PUBLISHED: October 2025 by Lauren Berman

Houston is unique in many ways, including its ecology. It earned the title of biodiversity hotspot in 2016 as the metroplex sits in the crux of several ecoregions. The benefit to our location, climate, and diverse habitats means the city serves as a crossing point for many species that migrate.

The Feathered

Birds of all shapes and sizes, from raptors such as Mississippi Kites (Ictinia mississippiensis) to the tiniest of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris), spend their spring and autumn on the move. If you’ve noticed a lot more bird activity happening lately (or back in the spring), it’s because Houston is in the middle of the Central Flyway path for migratory birds.

Ruby-throat Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) at Thomas Bell Foster Park © Lauren Berman
Ruby-throat Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) at Thomas Bell Foster Park © Lauren Berman
Via American Bird Conservancy
Via American Bird Conservancy

This means we see a lot of species diversity and numbers in the tens of millions for total individuals passing through. Our prime fall migration window this year is September 6, 2025, through October 11, 2025.

10,549,900 birds crossed Harris County this night
Via Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Colorado State University. birdcast.info. September 16, 2025.
Live migration bird map

The Furry

If you’ve ever passed underneath Watonga Bridge on the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail in the summer, you might hear the clicking that belongs to approximately 100,000 Mexican Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis). Although a small part of their colony remains year-round due to our warmer climate, the population fluctuates in the winter as many make their way down into Mexico and Central America.

Mexican Free-tailed Bats by Sarah Gerichten/Bat Conservation International
Mexican Free-tailed Bats by Sarah Gerichten/Bat Conservation International

The Funky

Our state butterfly, the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), is likely what you picture when thinking about migrating butterflies. Their journey is the longest at roughly 3,000 miles, and they’re the only species that makes a two-way trip, much like birds do. The last generation of Monarchs that overwinter in Mexico will be the same individuals that come back to the United States in the spring to start the cycle again.

However, believe it or not, several other species of butterflies are also considered migratory! These include Clouded Sulphurs (Phoebis sennae), Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta), Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui), Long-tailed Skippers (Urbanus proteus), Mourning Cloaks (Nymphalis antiopa), and more.

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Sims Bayou © Karastin Katusin
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Sims Bayou © Karastin Katusin
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) on Brays Bayou © Lauren Berman
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) on Brays Bayou © Lauren Berman

Help Support the Madness

There are, no pun intended, a lot of moving parts to the species that migrate. The most important factor is access to habitat and food, which means access to native plants that have evolved alongside the wildlife that use them.

Some great species to consider incorporating into your yard or patio garden:

  • Wax Mallow (Malvaviscus arboerus)
  • Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)
  • Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
  • Red Sage (Salvia coccinea)
  • Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
  • Sanguine Purple Coneflower (Echinacea sanguinea)
  • American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)