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
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 Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Sprague's Pipit
Anthus spragueii
Crimson-collared Grosbeak
Periporphyrus celaeno
Mexican Duck
Anas diazi
Prothonotary Warbler
Protonotaria citrea
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons
Altamira x Audubon's Oriole (hybrid)
Icterus gularis x graduacauda
Bell's Vireo
Vireo bellii
Hudsonian Godwit
Limosa haemastica
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Mottled Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Ruddy Duck
Plain Chachalaca
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Black-necked Stilt
Killdeer
Long-billed Dowitcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Least Grebe
White Ibis
Little Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Great Egret
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
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 →