Birding Nevada
If you want to add Himalayan snowcock to your North American list, you’ll have to climb to above the tree line in the Ruby Mountains of northern Nevada—and many birders do. North of Las Vegas, Nevada is one of the most sparsely populated states in the United States, and the most arid. Still, its state checklists boasts 460 species. Because Nevada is so dry, birds are often abundant in riparian areas, especially during migration. Many lakes, rivers and wetlands not far from the state’s major cities are birding hotspots where you are likely to pick up western specialties such as mountain bluebird, phainopepla, pinyon jay, Wilson’s phalarope, and Lazuli bunting.
