With mountains, plains, and forests, there are a lot of totally different and alluring environments for birds in Colorado. Whether or not they’re residents or passing by on migration, there may be such selection right here, and with 3 species of Bluebird alone, we should be capable of discover 10.
Colorado was named by the Spanish for the earth’s pink colour. Due to its popularity for winter sports activities, you may be forgiven for pondering it’s additional east than it truly is. Bordering Utah, Colorado’s geography is various with desert plains and naturally, the Rocky Mountain Vary. This results in micro-climates being frequent, and that impacts the wildlife within the state. Additional east from the Rockies are enormous plains which have comparatively few individuals in them. City areas are within the jap facet of the vary, the place it’s extra sheltered.
Birds of Colorado
The Centennial State is ninth out of 51 states on the eBird listings. It has 515 reported species, which is so much when you think about it’s the eighth largest state however solely the twenty first when it comes to inhabitants. Visiting fowl watchers should be very busy! The state has an enormous vary of fowl species within the state, from hummingbirds to Bald Eagles. Let’s see what blue fowl we are able to discover.
10 Blue birds of Colorado
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Identification and Dimension
The feminine Indigo Bunting is a uniform, plain brown and the non-breeding male related however with blue streaks on the breast. In breeding plumage, the male is a spectacular and somewhat uncommon vibrant blue.
Size: 4.7 – 5.1 inches Wingspan: 7.5 – 8.7 inches Weight: 0.4 – 0.6 ounces
Distribution
Extra steadily seen within the jap areas of the state. It overwinters in Central America and the Caribbean. Numbers are pretty low even throughout the top of summer time.
Name
Eating regimen
The Indigo Bunting has a different eating regimen with seeds, berries and bugs within the winter, grass seeds on migration. Lastly, it eats bugs and berries throughout breeding occasions.
Fascinating Reality
On migration, Indigo Bunting fly at evening and use the place of the celebs to navigate.
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Identification and Dimension
A big kingfisher with a rough-looking crest making the top look even bigger. The again is a mid-blue with white beneath. Each sexes have a thick blue band throughout the highest of the chest. It’s the feminine that has a pink band throughout the breast.
Size: 11 – 13.8 inches Wingspan: 18.9 – 22.8 inches Weight: 4.9 – 6 ounces
Distribution
Normally seen alone alongside waterways, the Belted Kingfisher will be seen throughout the state throughout the entire yr.
Name
Eating regimen
The Belted Kingfisher feeds primarily on fish however will complement its eating regimen with small molluscs, bugs and amphibians. It can additionally take opportunistic meals like younger birds and berries.
Fascinating Reality
Whereas grownup birds regurgitate waste materials as pellets, the chicks within the nest can digest bones, scales and shells.
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Identification and Dimension
The Tree Swallow is a medium-sized swallow with vibrant white underparts and blue above. Like most such birds, it seems iridescent in daylight.
Size: 4.7 – 5.9 inches Wingspan: 11.8 – 13.8 inches Weight: 0.6 – 0.9 ounces
Distribution
Because the vary map exhibits above, the Tree Swallow is widespread throughout the state. They overwinter in Panama and so, are current in Colorado in the summertime and fall months solely.
Name
Eating regimen
Their eating regimen consists primarily of bugs, however the Tree Swallow may even take vegetation if wants come up.
Fascinating Reality
In search of calcium throughout the breeding season, Tree Swallows will search for eggshells to eat.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis clemenciae)
Identification and Dimension
This massive hummingbird is a plain brown and inexperienced combine of colours, with the male having a grey and white border on the face. The male has a blue throat, which is, at occasions, startling.
Size: 0.44 – 0.5 inches Weight: 0.23 – 0.29 ounces
Distribution
There are solely 13 information of the Blue-throated Mountain-gem in Colorado throughout the summer time. It may be very uncommon however you’d need to preserve an eye fixed for it!
Name
Eating regimen
The Blue-throated Mountain-gem eats flying bugs, flower nectar and spiders.
Fascinating Reality
The feminine Blue-throated Mountain-gem shows to the male when she is able to mate. She has a collection of quick flight patterns and a particular name to let him know.
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
Identification and Dimension
Present in forested areas, the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay is a royal blue colour on the again which blends right into a grey breast and white throat. This beautiful plumage is completed off with a ragged white eyebrow.
Size: 11 – 11.8 inches Weight: 2.4 – 3.5 ounces
Distribution
The Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay will be seen all yr spherical within the east and west areas of Colorado.
Name
Eating regimen
The Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay is omnivorous and can feed as and what alternative presents. Seasonal fruits are favored and so they complement the arthropods they usually eat.
Fascinating Reality
This fowl is an actual opportunist and can even steal from different birds’ caches of meals.
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
Identification and Dimension
The feminine Lazuli Bunting seems very very similar to a feminine Chaffinch, brown and common. The male has a vibrant blue head with a pink breast fading right into a buff colour. His again is a mixture of blue, white wingbars, and darker blue patches. In non-breeding, he’s barely light.
Size: 5.1 – 5.9 inches Wingspan: 8.7 inches Weight: 0.5 – 0.6 ounces
Distribution
As seen within the eBird distribution chart beneath, the Lazuli Bunting will be seen in Colorado in the summertime time. It spends the winter in Mexico. It has been reported on the western and jap sides of the state.
Name
Eating regimen
The Lazuli Bunting feeds totally on seeds and fruits. Moreover, it’ll eat arthropods throughout breeding.
Fascinating Reality
The Lazuli Bunting is a succesful singer and works with different native birds to create a type of concord that all of them can sing and acknowledge.
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
Identification
The male western bluebird is solely beautiful. A deep pink brown breast continues as outlined shoulder markings and onto the again. The top and wings are a deep, vibrant blue with a darkish eye. The feminine has muted blue on the wings and brown grey streaks on the breast.
Size: 6.3 – 7.5 inches Wingspan: 11.4 – 13.4 inches Weight: 0.8 – 1.1 ounces
Distribution
Current all yr spherical throughout the state with some scarcer areas within the mountains.
Name
Eating regimen
In the course of the breeding season, the Western Bluebird will eat primarily bugs to supply sufficient protein for its chicks. Outdoors of this it’ll predominately eat seeds and fruits.
Fascinating Reality
The Western Bluebird nests in cavities and depends on birds like woodpeckers to supply them with appropriate holes.
Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
Identification
A shocking and nearly reverse model of the Blue Jay. The Steller’s is a darkish blue with scallops on the wings. Mixing right into a black head with a crest marked with a number of tough blue streaks on the brow.
Size: 11.8 – 13.5 inches Wingspan: 17.3 inches Weight: 3.5 – 4.9 ounces
Distribution
This can be a comparatively frequent fowl of Colorado and might been seen all through the state always of the yr.
Name
Eating regimen
The Steller’s Jay is an opportunist and is adaptable sufficient to search out meals wherever. Fundamental meals contains arthropods, fruits, seeds and small vertebrates.
Fascinating Reality
One thing I did myself a number of occasions – the Steller’s Jay is steadily misspelled because the Stellar’s Jay. Very apt misspelling!
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
Identification and Dimension
The male Mountain Bluebird is a surprising vibrant blue with some fading on the stomach. The feminine is has a pale entrance and the again is brown and blue.
Size: 6.3 – 7.9 inches Wingspan: 11 – 14.2 inches Weight: 1.1 ounces
Distribution
As seen on the map and chart, the Mountain Bluebird is seen all through Colorado and is current all year long.
Name
Eating regimen
In the course of the breeding season, the Mountain Bluebird will eat small invertebrates. Outdoors of this, they are going to complement with fruits and seeds.
Fascinating Reality
The feminine Mountain Bluebird chooses her mate on a single standards – the standard of the nesting cavity he gives her. That signifies how necessary the situation is.
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)
Identification and Dimension
A darkish blue head is offset by white eye rings. A pale breast and stomach blends to yellow on the perimeters after which brown grey again.
Size: 4.7 – 5.9 inches Wingspan: 8.7 – 9.5 inches Weight: 0.5 – 0.6 ounces
Distribution
Solely seen within the jap facet of the state, this uncommon fowl could also be seen because it passes by on migration.
Name
Eating regimen
The Blue-headed Vireo eats all kinds of bigger bugs and dietary supplements this within the winter with fruits.
Fascinating Reality
The Blue-headed Vireo readily responds to imitation calls made by people.
FAQs
The Steller’s Jay is more likely to be essentially the most seen of the brightly coloured blue birds within the state.
Speaking about Bluebirds somewhat than blue birds, there are 3 current in Colorado – the Western, Jap and Mountain.
Unmistakably, that’s the Indigo Bunting. Search for the intense blue plumage and finch-like invoice.
So, that’s our 10 blue birds of Colorado. I’ve by no means seen the Steller’s Jay and it’s now primary on my want checklist.
