Location

Located right on the Rio Grande Valley River in Pharr, Texas, The Birdhouse is at the convergence of many migratory flyways situated in one of the most prominent bird watching places in the world.

• Native vegetation and large adjacent lake provide fantastic bird viewing opportunities
• Minutes from Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, Hidalgo Pumphouse, and Quinta Mazatlán
• 10 miles from McAllen International Airport
• 90 minutes from South Padre Island
• The Rio Grande Valley also hosts eight annual nature festivals, including the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, The Texas Butterfly Festival, Dragonfly Days, Brownsville Birding Festival, Spring Chirp, and many more.

Visiting the Birdhouse

1. Book a stay - book a few nights at the Birdhouse and become fully immersed in nature
2. Day trip - please inquire about birding day packages by emailing birdhouseontherio@gmail.com
3. Group retreats - we have several spaces that can accommodate large groups for workshops, speaker sessions, and small conferences
4. Other birding events? We would love to host, just let us know!

Birds at the Birdhouse 

The Birdhouse sits in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, and our on-site listening station detected 239 species in its first year. Valley specialties are the headliners: Rose-throated Becard, Northern Jacana, Green Jay, Clay-colored Thrush, Red-lored Parrot, Great Kiskadee, Couch’s Kingbird, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Hooded Oriole, Gray Hawk, Ringed Kingfisher and Golden-fronted Woodpecker, and many of them are here every month of the year. After dark, listen for Common Pauraque and Great Horned Owl. Migration brings Scarlet Tanager, Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Purple Martin and Roseate Spoonbill, and winter adds Orange-crowned Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Rarer visitors we’ve recorded include Painted Bunting, Varied Bunting and Anhinga. Our regulars include Black-crested Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Lesser Goldfinch, Common Ground Dove, Mourning Dove, Great-tailed Grackle and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Around the water and sky, look and listen for Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Great Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Cliff Swallow, Black Vulture and American Kestrel.

 View our current eBird list here

Accommodations

• 3 Bedroom/2 Bath
• Sleeps up to 12
• Fully-equipped kitchen, living room, dining room, and game room
• Expansive outdoor patio and courtyard for immersive nature experience
• Large palapa with picnic tables for birdwatching near the pond and meadow