Birds in Colorado

Colorado has an official State Bird -- the Lark Bunting.
Bill Schmoker's bird photos:www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/index.html
Ken Conger's bird photos:www.kencongerphotography.com/Nature
Tom Grey's bird photos:tgreybirds.com/
USGS Patuxent Bird identification:www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/

These bird families are in the order Passeriformes, or perching birds.
This order has more than half of all bird species.
Family Alaudidae. Larks.
Family Cardinalidae Cardinals.
Family Corvidae Ravens, Crows, jays, magpies, etc
Family Emberizidae Juncos and Towhees
Family Fringillidae True Finches
Family Hirundinidae Swallows and Martins
Family Icteridae. Blackbirds, orioles, meadowlarks, etc.
Family Paridae tits, chickadees, and titmice
Family Passeridae Sparrows
Family Sittidae Nuthatches
Family Sturnidae -- Starlings
Family Troglodytidae -- Wrens
Family Turdidae Thrushes

These families are in other orders.
Family Accipitridae. Hawks and Eagles
Family Anatidae. Ducks, Geese.
Family Ardeidae Herons and Egrets.
Family Cathartidae New World vultures.
Family Cerylidae Kingfishers
Family Charadriidae. Plovers, dotterels, and lapwings
Family Columbidae. Pigeons and Doves
Family Falconidae. Falcons and Caracaras
Family Gruidae Cranes
Family Laridae. Gulls and Terns
Family Meleagrididae Wild Turkeys
Family Odontophoridae Quail
Family Pandionidae . Osprey.
Family Pelecanidae Pelicans
Family Picidae. Woodpeckers
Family Podicipedidae. Grebes.
Family Rallidae Coots.
Family Recurvirostridae Avocets
Family Strigidae -- Owls
Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds

Family Pelecanidae, Pelicans

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). This picture was taken on 17 August 2007 at Elevenmile lake. They do not get too nervous as long as the boat keeps moving, and is not moving directly toward them.
The second and third pictures were taken at Elevenmile Lake on July 11, 2008.
The fourth picture was taken at Elevenmile lake on 23 June 2009. It shows a lump growing out of the top of the beak. The older males grow these lumps during the mating season. Some have been seen which looked like three fingers growing out of the beak. www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i1250id.html
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Pelecanidae
Genus: Pelecanus
Species: P. erythrorhynchos

Cormorants and Shags. Family Phalacrocoracidae.

A pair of Cormorants, on Elevenmile Lake on May 20, 2008. Wikipedia discusses 40 different species of Cormorant; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormorant
According to the Colorado Wildlife Department, the ones we have in central Colorado should be the Double-Crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus, and that species should have a large orange throat pouch.
The second picture is of a nesting tree, with multiple cormorant nests. This tree is out in Pueblo Lake, so predators can not get to it. This picture was taken July 1, 2008.
Click on the third picture for a video of a Cormorant.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Phalacrocorax
Species: P. auritus

Ducks, Geese and Swans. Family Anatidae.

These are Common Merganser ducks. The first two pictures were taken on 15 June 2009 at Elevenmile lake in Park Co., Colorado. The first picture is a female, and shows the long feathers on the back of her neck. The second is a male and female pair. The third picture is from Elevenmile lake, 19 August 2008, the fourth is from Pueblo lake, 18 September 2008. The fifth was taken at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 24 February 2010. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Mergus Species: M. merganser
These are Hooded Merganser ducks. The male is in this partial picture, and the female is on the right in the full picture. They were seen at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on January 16, 2010. The second picture was taken on 18 January 2010 at the same pond. The full picture also includes two Belted Kingfishers. The third picture is of another male, and was taken on 2 March 2010 at the same place. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Lophodytes Species: L. cucullatus
A Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) on Lake Pueblo. This picture was taken 31 May 2007. This Mallard made a practice of hanging around the boat dock, and would beg for left over bait that the fishermen might throw to him when they were leaving. The second picture is a female Mallard, found at the Fountain Creek Nature center on 8 August 2009. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Subfamily: Anatinae Genus: Anas Species: A. platyrhynchos
An American Wigeon duck (Anas Americana), male (drake). Picture taken 15 October 2007 on Prospect Lake, Colorado Springs CO. Ken Conger, web site at the top of this page, identified it for me. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th pictures were taken at Prospect Lake, Colorado Springs, November 2007. This duck is often spelled Widgeon, and this mis-spelling is so common that it has become accepted as valid. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Anas (disputed) Species: A. americana
This species is the Northern Shoveler. Sometimes also known as a Spoonbill. As usual, the male is brightly colored, and the female wears her drab garb. The pictures were taken on 19 March 2008 at Prospect Lake in Colorado Springs. They probably just arrived in Colorado Springs, since they are migratory. Amazingly, the third picture is the same bird on a stamp on an envelope that arrived from Hong Kong on the same day I took the original pictures. The fourth picture was taken on 2 March 2010 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. The pond is partially frozen at night, so if this male had migrated, he must be a early arrival back here. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Anas (disputed) Species: A. clypeata
A female Wood Duck, at the Fountain Colorado Nature Center on 20 June 2008. The second picture is of a female wood duck on the left, a male in the center, and the one on the far side may be a young one that does not have an adult's colors yet. This picture was taken on 26 September 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. They were far off, so the picture is not great. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Aix Species: A. sponsa
A family of Canada Geese on Lake Pueblo. This picture was taken 11 May 2007. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Branta Species: B. canadensis www.granstrand.net/gallery/album12"
These are Chinese Geese (Anser cygnoides), which is a domesticated and selectively bred version of the Swan Goose. They were found on Prospect Lake, Colorado Springs, on 15 October 2007. The male is the one with the lump on top of his head. The original version of the Swan Goose is smaller, does not have the pronounced lump on the head, and is now considered endangered in the wild.

Grebes. Family Podicipedidae.

Western Grebe. The Clark's Grebe is very similar, but has the eye clear of the black cap, and the black stripe on the back of the neck is narrower. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae Genus: Aechmophorus Species: A. occidentalis The first picture was taken by Alyssa Erickson at Pueblo Lake in June 2007, and clearly shows that this is a Western Grebe, not a Clark's Grebe. Alyssa has a much better camera than I. The second picture was taken in April 2008, also at Pueblo. The next two pictures show a Western Grebe eating a fish, and the mate carrying two babies on his/her back. These pictures were taken on Eleven Mile lake, near Lake George, Colorado on 17 August 2007. Western Grebe: www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i0010id.html
Clark's Grebe, at Pueblo Lake. Same scientific classification as the Western Grebe, except this is species Aechmophorus clarkii. The Western Grebe is similar, but with the eye in the black area of the head. This Clark's Grebe has the eye in the white area of the head. This picture was taken in May 2005. Clark's Grebe: http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i0011id.html
A Pied-Billed Grebe, at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 17 February 2010. It is small, and spends lots of time diving and feeding on bottom dwellers. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae Genus: Podilymbus Species: P. podiceps

Coots Family Rallidae.

An American Coot on Lake Pueblo. Fulica americana. This picture was taken by Alyssa Erickson in June 2007.
The second picture is of a large group of Coots taken 28 September 2006 at Pueblo.
The Coot refers to any of ten species of ducklike water-dwelling birds of the genus Fulica in the rail family, Rallidae. Coots are found throughout the world in larger inland waters and streams, where they swim and bob for food, mostly plants, seeds, mollusks, and worms. Coots have greenish or bluish gray feet, the toes of which are fringed by a lobed membrane.
When I was a kid back in North Dakota, we called them mud hens, and I used them for target practice. They were hard to hit, and went under the water after the first shot.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Fulica

Family Ardeidae. -- Herons and Egrets.

Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias. This was taken by Alyssa Erickson in June 2007 at Pueblo Lake, CO. Many water birds will stand in the sun with their wings spread out to dry them, and also to warm up in the sunshine. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae Genus: Ardea Species: A. herodias The picture of the Blue Heron in flight was taken at Pueblo Lake on October 9, 2007. The next picture was taken on 1 July 2008 at Pueblo Lake, and shows a Blue Heron nest with a pair of young Herons, on a tree out in the water. The fourth picture was taken on 30 May 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center, Fountain Colorado. The fifth picture was taken on 19 June 2009, at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. This picture of the Blue Heron looking for his lunch won a Blue Ribbon at the photo competition at the El Paso, Colorado County fair in July 2009. This bird was standing at the edge of a pond, and finally decided that I was getting too close, so it flew off. The next picture shows why it is named the Great Blue Heron. Click here for more Blue Heron pictures. Other people's photos of this bird: www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/GBHE.html
Green Herons. The first and second pictures were taken on 5 September 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. There was a lot of luck involved with me getting these photos; luck that another photographer told me where it was, or I wouldn't have noticed it. Luck that I was able to sneak up on it without scaring it off. Luck that the automatic focus on my camera focused on the bird instead of on the leaves in the foreground. The third was taken on 10 August 2009 at the same place. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae Genus: Butorides Species: B. virescens
A Snowy Egret. Picture taken on 23 April 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature center. It was about the size of a duck. According to Wikipedia: At one time, the beautiful plumes of the Snowy Egret were in great demand by market hunters as decorations for women's hats. This reduced the population of the species to dangerously low levels. Now it is protected by law, under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, this bird's population has rebounded. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Ciconiiformes (disputed) Family: Ardeidae Genus: Egretta Species: E. thula
A Great Egret. Picture taken on 30 May 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature center. It was almost the size of a Great Blue Heron. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Ciconiiformes (disputed) Family: Ardeidae Genus: Ardea Species: A. alba

Gulls and Terns. Family Laridae.

Sea Gull. This Gull is probably the California Gull (Larus californicus), which is the one that has a statue in Salt Lake city, and the same one that followed the plows when I was a kid in North Dakota. The Salt Lake City statue is because a large flock of these gulls saved the Mormons from a large plague of grasshoppers in 1848. This picture was taken on 17 August 2007 at Elevenmile Lake.
The second picture shows some juvenile California gulls, with the picture taken on 11 July 2008 at that same island in Elevenmile Lake, Park Co., Colorado.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
Species: L. californicus
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gull

This is an immature Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarenis. The first 3 pictures were taken at Prospect Lake, Colorado Springs, on 29 October 2007. The next 3 were taken on 5 December 2007.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
Species: L. delawarensis

Swallows and Martins. Family Hirundinidae.

A Cliff Swallow colony, at Pueblo lake. With the nests built under an overhang, the ground-based predators can not reach the nests. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae Genus: Petrochelidon Species: P. pyrrhonota
A Barn Swallow glaring at me from it's nest, at the Fountain Creek Nature center, at Fountain, Colorado. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae (swallows) Genus: Hirundo Species: H. rustica and the one we have in Colorado is the H. r. erythrogaster sub-species.

Family Fringillidae -- True Finches.

A male and female House Finch. Below that, a male House Finch in El Paso County, Colorado on 5 May 2009. Bill Schmoker has more pictures at www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/HOFI.html. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Parvorder: Passerida Family: Fringillidae Subfamily: Carduelinae Genus: Carpodacus Species: C. mexicanus
A female Lesser Goldfinch. The pictures were taken in El Paso County, Colorado on 14 November 2007. The identification was provided by Gary Lefko, at coloradobirder.ning.com/. The third picture is a male Lesser Goldfinch, found on 25 August 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Infraorder: Passerida Superfamily: Passeroidea Family: Fringillidae Genus: Carduelis Subgenus: (Spinus) Species: C. psaltria
American Goldfinch. These pictures were taken on 27 August 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. They were eating sunflower seeds. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae Genus: Carduelis Species: C. tristis

Family Passeridae. Sparrows

House Sparrows. The top picture, of a male, was taken 16 June, 2008 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The second picture is of a female, taken 15 March 2009 in Colorado Springs.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Species: P. domesticus

www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i6882id.html

Family Emberizidae -- Juncos and Towhees

A Spotted Towhee, found at the Bear Creek Nature Center, on the west side of Colorado Springs, Colorado on 1 September 2009. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus: Pipilo Species: P. maculatus
A Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia. Found 1 November 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus: Melospiza Species: M. melodia
This is a Dark-eyed Junco. That species comes in four different races, and this one appears to be the Oregon Race version. The picture was taken in El Paso County, Colorado on 10 March 2008. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithe Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Infraorder: Passerida Superfamily: Passeroidea Family: Emberizidae Genus: Junco Species: Junco hyemalis
This is another version of the Dark-eyed Junco, this one called the Slate-colored Junco. The first picture was taken on 12 March 2008, in El Paso Co., Colorado. The second picture was taken in Colorado Springs, 16 March 2009, and is probably a Pink-sided Junco, sometimes considered a part of the Oregon sub-race, and sometimes considered to be a separate species.

Family Turdidae Thrushes

A Western Bluebird. Seen on 11 May 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae Genus: Sialia Species: S. mexicana
A Robin, newly arrived back in El Paso county CO in March 2008. The second picture was taken in the summer of 2007, and the third picture is later, when the baby robin is almost ready to leave the nest. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae Genus: Turdus Species: T. migratorius

Family Icteridae. Blackbirds, orioles, Bobolinks, meadowlarks, grackles, cowbirds, oropendolas and caciques.

A Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta. This is a medium-sized blackbird. At one time, they were thought to be the same species as the Eastern Meadowlark, and in fact they sometimes interbreed. But the young seem to have low fertility, so they are now considered different species. These pictures were taken on 30 April 2009 in Elbert County, Colorado. This is the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Sturnella Species: S. neglecta
A Brewer's Blackbird, at Elevenmile Lake, Park County Colorado, on 29 August 2008. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Euphagus Species: E. cyanocephalus
Common Grackles. The first picture was taken in 2007, and originally identified as a Blackbird. Later research has shown that it was a Common Grackle. It was being picky about what it wanted from the bird feeder. The next two pictures are of two birds were part of a group of about 10 that visited our back yard in Colorado Springs on 21 July 2008. The identification was made by the experts on coloradobirder.ning.com/. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Quiscalus Species: Q. quiscula
Red-Wing Blackbird. The first two pictures were taken at the Fountain, CO Nature Center on 20 March 2008. The third picture is of a female, taken 8 May 2008 at the same place. The fourth picture shows more Redwing blackbirds, but with smaller wing patches. The fifth picture was taken on 2 March 2010, at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. The buff-colored edges on the feathers mark this one as a young one, out of last summer's hatch. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Agelaius Species: A. phoeniceus
This is a female Orchard Oriole. Picture taken 8 August 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. The experts at coloradobirder.ning.com/ confirmed my identification. The male has a different color pattern. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Icterus Species: I. spurius

Wrens. Family Troglodytidae.

Some species live in caves, therefore the name Troglodyte, Cave dweller.

A House Wren. Seen at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 4 June 2009. These are small birds.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Neoaves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Infraorder: Passerida
Superfamily: Certhioidea
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Troglodytes
Species: T. aedon

Family Corvidae. Ravens, Crows, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs and nutcrackers.

A Blue Jay. This picture was taken 1 October 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. Males and females are almost identical in appearance, so I don't know which this one is.
The second picture was taken on 16 September 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. This one has a crest on the back of it's head, although it does not show well from this angle. The crest on it's head can lay flat, or stand up, depending on the mood of the bird.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Neoaves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Superfamily: Corvoidea
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Cyanocitta
Species: C. cristata

American Crows. These pictures were taken on 2 October 2009, in a parking lot in Colorado Springs.
Actually, the bird on the right in the second picture looks more like a Raven. The bill looks more curved, there appears to be some fur on the upper part of the beak, and the legs do not seem to have the pronounced scales found on Crows.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Species: brachyrhynchos
There are many species of crows, with a dozen or so being found in Central and North America. The American Crow is the most common.

A Raven. This one was on the roof of the Wendy's restaurant in Woodland Park, Colorado on 15 June 2009. It was much larger than a crow, and had a very different voice.
From www.frfrogspad.com/raven.htm,

Crows average around 17 inches long, and ravens about 24-27.
A raven weighs about four times that of a crow.
Crows have a wing span around 21/2 feet and while ravens are about 31/2 - 4 feet.
A raven's wing sometimes makes a prominent "swish, swish" sound, while a crow's wingbeat is usually silent.
Ravens have pointed wings, while crows have a more blunt and splayed wing tip.
Crows have a fan-shaped tail (squared-off), while raven tails are long and wege-shaped.
Besides having a bigger, more powerful bill, a raven's bill is curved, while a crow has a more-or-less flat pointed bill. Additionally, atop a raven's bill is a tuft of hairs absent on crows.
A crow's call is a "caw" and a raven's is a low and slow croak.
Crows exhibit at least two dozen different calls, while ravens can express themselves with more than 100 different vocalizations, depending on the expert cited, and are known to mimic other sounds. Ravens are acrobatic flyers and have been seen rolling, looping, and even flying upside down.
Raven's nests are generally between 2' and 4' in diameter.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Species: corax (Probably the common raven)

Magpies. The variety that we have in Colorado is the Black-billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Pica
Species: P. hudsonia

The first picture was taken in El Paso county, CO. on 5 May 2009. The second was taken on 28 September 2009.
The third picture is of a somewhat small and ragged looking Magpie, with a short tail. It was at Elevenmile Lake on 22 July 2008. It is probably a young one.

Family Strigidae -- True or typical Owls. Not including Barn Owls.

A Horned owl. Picture taken at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 11 July 2009.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo (Horned Owls, Eagle-owls, and Fish-owls.)
Species: B. virginianus

A Western Screech Owl, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. This one has his/her ear tufts fully erect. They have excellent camoflauge, so they are seldom seen.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Megascops
Species: M. kennicottii

Family Columbidae -- Pigeons and doves.

Mourning Dove. According to Wikipedia, The bird is also called the American Mourning Dove or Rain Dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina Pigeon or Carolina Turtledove
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Zenaida
Species: Z. macroura

A Eurasian Collared Dove. This Picture was taken in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 16 June 2008. This Dove is originally from Southeastern Europe. According to Wikipedia, it was introduced into the Bahamas in the 1970s and spread to Florida by 1982. Now, it is in most of North America. It has a call that sounds like Morse code for the letter "r" ( .-. ) (di-dah-dit).
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Streptopelia
Species: S. decaocto

Rock Pigeon. This picture was taken in Colorado Springs CO May 5, 2008.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Species: C. livia

Family Odontophoridae. Quail. There are 32 species of Quail in this family.

A family of California Quail, 25 July 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. This was the male and female, with 7 or 8 very small babies. They did not seem to be afraid of the photographers, but since the young ones would be too small to fly, the parents were not willing to fly away.
They look almost identical to the Gambel's Quail, but the Gambel's Quail male will have a dark patch on his breast, and the California Quail does not.
Click here for more quail pictures.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Odontophoridae
Genus: Callipepla
Species: C. californica

Family Charadriidae. Plovers, dotterels, and lapwings

A Killdeer, pictures taken 7 June 2008 in Elbert Co., CO. This is the bird that will pretend that it can not fly due to a broken wing when a predator gets close to the nest. It will continue to lead the predator off until it is safely away from it's nest, then will fly off normally. Many children and other predators have been led away from a nest in this manner.
The third picture was taken at the Arkansas River, just east of the dam at Pueblo Lake on 12 February 2010.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Genus: Charadrius
Species: C. vociferus

Family Recurvirostridae.

These are American Avocets, (Recurvirostra americana) a wading bird or shore bird. During the spring breeding season, their heads are orange or golden brown. This photo was taken on 26 September 2007 at Pueblo.
Ken Conger, web site at the top of this page, identified them for me.
More pictures, by Tom Grey, here
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae
Genus: Recurvirostra
Species: americana

Family Picidae. Woodpeckers.

A Woodpecker working on a Red Maple tree in our side yard. This one is a male Red-shafted Northern Flicker. The picture was taken on 15 April 2005. The second picture, sitting on a fence post, was taken 1 November 2004.
The third picture was taken at Prospect Lake, 29 October 2007. The fourth picture with both a male and female flicker, was taken 28 June 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO
The fifth picture shows a female Northern Flicker, 8 December 2009, temperature about 10 degrees F.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Colaptes
Species: C. auratus

This is probably a Downy Woodpecker, found at the Fountain Creek Nature Center, on 17 November 2009. I was not able to get close enough to it for a good picture. The Hairy Woodpecker ( P. villosus ) also looks like this, so I need a better picture to be sure which it is. The only obvious difference between the two species is that the Downy woodpecker has a shorter bill.
The third picture was taken on February 17, 2010 at the same place. Probably a Downy Woodpecker, but I still can't guarantee it.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides
Species: P. pubescens

Family Trochilidae. Hummingbirds

A female Rufous Hummingbird, at the Bear Creek Nature Center, on the west side of Colorado Springs, CO on 1 September 2009. The male of this species is slightly smaller, and has a different color pattern.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
Species: S. rufus

Vultures and Condors. Family Cathartidae.

A Turkey Vulture, AKA Turkey Buzzard or just Buzzard. The first picture was taken by Alyssa Erickson.
The second picture was taken on 6 August 2008, while the buzzard was circling over Colorado Springs looking for any dead animals it might find in back yards.
The third and fourth were taken on 29 August 2008 at Elevenmile Lake.
The fifth was taken near Elevenmile Lake on 9 September 2008. They have some animal on the ground.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Cathartidae
Genus: Cathartes
Species: C. aura

Family Falconidae. Falcons.

A Peregrene Falcon, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. This bird had been at the Air Force Academy at one time.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: F. peregrinus

A Prairie Falcon, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. This bird had also been at the Air Force Academy at one time.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: F. mexicanus

An American Kestrel, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. This is the smallest falcon, not much bigger than a robin.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: F. sparverius

Family Accipitridae. Hawks and Eagles.

Golden Eagles, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes (or Falconiformes, q.v.)
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aquila
Species: chrysaetos

A Bald Eagle, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage.
The second picture was taken on the same day, just north of Pueblo Lake. There were several of them flying circles, but not close enough for good pictures. These Eagles often spend the winter at Pueblo Lake, then return further north in the spring. They usually nest in the northern part of Colorado.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Haliaeetus
Species: H. leucocephalus

Red-Tailed Hawks. These pictures were taken in Elbert Co., Colorado on 11 August 2008. The "comma, dash, dash, comma" pattern on the leading edge of the wing is a distinguishing feature of the Red-Tailed hawk.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species: B. jamaicensis

This one is probably in the Buteo genus, (Buzzard Hawks) but the picture is not good enough to identify down to species. It would not let me get close enough. The picture was taken on January 13, 2010 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo

This is a Cooper's Hawk, part of the Accipiter Genus. These are called Bird Hawks, and have long tails. Found at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 20 August 2009. This one looks like some photos of a Juvenile Cooper's hawk seen on the internet. It is also a nice match to a photo of a Cooper's Hawk on the Colorado Birder web site at coloradobirder.ning.com/photo/coopers-hawk .
It seems to have a very long and flexible neck.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.)
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Accipiter (Bird Hawks)
Species: A. cooperii

A Swainson's Hawk, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Neoaves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species: B. swainsoni

Family Pandionidae. Osprey.

An Osprey. They are large raptors. This one was found at Lake Pueblo on 18 September 2008. They are also called Fish Hawks or Sea Hawks. Some specialists say that this species should be divided into four sub-species, and if so, this one is the sub-species P. h. carolinensis, found in North America.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Pandionidae
Genus: Pandion
Species: P. haliaetus

Family Gruidae. Cranes

A Sand Hill Crane. We count this as a Colorado bird since they stop off here on their migratory routes, mostly around the Montrose, Colorado area. This one was at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, in Colorado Springs, CO on 27 June 2008. It looks a little strange since it's wing feathers have been clipped to keep it from flying away.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Neoaves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Gruidae
Genus: Grus
Species: G. canadensis

Family Meleagrididae. Turkeys.

Wild Turkeys, (Meleagris gallopavo) at the Air Force Academy on 30 October 2007. The third picture was taken near Ramah, Colorado on 2 November 2006, and the fourth picture was taken there on 29 May 2009, and includes six newly hatched turkeys.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Meleagrididae
Genus: Meleagris
Species: M. gallopavo
and there are several sub-species, with subtle differences.

Family Cerylidae. Kingfishers. Other families of Kingfishers are not found in North America.

A Kingfisher, found on 13 August 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. It was far off, and behind some branches. The red color on it's breast probably indicates it is a female Megaceryle alcyon (Belted Kingfisher). Better photos would help identify it for sure.
The second picture was taken at the same place on 10 August 2009, but it was cloudy, so the picture was not good.
The third picture, taken on 18 January 2010 at the fountain Creek Nature Center, shows two Kingfishers and one Hooded Merganser duck. Click on the picture of the male Belted Kingfisher to see the full version.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Suborder: Alcedines
Family: Cerylidae
Genus: Megaceryle
Species: M. alcyon

A Blue Jay. This picture was taken 1 October 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. Males and females are almost identical in appearance, so I don't know which this one is. The second picture was taken on 16 September 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. This one has a crest on the back of it's head, although it does not show well from this angle. The crest on it's head can lay flat, or stand up, depending on the mood of the bird. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Superfamily: Corvoidea Family: Corvidae Genus: Cyanocitta Species: C. cristata
American Crows. These pictures were taken on 2 October 2009, in a parking lot in Colorado Springs. Actually, the bird on the right in the second picture looks more like a Raven. The bill looks more curved, there appears to be some fur on the upper part of the beak, and the legs do not seem to have the pronounced scales found on Crows. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: brachyrhynchos There are many species of crows, with a dozen or so being found in Central and North America. The American Crow is the most common.
A Raven. This one was on the roof of the Wendy's restaurant in Woodland Park, Colorado on 15 June 2009. It was much larger than a crow, and had a very different voice. From www.frfrogspad.com/raven.htm, Crows average around 17 inches long, and ravens about 24-27. A raven weighs about four times that of a crow. Crows have a wing span around 21/2 feet and while ravens are about 31/2 - 4 feet. A raven's wing sometimes makes a prominent "swish, swish" sound, while a crow's wingbeat is usually silent. Ravens have pointed wings, while crows have a more blunt and splayed wing tip. Crows have a fan-shaped tail (squared-off), while raven tails are long and wege-shaped. Besides having a bigger, more powerful bill, a raven's bill is curved, while a crow has a more-or-less flat pointed bill. Additionally, atop a raven's bill is a tuft of hairs absent on crows. A crow's call is a "caw" and a raven's is a low and slow croak. Crows exhibit at least two dozen different calls, while ravens can express themselves with more than 100 different vocalizations, depending on the expert cited, and are known to mimic other sounds. Ravens are acrobatic flyers and have been seen rolling, looping, and even flying upside down. Raven's nests are generally between 2' and 4' in diameter. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: corax (Probably the common raven)
Magpies. The variety that we have in Colorado is the Black-billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Pica Species: P. hudsonia The first picture was taken in El Paso county, CO. on 5 May 2009. The second was taken on 28 September 2009. The third picture is of a somewhat small and ragged looking Magpie, with a short tail. It was at Elevenmile Lake on 22 July 2008. It is probably a young one.

A Horned owl. Picture taken at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 11 July 2009. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Genus: Bubo (Horned Owls, Eagle-owls, and Fish-owls.) Species: B. virginianus
A Western Screech Owl, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. This one has his/her ear tufts fully erect. They have excellent camoflauge, so they are seldom seen. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Genus: Megascops Species: M. kennicottii

Mourning Dove. According to Wikipedia, The bird is also called the American Mourning Dove or Rain Dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina Pigeon or Carolina Turtledove Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Genus: Zenaida Species: Z. macroura
A Eurasian Collared Dove. This Picture was taken in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 16 June 2008. This Dove is originally from Southeastern Europe. According to Wikipedia, it was introduced into the Bahamas in the 1970s and spread to Florida by 1982. Now, it is in most of North America. It has a call that sounds like Morse code for the letter "r" ( .-. ) (di-dah-dit). Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Genus: Streptopelia Species: S. decaocto
Rock Pigeon. This picture was taken in Colorado Springs CO May 5, 2008. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Genus: Columba Species: C. livia

A Peregrene Falcon, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. This bird had been at the Air Force Academy at one time. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae Genus: Falco Species: F. peregrinus
A Prairie Falcon, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. This bird had also been at the Air Force Academy at one time. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae Genus: Falco Species: F. mexicanus
An American Kestrel, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. This is the smallest falcon, not much bigger than a robin. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae Genus: Falco Species: F. sparverius

Golden Eagles, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes (or Falconiformes, q.v.) Family: Accipitridae Genus: Aquila Species: chrysaetos
A Bald Eagle, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. The picture was taken through the screen on the poorly lit cage. The second picture was taken on the same day, just north of Pueblo Lake. There were several of them flying circles, but not close enough for good pictures. These Eagles often spend the winter at Pueblo Lake, then return further north in the spring. They usually nest in the northern part of Colorado. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Haliaeetus Species: H. leucocephalus
Red-Tailed Hawks. These pictures were taken in Elbert Co., Colorado on 11 August 2008. The "comma, dash, dash, comma" pattern on the leading edge of the wing is a distinguishing feature of the Red-Tailed hawk. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Buteo Species: B. jamaicensis
This one is probably in the Buteo genus, (Buzzard Hawks) but the picture is not good enough to identify down to species. It would not let me get close enough. The picture was taken on January 13, 2010 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Buteo
This is a Cooper's Hawk, part of the Accipiter Genus. These are called Bird Hawks, and have long tails. Found at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 20 August 2009. This one looks like some photos of a Juvenile Cooper's hawk seen on the internet. It is also a nice match to a photo of a Cooper's Hawk on the Colorado Birder web site at coloradobirder.ning.com/photo/coopers-hawk . It seems to have a very long and flexible neck. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.) Family: Accipitridae Genus: Accipiter (Bird Hawks) Species: A. cooperii
A Swainson's Hawk, at the Pueblo Raptor Center at Pueblo, CO on 12 February 2010. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Buteo Species: B. swainsoni