Birding by Habitat for the Western Slope
This guide lists the top birds found in each habitat and the prime time to
find them, just before they nest
Here is some new information on prime survey dates for some of Colorado's forest owl species, provided by Tyler Hicks of Western State College.
N. Pygmy-Owl - mid to late March
Boreal Owl - last few days in March to mid-April
N. Saw-whet Owl - Second week in April to late April
Flammulated Owl - mid-May to early June
Low Riparian Habitat -- 1 May through 15 June
Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, American Robin
+Mourning Dove, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole, Common Grackle, Common Yellowthroat
Semi-desert Habitat -- 15 May through 29 May
Horned Lark, Lark Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Say's Phoebe, Golden Eagle, Loggerhead Shrike, Burrowing Owl. Possibly Rock Wren.
+ Brewer's Sparrow, Lark Bunting, Mourning Dove, Common Raven, Northern Mockingbird, Sage Thrasher, Vesper Sparrow, Black-billed Magpie, Western Kingbird
Sagebrush Habitat (east vs. west) -- 15 May through 4 June
Brewer's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, Mountain Bluebird
+Western Meadowlark, Green-tailed Towhee, Horned Lark, (Lark Bunting), Mourning Dove, Cassin's Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, (Grasshopper Sparrow)
Pinyon-Juniper Habitat -- 15 May through 29 May
Chipping Sparrow, Gray Flycatcher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Juniper Titmouse, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Pinyon Jay, Bewick's Wren. Lower elevations Gray Vireo, higher elevations Plumbeous Vireo.
+Mourning Dove, Mountain Bluebird, Spotted Towhee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Green-tailed Towhee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Virginia's Warbler, House Finch, Common Raven
Mountain Shrub Habitat -- 29 May through 12 June
Virginia's Warbler, Green-tailed & Spotted Towhees, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Dusky Flycatcher
+Warbling Vireo, American Robin, Black-headed Grosbeak, House Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown-headed Cowbird
Ponderosa Habitat -- 29 May through 12 June
Western Bluebird, Western Tanager, Grace's Warbler, Pygmy Nuthatch, Williamson's Sapsucker
+Western Wood-Pewee, Gray-headed Junco, American Robin, Audubon's Warbler, Mourning Dove, Chipping Sparrow, Mountain Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Violet-green Swallow, Green-tailed Towhee, Warbling Vireo
Mid-Riparian Habitat -- Late May through June
MacGillivrays Warbler, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler. American Dipper if water moves, Swainson's Thrush at higher elevations.
+Veery (rare), Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow
Aspen Habitat -- 12 June through 26 June
Purple Martin, Violet-green & Tree Swallows, Red-naped Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo, House Wren, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Western Wood-Peewee, Flammulated Owl
+Dark-eyed Junco (gray-headed), American Robin, Audubon's Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Lincoln's Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Chickadee, Pine Siskin, White-crowned Sparrow
Mixed Conifer Habitat -- 5 June through 19 June
(Any kind of pine and anything else OR pure Douglas fir)
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Steller's Jay
+Audubon's Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco (gray headed), warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Mountain Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Chipping Sparrow, Pine Siskin, House Wren
Spruce/Fir Habitat -- 19 June through 10 July
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Audubon Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Gray Jay, Three-toed Woodpecker, Boreal Owl
+Mountain Chickadee, Audubon's Warbler, Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill
High Riparian Habitat -- 12 June through 26 June
White-crowned & Lincoln Sparrows, Wilson's Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Willow Flycatcher
+American Robin, Spotted Sandpiper
Alpine Tundra Habitat -- 19 June through 17 July
American Pipit, Ptarmigan, Horned Lark, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
+White-crowned Sparrow, American Robin, Rock Wren, Wilson's Warbler, Timberline Sparrow, Black Swift