Colorado is home to more than 500 species of birds. How do you become a birder in Colorado?
All you need is a field guide and a pair of binoculars. For those looking for unique Colorado birds, the 50 described below are some of the most popular with experienced birdwatchers. Our fave is the Golden Eagle!
Did you know the 'Lark Bunting' is the state bird of Colorado? Here are 50 more!
Common native birds to Colorado
These are ten common native birds found in Colorado.
1. Lark Bunting
2. Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
3. American Dipper
4. Gray Jay
5. Belted Kingfisher
6. White-breasted Nuthatch
7. Cedar Waxwing
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. American Kestrel
10. Golden Eagle
50 birds every Coloradan should know
So what birds live in Colorado? We decided to categorize the birds by region.
Rocky Mountain National Park
1. Dusky Grouse
2. Williamson's Sapsucker
3. American Three-toed Woodpecker
4. Hammond's Flycatcher
5. Gray Jay
6. Clark's Nutcracker
7. Mountain Chickadee
8. Red-breasted Nuthatch
9. Townsend's Solitaire
10. Pine Grosbeak
Colorado National Monument
Interesting birds here include:
1. Gambel's Quail
2. Golden Eagle
3. White-throated Swift
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird
5. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
6. Prairie Falcon
7. Peregrine Falcon
8. Gray Flycatcher
9. Ash-throated Flycatcher
10. Gray Vireo
Barr Lake State Park
Land birds nesting here or seen regularly include:
1. Burrowing Owl
2. Prairie Falcon
3. Say's Phoebe
4. Warbling Vireo
5. Blue Jay Horned Lark
6. Lark Sparrow
7. Lark Bunting
8. Blue Grosbeak
9. Orchard Oriole
10. Lazuli Bunting
Cherry Creek State Park
1. Loons
2. Grebes
3. Double-crested Cormorant
4. American White Pelican
5. Gulls (many rarities have appeared over the years)
6. Terns
7. Rough-legged Hawk
8. Ferruginous Hawk sometimes appears in winter.
9. Ring-necked Pheasant nests in park grasslands
10. Northern Shrike is occasionally found in winter
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
Nesting waterbirds include:
1. Cinnamon Teal
2. Pied-billed Grebe
3. Eared Grebe
4. American Bittern
5. Great Blue Heron.
On dry land, look for Northern Harrier, Prairie Falcon, Sage Thrasher, Yellow Warbler, Brewer's Sparrow.
The birds of Colorado that birding experts are always looking for?
- Blackbird
- Northern flicker
- Mourning dove
- House finch
- Towhee
- Bald eagle
- Hairy woodpecker
- Magpies
- Rufous hummingbird
- Shorebirds
- Downy woodpecker
- Long tail
- Vultures
These bird species are all beautiful and the raptors and mockingbirds are always so majestic. Are you ready for some bird watching now?
Which of these native birds are your favorite? Please leave us a comment below!
