Big Bend National Park Hotspots


Big Bend is one of the great birding destinations in North America, where the Chihuahuan Desert rises into the cool, wooded Chisos Mountains along a big bend of the Rio Grande. That range of elevation and habitat packs an incredible variety of birds into one park, including specialties found almost nowhere else in the United States. For a photographer, the scenery is as much a draw as the birds.

Birds to look for: Colima Warbler (the Chisos are its only reliable U.S. home), Lucifer Hummingbird, Varied Bunting, Mexican Jay, Elf Owl, and Zone-tailed Hawk.

Best time to visit: Late spring (April to June) for the Colima Warbler and desert breeders.

Birds I’ve Photographed in Big Bend National Park 23 species · see them in the gallery →

Ash-throated Flycatcher photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Ash-throated Flycatcher Band-tailed Pigeon photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Band-tailed Pigeon Black Phoebe photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Black Phoebe Black-crested Titmouse photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Black-crested Titmouse Black-headed Grosbeak photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Black-headed Grosbeak Black-tailed Gnatcatcher photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Blue-gray Gnatcatcher photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Burrowing Owl photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Burrowing Owl Cactus Wren photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Cactus Wren Canyon Towhee photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Canyon Towhee Colima Warbler photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Colima Warbler Common Black Hawk photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Common Black Hawk Common Raven photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Common Raven Crissal Thrasher photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Crissal Thrasher Gray Hawk photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Gray Hawk Lucifer Hummingbird photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Lucifer Hummingbird Merlin photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Merlin Mexican Jay photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Mexican Jay Varied Bunting photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Varied Bunting Verdin photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Verdin Vermilion Flycatcher photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Vermilion Flycatcher Western Tanager photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Western Tanager Western Wood-Pewee photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Western Wood-Pewee

Other Wildlife in Big Bend National Park 9 species

Arizona Sister photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Arizona Sister Dotted Gray photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Dotted Gray Ocotillo photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Ocotillo American Black Bear photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter American Black Bear Black Bear photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Black Bear Collared Peccary photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Collared Peccary Yellow Mud Turtle photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Yellow Mud Turtle Chisos Mountains photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Chisos Mountains Rio Grande Village photographed in the Big Bend National Park region of Texas by Bryan Cotter Rio Grande Village

Birding Locations in Big Bend National Park See all birds photographed here →

Chisos Mountains

The Chisos Basin Campground is nestled in an open woodland within a scenic mountain basin. Campers enjoy the views of Casa Grande and Emory Peak. The sunset through the nearby "Window" is a Big Bend highlight. Some of the park's most popular trails begin nearby. Elevation: 5,400 feet.


Bird Species Found Here

Rio Grande Village

Rio Grande Village is a popular, scenic destination in the southeastern section of Big Bend National Park, Texas. Situated along the river border with Mexico, it features an established campground, a full-hookup RV park, a general store, a visitor center, and easy access to local hiking and hot springs.


Bird Species Found Here






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