Las Vegas may seem like an unlikely place to go birdwatching, being a sprawling urban area in the Mojave Desert. However, there are actually many great spots to see birds around the city. In the opening paragraphs, I’ll provide a quick overview of some of the top birding locations in and around Vegas.
The best places to see birds in Las Vegas include nature preserves like the Springs Preserve and Corn Creek Desert Wildlife Refuge. These natural areas provide habitat for resident and migrating birds. Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston also offer beautiful desert and mountain birding opportunities under an hour’s drive from the Las Vegas Strip. In town, places like Sunset Park and the Las Vegas Wash draw a variety of species.
Some key things to know when planning a birdwatching trip to Las Vegas: the best seasons are typically spring and fall when you’ll see the most diversity of birds. It gets very hot in summer so birding early in the morning is best. Bring binoculars, water, and sun protection. Check online resources like eBird for recent sightings and hotspots. With some preparation, you can find plenty of great birding in and around Sin City.
Best Birdwatching Locations In and Around Las Vegas
Springs Preserve
The Springs Preserve is a 180-acre nature preserve with museums, galleries, gardens, and walking trails located just a few miles west of downtown Las Vegas. The wetland habitat attracts over 130 species of birds throughout the year. Some year-round residents include Gambel’s quail, mourning doves, greater roadrunners, and black-throated sparrows. The ponds and wetlands draw waterfowl like mallards, northern shovelers, American coots, and pied-billed grebes. Other notable birds seen here are vermilion flycatchers, summer tanagers, northern mockingbirds, white-crowned sparrows, and western bluebirds. Walking the trails early in the morning provides the best birdwatching opportunity.
Corn Creek Desert Wildlife Refuge
The Corn Creek Desert Wildlife Refuge is a protected desert habitat about 30 miles north of Las Vegas near the town of Overton. Maintained by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, it covers around 11,000 acres. There are walking trails and deserted dirt roads that provide access for birding. This is a fantastic area to see typical Mojave Desert species like Le Conte’s thrashers, black-tailed gnatcatchers, and crissal thrashers. Other highlights are cactus wrens, ladder-backed woodpeckers, Costa’s hummingbirds, and phainopeplas. Winter brings species like mountain bluebirds and Townsend’s solitaires. Spring and fall migration also bring warblers, flycatchers, and vireos.
Red Rock Canyon
The stunning Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area contains some of the best desert bird habitat within easy reach of Las Vegas. Just 17 miles west of the Strip, the 195,000-acre area is run by the Bureau of Land Management. There are numerous hiking trails that traverse canyons and ridges with classic Mojave vegetation. Year-round residents like cactus wrens, canyon wrens, white-throated swifts, and ash-throated flycatchers are common. During spring and fall migration, keep an eye out for species like western tanagers, black-headed grosbeaks, warbling vireos, and western wood-pewees moving through the area.
Mount Charleston
Mount Charleston is a sky island ecosystem rising over 11,000 feet above the desert just 45 minutes northwest of downtown Las Vegas. The different habitat supports a unique mix of mountain bird species. Some of the specialties found on Mount Charleston but not down in the desert are white-headed woodpeckers, mountain chickadees, green-tailed towhees, and Townsend’s solitaires. Other species like gray vireos, plumbeous vireos, and pygmy nuthatches are also easier to find up in the Spring Mountains compared to the desert below. There are many trails and recreation areas on Mount Charleston to search for high-elevation bird species.
Sunset Park
For birding right in Las Vegas, Sunset Park is a top urban hotspot. The park features a large pond and wetland area that attracts a variety of waterbirds and songbirds. Located near McCarran International Airport just off the Strip, birds spotted here include American white pelicans, cinnamon teal, ruddy ducks, eared grebes, and pied-billed grebes. Around the park, look for species like Swainson’s hawks, northern mockingbirds, Lucy’s warblers, and common yellowthroats. Sunset Park offers a nice oasis of birdwatching conveniently located in town.
Las Vegas Wash
Winding through the east side of the Las Vegas Valley, the Las Vegas Wash is an engineered waterway that provides riparian habitat below the urban landscape. Starting near Lake Mead, the wash follows a channel for approximately 10 miles through the city including trails and parks. The combination of wetlands, shrubs, and cottonwood trees attracts abundant birdlife. Spot resident and migrating songbirds like yellow warblers, Wilson’s warblers, yellow-breasted chats, and Bullock’s orioles along with marsh species like sora rails and Virginia rails.
Best Times of Year for Birding in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has mild winters, scorching summers, and pleasant spring and fall weather. The spring and fall are generally the best times for birding around Vegas in terms of species diversity. Here are some of the birding highlights in each season:
Spring Migration (March to May)
– Warblers, vireos, grosbeaks migrating through in April and May
– Breeding resident birds active and vocal
– Shorebirds stopping at wetlands during migration
– Peak diversity of species
Summer (June to August)
– Very hot, birding early mornings is best
– Breeding birds raising young
– Fledglings learning to feed
– Species diversity drops off in heat of summer
Fall Migration (September to November)
– Warblers, flycatchers, tanagers passing through in September/October
– Shorebirds at wetlands in early fall
– Large flocks of swallows gathering in October
– Waterfowl start arriving at wetlands
Winter (December to February)
– Waterfowl abundance peaks
– Bald eagles and other raptors hunting waterbirds and gamebirds
– Sparrows and finches in mixed flocks
– Mountain and high desert species visit lower elevations
Useful Resources for Birding in Las Vegas
To find the hotspots and see recent bird sightings in Las Vegas, these online resources are invaluable:
eBird: The eBird database shows checklists, species maps, and information on birding locations across the region. It’s a one-stop shop for intel on current birding.
Las Vegas Birding on Facebook: This public group shares sightings, news, and photos of Vegas area birds. Members are very helpful if you need advice.
Red Rock Audubon Society: The local chapter shares guides to finding birds, hosts field trips, and does conservation work.
Bird Las Vegas: This website offers birding guides to hotspots around Las Vegas along with tips, maps, and photos.
All About Birds: This Cornell Lab of Ornithology resource has guides to the most common species you’ll see around Vegas.
Top Birds to See in Las Vegas
While over 300 species have been recorded in and around Las Vegas, there are some special target birds to watch for. These are some of the top birds any Las Vegas birder would love to spot:
Bird | Description |
---|---|
Gambel’s Quail | These plump quails with teardrop-shaped crests are a signature desert bird easy to spot at places like Red Rock Canyon. |
Burrowing Owl | These tiny owls live in holes in the desert ground. Look for them standing watch outside burrows. |
Vermilion Flycatcher | The male’s bright red plumage makes this small insect-eating bird pop against desert backdrops. |
Phainopepla | With crested heads and unique bills, these “desert silky-flycatchers” are fun finds in washes and mesquite thickets. |
Lucy’s Warbler | This gray warbler with a distinctive yellow eye ring breeds in desert wash habitat in Las Vegas. |
Ladder-backed Woodpecker | Look for these black and white woodpeckers with barred backs in desert scrub and Joshua tree forests. |
Scott’s Oriole | The male’s bright yellow plumage contrasts sharply with black wings and tail. |
White-faced Ibis | Watch for these striking ibises with reddish eyes and long curved bills foraging in wetlands. |
Northern Mockingbird | This classic mimic thrills with its endless song variations from trees, fences, and thickets around town. |
Greater Roadrunner | With mohawk-like crests and long tails, roadrunners dash across roads and trails in the desert. |
As you can see, the diversity of habitats in and around Las Vegas support many amazing bird species. So grab some binoculars and field guides to start spotting these birds on your next trip to Sin City and beyond. The birding opportunities may just surprise you!
Conclusion
Though not an obvious birding destination, the Las Vegas area offers abundant opportunities to see a range of desert, wetland, and mountain bird species. From urban parks to remote wildlife refuges, great bird habitats exist all around the city. The best times to see the most diversity are during the spring and fall migrations, but year-round birding can be rewarding. Useful online resources like eBird make it easy to find recent reports and explore the top birding hotspots near you. Pair that with this guide to the top species and locations, and your next Las Vegas trip can be a birdwatching success.