Colorado’s dramatic range of habitats - from alpine tundra to shortgrass prairie - supports a strong variety of birds with orange plumage. Bullock’s Oriole and Western Tanager are the highlights, bringing vivid colour to riparian corridors and mountain forests from May through September.
Orange Birds Found in Colorado
| Species | Orange feature | When to see | Habitat |
|---|
| Bullock’s Oriole | Orange face, breast, and underparts (male) | Spring and summer | Cottonwoods, riparian areas |
| Western Tanager | Orange-red head, yellow body (male) | Spring and summer | Montane coniferous forests |
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Orange breast and belly (male) | Spring and summer | Oak woodlands, forest edges |
| American Robin | Orange-red breast | Year-round | Lawns, parks, woodlands |
| Barn Swallow | Orange-buff underparts | Spring and summer | Open fields, near structures |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Males bright copper-orange all over | Migration (July-Sept) | Mountain meadows, gardens |
| Northern Flicker | Orange-red under wings and tail (red-shafted) | Year-round | Open woodlands, suburbs |
| Spotted Towhee | Rufous-orange flanks | Year-round | Dense brush, foothills |
| American Kestrel | Rusty-orange back and tail (male) | Year-round | Open country, grasslands |
Best Birding Spots
| Location | Best species |
|---|
| Rocky Mountain National Park | Western Tanager, Rufous Hummingbird |
| Barr Lake State Park | Bullock’s Oriole, migrant warblers |
| Garden of the Gods | Spotted Towhee, Northern Flicker |
| San Juan National Forest | Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak |
| Pawnee National Grassland | American Kestrel, prairie species |
Seasonal Guide
| Season | What to expect |
|---|
| Spring | Orioles and tanagers arrive May, peak migration |
| Summer | Breeding season, Rufous Hummingbirds pass through mountains |
| Autumn | Southbound migration, Spotted Towhees in foothills |
| Winter | American Robin, Northern Flicker, kestrels in open areas |
Colorado’s Bullock’s Oriole and Western Tanager are the two must-see orange birds. The oriole favours cottonwoods in river valleys while the tanager nests in mountain forests. Both arrive in May and depart by September.
