Top 20 Colorado Birds: How to Spot & ID Each Species

Colorado, a state of breathtaking geological diversity, from the eastern plains to the towering Rocky Mountains and the western deserts, offers an unparalleled birdwatching experience. Its unique blend of ecosystems—spanning prairies, montane forests, alpine tundra, and riparian zones—makes it a magnet for a vast array of avian life, encompassing resident species, breeding migrants, and winter visitors.

For bird enthusiasts, whether seasoned or novice, understanding the key characteristics and preferred habitats of Colorado's top birds is the first step to unlocking its rich avian tapestry.

Here are 20 of Colorado's most iconic and fascinating bird species, along with tips on how to spot and identify them.

1. Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)

Mountain Bluebird sitting on some sticks — Mountain Bluebird

ID: Males are entirely iridescent sky-blue; females are duller blue-gray with some blue on wings and tail. Often perches prominently.
Spotting: Found in open country, montane meadows, and forest edges, especially at higher elevations. Look on fence posts or low branches. Common in spring and summer.

2. Western Meadowlark (Surnella neglecta)

Western Meadowlark sitting on a wire and singing — Western Meadowlark

ID: Chunky brown and white streaked back, vibrant yellow breast with a distinct black "V" collar.
Spotting: Abundant on eastern plains, grasslands, and agricultural fields. Listen for its flutelike, bubbling song. Often seen on fence posts.

3. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

American Robin standing on grass — American Robin

ID: Gray back, brick-red breast, dark head, often seen hopping on lawns.
Spotting: Ubiquitous across Colorado, from urban parks to mountain forests. Common year-round, but numbers swell in winter. Look on lawns and in trees.

4. Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)

A large crow like bird with black head and neck. It has a white breast and shoulder patches and a long dark greenish tails. — Black-billed Magpie

ID: Unmistakable iridescent black-and-white plumage with a long, graduated tail.
Spotting: Very common and conspicuous across urban areas, farmlands, and open woodlands throughout much of Colorado. Often seen in groups.

5. Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

A large crow like bird has a black head and crest, fading to a dark blue back. — Steller's Jay

ID: Dark crest and head (blackish to dark blue), transitioning to deep blue body.
Spotting: Common in coniferous and mixed forests in the mountains and foothills. Bold and often vocal, visiting campgrounds and feeders.

6. Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)

ID: Males are striking with a red head, bright yellow body, and black wings with two prominent wing bars. Females are duller yellow-green.
Spotting: Found in coniferous and mixed forests in the mountains during summer. Often high in trees, listen for their robin-like song.

7. Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)

Female Broad-tailed Hummingbird on a small branch — Broad-tailed Hummingbird

ID: Males have a vibrant rose-red gorget and a distinctive metallic trill produced by their wings in flight. Females have rufous wash on flanks.
Spotting: Common summer resident in mountain meadows, canyons, and high-altitude gardens. Frequent at feeders.

8. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

ID: Blue-gray back, white face and belly, black cap, short tail, long pointed bill. Creeps headfirst down tree trunks.
Spotting: Common in deciduous and mixed forests statewide. Often seen on tree bark, at suet feeders. Listen for its nasal "yank-yank."

9. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Downy Woodpecker on a flowery branch — Downy Woodpecker

ID: Smallest woodpecker, black-and-white checkered back, short bill. Male has a red spot on the nape.
Spotting: Common in woodlands, parks, and suburban areas statewide. Often at suet feeders or on thin branches.

10. Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)

A black and white woodpecker with a bright red cap and chin. — Red-naped Sapsucker

ID: Red crown and nape (male), red throat (male), white patch on lower back, neat rows of drilled sap wells.
Spotting: Summer resident in mountain and foothill forests, especially aspens. Look for distinctive sap wells on tree trunks.

11. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

American Kestrel hovering low over fields — American Kestrel

ID: Smallest North American falcon. Males have rufous back, blue-gray wings, and distinctive black face markings. Females are rufous all over. Often "kites" in place.
Spotting: Common in open country, grasslands, and agricultural areas. Perches on power lines, telephone poles, and isolated trees.

12. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Red-tailed Hawk standing on a tree trunk — Red-tailed Hawk

ID: Large, Broad-winged Hawk. Adults have a rusty-red tail (often seen from below). Dark patagial marks on the leading edge of underwings are a key ID feature.
Spotting: Very common across all habitats in Colorado. Often seen soaring in circles or perched on power poles, scanning for prey.

13. Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)

A small grey and glossy green bird. — Violet-green Swallow

ID: Iridescent green back, violet rump, pure white underparts that extend up sides of face, often visible as white flank patches.
Spotting: Common summer resident in mountain forests, often nesting in tree cavities. Seen swooping gracefully over open areas.

14. Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)

A large grey bird with black wings. — Clark's Nutcracker

ID: Large, gray bird with black wings and a prominent white patch in the secondary feathers, short tail with white outer feathers. Long, pointed bill.
Spotting: Found in high-elevation pine forests (especially limber and whitebark pines). Often seen in flocks, known for caching pine seeds.

15. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

gray bird with yellow crown — Yellow-rumped Warbler

ID: Patches of yellow on the sides, crown, and distinct yellow rump (visible when flying). Two forms (Myrtle and Audubon's) occur.
Spotting: Very common migrant and summer resident in forests, parks, and even suburban areas. Active foragers.

16. Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)

A medium sized bird with brown. gray, white and olive coloring — Green-tailed Towhee

ID: Olive-green back, rufous crown, prominent white throat, and a short, stout bill.
Spotting: Common in brushy areas, mountain shrublands, and aspen groves. Often seen scratching noisily in leaf litter. Listen for its cat-like "mew" call.

17. American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)

American Dipper stepping on a stone — American Dipper

ID: Stocky, slate-gray bird with a short tail. Often bobs up and down.
Spotting: Found along fast-flowing, clear mountain streams and rivers. Dives underwater to forage for aquatic insects. Look for it bobbing on rocks.

18. Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)

Medium sized bird with colors from black to white through gray. — Canada Jay

ID: Soft gray plumage, white forehead, black patch on the nape. No crest.
Spotting: Common in subalpine and spruce-fir forests at higher elevations. Bold and inquisitive, known to approach campsites for food.

19. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)

ID: Males have rosy red on the head, breast, and rump. Females are streaky brown.
Spotting: Very common in urban and suburban areas, agricultural lands, and open woodlands across Colorado. Regular at feeders.

20. Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus)

Canyon Wren clinging to a wall — Canyon Wren

ID: Rich reddish-brown body, white throat and breast, finely barred tail. Long, slender, decurved bill.
Spotting: Found in rocky canyons, cliffs, and boulder fields, primarily in western Colorado. Listen for its distinctive, cascading song that descends in pitch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Cardinals In Colorado?

Yes, Northern Cardinals are found in Colorado, but they are generally considered uncommon to rare in most of the state compared to their widespread abundance in the eastern and southeastern United States.

Primary Range: The Northern Cardinal's core range is primarily east of the Great Plains.

Expansion Westward: They have been extending their range westward, and have a more established presence in the desert Southwest (parts of Arizona and New Mexico) and southern California.

Colorado Presence: In Colorado, Northern Cardinals are most frequently sighted on the eastern plains, especially near the Kansas border. There have also been occasional sightings along the I-25 corridor and in urban areas like Boulder and the Denver Metro area.

Habitat Preference: Cardinals prefer dense, shrubby habitats, forest edges, and areas with dense tangles for nesting. Colorado's predominant open plains and high-altitude coniferous forests don't always offer their ideal habitat, which contributes to their rarity there.

Sightings: While they aren't as common as in other states, eBird, a citizen science bird-tracking website, does record a significant number of Northern Cardinal sightings in Colorado, indicating a persistent, though sparse, presence.

Northern Cardinal in cold weather on a fence — Male Northern Cardinal

Are Chickadees In Colorado?

Yes, chickadees are definitely found in Colorado! In fact, Colorado is home to two common and widely distributed chickadee species, and potentially a very rare third.

The two most common chickadee species you'll encounter in Colorado are:

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

This is the classic "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" bird, instantly recognizable by its black cap, black bib, and white cheeks. Its back is gray, and its underparts are whitish with buffy flanks.

Black-capped Chickadees are widespread throughout Colorado, found in mixed woodlands, coniferous and deciduous forests, forest edges, and frequently in urban and suburban areas, including parks and backyards. They tend to prefer lower to mid-elevations.

Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)

Similar in overall coloration to the Black-capped Chickadee, but the Mountain Chickadee has a key distinguishing feature: a prominent white eyebrow stripe above its eye. Its cap is typically more sooty black than deep black, and its flanks can be buffier.

As their name suggests, Mountain Chickadees are found at higher elevations in Colorado's mountainous regions, typically in coniferous and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests from around 6,500 to 12,000 feet. They will sometimes move to lower elevations in winter.

Rare Third: Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)

This chickadee has a brown cap and back, instead of black and gray, with rufous (reddish-brown) flanks.

The Boreal Chickadee is a very rare vagrant or extremely localized resident in Colorado. Its primary range is the boreal forests of Canada and the northernmost U.S. states. If seen in Colorado, it would be in high-elevation spruce-fir forests, particularly in the northern mountains. Sightings are exceptional.

A tiny fluffy bird with a dark brown cap, black chin, gray breast and tan sides. — Boreal Chickadee

What's The Difference Between A Nuthatch And A Chickadee?

The first thing you'll notice is the difference in their tails and bill. Chickadees have shorter tails, but nuthatches have longer bills.

Learn more about Nuthatches in this video:

Wrapping Up

Colorado's birdlife is a dynamic reflection of its varied geography. By familiarizing yourself with these top species and understanding their habitats, you'll be well-equipped to appreciate the avian wonders that abound in the Centennial State, from the highest peaks to the lowest plains. Grab your binoculars and immerse yourself in Colorado's vibrant birding scene!