Birds of Lake Tahoe: Resident & Migratory Species Guide

Lake Tahoe's diverse habitats (alpine, coniferous forest, riparian, lakeshore, meadow) support 200+ bird species. Key representatives:

Resident / Breeding Species (Year-Round or Summer)

• Raptors: Bald Eagle (nesting), Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Goshawk.
• Corvids: Steller's Jay, Canada Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Clark's Nutcracker.
• Woodpeckers: White-headed, Hairy, Downy, Northern Flicker, Pileated, Lewis's, Williamson's Sapsucker.
• Passerines: Mountain Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Townsend's Solitaire, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak.
• Waterbirds: Common Loon (breeds), Mallard, Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser.

Migratory / Seasonal Visitors

• Spring/Summer Breeders: Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Warbling Vireo, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow.
• Winter Visitors: Golden Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, Tundra Swan, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Bohemian Waxwing, American Tree Sparrow.
• Passage Migrants: Sandhill Crane, White-faced Ibis, various shorebirds (wet meadows).

Best Birding Spots

• Taylor Creek Visitor Center (marsh/boardwalk).
• Pope Beach / Baldwin Beach (lakeshore).
• Upper Truckee Marsh.
• Spooner Lake (NV side).
• Desolation Wilderness (alpine).

Source: Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS), eBird hotspots.