Small Birds Across Colorado’s Habitats
Colorado’s birds change quickly with elevation. Plains and river valleys, foothill shrublands, ponderosa pine and aspen forests, and alpine tundra each have their own small birds. A bird common at 5,000 feet may be absent at 10,000, and many birds move downslope in winter. Because the details vary by county, a local checklist is the best final authority. This guide covers the small birds people most often ask about.
Chickadees, Bushtits, and Nuthatches
Black-capped Chickadee
A small bird with a black cap and bib, white cheeks, and the familiar “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call. It is common in lower-elevation woodlands, towns, and riverside trees, and it is a regular at feeders.
Mountain Chickadee
Similar in size, but with a white stripe above the eye. It is typical of conifer forests and higher elevations and often shows up at mountain feeders.
Bushtit
A very small, gray, long-tailed bird that travels in noisy flocks, often a dozen or more, and twitters constantly. It is especially associated with shrubby foothill and urban areas and often visits suet.
Pygmy Nuthatch
A tiny, gray-backed nuthatch with a brownish cap, usually found in ponderosa pine forests. It forms tight groups and nests in cavities. White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches also occur in different forest types.
Wrens, Juncos, and Finches
House Wren
A plain brown, active little bird that cocks its tail and sings a bubbly song. It nests in cavities and small boxes in summer.
Dark-eyed Junco
A small sparrow-like bird with a pale bill and white outer tail feathers that flash in flight. Several forms occur in Colorado, with different head and back colors. Juncos hop on the ground under feeders, and many appear in the cooler months.
House Finch, Cassin’s Finch, and Pine Siskin
House Finches are common in towns; males have red on the head and chest. Cassin’s Finch is a mountain forest relative with a peaked-looking crown. Pine Siskins are streaky, with yellow flashes in the wings, and often come in flocks to nyjer or sunflower seed.
Rosy-Finches
Brown-capped, Gray-crowned, and Black Rosy-Finches live in high, rocky country. The Brown-capped Rosy-Finch is widely described as nesting mainly in Colorado and nearby areas. In winter, flocks descend to some mountain-town feeders and are a highlight for birders. Local feeding stations that welcome visitors often report their numbers.
Hummingbirds
The Broad-tailed Hummingbird is a summer hummingbird of the mountains. Males have a rose-red throat and make a distinctive metallic trilling sound with their wings. The Calliope Hummingbird is among the smallest North American hummingbirds, with a streaked purple-magenta throat on males, and is a less common visitor in mountain areas.
Feeders with a plain sugar-and-water mix work well, and native flowers help. Put them up before the hummingbirds arrive in spring, and clean them regularly.
Other Small Colorful Birds
- Western Tanager: males have a red face, yellow body, and black wings. It is seen in summer and in migration.
- Mountain Bluebird: sky-blue males, found in open country and at higher elevations. It uses nest boxes.
- Townsend’s Solitaire and Lesser Goldfinch: a gray, long-tailed thrush that often guards juniper berries in winter, and a small goldfinch of foothills and lower valleys.
What Are the “Tiny Hopping Birds”?
When people ask about tiny hopping birds, they usually mean juncos, sparrows, chickadees, or bushtits. Juncos and sparrows hop along the ground; chickadees and bushtits move through branches. Notice where the bird is, since that narrows the list quickly.
Attracting Small Birds in Colorado
- Offer black oil sunflower and nyjer seed, plus suet in winter.
- Keep a bird bath filled and free of ice, since the climate is dry and water is valued.
- Plant native shrubs and conifers for cover.
- Put up nest boxes sized for chickadees, wrens, or bluebirds.
- Use window decals to reduce collisions.
Many Colorado towns also have bear and other wildlife concerns near the mountains, so check local guidance about bringing feeders in at night. For a comparison with other regions, see our Wisconsin bird list, Minnesota birds, or North Carolina birds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prettiest bird in Colorado?
That is a matter of taste. Popular picks include the Western Tanager, Mountain Bluebird, and Lark Bunting, the state bird.
What are the tiny hopping birds called?
Often juncos, sparrows, or chickadees, depending on whether they are on the ground or in trees.
What are common backyard birds in Colorado?
Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Downy Woodpeckers, House Wrens, and Black-billed Magpies.