The hummingbirds have arrived in Colorado. This awesome interactive map helps you monitor hummingbirds as they make their migration into Colorado for spring 2024.

A Broad-tailed Hummingbird was spotted on Friday, April 26, 2024, near Ft. Collins, Colorado. Another was spotted Sunday, April 28, in Lowry. A Black-chinned Hummingbird was spotted in Grand Junction as far back as April 14, 2024. Here's a chance to stay up to speed with hummingbird activity across Colorado.

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Hummingbirds Sightings in Western Colorado for Spring 2023

The website Hummingbird Central is an interactive site where you can report hummingbird activity across the country. That information is then posted to a detailed map.

Looking at the map for Colorado, so far in 2024 Colorado residents have made these reports:

  • April 5, 2024: Broad-tailed Hummingbird spotted in Arboles, Colorado
  • April 12, 2024: Black-chinned Hummingbird spotted in Trinidad, Colorado
  • April 13, 2024: Black-chinned Hummingbird sighted in Cortez, Colorado
  • April 13, 2024: Broad-tailed Hummingbird spotted in Manitou Springs, Colorado
  • April 16, 2024: Rufous Hummingbird in Salida, Colorado
  • April 17, 2024: Broad-tailed Hummingbird sighted in Rangely, Colorado
  • April 20, 2024: Broad-tailed Hummingbird spotted in Cline, Colorado
  • April 23, 2024: Broad-tailed Hummingbird sighted in Gypsum, Colorado
  • April 24, 2024: Broad-tailed Hummingbird spotted in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
  • April 25, 2024: Broad-tailed Hummingbird spotted in Livermore, Colorado
Colorado Hummingbird Map 2024
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Black-Chinned Hummingbirds In Western Colorado

You'll see the majority of reports from Western Colorado involve the Black-chinned hummingbird. According to All About Birds::

A small green-backed hummingbird of the West, with no brilliant colors on its throat except a thin strip of iridescent purple bordering the black chin, only visible when light hits it just right. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are exceptionally widespread, found from deserts to mountain forests. Many winter along the Gulf Coast. Often perches at the very top of a bare branch. Low-pitched humming sound produced by wings.

Black-chinned Hummingbird
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Typical Arrival Time In Colorado

The website Only In Your State reports:

Hummingbirds spend their time from around September to around April in warmer climates nearer to the equator. In April, though, they begin a mass migration northward – arriving in colorful Colorado in late April, and staying until about August.

Colorado 2024 Compared to Past Years

Looking back at 2022, It appears as though April 9 was the big day. These were the first four Hummingbird sightings in Colorado in 2022.

Eagle, Colorado
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Pleasant View, Colorado
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You'll notice that in each case, the birds observed were Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. According to audubon.org, this variety is typically found in mountain meadows and forests.

Breeds mostly in mountains, up to over 10,000 feet elevation. Mostly in rather open forest, especially near streams, including pine-oak and pinyon-juniper woods, and associations of spruce, Douglas-fir, and aspen. Migrants occur in all semi-open habitats of mountains and also make stopovers in lowlands. - audubon.org

Be a Part of the Fun

Hummingbird Central's Spring 2024 Hummingbird Migration Map is a ton of fun. You can be a part of it. You can report your sightings while remaining completely anonymous. They do not share your name, email, or exact address. They only share the info you provide regarding your city, state, and sighting details.

Scroll Through Some of Colorado's Rarest Birds

The Colorado Bird Records Committee of Colorado Field Ornithologists reports an amazing 514 species of birds can be found in the Centennial State. Scroll through the photos below to see some of the rarest birds you'll encounter in Colorado.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

Robert Grant Photos: Western Colorado Wildlife Part II

Grand Junction, Colorado photographer Robert Grant was a Western Colorado native. Over his five decades in photography he captured thousands of wildlife images. Below you'll find a gallery of images lifted from recently discovered negatives.

Gallery Credit: Waylon Jordan

Watching for Grand Mesa Wildlife Near Water Dog Reservoir

Looking for wildlife and fall colors on the Grand Mesa? Check out the photos from a little walk I took to Water Dog Reservoir/ Long Slough Reservoir. Fall colors will soon be showing up in this area and that's just one more reason to spend some time enjoying the southern slide.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

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