20 Most Beautiful Backyard Birds Colorado

Want to learn the most common backyard birds Colorado? Colorado is a beautiful state and like most places in the United States, it has its own unique bird species. When surveyed and researched, over 507 different types of birds have been identified in Colorado.

This is one of my favorite things about Colorado in the summer – the Colorado backyard birds you get to see and interact with!

Some will hop across your lawn, others will feed on your bird feeders, and still, others will flit around in your trees. There is something so fun about it, and it is even more fun when you know what types of birds you are seeing.

Colorful illustrations make this guide to backyard birding in Colorado a joy to read. Whether you have an entire acre to explore or just a small patio, this article shows you what you need to know to attract birds.

You will learn how to spot the brightest birds and the most elusive songbirds, which insects to watch for, what times of year are best, and how to encourage good wren hunting. This list will help you identify common Colorado backyard birds.

Backyard birding is a fun activity to do in Colorado, but not everyone has the knowledge or the opportunity to enjoy it. If you want to learn how to identify birds and if you want to attract more birds in your yard, then read on.

Here are the Colorado backyard birds:

Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Flicker
Red Winged Blackbird
House Finch
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Mourning Dove
American Robin
House Wren
Black-Billed Magpie
Black-capped Chickadee
Barn Swallow
European starling
American Crow
Yellow warbler
Blue Jay
American Goldfinch
Western Kingbird
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Common Grackle
Western Meadowlark

colorado backyard birds youtube Dark-eyed_Junco-birdsflock.com-common-Backyard-Birds-In-Ontario

The Dark-eye Junco is a favorite of birders and backyard nature-lovers alike, for good reason. By habit, these little sparrows are neat, and sometimes even flashy.

The male of this western species sports a striking black head with a white central crown stripe, white throat (sometimes a speckled brown/gray “chin strap”), bold white wing patches on otherwise grayish plumage, and a bright white eye-ring.

In the non-breeding season, their throat often takes on a pale gray-brown tint.

Besides these charismatic features, the Dark-eye Junco boasts other nifty traits: they are widespread (wintering throughout much of North America), adaptable (inhabiting forest floors as well as bird feeders), and not picky (feeding on various seeds and weed seeds).

Their overall gray or dark brown color and their obvious white outer tail feathers are their best field marks.

Length: 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm)
Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-30 g)
Wingspan: 7.1-9.8 in (18-25 cm)

Dark-eyed Juncos are birds of the coniferous forest, preferring areas with some brushy cover and partially open woods. Their soft scolding call is one of their best attributes for identification. Listen for it before you see them flying overhead.

This clever little sparrow, a regular visitor at many bird feeders, forages for weed seeds and small insects on lawns in winter. Be warned; like House Sparrows, this species can be very prolific if not kept in check.

Juncos are known as snowbirds of the middle latitudes
It is one of the most common birds in Colorado and other parts of the US.
The oldest Dark-eyed Junco lived for at least eleven years, four months

Backyard Birds In Ontario” class=”wp-image-553″/> Northern_Flicker birdsflock.com common Backyard Birds In Ontario

If you like woodpeckers but do not have wood to provide food, the Northern Flicker is one of the amazing colorado backyard birds that will willingly live with you in the backyard. Every year flickers come through your yard on their way to South America, where they spend winter on the Pacific coast from California to Chile.

They are not shy, so if you see one, walk toward it and listen for a short whistle – you will see it fly up into a high branch and into the leaves for cover. If someone else is around, he or she will probably join in – a flicker whistled at one will whistle back at another. So, you may have fun trying this with a friend.

Northern Flickers can be found throughout most of the United States and southern Canada, frequenting forest edge habitats, often near their favorite food, the ground-cherry. These birds are most easily seen in Summer.

Look for their white rump patches and watch for stiff, rapid wing beats and short flights. Listen for their loud, ringing call and piercing yelp.

Look for Northern Flickers in large lawns and parks as well as along trails through open woods. Just about any well-treed backyard has a chance of supporting a Northern Flicker.

Prominent red marks on the white outer feathers of their tails help you recognize them easily. Flickers prefer to perch close to the ground, rather than high in the treetops like many other woodpeckers.

Though the Northern Flicker can climb trees, it prefers finding food on the ground.
It is a strongly migratory North American woodpecker
It nests in tree holes

Love to see some of the backyard birds Colorado? With the return of spring, so comes the joyful song that announces its arrival. The Red-winged Blackbird is one of the most abundant birds across North America, and one with a bold color.

Length: 6.7-9.1 in (17-23 cm)
Weight: 1.1-2.7 oz (32-77 g)
Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in (31-40 cm)

Look for the male Red-winged Blackbird’s glossy black body and glossy red shoulder patches. In flight look for the rusty wings, which are usually held in a triangular shape.

He will be hanging around his territory during the breeding season, singing his conk-la-lee song from perches at the tops of trees. The female is streaky brown overall, but with a reddish breast in breeding condition, and she does not have the male’s shoulder patches.

The Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight perched atop cattails, along soggy roadsides, and on telephone wires, where they like to sing their cheery song.

Red-winged Blackbirds are not the most colorful birds, but they make up for it with their charismatic personalities. They are very social birds that like to hang out with one another, and even raise their young together in communal nests.

They also come to yards with mixed grains and seeds; if you have a flat area where they can land, try spreading grain or seed on the ground to attract them!

Red-winged blackbirds are highly polygynous.
Male Red-winged blackbirds always defend their territories, especially during breeding season.
According to the record, the oldest Red-winged blackbird was fifteen years, nine months old.

How about a red bird for your next house? The bright red head and breast of males, and the bird’s long, twittering song make it easy to identify. You can find one at the next bird feeder you come across because it is now found in most neighborhoods in Colorado.

Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz (16-27 g)
Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 in (20-25 cm)

They fly around quickly, often hang upside down when they are looking at seeds or suet, and they chirp their sweet song repeatedly.

The House Finch is one of the backyard birds Colorado that is an extremely sociable bird that flocks in winter and nests communally in trees or shrubs. In summer, this finch moves into urban and suburban areas, where it feeds on human food at window trays, backyard feeders, and other backyard birding sites.

Its small size enables it to nest in gardens and shrubbery under power lines.

If you love to feed birds and watch them at your feeders, try to attract House Finches.

This small finch is easy to attract to your yard with black oil sunflower seeds, and because the birds fly in flocks and dart around a bit, they provide more entertainment than other types of birds do. Each House Finch male sings and has his own song.

Originally, House finch was a bird of Mexico and western United states
The House Finch’s red pigments contained in its food during molt
The oldest House Finch was at least eleven years, seven months and it was a female.

Seductive hummingbirds with rose-magenta throats and stunning aerial displays live in the high mountains of the West. In addition to their gorgeous colors and song, males also have special adaptations that help them survive long, cold nights in the winter.

Length: 3.1-3.5 in (8-9 cm)
Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz (2.8-4.5 g)

Because these Colorado backyard birds spend only a short amount of time in each summer location, it is impossible to see all the places where Broad-tailed Hummingbirds live in Colorado.

However, there are three spots you can certainly check out:

1) Stop at forest openings and meadows that are filled with flowers. This is where you will often hear hummingbird songs.

2) Check out feeders. Hummingbirds will go to the same spots from summer to summer, so visiting a feeder will get you familiar with Broad-tailed Hummingbirds’ return locations.

3) While in the mountains, stop at lookout points to see the birds as they fly by. Good luck!

If you live around the location where broad-tailed hummingbird is, putting up a sugar-water feeder may bring them to your yard and allow you to watch one in your yard. A ratio of one part table sugar dissolved in four parts water is recommended.

Planting flowers in your backyard is another way to entice hummingbirds while also adding splendor to your yard.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird enters a slowed metabolic state on very cold nights
They are very aggressive and energetic bird species.
The oldest Broad-tailed Hummingbird was twelve years, two months old.

Backyard Birds Kentucky” class=”wp-image-897″/> mourning_dove Backyard Birds Kentucky

Throughout Colorado and North America, the Mourning Dove is found in a variety of habitats. Their numbers are replenished by the high rate of reproduction and their ability to successfully adapt to a wide variety of habitats and locations.

Male

Length: 9.1-13.4 in (23-34 cm)
Weight: 3.4-6.0 oz (96-170 g)
Wingspan: 17.7 in (45 cm)

Female

Weight: 3.0-5.5 oz (86-156 g)
Wingspan: 17.7 in (45 cm)

A graceful and slender-tailed, small-headed dove that is common across the continent, the Mourning Dove is an abundant game bird. It forages for seeds and lives in an open habitat consisting of fields, pastures, and rank growth. The soft, drawn-out calls of these doves sound like laments.

Their flight is fast and bullet straight; their wings make a sharp whistling or whinnying noise when taking off. They nest on the ground in dense cover and can be found in large flocks in winter with members of the same or other species as well as with Blue jays.

Mourning Doves, with their unmistakable mourning call, are a common sight in suburban neighborhoods. Perched on telephone wires and similar perches throughout the day to search for seeds and insects.

If you want to see these Colorado backyard birds, keep an eye open for Mourning Doves on the ground; they gather in large flocks to eat and exchange calls. They also roost communally in large numbers at night.

This sparrow-like bird is most often found foraging low to the ground, finding crashed insects by sight or sound.

They also eat fruits, berries, and grain seeds. Mourning Doves are one of the few birds that seem to prefer feeding on the ground; this habit makes them vulnerable to cats, dogs, and other predators.

Their nest is a flimsy platform built from twigs and grasses. It is placed on a tree limb or in dense brush. If a Mourning Dove does not have enough nesting sites around your home, consider putting up an appropriate nest box – they readily use them when they are available.

You might see three of these Mourning Doves flying tightly during the breeding season
Mourning Doves feed on the ground more than most birds
Morning dove can drink brackish spring water to survive
They are the most widespread birds in North America
The oldest Morning Dove was thirty years, four months old

american-robin

They are a familiar sight at both town and city lawns, where residents often see them pulling Earthworms out of the ground. American Robins are popular birds for their cheery song, warm orange breast and early appearance at the end of winter.

It is the early bird that catches the worm! American Robins are common urban birds, and they work hard to provide your lawn or garden with healthy new growth. The smart little birds often start their day before sunrise when temperatures are still low.

Length: 7.9-11.0 in (20-28 cm)
Weight: 2.7-3.0 oz (77-85 g)
Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in (31-40 cm)

After you have had your cup of coffee and a few hours to watch the world come to life, head out for an early morning stroll to catch one of these industrious garden helpers at work. Bring your camera for some closeups!

The American Robin is an iconic bird of the eastern United States. Watch for them running across lawns or standing on a fence post inspecting the world around them.

Their elongated bodies have distinctive multi-colored patterns and their pale gray bills can appear yellowish, particularly in spring and summer.

In winter these Colorado backyard birds may disappear from your lawn but could still be around. Look for flocks of them in treetops and around fruiting trees and listen for their low cuck notes.

The American robin is a thrush often found in the woods and fields. Although they can be harder to attract than other birds, a well-constructed nest box with a panorama window can draw these birds in.

American Robin can produce three broods in just a year
They eat a lot of fruit in winter and fall
They also eat worms in the morning and fruit later in the day.
The oldest American Robin was thirteen years, eleven months old.

House Wren – Backyard Birds Colorado

House Wrens are plain brown Colorado backyard birds with effervescent voices. These common backyard birds Colorado breed from the southern United States to the southeastern coast of South America.

With its zippy rush-and-jumble song and active nature, the House Wren deserves a place in your backyard.

Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (10-12 g)
Wingspan: 5.9 in (15 cm)

The secret to attracting this starling-sized bird is habitat—most House Wrens live close to humans, in brushy areas near wires. Playing host to this species is easy—just let a pile of twigs dry out on the ground or build it a box.

The small, plump House Wren is a surprisingly bold and playful bird. Family groups will often hang out on the edges of backyard ponds, digging for insect larvae.

They are common feeder visitors who are fascinated by shiny objects. These busy little birds are found over nearly the entire Western Hemisphere, where they tend to live in more suburban and rural settings, not tropical rainforests as one might expect.

House Wrens are not shy about singing away from their nests, and if you’re in the right habitat (backyards, parks, and open woods) you should be able to hear the male’s rollicking song: a cheerful scree-e-eee-tee-tee-tee followed by a rapid staccato trill—seet-wonk, seet-wonk—that slows in speed like a record played at the wrong speed.

If you need to prune trees or cut brush in your yard, consider heaping the cuttings into a pile as a safe place for House Wren to gather. This can be fun. Making brush piles is also an effortless way to remove potential fire hazards.

Attracting birds is great for gardens, but it is also rewarding for people who have grown accustomed to seeing fewer bird species in their neighborhoods. Nest boxes will also attract House wren.

House Wrens nest inside nest boxes and tree holes
House Wren is one of the backyard birds Colorado with the largest ranges in the New World
Temperature inside Wren’s nest box can be very important for its eggs
The oldest House Wren was nine years old.

Black-billed Magpie – backyard Birds Colorado

The black-billed magpie is an important and delightful bird of western North America, recognizable by its long, spectacular tail and distinctive call.

With striking white wing patches, the black-billed magpie spends much of its time on fenceposts or road signs—or winging across rangelands gathering in flocks of a dozen or more to feed at carrion. It is also intensely social and spends much time performing displays.

Length: 17.7-23.6 in (45-60 cm)
Weight: 5.1-7.4 oz (145-210 g)
Wingspan: 22.1-24.0 in (56-61 cm)

Black-billed Magpies are noisy and conspicuous, making them easy to see and hear. Not to be confused with their smaller relatives the Black-capped Chickadee or Tufted Titmouse, this bold bird has a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, deserts, farmlands, and even urban areas.

With a gorgeous black and white coloration pattern, the Black-billed Magpie is easy to identify. The Black-billed Magpie’s diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates, but they will also eat seeds and nuts.

They will even perch at the tops of trees to eat fruit, such as acorns and apples. attract them to your yard with a suet feeder and bird feeder.

Black-billed Magpie can spend 40 days to make a very large nest
According to history, it has been associating with people for a very long time
Black-billed Magpie is a nest predator
The oldest Black-billed Magpie lived in Idaho and was nine years, four months old

Backyard Birds” class=”wp-image-1098″/> Black-capped Chickadee – Colorado Backyard Birds

The Black-capped Chickadee is a familiar bird to most Americans. This cuddly and friendly little bird is a native that sings in spring, summer, and fall.

The distinctive chickadee’s black cap and bib; gray back and tail, and wings; white cheeks and whitish underside with buffy sides make it one of the most beautiful Colorado backyard birds. Easy to identify, fun to watch, and always “cute” – the chickadee is an excellent bird to attract to your yard.

Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-14 g)
Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in (16-21 cm)

So easy to care for, they are among the first birds that people learn to recognize. As backyard visitors, they eat insect pests like aphids and grubs and depending on their breeding range they also feed on grain or berries in winter.

It is easy to attract chickadees to your yard with hanging feeders and dishes filled with Nyjer seed, sunflower, peanut, or suet.

Black-capped Chickadee is a wise bird that reserves seeds and other food items for later days
It lets brain neurons with old information die every autumn
Several birds love associating with Black-capped Chickadee
The oldest Black-capped Chickadee was eleven years, six months old.

The thrilling sight of a Barn Swallow in flight is only one of the reasons to make it a part of your nature-loving family. The Barn Swallow’s distinctive tail feathers were long prized by Native Americans, who used them for ornamentation and ritual dance costumes.

Look for the long, deeply forked tail that streams out behind this agile flyer and sets it apart from all other North American swallows. Barn Swallows are often seen cruising low over fields and marshes, where they hunt flying insects.

20 Most Beautiful Backyard Birds Colorado

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