May in Texas is birding at full throttle. Spring migration is peaking, birds are singing, and warblers seem to drip from every tree. The spectacle is so overwhelming that even seasoned birders (like me) still find themselves gasping, “Wow.” May is also when shorebirds are in their sharpest breeding plumage, and the Valley is buzzing with colorful activity.

Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During May, drawn from years of muddy boots, sunburned necks, and more than a few happy warbler hangovers.

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1. High Island (Upper Texas Coast)

If April is famous, May is downright legendary. Smith Oaks rookery is bursting with Roseate Spoonbills and egrets, while the woods overflow with warblers. I once had 20 species in a single morning—and that was before breakfast tacos.

Why Go: Peak migration plus rookery chaos.
Prized Birds: Magnolia Warblers, Blackburnian Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Roseate Spoonbills.
Known For: Being the crown jewel of Texas spring migration.

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2. Sabine Woods (Upper Texas Coast)

In May, Sabine Woods delivers wave after wave of warblers and orioles. I once saw so many Indigo Buntings here that it looked like someone had spilled blue paint across the trees.

Why Go: One of the best migrant traps in the country.
Prized Birds: Cerulean Warblers, Bay-breasted Warblers, Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings.
Known For: Intimate woodland birding during peak migration.

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3. Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary (Bolivar Peninsula)

May shorebirding here is unbeatable. The flats glitter with birds in their brightest breeding plumage. I once found a Red Knot so brilliantly red it looked Photoshopped.

Why Go: World-class shorebird concentrations.
Prized Birds: Red Knots, American Avocets, Wilson’s Plovers, Marbled Godwits, Reddish Egrets.
Known For: Mud, sand, and shorebirds galore.

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4. South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center (South Texas Coast)

South Padre in May is birder heaven—boardwalks packed with shorebirds and passerines. I once had a Clapper Rail strut across the boardwalk like it owned the place.

Why Go: Easy access to coastal birding.
Prized Birds: Clapper Rails, Reddish Egrets, Painted Buntings, Orchard Orioles.
Known For: Birding you can do in flip-flops.

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

By May, Santa Ana is bursting with life. Migrants mix with tropical residents, and the trails buzz with activity. A Vermilion Flycatcher once sat so close to me here I thought it wanted to hitch a ride in my binocular case.

Why Go: Valley specialties plus peak migrants.
Prized Birds: Green Jays, Altamira Orioles, Painted Buntings, warblers.
Known For: The Valley’s most famous birding refuge.

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

In May, this refuge shines with raptors and waterbirds. I once had an Aplomado Falcon zoom by at eye level—it was so fast I almost checked for a radar gun.

Why Go: Raptors, ducks, and Valley specialties.
Prized Birds: Aplomado Falcons, White-tailed Hawks, Altamira Orioles, Redheads.
Known For: The raptor capital of the Valley.

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7. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (Upper Coast)

May at Anahuac means rails, sparrows, and shorebirds. One morning I had a King Rail call so loudly nearby that I nearly spilled my coffee.

Why Go: Marsh specialties plus migration variety.
Prized Birds: King Rails, Seaside Sparrows, Black Terns, shorebirds.
Known For: Marsh birding with character (and alligators).

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8. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Central Coast)

Most Whooping Cranes have left by May, but the shorebirds and migrants are worth the trip. I once had a Roseate Spoonbill glow pink against the marsh while a Northern Harrier hunted overhead.

Why Go: Migrants and shorebirds in a wild setting.
Prized Birds: Roseate Spoonbills, White-tailed Hawks, shorebirds, herons.
Known For: Big, beautiful coastal birding.

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9. Brazos Bend State Park (Near Houston)

By May, Brazos Bend is teeming with activity. Painted Buntings sing, flycatchers hawk insects, and the wetlands bubble with life. I once had a Purple Gallinule walk across lily pads like it was auditioning for a circus act.

Why Go: Colorful songbirds and wetland birds.
Prized Birds: Painted Buntings, Purple Gallinules, Vermilion Flycatchers, Least Bitterns.
Known For: Family-friendly birding with a splash of color.

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10. Davis Mountains State Park (West Texas)

Even in far West Texas, May is full of surprises. Scott’s Orioles sing from yuccas, Montezuma Quail sneak through the grass, and hummingbirds swarm feeders. I once had five species of hummingbirds buzzing like a natural orchestra.

Why Go: Mountain specialties with spring activity.
Prized Birds: Scott’s Orioles, Montezuma Quail, Acorn Woodpeckers, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.
Known For: High-altitude birding with scenic views.

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Final Thoughts

May birding in Texas is simply unforgettable. From warbler fallouts at Sabine Woods to shorebird spectacles at Bolivar Flats and Painted Buntings glowing at Brazos Bend, this month offers a kaleidoscope of birding experiences.

So charge your camera batteries, loosen your neck muscles, and bring extra pages for your field notebook—because May birding in Texas will fill them fast.

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