Highlights
- Scenic walking paths along the San Antonio River
- Quality urban nature park
The Location
Breckenridge Park in downtown San Antonio is a collection of nature trails and sports facilities along the San Antonio River.
Large trees growing near the flowing water make great bird attractors, and pockets of bird activity can easily be found by walking the paths under them.
Looking at a map of Breckenridge can be confusing because this area is over 300 acres that includes multiple parks and facilities. Most of this space isn’t of interest to birders.
To make things more confusing, there are multiple eBird hotspots in this area. The Avenue A hotspot has become the main one, and although it should only represent one small section, most eBird checklists get submitted to this one and so it has become representative for the whole area.
This guide focuses more on the north section (by the zoo and Joske Pavillion), and central wooded section.
Birding Recommendations
This is a good birding location during winter and spring migration. Beware the Texas summer heat from mid-May through mid-September.
Park at either the big parking lot on N St. Mary’s Street, or the small ones on Brackenridge Way along the water. Doesn’t matter which, you’ll do the same amount of walking either way.
Walk the path along the river. You’ll see ducks and herons in the water, and songbirds up high in the big trees. This is the most scenic area, so go slow and enjoy.
For a longer walk, explore the nature trails through the densely wooded area immediately south of the river.
For a shorter walk, take waterworks loop. This follows the river as it flows south. The water and tree that grow along it are good bird attractors, so this will keep you close to the action.
When you hit E Mulberry Avenue, either cross the road and walk Avenue A, or loop back to the parking area.
Avenue A dead ends at a small loop. It is heavily wooded and follows the river, and is worth the walk if you have time. It can be a very birdy area.
Overall, this is a great urban nature park right in central San Antonio that is a good spot to spend an hour or two. You’ll need at least 45 minutes to really enjoy it.
| Species to Look For | Notes |
| Black-bellied Whistling Duck | |
| Wood Duck | |
| Blue-winged Teal | |
| Inca Dove | |
| Neotropic Cormortant | |
| Snowy Egret | |
| Cooper’s Hawk | |
| Barred Owl | |
| Golden-fronted Woodpecker | |
| Ladder-backed Woodpecker | |
| Downy Woodpecker | |
| Couch’s Kingbird | |
| Longer-billed Thrasher | Uncommon |
| Lesser Goldfinch | |
| Black-and-White Warbler | |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Winter, Uncommon |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Winter |
| Northern Flicker | Winter |
| Blue-headed Vireo | Winter |
| American Goldfinch | Winter |
| Pine Warbler | Winter |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Summer |
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | Summer, Uncommon |
| Purple Martin | Summer |
For more birding guides like this one, check out the Texas Hotspot Map.
