Colorado Bird-watching Sites

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Bonny Lake State Park

Just 25 minutes or so north of I-70 via US 385, Bonny Lake State Park, on the shores of Bonny Reservoir, attracts waterbirds and some eastern species unusual in this area; it’s also a fine spot to look for vagrant warblers and other songbirds in spring. Check cottonwoods and willows at the Foster Grove Campground on the north shore, and the Wagon Wheel Campground on the south shore, for Wild Turkey, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Lazuli and Indigo Buntings, Orchard and Bullock’s Orioles, and, of course, for migrants. Scan the reservoir from the dam and other lookout points for grebes and waterfowl. When low water in late summer exposes mudflats, watch for migrant shorebirds. In open places around the lake, you may find Loggerhead Shrike, Eastern Bluebird, several species of sparrow, and Dickcissel. Bonny is a popular hunting, fishing, and recreation area, so plan your visit accordingly.

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Pawnee National Grassland

East of Fort Collins, the Pawnee National Grassland attracts birders who drive back roads through the rolling short-grass steppe country from late April through early July looking for Swainson’s and Ferruginous Hawks; Mountain Plover; Long-billed Curlew; Burrowing Owl; Lark Bunting; Cassin’s, Brewer’s, and other sparrows; and McCown’s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. The area northwest of Briggsdale is a productive one, and with a map of the Pawnee you can explore on your own for hours (noting that much private property is mixed with federal land). Your best bet, though, is to get a copy of the grassland’s birding-route map, available at the office in Greeley or at Crow Valley Recreation Area just north of Briggsdale off County Road 77. While you’re at the latter spot, check the riparian vegetation along Crow Creek for migrants and breeders such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Western and Eastern Kingbirds, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, and Orchard and Bullock’s Orioles.

Lark Bunting and McCown’s Longspur are easy to find many places on the grassland, especially when males are performing their song flights, and seeing Ferruginous Hawk is a matter of keeping your eyes on the sky and having a bit of luck. Burrowing Owl is found in prairie-dog towns, and since these little rodents have suffered losses recently from plague and other problems, it might pay to ask Pawnee personnel about likely locations. Mountain Plover can be tricky to find—look in habitat where vegetation height is less than 4 inches [10.2 centimeters], as well as in prairie-dog towns. Chestnut-collared Longspur likes grass a bit longer than McCown’s, and is usually not as easy to see. For one likely spot, take US 85 north of Ault for 16 miles [25.7 kilometers], turning east into the Central Plains Experiment Range. Stop along the entrance road and walk the field just to the south.

Northeast of Keota, Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon nest on cliffs at the picturesque Pawnee Buttes, and close approach is prohibited from March through June. You can observe from a distance, and you might see either of these species anywhere in the area.

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Rocky Mountain National Park

A baby broad-tailed hummingbird sits in its nest. ENLARGE >> Photograph by D. Robert Franz

There could hardly be a more beautiful spot to see high-country birds than Rocky Mountain National Park, encompassing more than 400 square miles [1,036 square kilometers] of meadows, coniferous woodland, and tundra, all lying astraddle the Continental Divide. The park’s famed Trail Ridge Road (usually open Mem. Day—mid-Oct.) climbs through spruce-fir forest to run for several miles above tree line, offering an alpine experience for those unable to climb, and other roads provide access to a varied habitats. For those who enjoy hiking, the potential for exploration is limitless.

Entering the park from Estes Park at the Beaver Meadows entrance, turn south toward Bear Lake. At Moraine Park, turn west to the Cub Lake Trail and walk through the marshy riparian area of the Big Thompson River and up the valley toward the lake. Look for Northern Pygmy-Owl (rarely seen, but listen for the “scolding” notes of songbirds mobbing an owl they’ve spotted in daylight), Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsuckers, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Plumbeous Vireo, Steller’s Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Violet-green Swallow, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, Pygmy Nuthatch, Townsend’s Solitaire, MacGillivray’s and Wilson’s Warblers, Western Tanager, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and Black-headed Grosbeak, among others. (Farther north, the road to the Endovalley Picnic Area offers excellent spots for most of these species.)

Backtrack to Bear Lake Road, where, past Hollowell Park, you’ll be driving along Glacier Creek. Stop anywhere here, sit on a streamside rock, and the odds are pretty good that an American Dipper will fly up before long. Farther on, the flat, easy loop around Sprague Lake is a good place to look for many of the same birds mentioned for the Cub Lake Trail. The road climbs to end at 9,475 feet [2,888 meters] at Bear Lake, where Hammond’s Flycatcher, Gray Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Cassin’s Finch might be found. Looking south from the parking lot at dusk, some people have been lucky enough to see Black Swifts flying toward nesting sites behind nearby waterfalls.

From Bear Lake, and from Glacier Gorge Junction back down the road a short distance, some of the park’s nicest trails head out through deep forests to such stunning destinations as Mills Lake, The Loch, and Odessa Lake. Many of the park’s special birds, such as Northern Goshawk, Blue Grouse, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak, and Red Crossbill, are present but irregular in occurrence. To see them, you simply need to walk trails and stay alert—the more you walk, the better your chances.

The same can be said for White-tailed Ptarmigan, that elusive resident of the tundra. If you trudge along trails above tree line long enough, you’ll eventually find this chickenlike bird in its brownish summer plumage. From Bear Lake, the trail up to Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak is as good as any. If you’re not ready for a strenuous hike, ptarmigan are regularly found along Trail Ridge Road.

Take this awesomely scenic route west from Deer Ridge Junction, stopping at Rainbow Curve, just past the “Two Miles Above Sea Level” sign, to enjoy the view and the Gray Jays and Clark’s Nutcrackers that are always present. Soon you’ll enter the tundra world; about 2 miles [3.2 kilometers] from Rainbow Curve, watch for a parking area for the Old Ute Trail on the south. You might find ptarmigan by hiking a bit of this trail, or farther on at the Tundra Nature Trail at the popular Rock Cut area. (Be aware that simply walking at this elevation requires great exertion and can be dangerous for those with health problems.) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch is also found along Trail Ridge Road at times, but can be quite elusive. Look in rocky areas and along the edges of snowbanks and ice fields. The Lava Cliffs area, a short distance west, is often productive. Continue to the Alpine Visitor Center for rest rooms and refreshment. Just beyond, at Medicine Bow Curve, a trail from the parking area leads northeast across the tundra. Ptarmigan are sometimes seen a quarter mile [0.4 kilometer] or so along this path, downhill near the wind-stunted shrubs.

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Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway

Colorado 14 running from Fort Collins to Walden, the Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway, follows the Cache La Poudre River through the Roosevelt National Forest, where picnic areas and trails offer the chance to see montane species and watch American Dippers dip on river rocks. The road crests at 10,276-foot [3,132.1-meter] Cameron Pass, known as a spot where the very elusive Boreal Owl can sometimes be heard on quiet nights in spring and fall. Walk the dirt road leading south from the pass (if snow levels make this possible), and also check the area around Joe Wright Reservoir, about 3 miles [4.8 kilometers] east, where the owl has been heard.

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Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge

Wetlands in the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge make prime nesting and nursing grounds for waterfowl. ENLARGE >> Photograph by David Muench

In the intermontane basin called North Park, just south of Walden, Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is home to birds of dry sagebrush, ponds, and marsh, and in migration shorebirds can throng edges of shallow wetlands. Nesting ducks of many species are abundant, and when you drive the 6-mile [9.7-kilometer] tour route in summer, you’ll also find Eared Grebe; Northern Harrier; American Avocet; Willet; Wilson’s Phalarope; Forster’s and Black Terns; Sage Thrasher; Brewer’s, Vesper, and Savannah Sparrows; and Yellow-headed and Brewer’s Blackbirds. Drive the road from refuge headquarters north back to Colorado 14, along the Illinois River, and watch for Willow Flycatcher, Mountain Bluebird, Tree Swallow, and Yellow Warbler—and for moose, which you may find feeding in riparian areas. The sage flats along this road are particularly good for Sage Thrasher and sparrows. Walk around a little and you could find Sage Grouse, as well.

You might be lucky enough to see Sage Grouse in the refuge, but for the best chance, call the North Park Chamber of Commerce (+1 970 723 4600) and ask about tours to leks (courtship grounds) in April and May. On the western edge of Walden, be sure to scan Walden Reservoir for waterbirds and migrant shorebirds. California Gulls nest here.

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Barr Lake State Park

In the Denver area, Barr Lake State Park has recorded nearly 350 species over the years, testament to its habitat (attractive to waterbirds and migrants) and to intense coverage by local birders. Bald Eagles have begun nesting at the lake, and other breeders include Pied-billed and Western Grebes; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Snowy and Cattle Egrets; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Blue-winged, Cinnamon, and Green-winged Teals; American Avocet; Say’s Phoebe; Western and Eastern Kingbirds; Horned Lark; Common Yellowthroat; and American Goldfinch.

Barr is an irrigation lake where the shoreline advances and recedes with water use; in late summer and fall, shorebirding is excellent on mudflats. In both spring and fall you should check trees and shrubs along the lake’s south and east sides for migrant songbirds. A 9-mile [14.5-kilometer] trail circles the lake, with several observation points for scanning the water.

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Arapaho National Forest

Within Arapaho National Forest, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway (fee) south of Idaho Springs climbs nearly to the top of 14,264-foot [5,262.1-meter] Mount Evans, making it the highest paved road in the United States. Open from around Memorial Day to Labor Day, the drive usually offers a better chance than does Rocky Mountain National Park’s Trail Ridge Road to see Brown-capped Rosy-Finch. A few miles before the top, stop at Summit Lake (at 12,830 feet [3,910.6 meters], it’s the only handicapped-accessible alpine lake in Colorado) to look for the rosy-finches, which frequent rocky places, cliffs, and the edges of snowbanks. American Pipit nests on this alpine tundra, and if luck is truly with you, a White-tailed Ptarmigan might put in an appearance.

Fewer than 4 miles [6.4 kilometers] west as the Common Raven flies, Guanella Pass is known as an excellent (though not surefire) place to see White-tailed Ptarmigans in their pure white winter plumage. Tightly twisting, partly paved, partly gravel County Road 381 runs south from Georgetown on I-70 to Grant on US 285, topping out at 11,669 feet [3,556.7 meters] at the pass. Though the road is kept plowed to the pass, this is obviously not a trip to undertake when bad weather threatens. From the parking area at the pass, scan the hillside to the southeast. Sometimes birders see ptarmigans from their cars, but other times they may have to walk toward the hill and explore a bit to find them. Before or after this winter (Nov.-March) trip, drive around Georgetown and check feeders for Gray-crowned, Black (uncommon), and Brown-capped (also uncommon) Rosy-Finches, as well as Pine and Evening Grosbeaks and Cassin’s Finch. Chances are best when there’s lots of snow cover.

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Colorado National Monument

Westward nearly to Utah, just south of I-70 and west of Grand Junction, Colorado National Monument delights the eye with strikingly sculptured cliffs of red sandstone and deep canyons cutting into the Uncompahgre Plateau. Pinyon pine and juniper create habitat far different from the spruce, fir, and ponderosa pine forests of the Rockies. Here the list of nesting birds includes Gambel’s Quail, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Gray and Ash-throated Flycatchers, Gray Vireo (uncommon), Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtit, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-throated Gray Warbler (uncommon), Black-throated Sparrow, and Lazuli Bunting.

The Devils Kitchen picnic area and adjacent 0.75-mile [1.2-kilometer] trail, near the east entrance to the park, provide a good introduction to the area. Several other trails, ranging from 0.25 [0.4 kilometer] to 8.5 miles [13.7 kilometers], offer additional possibilities. As you follow the scenic Rim Rock Drive, watch for Golden Eagles, Peregrine and Prairie Falcons, White-throated Swift, and Mountain Bluebird, and listen for the songs of Rock, Canyon, and Bewick’s Wrens. The pinyon-juniper habitat around Saddlehorn Campground is another fine birding location.

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Ouray

The mountain town of Ouray (Chamber of Commerce +1 970 325 4746), which calls itself the Switzerland of America for its alpine surroundings, has a reputation among birders as one of the best places anywhere to see the scarce and elusive Black Swift. The species nests at Box Canyon Falls Park, located just a half mile [0.8 kilometer] south of town off US 550, and can be seen on the rock face at the base of the falls, which drop 285 feet [86.9 meters] through sheer cliffs. Be here in early morning or just before dusk, because the birds spend the day feeding away from nest sites.

By continuing on County Road 361, which follows Canyon Creek up toward Yankee Boy Basin, you may find nesting birds such as Blue Grouse; Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsuckers; Hammond’s, Dusky, and Cordilleran Flycatchers; Gray Jay; Clark’s Nutcracker; Mountain Chickadee; Orange-crowned and MacGillivray’s Warblers; and Pine and Evening Grosbeaks.

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Fountain Creek Regional Park and Nature Center

In Fountain, just south of Colorado Springs, Fountain Creek Regional Park and Nature Center (N of town, W of US 85) rates highly with local birders for its spring and fall songbird migration. A 2.5-mile-long [4-kilometer-long] linear park stretching along the cottonwood-lined creek, it also hosts an excellent variety of breeding birds such as Great Blue and Green Herons, Wood Duck, Virginia Rail, Sora, Red-headed Woodpecker, Western and Eastern Kingbirds, Violet-green Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock’s Oriole, and Lesser and American Goldfinches.

Stop at the nature center for advice and to check the nearby marsh. Then drive to the north part of the park, where you can investigate the area’s ponds, marshes, and riparian woods for more good birding.

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Pueblo Reservoir

The region around Pueblo Reservoir combines lake, shallow ponds, riparian areas, and pinyon-juniper habitat, a variety that makes it an excellent birding destination, productive for fall and winter waterbirds, migrants, and local breeders. From the intersection of Colorado 96 and Colorado 45 in Pueblo, take Colorado 96 west 2.5 miles [4 kilometers] and turn north to Valco Ponds State Wildlife Area, along the Arkansas River just below the reservoir’s dam.

Explore the riverbank (a trail follows the river eastward) and wetlands for migrant songbirds (warblers sometimes linger here well into winter) and summering Green Heron (scarce), Wood Duck, Osprey, Mississippi Kite, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Bewick’s and House Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Blue Grosbeak, and Lazuli and Indigo Buntings. Don’t be shocked if you see the gorgeous Mandarin Duck here: Introduced from Asia, this exotic species breeds along the river. In fall and winter, check the ponds for ducks and gulls.

Return to Colorado 96 and drive west 3 miles [4.8 kilometers] to Lake Pueblo State Park, on Pueblo Reservoir. From fall into spring, use lookout points at reservoir marinas and at the dam to scan for loons, grebes (six species have been present simultaneously), ducks, and gulls. Several Bald Eagles usually winter here. In breeding season, pinyon-juniper areas both south and north of the lake host Scaled Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Juniper Titmouse, and Bushtit.

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Lake Henry

Following US 50 and the Arkansas River eastward from Pueblo onto the plains leads to some fine birding sites. Check a map and you’ll notice a number of lakes and reservoirs along the way, many of which are popular birding spots. From Ordway, drive east 1.9 miles [3.1 kilometers] on Colorado 96 and turn north to Lake Henry, where grebes, waders, and shorebirds are present from spring through fall, and waterfowl and gulls congregate in fall and winter. The woodland on the west side of the lake attracts migrant songbirds in spring and fall.

Not far southeast, Lake Cheraw (north of La Junta) is bisected by Colorado 109. A good birding site year-round, it can be excellent for migrant shorebirds. Northwest of Lamar, US 287 passes several shallow lakes, of which the most popular for birding may be Nee Noshe Reservoir, just east of the highway, and Neeso Pah Reservoir, to the west. At any or all of these lakes you may find nesting Western and Clark’s Grebes, Snowy Plover, Black-necked Stilt, and American Avocet.

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Comanche National Grassland

The Comanche National Grassland south of Springfield is best known for its Lesser Prairie-Chicken leks, where males gather in spring to “dance” for females at dawn. This scarce species is found in Colorado only in Baca and Prowers Counties, where its leks are usually located on high spots in sage-grassland. If you’re going to explore this area, contact the Comanche office in advance to buy a map and get travel advice. To reach one traditional lek site, take County Road J east from Campo 8 miles [12.9 kilometers] to County Road 36. Go south 2 miles [3.2 kilometers] to County Road G and turn east for 4 miles [6.4 kilometers]. Just before a road culvert, turn south through a gate and drive 1.2 miles [1.9 kilometers]. The lek is on the west side of the road. The prairie-chickens perform from mid-March into May. You should arrive well before dawn and take care not to disturb them. This habitat is also home to Ferruginous Hawk, Scaled Quail, Northern Bobwhite, and Lark Bunting.

To reach the national grassland’s Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area, a popular birding site with several local specialties, drive west from Campo on County Road J for 15 miles [24.1 kilometers] to County Road 13. Go north 3 miles [4.8 kilometers] to County Road M and drive west about 8.5 miles [13.7 kilometers] to the turnoff south to the picnic area. As you drive these roads, look for Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl (in prairie-dog towns), Cassin’s Kingbird, Chihuahuan Raven, and Cassin’s and Grasshopper Sparrows. In the canyon you may find Scaled Quail; Greater Roadrunner; Black-chinned Hummingbird; Ladder-backed Woodpecker; Ash-throated Flycatcher; Juniper Titmouse; Bushtit; Rock, Canyon, and Bewick’s Wrens; Curve-billed Thrasher; Spotted and Canyon Towhees; and Rufous-crowned Sparrow.

Return to County Road M and follow it west about 4 miles [6.4 kilometers] to County Road J. Take it south through Cottonwood Canyon, an excellent place to find Lewis’s Woodpecker. Continuing through the canyon about 7 miles [11.3 kilometers], you’ll reach County Road 5, which you can follow northeast back to County Road M.

More Recommendations for Rocky Mountain National Park
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