Guide to Birding in the Hill Country

Hill Country birds tend to be a mix of Austin and Dallas birds, a little East, a little West, many, many shorebirds and waterfowl. The endangered Black-capped Vireo and Golden-cheeked Warbler can be found here, if, in contrast to Austin and Dallas, the Black-capped Vireo thrives rather better than the Golden-cheeked warbler.

But although the Hill Country hosts species like the Franklin’s Gulls, Bonaparte Gulls, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and so forth, the Hill Country also has a slightly southwestern population. Expect to see Wild Turkeys, Canyon Wrens, and the Zone-tailed Hawk. This is also a good place for all three species of American kingfishers (Belted and the purely Texan Ringed and Green Kingfisher), and the Neotropical and the Double-crested Cormorant. The San Marcos Riverwalk is especially excellent for kingfishers, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, and Green and Great Blue Herons.

Birding Sites