Birding Tours in West Texas & Big Bend

Desert canyons, sky-island forests, and specialties found nowhere else in the U.S.

Where & when: Far West Texas — the Trans-Pecos, Big Bend, and the Davis and Guadalupe Mountains — is a world apart, where high-desert basins meet pine-oak “sky islands.” It’s the only reliable place in the country for the Colima Warbler, plus a roster of Southwest specialties like Lucifer Hummingbird, Montezuma Quail, Varied Bunting, Mexican Jay, Gray Vireo, and Zone-tailed and Common Black Hawks. The prime window is mid-April through July, when the breeders are in and the Colima Warbler is on territory in the Chisos; spring migration and winter in the El Paso lowlands add more. Big country and big drives — which is exactly why it works best as a guided multi-day trip.

Plan a West Texas & Big Bend birding trip.
West Texas is a multi-day tour from the Austin area, built around your targets — the Chisos for the Colima Warbler, the Davis Mountains, the Guadalupes, and the desert oases in between. Small groups and a full trip report afterward.

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When to visit West Texas

The headline season is spring into summer — mid-April through July. That’s when the Colima Warbler is singing on territory up in the Chisos Mountains, and when desert and montane breeders like Lucifer Hummingbird, Varied Bunting, and Gray Vireo are easiest to find. Spring migration funnels extra birds through the desert oases, and the El Paso area and Balmorhea hold waterfowl, sparrows, and winter specialties in the colder months. Summer days are hot in the lowlands but pleasant up in the mountains, where much of the best birding is.

Davis Mountains - Jeff Davis County

Davis Mountains State Park

This is a great park for birding as it can have a great variety such as the ever famous, Montezuma Quail, Phainopepla, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Acorn Woodpeckers.

Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area

This is another great stop further up in the mountains. You can find some of the same birds, plus more, like Mexican Whip-O-Wills, lots of different warblers, and some rare owls stop by normally yearly.

Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute

This is just outside and to the east of Fort Davis. It's a great place to find Montezuma Quail. If you drive a little past it, there's a parking area with lots of big trees that's always a good place to look for Common Black Hawks.

Davis Mountains Preserve (Nature Conservancy)

One of the premier montane birding sites in Texas. Tobe and Madera Canyons hold Montezuma Quail, hummingbirds, Band-tailed Pigeon, and pine-oak specialties on the preserve's scheduled open days — well worth planning a trip around.

Reeves County

Balmorhea Lake

This is a wonderful place to get some great birds. Lots of waterfowl are normally here. Many rare birds frequent here as well so there's always a great chance at one of those.

Balmorhea Cemetary

This is a unique place as it's one of the best places for Sagebrush Sparrows. There's a chance to see many other birds as well so usually worth the drive around here.

Sandia Wetlands

A nice small area where many good birds are sometimes found. It has a shallow pond, when there is water, that can hold some waterfowl and other water loving species. It also has a small water hole where many species of dragonflies and sometimes skulking birds haging around it.

Big Bend Area - Brewster County

Chisos Basin - Big Bend National Park

Located in the Chisos Mountains, this is a great place for all of your western species like Mexican Jays, Colima and other warblers, etc. It's also the best place for bears so watch out for those.

Rio Grande Village - Big Bend National Park

The richest birding habitat in the park, hosting over 300 reported species. Explore the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail and Daniel's Ranch to spot the Zone-tailed Hawk, Vermilion Flycatcher, and Common Black Hawk.

Sam Nail Ranch - Big Bend National Park

A shaded desert oasis located off the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. The working windmill feeds native vegetation that draws migrants, Painted and Varied Buntings, and the Crissal Thrasher.

Dugout Wells - Big Bend National Park

Located near Panther Junction, this desert oasis serves as an excellent migrant trap. It is highly recommended for spotting the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and MacGillivray's Warbler.

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Less crowded and features diverse open landscapes. Visit the Papalote Escondido Wildlife Blind near Sauceda for excellent photography and viewing opportunities.

Christmas Mountains Oasis

Here's a beautiful place tucked up in the mountains. It's private property so you need to get permission to access. This is the best place to see some great western birds like Lucifer Hummingbirds, Canyon Towhees, Varied Buntings, etc.

Guadalupe Mountains - Culberson County

Pine Springs

This is the closest place to park on the south side of the mountains. There are several different paths to take from here for some great hikes. Some are not easy though. You can hike up to the infamous bowl from here where the majority of birds can be found at high altitudes like Crossbills, Hairy Woodpeckers, Stellar Jays and sometimes Pinion Jays. There's always a great variety here. The other trail is great for a night hike and you can sometimes find the elusive Mexican Spotted Owl and Eld Owls.

Dog Canyon

This is on the north side of the mountains and you have to go around, usually through New Mexico near Carlsbad. Or for the daring, hike there from the south side. lol Here you can find plenty of birds that are much easier to get to rather than hike to the top of the mountains to the bowl. You can find Lewis' Woodpeckers, Williamson's Sapsuckers, Golden Eagles, Woodhouse's Scrub Jays, Western Wood Pewees and many other wonderful birds.

McKittrick Canyon

One of the best trails as many things can be found here. It brings you to the inner canyon and many species frequent here like Stellar Jays, Cassin's Finches, Townsend Solitaires and Williamson's Sapsuckers. Occasionally, a rare bird will show up, like the American Dipper did in 2025.

Friole Ranch

Frijole Ranch has picnic tables under the large shade trees in the courtyard where cold, spring water is channeled through. Bring your binoculars; this is an excellent location for birding and wildlife observation. The Smith Springs loop trail begins here as well.

El Paso Area - El Paso County

Franklin Mountains State Park

Massive high-desert park featuring over 120 miles of trails. Home to desert specialists like Gambel's Quail, Cactus Wrens, and Curve-billed Thrashers. Features a dedicated bird blind with log feeders located 1 mile from the Westside entrance.

Fred Hervey Water Treatment Plant

A nice place where many bird species can be found. Species found can be Black-throated Gray Warblers, many waterfowl species in the winter months, Rock Wrens, Black-throated Sparrows, etc.

Memorial Park

You will find this city park provides good birding opportunities. This site is typically best for birding during migration; however, some of the most exciting birding can occur during winter when Pinyon Jays, woodpeckers, Juniper Titmice, nuthatches, and finches provide irruptive excursions southward. Migrants expected at this site include flycatchers, vireos, warblers, tanagers and grosbeaks.

Keystone Heritage Park and the El Paso Desert Botanical Garden

One of the region's leading locations for species diversity. Features a 21-acre archaic wetland that acts as a crucial stopover for migratory birds.

Rio Bosque Park

Restored wetland habitats tracking along the Rio Grande corridor. Ideal for viewing Burrowing Owls, Swainson’s Hawks, and diverse waterfowl.

Ascarate Park & Lake

Urban park offering expansive, open water viewing. Attracts large numbers of wading birds, diving ducks, and gulls during fall and winter.

More West Texas hotspots

A few more spots worth adding to a multi-day West Texas itinerary:

Hueco Tanks SP & Historic Site (El Paso) — desert oasis with rock basins and Chihuahuan specialties.
Big Bend – Pinnacles Trail — the classic hike into the Chisos high country for the Colima Warbler.
McDonald Observatory area — high Davis Mountains roadside birding.

Why go with a guide in West Texas

West Texas is huge, remote, and thin on services — the drives are long and many of the best birds are tied to specific canyons, springs, and elevations. The Colima Warbler, for instance, means a real hike into the Chisos high country, and knowing the timing and the exact trails matters. I handle the route, the logistics, and the local knowledge of where each specialty is showing, so your days out here are spent efficiently and on the birds that make the trip worth it.

Your guide

I’m Bryan Cotter, an Austin-based professional birding guide. In 2025 I became the 10th person in history to record 500 bird species in Texas, and I hold the Travis County (Austin) Big Year record of 330 species. I guide the whole state — from the Hill Country endemics to the Gulf Coast and the Rio Grande Valley. More about me →

West Texas & Big Bend birding FAQ

What birds is West Texas known for?

The Colima Warbler — whose only U.S. range is the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend — plus Southwest specialties like Lucifer Hummingbird, Montezuma Quail, Varied Bunting, Mexican Jay, Gray Vireo, Phainopepla, and Zone-tailed and Common Black Hawks, along with montane finches and jays in the Guadalupes.

When is the best time to bird West Texas and Big Bend?

Mid-April through July is prime, when the Colima Warbler is on territory in the Chisos and desert and montane breeders are easiest to find. Spring migration adds birds at the desert oases, and the El Paso area and Balmorhea are good in the cooler months.

Where is the best place to see a Colima Warbler?

The Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park — the only reliable spot in the United States. It takes a hike into the high country (the Pinnacles and Boot Canyon area), and the bird is present roughly from mid-April into summer.

What are the top birding areas in West Texas?

Big Bend National Park (the Chisos Basin and Rio Grande Village), the Davis Mountains, the Guadalupe Mountains, the desert oases and Balmorhea Lake, and the El Paso area, including Franklin Mountains State Park.

Do you offer guided West Texas tours?

Yes. West Texas is run as a multi-day tour from the Austin area, built around your target birds so we can cover the long distances between Big Bend, the Davis Mountains, and the Guadalupes. Contact me with your dates to plan it.

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