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RGV Bird Guide · Field Notes & Guides

Stories, Tips &
Field Reports
from the Valley

Expert guides, hotspot reviews, and species profiles from one of North America's premier birding destinations.

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Scarlet Tanager during spring migration at South Padre Island, Texas
Featured
Migration Reports

South Padre Island Spring Migration 2026 — Live Highlights

April 2026 Live · Updated daily RGV Bird Guide Staff

Migration is picking up at South Padre Island. Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Altamira Orioles among the highlights this week — with live species reports from all three key locations on the island.

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Red-crowned Amazon parrot in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Species Profiles

The Wild Parrots of the Rio Grande Valley — A Complete Field Guide

April 2026 8 min read

Five parrot species call the RGV home — Red-crowned Amazon, Green Parakeet, Red-lored Amazon, Yellow-headed Amazon, and Monk Parakeet. Where to find them, when to go, and why the evening roost is unmissable.

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Best Hotspots for RGV Specialty Birds
Hotspot Guides

Best Hotspots for RGV Specialty Birds — The Complete 2026 Guide

March 2026 12 min read

From Santa Ana NWR to Laguna Atascosa, we rank the top RGV birding hotspots for finding the specialty and rare birds that draw visitors from across North America.

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Green Jay — Top 25 RGV Specialty Birds
Species Profiles

Top 25 RGV Specialty Birds — The Ultimate Rio Grande Valley Birding List

April 2026 15 min read

The definitive bucket list for any RGV birding trip — from Green Jays and Hook-billed Kites to Crimson-collared Grosbeaks, ranked and cross-referenced across four authoritative lists.

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Black-throated Sparrow at Falcon State Park
Hotspot Guides

Birding Falcon State Park — Desert Specialties of the Upper Rio Grande Valley

April 2026 6 min read

Greater Roadrunner, Pyrrhuloxia, Scaled Quail, and Black-throated Sparrow — a local guide to the desert birds of Falcon SP and what makes this upper Valley park worth the drive.

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