Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
Texas · Southeast
Easy
November-April
$5 per vehicle
Sunrise to sunset daily
About This Location
Santa Ana NWR in the Lower Rio Grande Valley protects one of the last remnants of subtropical forest in the US, harboring many species found nowhere else in the country. The tram tour and trail system provide access to dense thorn forest alive with Green Jays, Altamira Orioles, and other Mexican specialties.
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
Altamira x Audubon's Oriole (hybrid)
Icterus gularis x graduacauda
Northern Waterthrush
Parkesia noveboracensis
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Orange-crowned Warbler
Leiothlypis celata
Mexican Duck
Anas diazi
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Tennessee Warbler
Leiothlypis peregrina
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
Plain Chachalaca
Inca Dove
Common Ground Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Groove-billed Ani
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Common Gallinule
Black-necked Stilt
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Gray Hawk
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Birding Tips
- 1
Take the tram tour for a guided introduction to the refuge
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Check the feeding station near the visitor center for close-up views
- 3
Visit during spring migration (April-May) for the greatest species diversity
- 4
Winter birding can be rewarding for waterfowl, raptors, and winter finches
- 5
Arrive at dawn for peak bird activity, especially during migration seasons
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Estero Llano Grande State Park
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Texas Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Texas →