December birding in Texas is like unwrapping gifts all month long. Migration has eased, but winter residents are in full swing, and the state transforms into a birder’s wonderland. Whether you want to see thousands of geese rising off a refuge at dawn or spy a Green Jay stealing the spotlight down south, Texas delivers.

Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During December, based on years of personal field notes, frosty mornings, and more cups of gas station coffee than I’d like to admit.

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1. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Central Coast)

By December, Whooping Cranes are well settled in, striding across the marsh like they own the place (and honestly, they kind of do). I once watched one snatch a blue crab while a Roseate Spoonbill looked downright jealous.

Why Go: To see Whooping Cranes—one of the great birding highlights in North America.
Prized Birds: Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, Roseate Spoonbills, White-tailed Hawks.
Known For: Being the place to reliably see Whooping Cranes.

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2. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (North Texas)

If you’ve never seen 50,000 Snow Geese take flight, December at Hagerman will leave your jaw on the ground. I’ve stood there with the sound so loud it drowned out my own thoughts—glorious chaos.

Why Go: Enormous concentrations of waterfowl.
Prized Birds: Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, Bald Eagles.
Known For: Goose spectacles and raptor-watching.

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3. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (Upper Coast)

December mornings here are crisp, quiet, and magical. I once had a Northern Harrier float low across the reeds just as a King Rail called—a perfect duet.

Why Go: Waterfowl, raptors, and secretive marsh birds.
Prized Birds: Soras, King Rails, Northern Harriers, Snow Geese, Seaside Sparrows.
Known For: Vast marshes alive with wintering birds.

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

December at Santa Ana means Valley specialties at their finest. I’ve had Green Jays, Altamira Orioles, and Plain Chachalacas show up in the same tree, as if posing for a Christmas card.

Why Go: A mix of tropical residents and winter migrants.
Prized Birds: Green Jays, Plain Chachalacas, Vermilion Flycatchers, Least Grebes.
Known For: Iconic Rio Grande Valley birding.

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

This refuge is vast and wild, and in December the birding is unbeatable. I’ll never forget seeing an Aplomado Falcon perch on a yucca as flocks of Redheads rafted offshore.

Why Go: Raptors, waterfowl, and Valley endemics.
Prized Birds: Aplomado Falcons, White-tailed Hawks, Redheads, Altamira Orioles.
Known For: Rare falcons and massive duck concentrations.

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6. Padre Island National Seashore (South Coast)

While migration slows, wintering shorebirds steal the show. I once counted over 30 Long-billed Curlews striding across the flats like synchronized dancers.

Why Go: Outstanding shorebirding and coastal waterfowl.
Prized Birds: Long-billed Curlews, American Avocets, Redheads, Northern Pintails.
Known For: Endless coastal birding in winter.

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7. Brazos Bend State Park (Near Houston)

Birding with alligators? Yes, please. December is when the ponds and woods sparkle with birds. I once had an American White Pelican, a Belted Kingfisher, and a Vermilion Flycatcher all in view—while a gator snoozed nearby.

Why Go: A rich mix of wetland and woodland species.
Prized Birds: American White Pelicans, Pied-billed Grebes, Vermilion Flycatchers, sparrows.
Known For: Accessible birding with excellent photo opportunities.

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8. Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (Hill Country)

December birding here is quieter but still rewarding. I once stumbled into a flock of sparrows that included everything from White-crowned to Vesper.

Why Go: Winter sparrows and raptors with a backdrop of rolling hills.
Prized Birds: White-crowned Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, Red-tailed Hawks.
Known For: Hill Country landscapes and sparrow diversity.

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9. Davis Mountains State Park (West Texas)

December mornings here are chilly, but birding at altitude is worth the layers. I’ve watched Montezuma Quail scuttle across the road like feathered bowling balls.

Why Go: Unique mountain species, even in winter.
Prized Birds: Montezuma Quail, Acorn Woodpeckers, Canyon Towhees, Scott’s Orioles.
Known For: High-country specialties and dark skies at night.

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10. San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (Upper Coast)

This is an underappreciated gem in December. I once had a flock of American Avocets shining in the morning light while White-tailed Kites hovered above—picture-perfect.

Why Go: Waterfowl and raptors in a peaceful setting.
Prized Birds: American Avocets, Snow Geese, White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers.
Known For: A quieter alternative to Anahuac with great diversity.

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Final Thoughts

December birding in Texas is proof that migration season isn’t the only time to get excited. With Whooping Cranes dancing at Aransas, geese thundering off Hagerman, and Green Jays squabbling in the Valley, it’s a month of spectacles.

So pack a jacket, grab a thermos of hot coffee, and hit the road. Texas in December is cooler, calmer, and every bit as birdy. And trust me—when you watch a Whooping Crane stride through golden marsh grass, you’ll forget the holiday shopping list entirely.

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