Birding

Big Bend National Park has over 450 bird species documented. About 450 species have been reported in the park, and only 56 live there year-round. Spring and fall migrants, along with summer and winter visitors, account for the rest.

Habitats include the riparian river corridor and desert springs, open desert, grasslands, pinyon-oak-juniper woodlands, and moist forested canyons. Water concentrates birds. The Rio Grande and its floodplain is the richest habitat, and about 75 percent of sightings have been near water.

Where to look in the park

These are the spots named on the National Park Service birding page.

Rio Grande Village

Year-round. The Nature Trail, the campground, the cottonwoods behind the store, and Daniels Ranch. 305 species.

Chisos Mountains

Window Trail, Laguna Meadow, Boulder Meadow, and Boot Canyon. Boot Canyon is the place for the Colima Warbler in late spring and summer. 312 species.

Cottonwood Campground

Winter and migration. 248 species.

Dugout Wells

Spring migration. 195 species.

Sam Nail Ranch

A sit-and-wait spot along Cottonwood Creek during spring migration. 188 species.

Blue Creek

Lucifer Hummingbird in spring and summer. 135 species.

Outside the park

Marathon Post Park / Pena Colorado is the place this site already names outside the national park. See Marathon and the birding hot spots page.

Lists and sources

Bird checklist and birding hot spots.

National Park Service: Birding in Big Bend and Birds of Big Bend.