Birds found during FONT 
Birding & Nature Tours 

in Colorado
 
(and nearby Kansas, Wyoming, 
Nebraska, & Oklahoma) 

1993 thru 2007

(during the months of April & June/July)


A Colorado bird list compiled by Armas Hill
with photos 

246 species of birds have cumulatively been seen, along with 8 additional subspecies.
during 8 FONT Colorado birding & nature tours: 6 in April and 2 in June/July.


Upper right photograph: BROWN-CAPPED ROSY FINCH
This species as a breeder is nearly endemic to Colorado. Some also nest in a limited area of southern Wyoming.
In the winter, the species occurs in a third state, with some in northern New Mexico.  

Codes:

co = Colorado
ks = Kansas
ne = Nebraska
ok = Oklahoma
wy = Wyoming

The following 3 codes apply to Colorado:
b = seen both east and west of the Rocky Mountain passes
e = seen in east only
w = seen in west only

APR:  during tours in April (3rd week)
JUN/JUL:  during tours in June/July

(USe):     endemic to the USA 
(USqe):   quasi (or nearly) endemic to the USA
(USneb): near-endemic breeder in the USA
(NAi):      species introduced into North America

(t): a globally threatened or rare species, designated by Birdlife International
(t1): critical   (t2): endangered   (t3): vulnerable
(nt): a near-threatened species globally


Links:

Upcoming Tours in Colorado & adjacent states

Mammals during previous tours in Colorado & nearby states  

Birds:

1. Scaled Quail ______APR coe,ok
   Callipepla squamata
   
   
2. Northern Bobwhite  (nt)  ______ APR coe,ks
   Colinus virginianus
   
   
3. Dusky Grouse ______ APR cow   (was called Blue Grouse, until the more-westerly Sooty Grouse was recently split from it) 
   Dendragapus obscurus richardsonii
   
    
   
   
   
   Now the Dusky Grouse, it was called the Blue Grouse 
   when this photo was taken during a FONT tour in Colorado.
   (photo by Alan Brady)
    
   
4. White-tailed Ptarmigan ______ APR cow  
   Lagopus leucurus altipetens
   
   
   
   
   White-tailed Ptarmigan photographed during a FONT tour in Colorado
    
   
5. Sage Grouse (nt) (USqe) ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
   Centrocercus urophasianus
   
   
6. Gunnison Grouse (t2) (USe) ______ APR cow  (nearly endemic to Colorado, with a very few in adjacent Utah - see note following list) 
   Centrocercus minimus
   
   
7. Greater Prairie Chicken (nt) (USe) ______ APR coe   (note follows list)
   Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus
   
   
   
   
   Greater Prairie Chicken photographed during a FONT tour in Colorado
     
   
8. Lesser Prairie Chicken (t3) (USe) ______ APR ks  (note follows list)
   Tympanuchus pallidcinctus 
   
   
   
   Lesser Prairie Chicken photographed during a FONT tour in Kansas
   
   
   
9. Sharp-tailed Grouse ______ APR cow  (note follows list)
   Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus
   
   
10. Wild Turkey ______ APR coe,ks,ne  (introduced population)
    Meleagris gallopavo
    
    
    
    
    Wild Turkeys
    (photo by James Scheib)
     
    
11. Chukar (NAi) ______ APR cow
    Alectoris chukar
    
    
12. Common Pheasant (NAi) ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks,ok
    Phasianus colchicus
    
    
13. Mute Swan (i) ______ APR
    Cygnus olor
    
    
14. Greater White-fronted Goose ______ APR coe
    Anser albifrons frontalis
    
    
15. Snow Goose ______ APR coe,ks
    Chen (formerly Anser) c. caerulescens  (known as (known as "Lesser Snow Goose") 
    
    
16. Ross' Goose ______ APR
    Chen (formerly Anser) rossi
    
    
17. Canada Goose  ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy  (in late-Spring & Summer, introduced subspecies of eastern North America)
    Branta canadensis 
    
    
18. Wood Duck ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
    Aix sponsa
    
    
19. Mallard ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Anas p. platyrhynchos
    
    
20. Northern Pintail ______ APR JUN/JUL cow,ks,wy
    Anas acuta
    
    
21. Blue-winged Teal ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Anas discors
    
    
22. Cinnamon Teal ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
    Anas cyanoptera septentrionalium
    
    
23. Green-winged Teal ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy  (was considered conspecific with the Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca, of Eurasia)
    Anas carolinensis
    
    
24. Northern Shoveler ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Anas clypeata
    
    
25. Gadwall ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Anas strepera
    
    
26. American Wigeon ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Anas americana
    
    
27. Canvasback ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
    Aythya valisineria
    
    
28. Redhead ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
    Aythya americana
    
    
29. Ring-necked Duck ______ APR JUN/JUL cow,ks.wy
    Aythya collaris
    
    
30. Lesser Scaup ______ APR JUN/JUL  cob,ks,wy
    Aythya affinis
    
    
31. Common Goldeneye ______ APR cob
    Bucephala clangula
    
    
32. Barrow's Goldeneye ______ APR cow
    Bucephala islandica
    
    
33. Bufflehead ______ APR cob,ks,wy
    Bucephala albeola
    
    
34. Common Merganser ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
    Mergus merganser americanus
    
    
35. Red-breasted Merganser ______ APR coe
    Mergus serrator
    
    
36. Ruddy Duck ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Oxyura j. rubida  
    
    
    
    
    A female Ruddy Duck
    (photo by Kim Steininger)
    
    
37. Common Loon ______ APR  wy
    Gavia immer
    
    
38. Pied-billed Grebe ______ APR JUN/JUL  cob,wy
    Podilymbus p. podiceps
    
    
39. Black-necked Grebe ______ APR JUN/JUL  cob,wy  (has been called Eared Grebe)
    Podiceps nigricollis californicus
    
    
40. Western Grebe ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
    Aechmophorus o. occidentalis
    
    
    
    
    Western Grebe
    
    
41. Clark's Grebe ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
    Aechmophorus clarkii 
    
    
42. White-faced Ibis ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Plegadis chihi
    
    
    
    
    White-faced Ibis
     
    
43. Great Blue Heron ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Ardea herodias 
    
    
44. Great Egret ______ JUN/JUL co
    Ardea alba
    
    
45. Snowy Egret ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
    Egretta thula
    
    
46. Cattle Egret ______ APR JUN/JUL ks
    Bubulcus ibis
    
    
47. Green Heron ______ APR ks
    Butorides virescens
    
    
48. Black-crowned Night-Heron ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks,wy
    Nycticorax nycticorax
    
    
49. American White Pelican ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
    Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
    
    
    
    
    
    An American White Pelican photographed during a FONT tour 
    in Wyoming, near Colorado.
    The noticeable knob on the bill is a feature of the bird 
    in breeding plumage.
    
      
    
50. Double-crested Cormorant ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Phalacrocorax auritus
    
    
51. Turkey Vulture ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
    Cathartes aura meridionalis
    
    
52. Osprey ______ APR cob
    Pandion haliaetus carolinensis
    
    
    
    
    Osprey
    (photo by Kim Steininger)
    
    
53. Bald Eagle ______ APR JUN/JUL cow,wy  
    Haliaeetus leucocephalus 
    
    
54. Northern Harrier ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy  (considered conspecific with the Hen Harrier of Eurasia, Circus cyaneus)
    Circus cyaneus hudsonius
    
    
    
    
    A female Northern Harrier
    (photo by Kim Steininger)
    
     
55. Sharp-shinned Hawk ______ APR coe,ks
    Accipiter striatus velox
    
    
    
    Sharp-shinned Hawk
    (photo by Kim Steininger)
    
    
56. Cooper's Hawk ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
    Accipiter cooperi  (monotypic)
    
    
    
    
    Cooper's Hawk
     
    
57. Northern Goshawk ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
    Accipiter gentilis atricapillus
    
    
58. Broad-winged Hawk ______ APR (rare in CO) coe
    Buteo p. platypterus
    
    
59. Swainson's Hawk ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
    Buteo swainsoni
    
    
60. Red-tailed Hawk ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
    Buteo jamaicensis calurus
    
    
61. "Harlan's Hawk" ______ APR cow  (a subspecies of the Red-tailed Hawk)
    Buteo jamaicensis harlani
    
    
62. Ferruginous Hawk (nt) ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
    Buteo regalis
    
    
    
    
    A Ferruginous Hawk photographed during a FONT tour 
    in Kansas, near Colorado
    
    
    
63. Rough-legged Hawk ______ APR cob
    Buteo lagopus sanctijohannis
    
    
64. Golden Eagle ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
    Aquila chrysaetos canadensis
    
    
65. American Kestrel ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
    Falco s. sparverius
    
    
66. Merlin ______ APR  coe
    Falco columbarius richardsoni
    
    
67. Prairie Falcon ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
    Falco mexicanus
    
    
68. Peregrine Falcon ______ APR cow
    Falco peregrinus anatum 
    
    
69. Virginia Rail ______ JUN/JUL co
    Rallus limicola 
    
    
70. Sora ______ JUN/JUL co
    Porzana carolina
    
    
71. American Coot ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Fulica americana
    
    
72. Sandhill Crane ______ APR cow
    Grus canadensis tabida
    
    
73. Semipalmated Plover ______ APR coe
    Charadrius semipalmatus
    
    
74. Piping Plover (t3) ______  APR  coe
    Charadrius melodus
    
    
    
    
    
    The Piping Plover is an inland rarity in Colorado. 
    It was seen there during the 2005 FONT tour in the
    same vicinity as Snowy Plovers.
    Above, an adult & chick.    
    Nearby, that same day, but in a different habitat,
    we also saw the Mountain Plover.
    
    
     
75. Snowy Plover ______ APR coe  (no longer considered conspecific with Kentish Plover of the Old World) 
    Charadrius nivosus 
    
    
    
    
    Snowy Plover
    
    
76. Killdeer ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks,ok,wy
    Charadrius vociferus
    
    
77. Mountain Plover (t3) (USneb) ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks   
    Charadrius montanus
    
    
    
    
    
    A Mountain Plover photographed during a FONT tour
    
    
78. Black-necked Stilt ______ APR cob
    Himantopus mexicanus
    
    
79. American Avocet ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Recurvirostra americana
    
    
80. Greater Yellowlegs ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
    Tringa melanoleuca
    
    
81. Lesser Yellowlegs ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
    Tringa flavipes
    
    
82. Solitary Sandpiper ______ APR cow,ks
    Tringa solitaria
    
    
83. Spotted Sandpiper ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
    Actitis macularia 
    
    
84. Willet ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
    Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus
    
    
85. Long-billed Curlew (nt) ______ APR cob,ks
    Numenius americanus
    
    
86. Marbled Godwit ______ APR cow
    Limosa fedoa
    
    
87. Semipalmated Sandpiper ______ APR
    Calidris pusilla
    
    
88. Western Sandpiper ______ APR coe
    Calidris mauri
    
    
89. Least Sandpiper ______ APR coe
    Calidris minutilla
    
    
90. Baird's Sandpiper ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
    Calidris bairdii
    
    
91. Pectoral Sandpiper ______ APR
    Calidris melanotos
    
    
92. Long-billed Dowitcher ______ APR cob
    Limnodromus scolopaceus
    
    
93. Wilson's Snipe ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy  (was considered conspecific with the Common Snipe of the Palearctic, Gallinago gallinago) 
    Gallinago delicata
    
    
94. Wilson's Phalarope ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
    Phalaropus tricolor
    
    
95. Franklin's Gull ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
    Larus pipixcan
    
    
96. Bonaparte's Gull ______ APR cob,ks,wy
    Larus philadelphia
    
    
97. Ring-billed Gull ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
    Larus delawarensis
    
    
98. California Gull ______ APR JUN/JUL cow,wy
    Larus californicus
    
    
99. "American" Herring Gull ______ APR coe,wy
    Larus argentatus smithsonianus
    
    
100. Caspian Tern ______ JUN/JUL co
     Hydroprogne (formerly Sterna) caspia
     
     
101. Forster's Tern ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
     Sterna forsteri
     
     
102. Black Tern ______ JUN/JUL co
     Chlidonias niger
     
     
103. Feral Pigeon (i) ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
     Columba livia
     
     
104. Band-tailed Pigeon ______ JUN/JUL co
     Patagioenas (formerly Columba) fasciata
     
     
105. Mourning Dove ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,ok,wy
     Zenaida macroura
     
     
106. Eurasian Collared Dove (i) ______ APR coe,ks,nb,ok
     Streptopelia decaocto
     
     
107. Great Horned Owl ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
     Bubo v. virginianus
     
     
108. Burrowing Owl ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks,nb
     Athene cunicularia hypugaea
     
     
109. Common Nighthawk ______ APR JUN/JUL co
     Chordeiles minor
     
     
110. Common Poorwill ______ JUN/JUL co
     Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
     
     
111. American Black Swift ______ JUN/JUL co
     Cypseloides niger
     
     
112. White-throated Swift ______ APR JUN/JUL cow 
     Aeronautes saxatalis
     
     
113. Black-chinned Hummingbird ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
     Archilochus alexandri
     
     
114. Broad-tailed Hummingbird ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
     Selasphorus platycercus
     
     
     
     
     A Broad-tailed Hummingbird photographed during a FONT tour.
       
     
115. Belted Kingfisher ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
     Megaceryle (formerly Ceryle) alcyon
     
     
116. Lewis' Woodpecker ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
     Melanerpes lewis
     
     
117. Red-bellied Woodpecker ______ APR coe
     Melanerpes carolinus
     
     
     
     
     The Red-bellied Woodpecker reaches the far western edge of its range
     in far eastern Colorado.
     (photo by Howard Eskin) 
     
     
118. Red-naped Sapsucker ______ APR JUN/JUL cow,wy
     Sphyrapicus nuchalis
     
     
     
     
     A Red-naped Sapsucker photographed during a FONT tour
     in Colorado in April
       
     
119. Williamson's Sapsucker ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Sphyrapicus thyroideus nataliae
     
     
120. Ladder-backed Woodpecker ______ APR coe
     Picoides scalaris cactophilus
     
     
121. Downy Woodpecker ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
     Picoides pubescens leucurus
     
     
122. Hairy Woodpecker ______ APR JUN/JUL cow,wy
     Picoides villosus septentrionalis
     
     
123. Northern Flicker ______ APR JUN/JUL (both "Yellow-shafted" & "Red-shafted") cob,ks,wy
     Colaptes auratus auratus  ("Yellow-shafted") coe,ks
     Colaptes auratus cafer  ("Red-shafted") cow,wy
     
     
124. Olive-sided Flycatcher ______ JUN/JUL co
     Contopus cooperi
     
     
125. Western Wood-Pewee ______ JUN/JUL co
     Contopus sordidulus
     
     
126. Willow Flycatcher ______ JUN/JUL co
     Empidonax traillii
     
     
127. Dusky Flycatcher ______ APR, JUN/JUL co,ks
     Empidonax oberholseri
     
     
     
     
     Dusky Flycatcher
     (photo by Marie Gardner)
     
     
128. Gray Flycatcher ______ APR cow
     Empidonax wrightii 
     
     
129. Cordilleran Flycatcher ______ JUN/JUL co
     Empidonax occidentalis
     
     
130. Eastern Phoebe ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
     Sayornis phoebe
     
     
131. Say's Phoebe ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
     Sayornis saya
     
     
132. Vermilion Flycatcher ______ APR (rare in CO) coe
     Pyrocephalus rubinus
     
     
133. Ash-throated Flycatcher ______ APR coe
     Myarchus cinerascens
     
     
134. Cassin's Kingbird ______ APR cob
     Tyrannus vociferans
     
     
135. Western Kingbird ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
     Tyrannus verticalis
     
     
136. Eastern Kingbird ______ JUN/JUL co
     Tyrannus tyrannus
     
     
137. Loggerhead Shrike ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ok
     Lanius ludovicianus
     
     
138. Plumbeous Vireo ______ JUN/JUL co
     Vireo plumbeus
     
     
139. Warbling Vireo ______ JUN/JUL co
     Vireo gilvus
     
     
140. Gray Jay ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Perisoreus canadensis capitalis
     
     
141. Steller's Jay ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Cyanocitta stelleri macrolopha
     
     
     
     
     The eastern range of the Steller's Jay 
     is in western Colorado
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
      
     
142. Blue Jay ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,nb
     Cyanocitta cristata cyanotephra
     
     
     
     
     The Blue Jay reaches the western edge of its range 
     in eastern Colorado
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
143. Western Scrub Jay ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Aphelocoma californica woodhouseii
     
     
144. Pinyon Jay ______ APR cow
     Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
     
     
145. Clark's Nutcracker ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Nucifraga columbiana
     
     
146. Black-billed Magpie ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy (was conspecific with Eurasian Magpie, Pica pica)
     Pica hudsonia
     
     
147. American Crow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
     Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis
     
     
148. Chihuahuan Raven ______ APR coe,ks,ok
     Corvus cryptoleucus
     
     
149. Northern Raven ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Corvus corax principalis
     
     
150. Horned Lark ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,ok,wy
     Eremophila alpestris
     
     
151. Tree Swallow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
     Tachycineta bicolor
     
     
152. Violet-green Swallow ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Tachycineta thalassina lepida
     
     
153. Northern Rough-winged Swallow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
     Stelgidopteryx serripennis
     
     
154. Bank Swallow ______ APR cow (in the Old World called Sand Martin)
     Riparia r. riparia
     
     
155. American Cliff Swallow ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
     Petrochelidon p. pyrrhonota
     
     
156. Barn Swallow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,ok,wy
     Hirundo rustica erythrogaster
     
     
157. Juniper Titmouse _____ APR cow
     Baeolophus (formerly Parus) r. ridgwayi
     
     
158. Black-capped Chickadee ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
     Poecile (formerly Parus) atricapilla septentrionalis
     
     
159. Mountain Chickadee ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Poecile (formerly Parus) g. gambeli
     
     
160. American Bushtit ______ APR cow
     Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus  (the "Lead-colored Bushtit")
     
      
161. Red-breasted Nuthatch ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Sitta canadensis
     
     
     
     
     Red-breasted Nuthatch
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
162. White-breasted Nuthatch ______ APR cob,ks,wy
     Sitta carolinensis nelsoni
     
     
163. Pygmy Nuthatch ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Sitta pygmaea melanotis
     
     
164. Brown Creeper ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Certhia americana montana
     
     
165. Rock Wren ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Salpinctes obsoletus
     
     
166. Canyon Wren ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Catherpes mexicanus
     
     
167. Bewick's Wren ______ APR coe,kn
     Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus
     
     
168. House Wren ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Troglodytes aedon parkmani
     
     
169. Winter Wren ______ APR cow
     Troglodytes troglodytes pacificus
     
     
170. Marsh Wren ______ APR JUN/JUL co,wy
     Cistothorus palustris
     
     
     
     
     Marsh Wren
     (photo by Kim Steininger)
     
     
171. American Dipper ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Cinclus mexicanus unicolor
     
     
172. Ruby-crowned Kinglet ______ APR JUN/JUL cow,wy
     Regulus calendula
     
     
     
     
     Ruby-crowned Kinglet
     (photo by Kim Steininger)
     
     
173. Golden-crowned Kinglet ______ APR cow
     Regulus satrapa
     
     
174. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Polioptila caerulea
     
     
175. Eastern Bluebird ______ APR coe,ks
     Sialia sialis
     
     
176. Western Bluebird ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Sialia mexicana
     
     
177. Mountain Bluebird ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Sialia currucoides
     
     
     
     
     A Mountain Bluebird photographed during a FONT tour
      
     
178. Townsend's Solitaire ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Myadestes townsendi
     
     
179. Swainson's Thrush ______ JUN/JUL co
     Catharus ustulatus
     
     
180. Hermit Thrush ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Catharus guttatus auduboni
     
     
181. American Robin ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
     Turdus migratorius
     
     
182. Gray Catbird ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Dumetella carolinensis
     
     
183. Northern Mockingbird ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
     Mimus p. polyglottos
     
     
184. Sage Thrasher ______ APR JUN/JUL cow,wy
     Oreoscoptes montanus
     
     
     
     
     A Sage Thrasher photographed in the early morning sunlight
     during a FONT Colorado tour in April   
     
     
185. Brown Thrasher ______ APR JUN/JUL co
     Toxostoma rufum
     
     
186. Common Starling (i) ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,ok,wy
     Sturnus vulgaris
     
     
187. Buff-bellied Pipit ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy  (also called American Pipit)  
     Anthus rubescens  
     
     
188. Cedar Waxwing ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Bombycilla cedrorum
     
     
189. Worm-eating Warbler ______ APR coe (rare in CO)
     Helmitheros vermivorum
     
     
190. Northern Parula ______ APR coe (rare in CO)
     Parula americana
     
     
191. Orange-crowned Warbler ______ APR cow,ks
     Vermivora celata orestera
     
     
192. Virginia's Warbler ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Vermivora virginiae
     
     
193. American Yellow Warbler ______ JUN/JUL co
     Dendroica petechia 
     
     
194. "Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler ______ APR cob,ks
     Dendroica coronata
     
     
195. "Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
     Dendroica coronata
     
     
196. Black-throated Gray Warbler ______ APR cow
     Dendroica nigrescens 
     
     
197. Black-and-white Warbler ______ JUN/JUL co
     Mniotilta varia
     
     
198. MacGillivray's Warbler ______ JUN/JUL co
     Oporornis petechia
     
     
199. Common Yellowthroat ______ JUN/JUL co
     Geothlypis trichas
     
     
200. Wilson's Warbler ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
     Wilsonia pusilla pileolata
     
     
201. Yellow-breasted Chat ______ JUN/JUL co
     Icteria virens 
     
     
202. Western Tanager ______ JUN/JUL co
     Piranga ludoviciana
     
     
203. Northern Cardinal ______ APR coe
     Cardinalis c. canicaudus 
     
     
204. Green-tailed Towhee ______ APR JUN/JUL cow
     Pipilo chlorurus
     
     
     
     
     A Green-tailed Towhee photographed during a 
     FONT Colorado tour in April
       
     
205. Spotted Towhee ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Pipilo maculatus montanus
     
     
206. Canyon Towhee ______ APR coe
     Pipilo fuscus
     
     
207. Cassin's Sparrow ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
     Aimophila cassinii
     
     
208. American Tree Sparrow ______ APR coe
     Spizella arborea
     
     
209. Chipping Sparrow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne
     Spizella passerina
     
     
210. Clay-colored Sparrow ______ APR coe
     Spizella pallida
     
     
211. Brewer's Sparrow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob
     Spizella b. breweri  (subspecies valid as long as "Timberline Sparrow" of Canada considered conspecific) 
     
     
     
     
     A Brewer's Sparrow photographed during a 
     FONT Colorado tour in April 
     
     
212. Vesper Sparrow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,ok,wy
     Pooecetes gramineus confinis
     
     
213. Lark Sparrow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
     Chondestes grammacus
     
     
214. Sage Sparrow ______ APR cow
     Amphispiza belli nevadensis
     
     
215. Lark Bunting ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks
     Calamospiza  melanocorys
     
     
216. Savannah Sparrow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Passerculus sandwichensis
     
     
217. Grasshopper Sparrow ______ APR coe,ks
     Ammodramus savannarum
     
     
218. "Slate-colored" Fox Sparrow ______ APR cow
     Passerella iliaca schistacea
     
     
219. Song Sparrow ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
     Melospiza melodia
     
     
220. Lincoln's Sparrow ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
     Melospiza melodia
     
     
221. White-throated Sparrow ______ APR (rare in CO) coe
     Zonotrichia albicollis
     
     
222. White-crowned Sparrow ______ APR cob,ks
     Zonotrichia leucophrys
     
     
     
     
     An immature White-crowned Sparrow
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
223. Harris's Sparrow ______ APR coe
     Zonotrichia querula
     
     
224. "White-winged" Dark-eyed Junco ______ APR cow,ks
     Junco hyemalis aikeni
     
     
225. "Oregon" Dark-eyed Junco ______ APR cob
     Junco hyemalis oreganus
     
     
226. "Pink-sided" Dark-eyed  Junco ______ APR cow,wy
     Junco hyemalis mearnsi
     
     
227. "Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Junco ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Junco hyemalis caniceps
     
     
228. "Slate-colored" Dark-eyed Junco ______ APR cob,wy
     Junco h. hyemalis
     
     
229. McCown's Longspur ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,wy
     Calcarius mccownii
     
     
     
     
     A McCown's Longspur photographed during a FONT tour
     in Wyoming, near Colorado
     
      
     
230. Chestnut-collared Longspur ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
     Calcarius ornatus
     
     
     
     
     A male Chestnut-collared Longspur in breeding plumage 
     photographed during a FONT tour in Colorado
     
      
     
231. Black-headed Grosbeak ______ JUN/JUL co
     Pheucticus melanocephalus
     
     
232. Lazuli Bunting ______ JUN/JUL co
     Passerina amoena
     
     
233. Indigo Bunting ______ JUN/JUL co
     Passerina cyanea
     
     
234. Western Meadowlark ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,ok,wy
     Sturnella neglecta
     
     
235. Red-winged Blackbird ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ok,wy
     Agelaius phoeniceus
     
     
236. Yellow-headed Blackbird ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
     Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
     
     
     
     
     
     A male Yellow-headed Blackbird
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
     
237. Brewer's Blackbird ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,wy
     Euphagus cyanocephalus
     
     
238. Great-tailed Grackle ______ APR JUN/JUL coe,ks,ok
     Quiscalus mexicanus
     
     
239. Common Grackle ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,ok,wy
     Quiscalus quiscula
     
     
240. Brown-headed Cowbird ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
     Molothrus ater
     
     
241. Orchard Oriole ______ APR JUN/JUL coe
     Icterus spurius
     
     
242. Bullock's Oriole ______ JUN/JUL co
     Icterus bullockii
     
     
243. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch ______ APR cob  
     Leucosticte tephrocotis 
     Leucosticte t. littoralis ("Hepburn's Rosy Finch")
     
     
     
     
     A Gray-crowned Rosy Finch photographed during a
     FONT tour in Colorado in April
      
     
244. Black Rosy Finch (USe) ______ APR cob  
     Leucosticte atrata
     
     
     
     A Black Rosy Finch photographed during a 
     FONT tour in Colorado in April
      
     
245. Brown-capped Rosy Finch (USe) ______ APR JUN/JUL cob  (this species nearly endemic to Colorado, particularly as a breeder)
     Leucosticte australis
     
     
     
     A Brown-capped Rosy Finch photographed during a 
     FONT tour in Colorado in April
     
     
246. Pine Grosbeak ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy  
     Pinicola enucleator montanus
     
     
     
     
     A Pine Grosbeak photograph during a FONT tour
     in Wyoming, near Colorado, in April
     
     
247. Cassin's Finch ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Carpodacus cassinii
     
     
     
     
     A Cassin's Finch photographed during a FONT tour
     in Wyoming, near Colorado, in April
     
     
248. House Finch ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,kn
     Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis
     
     
249. Red Crossbill ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Loxia curvirostra
     
     
     
     
     A Red Crossbill photographed during a FONT tour
     in Wyoming, near Colorado, in April
      
     
250. Pine Siskin ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,wy
     Carduelis pinus
     
     
251. American Goldfinch ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks
     Carduelis tristis
     
     
     
     
     American Goldfinch
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
     
252. Lesser Goldfinch ______ JUN/JUL co (both black-backed & green-backed forms)
     Carduelis psaltria
     
     
253. Evening Grosbeak ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,wy
     Coccothraustes vespertinus
     
     
     
     
     An Evening Grosbeak photographed during a FONT tour
     in Wyoming, near Colorado, in April
     
     
254. House Sparrow (i) ______ APR JUN/JUL cob,ks,ne,ok,wy
     Passer domesticus
     

Notes:

The Gunnison Grouse is a newly-described species of the USA heartland. It is very localized with a range restricted to southwest Colorado and southeast Utah. It's thought to have formerly been more widespread (possibly in New Mexico, eastern Arizona, southwest Kansas, and Oklahoma).
Now the bird occurs in 6 or 7 counties of southwest Colorado and a single county in adjacent southeast Utah. The entire population is estimated at being less than 5,000 birds, with most (2,500-3,000) in the Gunnison Basin (of Colorado). Elsewhere populations number less than 300, with fewer than 150 in Utah.
It has disappeared from several population pockets since 1980, with an overall decline of over 60% in males attending breeding leks in the Gunnison Basin in the last 50 years.
Formerly considered a subspecies of the more-northerly  Sage Grouse,  Gunnison Grouse of both sexes have  plumages similar to that species, but are about 30% smaller. 

There are 3 species in the "Prairie Chicken Group": the Greater Prairie Chicken, the Lesser Prairie Chicken, and the Sharp-tailed Grouse.  

There have historically been 3 subspecies of Greater Prairie Chickens. 
In the eastern United States, the subspecies T.c. cupido, called the "Heath Hen", occurred formerly in bushy habitat from Boston south to Washington. It was extirpated on the mainland about 1835. It continued to survive beyond that on the Massachusetts offshore island of Martha's Vineyard until it was last reported there in 1932. At that time, the eastern race of the Greater Prairie Chicken became extinct.
Another race of the species, in coastal Texas, is now very rare. T.c. attwateri, the "Attwater's Prairie Chicken" has declined in 30 years from 8,700 individuals in 1937 to 1,070 in 1967. After another 30 years, in 1998, only 56 individuals remained in 3 isolated populations. Even with released captive-reared birds, that subspecies is severely threatened.
The most wide-ranging of the Greater Prairie Chicken subspecies (and the one occurring in eastern Colorado), T.c. pinnatus, has declined over much of its range. The population in the late 1970's was estimated as 500,000. Due to its being in small isolated populations, the species overall is at considerable risk.

Greater Prairie Chickens at their lek at dawn.

The Lesser Prairie Chicken has declined substantially since the European settlement of the Great Plains. That decline is thought to be over 90% since the 19th Century, and nearly 80% since the early 1960's. 
In 1980, Lesser Prairie Chickens occupied only 8% of their original range (which was historically throughout the southwest Great Plains, in southeast Colorado, southwest Kansas, western Oklahoma, northern Texas, and eastern New Mexico). Now, it is only in small, scattered populations.
The population estimate was about 50,000 birds in about 1980 (from 42,000 to 55,000 in 1979). 20 years later, in 1999, the population was estimated as 10,000 to 25,000, mostly in northwest Texas and Kansas.      

There are 5 subspecies of Sharp-tailed Grouse. It now occurs in less than half of its original range in 9 U.S. states. It is now extinct in 8 U.S. states where it formerly occurred. In the northern part of its range (in Canada), it is fairly common. 

A good source for information (such as that above) about the grouse is the book: "Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse" by Steve Madge and Phil McGowan, 
published in 2002 by Princeton Univ Press.  

To Top of Page