Birding Through the Seasons

Corpus Christi offers an unforgettable year-round birding experience, and with more than 200 species of birds in the area, it has been named the “Birdiest City in America” multiple years in a row by the Coastal Bend Audubon Society. As the seasons shift, so do the unique sights and sounds of birdlife across the region. Each visit brings new opportunities to witness the rhythms of migration, nesting, and feeding in diverse habitats ranging from wetlands and shorelines to grasslands and woodlands. Whether you're spotting majestic raptors, colorful songbirds, or coastal waders, birding in Corpus Christi is a dynamic experience that celebrates nature’s variety through every season.

Spring

March 15 - June 15

Avid birdwatchers, get your binoculars and cameras ready because shorebirds – like the American golden plover and the upland sandpiper – are most prominent during this time. You can also catch migrant songbirds in March, just as they make their way down to Corpus Christi. In April, visit the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center to attend the Birdiest Festival in America, as the biggest flock of songbirds make their way to our sunny city. The songbirds stick around until May, but if you swing by Blucher Park and the Packery Channel Oak Motte Sanctuary, you’ll catch sight of warblers, orioles, grosbeaks, and buntings. King Ranch also offers great birding tours like the Noria’s Birding, Deluxe Noria’s Birding, and King Ranch Adventure tours, which are most popular during the spring season.

Summer

May 15 - August 15

A new set of birds begins to arrive as the warmer days set in. During the summer months, you’ll spot South Texas specialty birds like the groove-billed ani, green jay, and Audubon’s oriole. They flock to our warmer, tropical climates and can be found at Hazel Bazemore Park and Corpus Christi State Park. If you’re more into water-type birds, you have to check out Tule Lake and Wright’s Pond, where the wood stork has been spotted. Don’t forget to swing by the Hans Suter Wildlife Refuge and Sunset Lake for the best chances of spotting herons, egrets, white ibises, roseate spoonbills, and the black skimmer.

Fall

August 15 - November 15

When the cooler winds begin to blow in, the fall shorebird migration picks up in pace. Although the fall migration brings fewer birds than the spring season, you’ll still want to mark bird watching on your itinerary, because the duration of visiting warblers, orioles, and buntings more than makes up for it. Unique sightings during the fall include hawks, ducks, and whooping cranes – more than a million hawks have been spotted from the hawk watch platform at Hazel Bazemore County Park.

Winter

November 15 - March 15

Winter is often overlooked as a good time for bird watching, for concern of bird migration to warmer climates. Luckily, we have the perfect tropical climate, even during the colder months – meaning birds love to stay around and hang out. Catch sight of whooping and sandhill cranes feeding in pastures and agricultural fields, as well as flocks of snow, Ross’s, and white-fronted geese. Songbirds are still hanging around Hazel Bazemore County Park, so make sure to swing by and get that perfect photo. And don’t forget about the year-round tours at King Ranch – the half-day Winter Birding Tours make for a great activity.