PO Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-800-721-9986
 or 302/529-1876; Fax: 302/529-1085

 

Birds found during FONT 
Birding & Nature Tours 

in
Colorado
 

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


1993 thru 2009

(during the months of April & July)


A Colorado bird list compiled by Armas Hill
with photos 


247 species of birds have cumulatively been seen, along with 8 additional subspecies.
during 10 FONT Colorado birding & nature tours: 8 in April and 2 in 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

APR:  during tours in April (3rd week)
JUL:   during tours in July  (1st week)

(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

(ph):  species with a photo in the FONT web-site


Links:

Upcoming FONT Tours in Colorado & adjacent states

A Complete List of North American Birds, north of Mexico, in 2 parts:
List #1: Grouse to Flycatchers
List #2: Jaegers to Flycatchers
List #3: Shrikes to Buntings

Mammals during FONT tours in Colorado & nearby states  (with photos)



Birds:

  1. Scaled Quail ______APR  co,ok
    Callipepla squamata

  2. Northern Bobwhite  (nt)  ______ APR  co,ks
    Colinus virginianus

  3. Dusky Grouse  (ph)  ______ APR  co   (was called the 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  (ph)  ______ APR  co  
    Lagopus leucurus altipetens




    White-tailed Ptarmigan photographed during a FONT tour in Colorado
     
  5. Sage Grouse (nt) (USqe) (ph) ______ APR JUL  co
    Centrocercus urophasianus




    A displaying male Sage Grouse in the very early morning light,
    photographed during the FONT tour in Colorado in April 2009.  

  6. Gunnison Grouse (t2) (USe) ______ APR  co  (nearly endemic to Colorado, with a very few in adjacent Utah - see note following list) 
    Centrocercus minimus

  7. Greater Prairie Chicken (nt) (USe) (ph)  ______ APR  co   (note follows list)
    Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus




    A Greater Prairie Chicken photographed during a FONT tour in Colorado
      
  8. Lesser Prairie Chicken (t3) (USe) (ph)  ______ APR  ks  (note follows list)
    Tympanuchus pallidcinctus 



    A Lesser Prairie Chicken photographed during a FONT tour in Kansas

  9. Sharp-tailed Grouse ______ APR  co  (note follows list)
    Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus

  10. Wild Turkey  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks,ne,ok  (introduced population)
    Meleagris gallopavo




    Wild Turkeys
    (photo by James Scheib)
     
  11. Chukar (NAi) ______ APR  co
    Alectoris chukar

  12. Common Pheasant (NAi) ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok
    Phasianus colchicus

  13. Mute Swan (i) (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Cygnus olor

  14. Greater White-fronted Goose ______ APR  co
    Anser albifrons frontalis

  15. Snow Goose  (ph)  ______ APR  co,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 JUL  co,ks,ok,wy  (in late-spring & summer, introduced subspecies of eastern North America)
    Branta canadensis 

  18. Wood Duck  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Aix sponsa

  19. Mallard  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok,wy
    Anas p. platyrhynchos

  20. Northern Pintail  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Anas acuta

  21. Blue-winged Teal  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok,wy
    Anas discors

  22. Cinnamon Teal ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Anas cyanoptera septentrionalium

  23. Green-winged Teal  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy  (was considered conspecific with the Eurasian Teal, Anas crecca)
    Anas carolinensis

  24. Northern Shoveler ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Anas clypeata

  25. Gadwall  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Anas strepera

  26. American Wigeon  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Anas americana

  27. Canvasback ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Aythya valisineria

  28. Redhead  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Aythya americana

  29. Ring-necked Duck  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Aythya collaris

  30. Lesser Scaup  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Aythya affinis

  31. Common Goldeneye ______ APR  co,wy
    Bucephala clangula

  32. Barrow's Goldeneye ______ APR  co
    Bucephala islandica

  33. Bufflehead  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks,wy
    Bucephala albeola

  34. Common Merganser ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Mergus merganser americanus

  35. Red-breasted Merganser  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Mergus serrator

  36. Ruddy Duck  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,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 JUL  co,wy
    Podilymbus p. podiceps

  39. Black-necked Grebe ______ APR JUL  co,wy  (has been called Eared Grebe)
    Podiceps nigricollis californicus

  40. Western Grebe  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Aechmophorus o. occidentalis




    Western Grebe

  41. Clark's Grebe ______ APR JUL  co
    Aechmophorus clarkii 

  42. White-faced Ibis  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Plegadis chihi




    White-faced Ibis
     
  43. Great Blue Heron ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Ardea herodias 

  44. Great Egret  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Ardea alba

  45. Snowy Egret  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Egretta thula

  46. Cattle Egret  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  ks
    Bubulcus ibis

  47. Green Heron ______ APR  ks
    Butorides virescens

  48. Black-crowned Night-Heron ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Nycticorax nycticorax

  49. American White Pelican  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,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 JUL  co,ks,wy
    Phalacrocorax auritus

  51. Turkey Vulture  (ph) ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,wy
    Cathartes aura meridionalis

  52. Osprey  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Pandion haliaetus carolinensis




    Osprey
    (photo by Kim Steininger)

  53. Bald Eagle  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy  
    Haliaeetus leucocephalus 

  54. Northern Harrier  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,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  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks
    Accipiter striatus velox



    Sharp-shinned Hawk
    (photo by Kim Steininger)

  56. Cooper's Hawk  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,wy
    Accipiter cooperi 
    (monotypic)




    Cooper's Hawk
     
  57. Northern Goshawk ______ APR JUL  co
    Accipiter gentilis atricapillus

  58. Broad-winged Hawk ______ APR (rare in CO) co
    Buteo p. platypterus

  59. Swainson's Hawk  (ph) ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Buteo swainsoni 




    Swainson's Hawk
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  60. Red-tailed Hawk  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Buteo jamaicensis calurus

  61. "Harlan's Hawk" ______ APR  co  (a subspecies of the Red-tailed Hawk)
    Buteo jamaicensis harlani

  62. Ferruginous Hawk (nt) (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok
    Buteo regalis




    A Ferruginous Hawk photographed during a FONT tour 
    in Kansas, near Colorado


  63. Rough-legged Hawk  (ph)  ______ APR  co,wy
    Buteo lagopus sanctijohannis

  64. Golden Eagle ______ APR JUL  co,ok,wy
    Aquila chrysaetos canadensis

  65. American Kestrel  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co.ks,ne,ok,wy
    Falco s. sparverius

  66. Merlin  (ph)  ______ APR  co,wy
    Falco columbarius richardsoni

  67. Prairie Falcon  (ph)  ______ APR JUL co,ks
    Falco mexicanus

  68. Peregrine Falcon  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Falco peregrinus anatum
     

  69. Virginia Rail  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Rallus limicola 

  70. Sora ______ JUL  co
    Porzana carolina

  71. American Coot ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Fulica americana

  72. Sandhill Crane  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Grus canadensis tabida

  73. Semipalmated Plover  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Charadrius semipalmatus

  74. Piping Plover (t3) (ph)  ______  APR  co
    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  (ph)  ______ APR  co  (no longer considered conspecific with the Kentish Plover of the Old World) 
    Charadrius nivosus 


    SnowyPlover2.jpg

    Snowy Plover
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  76. Killdeer ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok,wy
    Charadrius vociferus

  77. Mountain Plover (t3) (USneb) (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks   
    Charadrius montanus





    A Mountain Plover photographed during a FONT tour

  78. Black-necked Stilt  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Himantopus mexicanus

  79. American Avocet  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Recurvirostra americana

  80. Greater Yellowlegs ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok,wy
    Tringa melanoleuca

  81. Lesser Yellowlegs  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Tringa flavipes

  82. Solitary Sandpiper  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks
    Tringa solitaria

  83. Spotted Sandpiper  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Actitis macularia 

  84. Willet  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus

  85. Long-billed Curlew (nt) (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks
    Numenius americanus




    Long-billed Curlew
    (photo by Abram Fleishman)

  86. Marbled Godwit  (ph)  ______ APR  co,wy
    Limosa fedoa

  87. Semipalmated Sandpiper ______ APR  co
    Calidris pusilla

  88. Western Sandpiper  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Calidris mauri

  89. Least Sandpiper ______ APR  co
    Calidris minutilla

  90. Baird's Sandpiper ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Calidris bairdii

  91. Pectoral Sandpiper  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Calidris melanotos

  92. Long-billed Dowitcher ______ APR  co
    Limnodromus scolopaceus

  93. Wilson's Snipe  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy  (was considered conspecific with the Common Snipe of the Palearctic, Gallinago gallinago) 
    Gallinago delicata

  94. Wilson's Phalarope ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Phalaropus tricolor

  95. Franklin's Gull  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Larus pipixcan

  96. Bonaparte's Gull  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks,wy
    Larus philadelphia

  97. Ring-billed Gull  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Larus delawarensis

  98. California Gull  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Larus californicus

  99. "American" Herring Gull ______ APR  co,wy
    Larus argentatus smithsonianus

  100. Caspian Tern  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Hydroprogne
    (formerly Sterna) caspia

  101. Forster's Tern  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Sterna forsteri

  102. Black Tern  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Chlidonias niger

  103. Feral Pigeon (i) ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Columba livia

  104. Band-tailed Pigeon  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Patagioenas
    (formerly Columba) fasciata

  105. Mourning Dove ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Zenaida macroura

  106. Eurasian Collared Dove (NAi) ______ APR  co,ks,nb,ok
    Streptopelia decaocto

  107. Great Horned Owl  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co.ks
    Bubo v. virginianus




    A young Great Horned Owl leaving the nest.
    During FONT tours in April in eastern Colorado & western Kansas,
    Great Horned Owls are often seen either on their nests or about to leave. 

  108. Burrowing Owl  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok
    Athene cunicularia hypugaea

  109. Common Nighthawk ______ APR JUL  co
    Chordeiles minor

  110. Common Poorwill ______ JUL  co
    Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

  111. American Black Swift ______ JUL  co
    Cypseloides niger

  112. White-throated Swift ______ APR JUL  co 
    Aeronautes saxatalis

  113. Black-chinned Hummingbird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Archilochus alexandri

  114. Broad-tailed Hummingbird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Selasphorus platycercus




    A Broad-tailed Hummingbird photographed during a FONT tour.
      
  115. Belted Kingfisher  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,wy
    Megaceryle (formerly Ceryle) alcyon

  116. Lewis' Woodpecker ______ APR JUL  co
    Melanerpes lewis

  117. Red-bellied Woodpecker  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    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  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Sphyrapicus nuchalis




    A Red-naped Sapsucker photographed during a FONT tour
    in Colorado in April

      
  119. Williamson's Sapsucker ______ APR JUL  co
    Sphyrapicus thyroideus nataliae

  120. Ladder-backed Woodpecker  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Picoides scalaris cactophilus

  121. Downy Woodpecker ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Picoides pubescens leucurus

  122. Hairy Woodpecker  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Picoides villosus septentrionalis

  123. Northern Flicker ______ APR JUL (both "Yellow-shafted" & "Red-shafted")  co,ks,wy
    Colaptes auratus auratus 
    ("Yellow-shafted"co,ks
    Colaptes auratus cafer 
    (
    "Red-shafted") co,wy

  124. Olive-sided Flycatcher ______ JUL  co
    Contopus cooperi

  125. Western Wood-Pewee ______ JUL  co
    Contopus sordidulus

  126. Willow Flycatcher ______ JUL  co
    Empidonax traillii

  127. Dusky Flycatcher  (ph)  ______ APR, JUL  co,ks
    Empidonax oberholseri




    Dusky Flycatcher
    (photo by Marie Gardner)

  128. Gray Flycatcher ______ APR  co
    Empidonax wrightii 

  129. Cordilleran Flycatcher ______ JUL  co
    Empidonax occidentalis

  130. Eastern Phoebe ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok
    Sayornis phoebe

  131. Say's Phoebe  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Sayornis saya

  132. Vermilion Flycatcher  (ph)  ______ APR (rare in CO)  co
    Pyrocephalus rubinus

  133. Ash-throated Flycatcher  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Myarchus cinerascens

  134. Cassin's Kingbird ______ APR  co
    Tyrannus vociferans

  135. Western Kingbird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Tyrannus verticalis

  136. Eastern Kingbird  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Tyrannus tyrannus

  137. Loggerhead Shrike  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok
    Lanius ludovicianus

  138. Plumbeous Vireo ______ JUL  co
    Vireo plumbeus

  139. Warbling Vireo ______ JUL  co
    Vireo gilvus

  140. Gray Jay  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Perisoreus canadensis capitalis




    This Gray Jay was photographed during the FONT tour in Colorado in April 2009 

  141. Steller's Jay  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Cyanocitta stelleri macrolopha




    The eastern range of the Steller's Jay is in western Colorado
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
  142. Blue Jay  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ne
    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 JUL  co
    Aphelocoma californica woodhouseii




    The Western Scrub Jay is at the eastern edge of its range in Colorado  
    (photo by Doris Potter)

  144. Pinyon Jay ______ APR  co
    Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus

  145. Clark's Nutcracker ______ APR JUL  co
    Nucifraga columbiana

  146. Black-billed Magpie ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy (was conspecific with Eurasian Magpie, Pica pica)
    Pica hudsonia

  147. American Crow ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,wy
    Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis

  148. Chihuahuan Raven ______ APR  co,ks,ok
    Corvus cryptoleucus

  149. Northern Raven  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ok,wy
    Corvus corax principalis

  150. Horned Lark  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Eremophila alpestris

  151. Tree Swallow  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Tachycineta bicolor

  152. Violet-green Swallow ______ APR JUL  co
    Tachycineta thalassina lepida

  153. Northern Rough-winged Swallow  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Stelgidopteryx serripennis

  154. Bank Swallow ______ APR  co (in the Old World called Sand Martin)
    Riparia r. riparia

  155. American Cliff Swallow ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Petrochelidon p. pyrrhonota

  156. Barn Swallow  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Hirundo rustica erythrogaster

  157. Juniper Titmouse _____ APR  co
    Baeolophus (formerly Parus) r. ridgwayi

  158. Black-capped Chickadee  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Poecile (formerly Parus) atricapilla septentrionalis

  159. Mountain Chickadee ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Poecile (formerly Parus) g. gambeli

  160. American Bushtit ______ APR  co
    Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus 
    (the "Lead-colored Bushtit")

     
  161. Red-breasted Nuthatch  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Sitta canadensis




    Red-breasted Nuthatch
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  162. White-breasted Nuthatch  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks,wy
    Sitta carolinensis nelsoni

  163. Pygmy Nuthatch  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Sitta pygmaea melanotis

  164. Brown Creeper ______ APR JUL  co
    Certhia americana montana

  165. Rock Wren ______ APR JUL  co
    Salpinctes obsoletus




    A Rock Wren in the rain, and on a rock
    (photo by Doris Potter)

  166. Canyon Wren ______ APR JUL  co
    Catherpes mexicanus

  167. Bewick's Wren ______ APR  co,ks
    Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus

  168. House Wren  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Troglodytes aedon parkmani

  169. Winter Wren  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Troglodytes troglodytes pacificus

  170. Marsh Wren  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Cistothorus palustris




    Marsh Wren
    (photo by Kim Steininger)

  171. American Dipper ______ APR JUL  co
    Cinclus mexicanus unicolor

  172. Ruby-crowned Kinglet  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Regulus calendula




    Ruby-crowned Kinglet
    (photo by Kim Steininger)

  173. Golden-crowned Kinglet  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Regulus satrapa

  174. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Polioptila caerulea

  175. Eastern Bluebird  (ph)  ______ APR  co.ks
    Sialia sialis

  176. Western Bluebird  ______ APR JUL  co
    Sialia mexicana




    A Western Bluebird
    (photo by Doris Potter)

  177. Mountain Bluebird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Sialia currucoides




    A Mountain Bluebird photographed during a FONT tour
     
  178. Townsend's Solitaire ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Myadestes townsendi

  179. Swainson's Thrush ______ JUL  co
    Catharus ustulatus

  180. Hermit Thrush  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Catharus guttatus auduboni

  181. American Robin ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Turdus migratorius

  182. Gray Catbird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Dumetella carolinensis

  183. Northern Mockingbird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Mimus p. polyglottos

  184. Sage Thrasher  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Oreoscoptes montanus




    A Sage Thrasher photographed in the early morning sunlight
    during a FONT Colorado tour in April
       

  185. Brown Thrasher  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Toxostoma rufum

  186. Common Starling (i) ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Sturnus vulgaris

  187. American Pipit ______ APR JUL  co,wy  (also called Buff-bellied Pipit)  
    Anthus rubescens  

  188. Cedar Waxwing  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Bombycilla cedrorum

  189. Worm-eating Warbler ______ APR  co (rare in CO)
    Helmitheros vermivorum

  190. Northern Parula  (ph)  ______ APR  co (rare in CO)
    Parula americana

  191. Orange-crowned Warbler  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks
    Vermivora celata orestera

  192. Virginia's Warbler ______ APR JUL  co
    Vermivora virginiae

  193. American Yellow Warbler  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Dendroica petechia 


  194. "Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks
    Dendroica coronata

  195. "Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Dendroica coronata

  196. Black-throated Gray Warbler ______ APR  co
    Dendroica nigrescens 

  197. Black-and-white Warbler ______ JUL  co
    Mniotilta varia

  198. MacGillivray's Warbler  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Oporornis petechia

  199. Common Yellowthroat  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Geothlypis trichas

  200. Wilson's Warbler ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Wilsonia pusilla pileolata

  201. Yellow-breasted Chat  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Icteria virens 

  202. Western Tanager  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Piranga ludoviciana

  203. Northern Cardinal  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Cardinalis c. canicaudus 

  204. Green-tailed Towhee  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Pipilo chlorurus




    A Green-tailed Towhee photographed during a 
    FONT Colorado tour in April

      
  205. Spotted Towhee ______ APR JUL  co
    Pipilo maculatus montanus

  206. Canyon Towhee  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ok
    Pipilo fuscus

  207. Cassin's Sparrow ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Aimophila cassinii

  208. Rufous-crowned Sparrow ______  APR  ok
    Aimophila ruficeps 

  209. American Tree Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Spizella arborea

  210. Chipping Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne
    Spizella passerina

  211. Clay-colored Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Spizella pallida

  212. Brewer's Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    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 


  213. Vesper Sparrow ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Pooecetes gramineus confinis

  214. Lark Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Chondestes grammacus

  215. Sage Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Amphispiza belli nevadensis

  216. Lark Bunting ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Calamospiza  melanocorys

  217. Savannah Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Passerculus sandwichensis

  218. Grasshopper Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks
    Ammodramus savannarum

  219. "Slate-colored" Fox Sparrow ______ APR  co
    Passerella iliaca schistacea

  220. Song Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Melospiza melodia

  221. Lincoln's Sparrow ______ APR JUL  co
    Melospiza melodia

  222. White-throated Sparrow ______ APR  (rare in CO)  co
    Zonotrichia albicollis

  223. White-crowned Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR  co,ks
    Zonotrichia leucophrys




    An immature White-crowned Sparrow
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  224. Harris's Sparrow  (ph)  ______ APR  co
    Zonotrichia querula




    Harris' Sparrow
    (photo by Marie Gardner)

  225. "White-winged" Dark-eyed Junco ______ APR  co,ks
    Junco hyemalis aikeni

  226. "Oregon" Dark-eyed Junco ______ APR  co
    Junco hyemalis oreganus

  227. "Pink-sided" Dark-eyed  Junco ______ APR  co,wy
    Junco hyemalis mearnsi

  228. "Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Junco ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Junco hyemalis caniceps

  229. "Slate-colored" Dark-eyed Junco  (ph)  ______ APR  co,wy
    Junco h. hyemalis

  230. McCown's Longspur  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Calcarius mccownii




    A McCown's Longspur photographed during a FONT tour
    in Wyoming, near Colorado

     
  231. Chestnut-collared Longspur  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Calcarius ornatus




    A male Chestnut-collared Longspur in breeding plumage 
    photographed during a FONT tour in Colorado

     
  232. Black-headed Grosbeak ______ JUL  co
    Pheucticus melanocephalus

  233. Lazuli Bunting  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Passerina amoena

  234. Indigo Bunting  (ph)  ______ JUL  co
    Passerina cyanea

  235. Western Meadowlark ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Sturnella neglecta

  236. Red-winged Blackbird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok,wy
    Agelaius phoeniceus

  237. Yellow-headed Blackbird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus





    A male Yellow-headed Blackbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin) 

  238. Brewer's Blackbird ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Euphagus cyanocephalus

  239. Great-tailed Grackle  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok
    Quiscalus mexicanus

  240. Common Grackle ______ APR JUL  cp,ks,ne,ok,wy
    Quiscalus quiscula

  241. Brown-headed Cowbird  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Molothrus ater

  242. Orchard Oriole  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co
    Icterus spurius

  243. Bullock's Oriole  (ph)  ______ JUL co
    Icterus bullockii

  244. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch  (ph)  ______ APR  co 
    Leucosticte tephrocotis 
    Leucosticte t. littoralis
    ("Hepburn's Rosy Finch")




    A Gray-crowned Rosy Finch photographed during a
    FONT tour in Colorado in April

     
  245. Black Rosy Finch (USe) (ph)  ______ APR  co  
    Leucosticte atrata



    A Black Rosy Finch photographed during a 
    FONT tour in Colorado in April
     

  246. Brown-capped Rosy Finch (USe) (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co  (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


  247. Pine Grosbeak  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy  
    Pinicola enucleator montanus




    A Pine Grosbeak photograph during a FONT tour
    in Wyoming, near Colorado, in April


  248. Cassin's Finch  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Carpodacus cassinii




    A Cassin's Finch photographed during a FONT tour
    in Wyoming, near Colorado, in April


  249. House Finch  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,wy
    Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis




    House Finch
    (photo by Doris Potter)

  250. Red Crossbill  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Loxia curvirostra




    A Red Crossbill photographed during a FONT tour
    in Wyoming, near Colorado, in April

     
  251. Pine Siskin  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks,ok,wy
    Carduelis pinus

  252. American Goldfinch  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,ks
    Carduelis tristis




    American Goldfinch
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  253. Lesser Goldfinch ______ JUL  co (both black-backed & green-backed forms)
    Carduelis psaltria

  254. Evening Grosbeak  (ph)  ______ APR JUL  co,wy
    Coccothraustes vespertinus




    An Evening Grosbeak photographed during a FONT tour
    in Wyoming, near Colorado, in April


  255. House Sparrow (i) ______ APR JUL  co,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.  

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