11 Birds You Can Find in Colorado (with Images)

The state of Colorado is nothing short of heaven for bird lovers. Colorado is home to a wide variety of birds, each with its unique features and characteristics.

Let’s look at the diverse bird species found in Colorado and what makes them so special.

Table of Contents

American Robin

The scientific name of American Robin is Turdus migratorius.

American Robin is a famous bird of Colorado, mostly found around the northern region of the USA. However, it migrates to the south in winter.

The American Robin is fairly large in size and measures 10 inches in length from bill to tail.

The bird is plump-looking and will catch your eye with its impressively long tail. It is grayish-brown in color with a few tints of orange and rust around the breast area.

This bird is most commonly found nesting in open woodlands or green areas. However, you may also find it in your backyard or garden while it is busy hunting for food.

American Robins prefer a carnivorous diet that includes live worms and invertebrates.

They also sometimes feed on fruits and berries when there are no other options.

Also read: Robin vs Cardinal – What the Difference?

Black-billed Magpie

The scientific name of Black-billed Magpie is Pica hudsonia. The Black-billed Magpie is most commonly found in North America.

You can easily identify the bird from its large size and unique tale.

The Black-billed Magpie has a large-looking neck and head and small, sturdy legs. Its distinguishing feature is the extra-long tail that can easily be recognized from afar.

Moreover, the bird is mostly black from head to toe with slight hints of white around the shoulder and belly.

The black-billed Magpie prefers nesting in dry open lands, plains, and pinelands.

They are omnivorous and will eat anything from worms and invertebrates to nuts and berries.

Northern Flicker

The scientific name of the Northern Flicker is Colaptes auratus. This bird is often confused with a woodpecker in appearance.

The Northern Flicker is a big-headed bird with a smaller body. Its beak is long, thin, and curved around the edge.

You can easily identify it from its blackish brown color and salmon pink undersides.

The Northern Flicker inhabits forest and woodland areas, but it can also be found on ground level when searching for food.

They feed on insects and bugs, but may also feed on sunflower and other seeds or grains at times.

House Finch

The scientific name of the House Finch is Haemorhous mexicanus. This bird originated from the West, but it is now commonly found all across the United States.

The House Finch is a medium-sized bird that measures 6 inches in length. The bird can easily be identified from its short and cone shape beak.

Another interesting feature of the House Finch is its grayish-brown eyes with contrasting streaks around them.

The House Flinch usually travels in flocks and loves residing in hollow treetops or green yards.

However, you can also find these birds in some town and residential areas. They are fond of feeding on sunflower seeds and other grains in a tube feeder.

Also read: How to Attract Finches to Your Yard

Black-capped Chickadee

The scientific name of the Black-caped Chickadee is Poecile atricapillus. This bird is most commonly found in the backyards and gardens around America.

Chickadees can easily be defined as small-sized birds. However, despite their size, Chickadees are round and plump in appearance overall.

Their heads, bodies, and even their tails are round in shape. The beak is short and sharp-looking.

The Black-caped bird is mostly gray in color with slight undertones of white around the face and wings.

When it comes to habitat, these birds are mostly inclined towards dense forests and green lands.

They travel in flocks and hop from one tree to another in search of food.

Chickadees like feeding on insects, seeds, and a few berries too. Sunflower seeds are said to be their favorite.

American Crow

The scientific name of the American Crow is Corvus brachyrhynchos.

This blackbird is quite popular in the USA, mostly found in urban cities and towns. You can easily recognize an American Crow from its signature ‘caw caw’ calls.

The American Crow is around 7 inches long from the beak to the tail, but some may vary in size.

These birds are known for their large head, long legs, and sturdy neck. The American crow is mesmerizingly black in color, from head to toe, and has a shiny sheen all over.

You can find an American Crow in trees, gardens or opens farms all across the United States. Note that these birds migrate to the south side of Canada.

American Crows rely on insects, grains, and even small mammals at times when it comes to food.

Also read: How to Get Rid of Crows in Your Yard/House?

European Starling

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) famous Colorado bird was initially brought to the United States in the late 19th Century from Europe (hence the name).

The European Starling is 8 to 9 inches long with a big head and long legs. This bird can be identified from its unique square-shaped tail and long, pointy beak.

An interesting fact about this bird is that it is yellow in Spring and has a dark gray or brown color the rest of the year.

The European Starling prefers staying closer to the ground and nests in tree cavities in urban cities and suburbs.

These birds are aggressive and are often found bullying other birds or fighting with them over food.

When it comes to food, the European Starling prefers insects and worms, but they also feed on grains or seeds when need be.

These birds are often found in the backyard, feeding off tray feeds or anything else they can find.

Mourning Dove

The scientific name of Mourning Dove is Zenaida macroura.

The Mourning Dove is one of the most popular Colorado birds found in most backyards in the United States.

The Mourning Dove is 12 inches long and round, and plump in shape with short legs and a sharp beak.

This bird is light brown in color with hues of pink and white on the underside of its wings and tail.

Mourning Dove is most commonly found in open lands, farmlands, and backyards in urban cities and towns.

You can easily identify them from the ‘cooing’ sound.

When it comes to diet, they prefer feeding on grains and seeds as their primary food source.

However, you can often find them close to the ground, picking on sunflower seeds, etc.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

The Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is another popular Colorado that can be found all across the United States.

This bird is fairly large in size and has a unique shaped tail and a small and sharp beak.

This bird is pale white in color with darker shades and stripes around the collar and neck.

The Eurasian Collared-Dove can easily be called a neighborhood-friendly bird, as it is found hopping from one backyard to another.

They also like inhabiting large ground and farmlands.

The bird is also famous for its signature ‘coo coo’ sound calls, and you can easily identify it from a distance by its birdsong.

When it comes to food, the Eurasian Collared-Dove loves feeding on seeds and grains from the backyard or on the ground.

Like most Colorado birds, sunflower seeds are a popular meal choice among this species.

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) also referred to as ‘snow birds’ because they migrate from the mountains in the winter season.

The Dark-eyed Junco is a petite bird with a round body, sharp beak, and square-shaped tail.

The Eastern Dark-eyed Juncos are a mix of gray and white, while the Western ones are blackish-brown with tints of pink on the sides.

You will find these birds residing mostly in forests or green lands, but they sometimes come close to the ground while searching for food.

The Dark-eyed Junco is omnivorous in nature, but they primarily eat seeds and grains. Insects and vertebrates are mostly consumed in the summer season.

American Dipper

The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) is popular as being the only aquatic songbird of North America.

The American Dipper is a medium-sized bird, and it is most commonly found across mountains and the riverside.

The bird is gray in color with hints of white underneath.

When it comes to food, American Dippers love feeding on underwater insects and other small animals.

Final Words

We hope you enjoyed reading about all these famous birds of Colorado and are now inspired to find out more about them.

Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section with us if you have anything to add.

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