RGV Bird Guide

13/06/2026

Scaled quail chick.

03/05/2026

Don’t sleep on the green ones 🟢 Female Painted Bunting in the Starr County brushlands, May 2nd. Painted Buntings nest and breed here all summer — and they’re just starting to arrive.

The brushlands are waking up. 🌿

BirdPhotography Brushlands

03/05/2026

🟢 Painted Bunting in the Starr County Brushlands — May 2nd

Don't let the green fool you — this is one of the most exciting birds you can find in the RGV. A female or immature male Painted Bunting spotted yesterday in the Starr County brushlands, a reminder that migration is in full swing and the thornbrush is full of surprises right now.

While the males get all the glory with their red, blue, and green plumage, the females and young males rock this gorgeous lime-green that's surprisingly hard to spot in the dense brush. Once you're tuned in to their shape and movement, they start popping up everywhere.

Painted Buntings nest in small numbers in the RGV and are a regular migrant — keep an eye on dense shrubby edges and don't overlook the green ones! 🌿

Where are you finding migrants this week? Share your sightings below 👇

🌿 rgvbirdguide.net

03/05/2026

🔵 Indigo Bunting at the National Butterfly Center!

One of spring migration's greatest rewards — a brilliant male Indigo Bunting spotted at the National Butterfly Center in Mission. That electric blue is honestly hard to believe until you see it in person.

Indigo Buntings pass through the RGV in good numbers each spring, making stops like the Butterfly Center perfect for catching them before they continue north. Keep your eyes on the shrubby edges!

Have you seen any migrants moving through this week? Drop your sightings in the comments 👇

🌿 rgvbirdguide.net

01/05/2026

The Mourning Warbler taking a bath at the SPI Convention Center water drip.

01/05/2026

Blue grosbeak and Mourning Dove at Laguna Vista Nature Trails.

19/04/2026

Check out the updated SPI Spring Migration Guide blog.

Live spring migration highlights from South Padre Island, Texas — daily species reports and what birders are seeing right now.

10/04/2026

🌿 We built something for RGV birders — local and visiting alike. Introducing rgvbirdguide.net

Live rare bird alerts. A bird finder app. Hotspots ranked by real daily activity. Trip planning tools. And live spring migration reports updated throughout the season.

This week at South Padre Island:
Cerulean Warbler ✅ Golden-winged Warbler ✅ Scarlet Tanager ✅ Rose-breasted Grosbeak ✅ Altamira Oriole ✅

All three locations covered — Birding Center, Valley Land Fund lots, and the Convention Center wetlands.

If you live here, bookmark it. If you're planning a trip to the RGV — this is your starting point.

👉 rgvbirdguide.net