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From Tiny to Huge
Birds of Colorado Are Cool
If you're a bird enthusiast, the birds of Colorado should make you enthusiastic. I'm amazed at the variety just in La Plata County. For instance, there are nine species of hummingbirds that can be seen in the Durango area. In Minnesota, there's only one! I also find the number of water bird species incredible for such an arid state. There are seventy-nine species listed, from ducks to geese to pelicans and gulls. My favorite is the Common Loon, which happens to be Minnesota's state bird. Seems appropriate. For loony folks who live somewhere with such cold winters. Some of my favorite birds are raptors. La Plata county boasts twenty-seven varieties of raptors on their list, including eleven owls. And talk about a wide range, there is everything from the tiny American Kestrel (about the size of a Robin) to the huge Golden Eagle.
This guy was at a raptor release, where birds of prey that have been injured and rehabilitated are set free. The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota is world-renowned for it's expertise at helping raptors recover from injuries. Twice a year, they release birds that have recovered sufficiently.
If you're more interested in smaller species, like the songbirds, there are twenty-one species of sparrows, twelve species of finches, fifteen species of flycatchers, to name a few.
One of my favorite kinds of birds is warblers. Not only are the small and pretty, but they can really hold a tune. Twenty-five warblers are on the list for the county. Including this cute little guy (above) who was either cold, when we banded him, or puffed out so he'd looked bigger and more threatening. Nice try, buddy.Then there are the pest birds, which are only pests because they're very smart. I happen to like the red-winged blackbirds, the jays and the crows. Eleven species of blackbirds can be seen in the Durango Colorado area, from meadowlarks to orioles. I didn't know those were "blackbirds", did you?
Nine of the birds of Colorado in La Plata County are jay species, which include the crows and ravens. This guy (above) was begging from our picnic lunch at the ruins of a mining town called Tuckerville, high above Vallecito Lake. Clearly he knew the way to fast food!No matter what kinds of birds you like to watch, you should be able to find something that interests you. Or entertains...
We caught this one (above) next door in Minnesota, trying to scare up some lunch - literally. The bush was full of house sparrows. He (I'm assuming by size it was a male) kept rushing the bush, either running at it of flying onto it and jumping around. But the sparrows didn't fall for it. None of them came out. Who says birds aren't smart?I hope, when you go looking for birds of Colorado, that you see plenty! Enjoy!
Want to read more about birding in the area? Click any of the links below to go to our other bird pages:
Colorado Bird Houses
Wild Birds of Colorado
State Bird of Colorado
Bird Watching in Colorado
Colorado Bird Watching Clubs
Colorado Bird Watching 2
Colorado Upland Bird
Return to Colorado Birds main page from the Birds of Colorado page.
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