Small Birds in Colorado: Identify Backyard Feathered Friends & Attract (2024)

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You’re in for a treat, birding enthusiast! Colorado’s backyard avifauna boasts a delightful array of small birds.

Feast your eyes on vibrant American Goldfinches, jaunty Dark-eyed Juncos, and the rosy-crowned House Finch.

Keep an ear out for the cheerful calls of Black-capped Chickadees and the mournful cooing of Mourning Doves.

With a well-stocked feeder and bird-friendly habitat, you might even attract nomadic Pine Siskins or feisty Steller’s Jays.

From acrobatic nuthatches to vocal mimic Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays, these feathered friends await your discovery.

But this is just a taste – stay tuned to learn more about identifying and attracting Colorado’s enchanting small birds.

Sparrows and Finches

You’re likely familiar with the cheerful chirps of sparrows and finches in your Colorado backyard.

These small songbirds include the house finch with its rosy red colors, the streaked white-crowned sparrow, the gray-and-white dark-eyed junco, the vibrant yellow American goldfinch, the nomadic pine siskin, and the non-native but ubiquitous house sparrow.

They frequent backyard feeders and gardens, providing lively entertainment with their constant activity and pleasant melodies.

House Finch

The bold House Finch will fearlessly squabble for seeds at your backyard feeders. Watch for the raspberry red head and rosy breast of breeding males. These social finches breed across Colorado, raising broods in nests built on ledges or hanging plants. Their cheerful, warbling song greets you each morning.

White-crowned Sparrow

You’re in for a treat when the elegant white-crowned sparrow visits your backyard! These ground-feeders sport:

• Crisp black and white stripes adorning their crown
• Plump brown bodies with a long, expressive tail
• Bold black eye-stripes framing their bright eyes
• A melodious, whistled song during breeding season

This sparrow’s regal appearance and gentle nature make them a favorite for backyard birders. Attract them by providing ground feeders with their preferred seeds.

Dark-eyed Junco

You’ll often spot the dark-eyed junco’s distinctive markings near your feeder in winter—a slate-gray back, pinkish-white bill, and white outer tail feathers. These small, ground-feeding sparrows frequent platform feeders, preferring the safety of numbers over aggressive jays. Their cheerful trills and spurts of rapid wing-flapping enliven Colorado backyards.

American Goldfinch

Speaking of winter visitors, you’ll often spot the American goldfinch in their drab winter plumage. Don’t be fooled though—come summer, their vibrant yellow feathers emerge, making them easy to identify. A few key traits to look for:

• Compact body with short beak and notched tail
• Undulating flight pattern while feeding
• Favors thistle and nyjer seed feeders

With their cheerful presence and melodic song, goldfinches bring sunshine to your backyard oasis.

Pine Siskin

Like the American goldfinch, you’ll find the small, brown-streaked pine siskin nomadically traveling in flocks during winter. Attract these finches by offering thistle feeders, especially during irruptive years when they range widely searching for food. Their soft calls and lively presence add joy to any backyard bird-watching experience.

House Sparrow

The feisty house sparrow, with its rich brown and black-bibbed plumage, thrives near humans. Favoring cracked corn and millet at feeders, it aggressively dominates smaller birds. Cavity nesters, house sparrows are non-migratory but may roam in winter. Though abundant, their numbers decline due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Providing Native plants promotes these lively little sparrows.

Doves and Pigeons

You might spot three species of doves and pigeons at your backyard feeders in Colorado:

The Mourning Dove with its distinctive mournful cooing.

The Eurasian Collared-Dove easily identified by its buffy-brown plumage and black collar.

The ubiquitous Rock Pigeon, a fairly large bird in various color patterns that can dominate feeder spaces.

While Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared-Doves tend to be non-aggressive, Rock Pigeons can outcompete smaller birds.

Mourning Dove

You’ll often spot mourning doves feeding on the ground, their subdued brown feathers and black-spotted wings blending into the landscape. Listen for their mournful, cooing calls echoing in your backyard. Provide ground feeders with a mix of seeds to attract these gentle birds. Though non-aggressive, they may be outcompeted by rowdier visitors like robins or mockingbirds.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Eurasian Collared-Doves, slightly larger than Mourning Doves, have a distinctive black collar on a buffy-brown body. Unlike Rock Pigeons, they’re not aggressive toward other birds at feeders. These doves prefer urban and suburban habitats with trees and shrubs for cover while foraging for seeds on the ground. Listen for their distinctive three-parted coo—a familiar sound in many neighborhoods.

Rock Pigeon

Larger than the Mourning and Collared-Doves, Rock Pigeons dominate backyard feeders with their sheer size and bold demeanor. These "feral pigeons" thrive in urban areas, but their prolific presence raises conservation concerns for native Colorado birds. When bird watching, look for these familiar feathered friends alongside nuthatches:

• Stout bodies with rounded heads
• A variety of mottled plumage colors
• Cooing and flapping at feeders
• Scattering other birds with aggression
• Nesting on buildings and bridges

Jays and Crows

You’ll likely encounter jays and crows at your backyard feeders in Colorado.

The Steller’s Jay has a dark-gray head, back, and breast contrasted by a blue posterior half.

The Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay sports a blue head, neck, wings, and tail with a creamy white throat and breast.

The all-black American Crow is an aggressive, dominant bird that may bully smaller feathered visitors at your feeders.

These birds are aggressive and dominant, and they may bully smaller feathered visitors at your feeders.

Steller’s Jay

If you’ve had encounters with Steller’s jays in your yard, you know their bold and aggressive nature. These dark-gray and blue beauties fiercely defend their territory, chasing off intruders with harsh calls. Witness their complex courtship rituals, with males puffing up and bowing to attract mates. Their diverse vocalizations, from shrill screeches to musical whistles, liven up the backyard.

Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

You’ll recognize the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay by its blue head, wings, and tail, contrasting creamy breast. Fiercely competitive at feeders, they use vocal mimicry to defend their yard dominance. Provide ample feeder space and consider their conservation needs when landscaping your backyard habitat.

American Crow

You’ve likely heard their iconic "caw-caw" call. American Crows are intelligent birds, known for their problem-solving abilities and complex social behavior. These all-black birds form large, closely-knit family groups and build sturdy stick nests in trees. Though non-migratory, crows may travel in search of food during harsh winters.

Woodpeckers

The Northern Flicker is a striking woodpecker.

It sports a warm brown plumage with black bars on its back and wings, while its underside displays a vibrant salmon-red or yellow hue.

Easily spotted at your suet cages, the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are smaller, black-and-white birds.

The Downy has a tiny body and a red patch on its nape.

The Hairy is slightly larger with a more extensive white stripe on its back.

Northern Flicker

You’ll often see the chunky Northern Flicker scurrying on the ground, digging for insects. This large woodpecker sports:

• A distinctive brown pattern with black bars
• A salmon-red or yellow underwing/undertail
• A white rump patch that flashes in flight

The Northern Flicker’s loud, rolling call announces its presence. Offering suet cakes and leaving some leaf litter or wood chips can attract these amusing backyard visitors.

Downy Woodpecker

The tiny Downy Woodpecker is a backyard delight. Check out its distinctive black and white markings with the male sporting a vibrant red patch on its head. Provide suet feeders as these little guys love insects and will even visit hummingbird feeders for a sweet snack.

Downy Size	6-7 inches
Appearance	Black, white
Diet	Insects, suet

Hairy Woodpecker

Another woodpecker you might spot is the Hairy Woodpecker. It’s larger than the Downy with:

1. A longer, heavier bill
2. Clean white outer tail feathers
3. No black spots on the white outer tail feathers

Listen for its loud, rolling drumming on tree trunks as it forages for insects in mature forests and woodlands.

Chickadees and Titmice

You’re likely to spot the lively Black-capped Chickadee and Mountain Chickadee in your Colorado backyard. These energetic birds are readily identified by their distinctive black caps, white cheeks, and gray backs; the Mountain Chickadee also has a distinctive white stripe above its eye.

Black-capped Chickadee

You’ll often hear the cheerful "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" call of the Black-capped Chickadee before spotting its diminutive size and acrobatic feeding habits at your backyard feeder. These curious and vocal birds are beloved for their ability to survive harsh winters. Observe their striking black cap, white cheeks, and gray back.

Feature	Description
Size	Tiny, around 5 inches long
Coloring	Black cap, white cheeks, gray back
Behavior	Curious, acrobatic, vocal
Winter	Able to survive cold temps
Feeder	Enjoys suet, seeds, peanuts

Mountain Chickadee

You’ll often find Mountain Chickadees flitting through evergreen and mixed forests across Colorado’s mountains. These perky, gray-backed birds with a white eyebrow are bolder than their black-capped cousins. Offer sunflower seeds or suet in your feeder, and listen for their distinctive "chick-a-dee" calls. In winter, they form sociable flocks, frequenting backyard feeders.

Nuthatches

You’ll surely want to look out for nuthatches in your Colorado backyard. These small but feisty birds, the red-breasted nuthatch with its rusty-orange underparts and the white-breasted nuthatch with its striking black cap, are frequent visitors to suet and seed feeders, where they cling acrobatically to forage.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

You’ll often spot the red-breasted nuthatch visiting your backyard feeders:

1. Distinct black-and-white head pattern
2. Bluish-gray upperparts
3. Rusty-orange underparts

These feisty birds eat seeds, insects, and suet. They prefer pine and oak woodlands but readily adapt to suburban habitats. Encourage their presence by providing nest boxes and leaving dead trees or branches.

White-breasted Nuthatch

You might also spot the feisty White-breasted Nuthatch at your feeders. With their distinctive black-and-white head pattern and bluish-gray upperparts, these little acrobats are easily recognizable. They’re quite aggressive, often chasing away other feeder birds. Attract them by offering suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts in mesh or upside-down feeders.

Food Preferences	Behavior	Identification
Suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts	Aggressive to other birds	Black cap, white face and underparts
Mesh or upside-down feeders preferred	Energetic, acrobatic movements	Bluish-gray upperparts

Warblers

You’ll often spot the striking yellow patch on the rump and flanks of the Yellow-rumped Warbler, especially during winter when their:

1. Crown is brown
2. Throat is white
3. Breast is streaked with black
4. Wings have white wing bars

Come summer, their plumage transforms – the males sport brilliant yellow faces, breasts, and crowns. Though fairly small, these active warblers make themselves known by constantly flicking their tails. Provide suet, seed mixes, and fresh water to attract them to your backyard sanctuary.

Blackbirds and Orioles

While warblers often flit through briefly during migration, you’re likely to see blackbirds and orioles sticking around your backyard feeders. The unmistakable Red-winged Blackbird is a common sight:

• Striking black body with scarlet shoulder patches
• Territorial males perch atop plants, constantly flashing their bright epaulets
• Females are brown and heavily streaked

Baltimore Orioles may also visit, their brilliant orange plumage shining like gems in the trees. Keep an eye out for their intricately woven, hanging nests among the branches. With a bit of luck and the right habitat, these flashy songbirds could become frequent, welcome visitors.

Attracting Small Birds to Your Yard

To attract a variety of small birds to your Colorado yard, you’ll need to provide an assortment of feeders and a diverse offering of seeds and suet. Creating a bird-friendly habitat with native plants, along with a reliable water source, will further enhance your backyard’s appeal to these delightful feathered guests.

Provide a Variety of Feeders

To attract a variety of small birds, strategically place different feeders around your yard. Tube feeders are ideal for finches and sparrows. Hang suet feeders for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees. Ground feeders will entice juncos, towhees, and doves. Use feeders in various colors and styles to appeal to birds’ diverse preferences.

Offer a Diverse Selection of Seeds and Suet

You’ll attract a wider variety of birds by offering diverse seed and suet options. This enhances your backyard birdwatching experience. Consider:

• Black-oil sunflower seeds for finches and sparrows
• Nyjer or thistle seeds for goldfinches and siskins
• Suet cakes with insect-based proteins for woodpeckers

Experiment to discover your avian visitors’ preferences and fuel their appetites!

Create a Bird-friendly Habitat With Native Plants

Creating a bird-friendly habitat with native plants provides natural food sources and cover. Incorporate flowering plants and shrubs that produce seeds, berries, and nectar. Allow dead trees or brush piles for insect foraging and nesting sites. Native plants are adapted to local conditions, supporting more birds than non-native species. A diverse landscape attracts a wider variety of feathered visitors.

Provide a Reliable Water Source

You’ll attract more birds by providing a reliable water source like a bird bath or shallow water dish.

Keep the water clean and fresh by replacing it regularly.

Situate the water source near cover like shrubs or trees, but make sure it’s visible from the ground.

Birds need water for drinking and bathing, so a reliable supply helps create a bird-friendly yard.

Identifying Small Birds in Colorado

Once you’ve made your backyard inviting for small birds, it’s time to identify your feathered visitors.

Keep a field guide handy to reference the distinct markings of species like the black-capped chickadee, with its striking black cap and white cheeks.

The white-breasted nuthatch’s gray back and white belly make it easy to spot.

The mountain chickadee closely resembles its black-capped cousin but has a striking white eyebrow.

Watch for the downy woodpecker’s tiny black-and-white body and red nape, and the northern flicker‘s barred brown plumage.

With patience and practice, you’ll soon recognize each species’ unique calls and behaviors, deepening your connection to nature right outside your window.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)