An Eastern Phoebe sits on a tree branch looking for insects to catch along the Oak Loop trail.
Phil Hardberger Park is a great place for birdwatching. Due to its diverse geographical features — including a savanna, a wetland, wooded areas and open fields — a variety of birds can be seen in one morning’s walk. Both resident and migratory birds rely on the park’s 330 acres of native habitat for food and shelter.
If you are looking for an excellent place to start birding, the Savanna Loop trail is great for beginner birders.
The bird water feature, established and maintained by birdwatching volunteers, is a great opportunity to catch glimpses of birds as they seek out the water feature. You can find it next to the Salado Outdoor Classroom.
The two wildlife blinds and the Skywalk on the Land Bridge are also great places to visit to see birds.
This page is your hub for all things birding in Phil Hardberger Park. Below are resources to help you get started.
Birdcast Migration Forecasts showcase the spectacle of bird migration using radar technology, similar to weather radar. Check the website frequently or subscribe. Many birds that migrate overhead stop in natural areas to rest during the day.
San Antonio is part of the migratory flyway, and millions of migratory birds pass through our city every year on their way to or from their breeding grounds. Additionally, many birds breed right here in San Antonio.
San Antonio has been a certified “Bird City” since 2021. Phil Hardberger Park’s native habitat provides 330 acres of native vegetation, providing food and shelter for over 160+ residential and migrating bird species.
Lights Out Texas
Migratory birds are traveling again. Help protect our feathered friends by turning off all non-essential lighting outside and inside from Aug. 15 to Nov. 30, 2023, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night.
By turning off or dimming non-essential landscape, interior, and exterior lighting from you can help prevent bird collisions.
Go Lights Out Texas for migration!
Hardberger Park Bird List
Back row, from left: Alan Kuentz, Patsy Kuentz, Lora Reynolds, and Jewell Lee Cozort, Park Biologist.
Front row: Georgina Schwartz and Betty Pasquale.
Since 2009, before the park was open to the public, a dedicated group of Audubon Society birdwatchers have surveyed the park every month. Over ten years of data has been collected and now a park-specific bird list has been created and is updated annually by the volunteers.
Download the bird checklist here
The bird list has places to make notes and check off the species you have seen.
To see the latest birds seen in the park, check the eBird hotspots in the park:
Common Birds Found in the Park
A male Ladder-backed woodpecker seen along the Water Loop trail.
Birding 101
If you are interested in learning how to bird, checkout two of our excellent recorded birding programs:
Download Birding Handouts
These handouts were created to go along with the two recorded talks. Click on the link to download the files.
Download Birding Apps
There are several phone apps that can assist you while birding in the park.
eBird App is a free resource to create and submit lists of birds on the go – even without wifi! Simply select when and where you went birding and enter the birds you encounter. eBird Mobile can also help you calculate how far you traveled and how much time you spent birding so you’re free to focus on the birds!
Merlin Bird Id Answer three simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will give you a list of possible matches. Merlin offers quick identification help for all levels of bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to help you learn about the birds in any country in the world.
BirdNET: Bird sound identification for when you hear a bird, but cannot see itResources for birding 1Resources for Birding 2Bird Family Sihlouettes Songbird ShapesBinocular GuideUrban Birds in San AntonioUrban Birds in San AntonioTips for LearningPlay C.H.E.S.S.