Birdiest Festival in America

To purchase tickets:

• Create a free online account on the Birdiest Festival homepage.
• Log in with the username and password you just created.
• On the dashboard with your event information, you can purchase your ticket(s) of choice and learn what each ticket option has to offer. 
• You can also download the Spaces by Wix app and join “The Birdiest Festival in America” to stay updated on the go!

The Birdiest Festival in America offers a variety of trips, events, workshops, presentations, and more each day. The 2026 festival brings new trip locations and events added to the schedule for even more bird spotting.  

For more information, see the full schedule of events and mark your calendar for your favorites. Don't forget you can also download the Spaces by Wix app and join "The Birdiest Festival in America" to stay updated on the go.

Yes. There will be a Family Fun area with activities for kids including arts & crafts, nature learning, and animal interactions.

Yes. There will be a variety of food trucks available at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center available for lunch.

There will also be a Texas Barbecue Dinner catered by Mike Cotten’s BBQ to welcome festival registrants during the festival’s opening reception on Thursday, April 23, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Water and Iced Tea is included, but there will be a Cash Bar available on site for other drink options. Meal tickets for the Texas BBQ Dinner are $24 per person (registrant) and $30 for their guests. 

As the “Birdiest City in America,” Corpus Christi is known for over 200 species in the area. The Birdiest Festival in America will be taking place during the spring migration so you may catch a glimpse of the smaller, vibrantly colored birds such as warblers, vireos, orioles, grosbeaks, and buntings; shorebirds moving along the shoreline and interior ponds; peak raptor migration; and a majority of local species that can only be seen in South Texas.

Since its inaugural year in 2017, the number of species spotted at the Birdiest Festival continues to increase, putting it in the running to have the largest species count of any festival in the country.

• 2017: 249 species

• 2018: 257 species

• 2019: 262 species

• 2021: 271 species

• 2022: 284 species

• 2023: 268 species

• 2024: 274 species

• 2025: 268 species

2025 Festival Recap

Sunny skies and consistent south-southeast winds made for ideal birding conditions during the 2025 festival, as migratory species continued their journey north. Over five days of guided trips, talks, and nature walks, birders recorded an impressive 268 species, with the total climbing to 280 when including pre- and post-festival excursions.

Standout sightings included Mississippi Kites in migration, Brown-crested Flycatchers, American White Pelicans, Red-bellied Pigeons, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls, and so many more. From tropical residents to sought-after migrants, the species diversity offered something for every level of birder, and plenty of reasons to return. Even more exciting, this year brought several first-ever sightings for the festival, including the Botteri’s Sparrow, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Cactus Wren, House Finch, and Black Phoebe.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious newcomer, this year’s event proved why our region continues to be one of the top birding destinations in North America.

The hosting site for the Birdiest Festival in America will be at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, where there will be plenty of parking. However, if you did register for off-site trips and tours, the parking will vary by location. Please see the Birding Trips page for more information on each location.