plain Chachalaca
Common Ground Dove
White-tipped Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Groove-billed Ani
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Lesser Nighthawk
Common Gallinule
Black-necked Stilt
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Wood Stork
Neotropic Cormorant
White Ibis
White-faced Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Birding Tips
- 1
Bring waterproof boots for marsh trails and muddy edges.
- 2
Scan the edges of open water for herons, egrets, and rails at dawn.
- 3
Check for wintering sparrows in brushy edges from November through February.
- 4
Check the refuge website for seasonal auto tour route schedules and any temporary closures before visiting.
- 5
Stop at the visitor center for current bird sighting reports and trail condition updates.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Estero Llano Grande State Park
- Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
- Quinta Mazatlan
More in Texas
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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 →