By November, Texas birding feels like a Thanksgiving feast—plenty to choose from, all flavors represented, and you’ll probably overindulge. Migration is tapering, wintering birds are arriving, and the cooler weather makes long days in the field a joy instead of a sweat-soaked endurance test.

Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During November, based on years of personal treks, muddy boots, and binoculars permanently glued to my face.

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1. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Central Coast)

November means Whooping Cranes are back. Seeing them in person is like spotting royalty—tall, elegant, and rare. I once watched a pair dance in the marsh while a flock of Roseate Spoonbills looked on like jealous courtiers.

Why Go: Wintering Whooping Cranes return in November.
Prized Birds: Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, Roseate Spoonbills, White-tailed Hawks.
Known For: The single best place to see Whooping Cranes in Texas.

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2. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (Upper Coast)

Cool mornings here are unbeatable. I once had a Sora scurry across the road in front of my car like it was late for a job interview.

Why Go: Marshes are alive with waterfowl and rails.
Prized Birds: Snow Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, Northern Harriers, Soras, King Rails.
Known For: Prime wintering habitat for waterfowl and raptors.

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3. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (Rio Grande Valley)

In November, Santa Ana is a birder’s sampler platter: tropical residents plus winter arrivals. I once watched a Ringed Kingfisher blast past while Green Jays bickered overhead.

Why Go: Tropical specialties meet winter migrants.
Prized Birds: Green Jays, Plain Chachalacas, Groove-billed Anis, Vermilion Flycatchers, waterfowl.
Known For: A little slice of birding Mexico—without leaving Texas.

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4. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (Lower Rio Grande Valley)

November mornings are crisp, the light is golden, and the birding is sublime. One morning I had both an Aplomado Falcon and a White-tailed Hawk in view—try topping that.

Why Go: Wintering raptors and waterfowl.
Prized Birds: Aplomado Falcons, White-tailed Hawks, Altamira Orioles, Green Jays, Redheads.
Known For: Falcon habitat you won’t find anywhere else in the U.S.

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5. Padre Island National Seashore (South Coast)

By November, the raptor frenzy has slowed, but shorebirds are still plentiful and the wintering flocks are forming. I once counted 27 Long-billed Curlews in a single sweep—like a convention of bent bills.

Why Go: Excellent shorebirding and winter arrivals.
Prized Birds: Long-billed Curlews, American Avocets, Red Knots, Northern Pintails.
Known For: Endless shorebird habitat and wintering waterfowl.

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6. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (North Texas, near Sherman)

This place is goose heaven in November. I once stood in awe as thousands of Snow Geese lifted off, filling the sky with sound and feathers—it was equal parts awe-inspiring and deafening.

Why Go: Migrating and wintering waterfowl.
Prized Birds: Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, Bald Eagles.
Known For: Some of the largest goose concentrations in Texas.

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7. Horned Lizard Habitat at Caprock Canyons State Park (Panhandle Plains)

November here is about wide skies and big raptors. I once had a Ferruginous Hawk circle directly overhead, so close I could see every feather.

Why Go: Panhandle specialties and raptors.
Prized Birds: Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons, Mountain Bluebirds.
Known For: Vast open landscapes and spectacular winter raptors.

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8. Brazos Bend State Park (Near Houston)

Alligators may steal the spotlight here, but the birding is just as impressive. I once watched a Belted Kingfisher dive into a pond while an alligator barely blinked—it’s a very Texas sort of scene.

Why Go: Wetlands and woods teeming with winter arrivals.
Prized Birds: American White Pelicans, Pied-billed Grebes, Belted Kingfishers, Vermilion Flycatchers.
Known For: Birding with reptiles (and excellent photo ops).

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9. Davis Mountains State Park (West Texas)

November here is brisk, beautiful, and loaded with birds you won’t see elsewhere. I once had a Montezuma Quail flush at my feet—startling me more than it.

Why Go: West Texas mountain specialties in cooler weather.
Prized Birds: Montezuma Quail, Scott’s Orioles, Acorn Woodpeckers, Canyon Towhees.
Known For: High-country birding in Texas.

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10. Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (Sealy, near Houston)

While the chickens themselves are elusive, the refuge is alive in November with sparrows and raptors. I once had a White-tailed Kite hover right over the prairie—a memory that sticks.

Why Go: Sparrows, raptors, and unique prairie habitat.
Prized Birds: Le Conte’s and Grasshopper Sparrows, White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers.
Known For: Grassland birds and the rare Attwater’s Prairie Chicken.

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Final Thoughts

November birding in Texas is a joyride. From Whooping Cranes at Aransas to Snow Geese at Hagerman, the spectacle of migration flows seamlessly into winter birding. Add in tropical specialties in the Valley and raptors in the Panhandle, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a birding month.

So grab a jacket, pack your binoculars, and keep your eyes to the skies. November in Texas isn’t just about turkeys—it’s about every other bird that makes this state one of the best birding destinations in North America.

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