“Birding is possible year-round!”

Bird Watching

Red Tail Adventures strives to create enjoyable birding experiences that give participants a deeper insight into the natural world. We are the premier birding guide for Lake Tahoe, the northern Sierra Nevada, and the Great Basin with all three offering fantastic birding opportunities. Our private outings are usually small groups of one to four participants, but larger groups can be accommodated.


Red Tail Adventures can create a private birding experience to fit your desires. Whether you want an outing for a few hours, all-day, or for multiple days, we can customize an outing the way you want.


While the majority of clients are interested in exploring the area to discover the diversity of birds here, targeted outings are also possible. The Tahoe area has one of the most reliable locations to see Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches and area specialties such as Red Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak, and Mountain Quail can also be found. Outings into the Great Basin can focus on specialty birds such as Himalayan Snowcock or Greater Sage-Grouse, Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks in winter, and breeders like Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western Flycatcher, and Virginia’s Warbler.


Primary Tour Locations:
Lake Tahoe, Northern Sierra Nevada, and the Great Basin (Nevada)


Tour Locations without an Additional Travel Fee:
Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City, and Truckee



  for current travel fees for areas outside primary locations.

    Rates:
  • $200 for half day (up to five hours)
  • $350 for a full day (up to nine hours)

  • Guiding fees include:
  • Guiding services for 1-4 individuals
  • 125 miles of driving, unless a participant’s vehicle is used
  • Water and snacks

  • Not included:
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals
  • Lodging
  • Transportation to our meeting location

  • Additional information:
  • The vehicle used for guiding services is regularly maintained.
  • We always bring a spotting scope for birding outings.
  • Multi-day tours with most or all expenses included can also be arranged.

Sample Target Bird Tours:

  here for more information about these tour packages.

Bird Watching
Winter Raptors
Attracted to the plentiful rodents of the Sierra Valley in the winter with Bald and Golden Eagles, Ferruginous, Rough-legged, and Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, Prairie Falcons, and others.
Available November through February
Himalayan Snowcock
Sightings are only possible in the United States in the high alpine habitat of the Ruby Mountains east of Elko with the best chances in the early morning in Lamoille Canyon, “the Yosemite of Nevada.”
Available July through September
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches
Summer nesters in the alpine elevations of Palisades Tahoe on the talus slopes and rocky peaks, where they forage for seeds and insects on snowfields. Spectacular wildflowers are possible.
Available mid-June through August

Private Bird Tours

Other target/general bird tours are possible, in the Lake Tahoe area, into the Great Basin, and other locations in the Sierra Nevada or somewhere else that we have experience leading tours.

 if you have an interest in building your own tour.

Typical Target Birds

Lake Tahoe:

Lake Tahoe:

• Mountain Quail
• Sooty Grouse
• Northern Goshawk
• Band-tailed Pigeon
• Calliope Hummingbird
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Williamson’s Sapsucker
• White-headed Woodpecker
• Black-backed Woodpecker
• Dusky Flycatcher
• Cassin’s Vireo
• Clark’s Nutcracker
• American Dipper
• Townsend’s Solitaire
• MacGillivray’s Warbler
• Black-throated Gray Warbler
• Green-tailed Towhee
• Western Tanager
• Lazuli Bunting
• Black-headed Grosbeak
• Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
• Red Crossbill
• Pine Grosbeak
Whatever you want to chase!
The Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada

(in addition to the Lake Tahoe Birds)
• Ferruginous Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Prairie Falcon
• Western Flycatcher
• Hammond’s Flycatcher
• Oak Titmouse
• Hermit Warbler
Whatever you want to chase!
The Great Basin

The Great Basin

• Chukar
• Dusky Grouse
• Greater Sage-Grouse
• Himalayan Snowcock
• Ferruginous Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Prairie Falcon
• Western Flycatcher
• Black-throated Sparrow
• Common Poorwill
• Broad-tailed Hummingbird
• Pinyon Jay
• Juniper Titmouse
• Virginia’s Warbler
• Black-throated Sparrow
• Black Rosy-Finch
• Whatever you want to chase!
EXPLORE LAKE TAHOE AND BEYOND