Your Guide to Birding

in El Paso County

County Map El Paso County
Author(s):  Diana Beatty, Allan Burns, Mark Peterson
County Seat: Colorado Springs
Size: 2,129 square miles
Low Elevation: 5,052 ft. - North of Smith Reservoir
High Elevation: 14,110 ft. - Pikes Peak
Best Birds: Buff-breasted Flycatcher (1991), Brambling (1983)
Checklist: El Paso County Checklist
Introduction: El Paso County is located very near the center of the state and is host to many different habitats. From alpine tundra to the grasslands of the High Plains you can spend a whole day just exploring the different habitats. The one thing the county seems to be short on is good "birdable" large bodies of water. Note: Fort Carson Army Base is not covered because access is very limited, so even though some species may be more reliably found on the Base we will not refer to them here.

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Birding Sites

Aiken Canyon
Habitat: Pinyon-Juniper Forest
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Air Force Academy
Habitat: Ponderosa Forest, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Lowland Riparian
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Baggett Road
Habitat: Grassland/Prairie, Wet Meadow
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Bear Creek Canyon Park
Habitat: Ponderosa Forest, Mixed-Conifer Forest
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Big Johnson Reservoir
Habitat: Reservoir, Grassland/Prairie
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Bohart Ranch
Habitat: Sand-sage prairie, planted trees
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Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Habitat: Scrub Oak Woodlands, Ponderosa Forest, Cliff Face
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Chico Basin Ranch
Habitat: Grassland/Prairie, Cholla, Lowland Riparian, Pond
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Clear Springs Ranch (formerly Hanna Ranch)
Habitat: Lowland Riparian
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Fountain Creek Regional Park
Habitat: Pond, Lowland Riparian
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Garden of the Gods
Habitat: Pinyon-Juniper Forest
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Green Mountain Falls
Habitat: Foothill Shrub, Mixed-Conifer Forest
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Hanover Road
Habitat: Grassland/Prairie, Cholla
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Myers Road
Habitat: Grassland/Prairie
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North Cheyenne Canon Park
Habitat: Ponderosa Forest, Stream, Mid-elevation Riparian
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Old Stage Road
Habitat: Ponderosa Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest, Aspen Grove
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P & P Cattle Company
Habitat: Grassland/Prairie, Pond/Lake/Reservoir
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Pikes Peak
Habitat: Mixed-Conifer Forest, Lodgepole Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest, Alpine Tundra
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Ramah State Wildlife Area
Habitat: Reservoir, Grassland/Prairie, Lowland Riparian
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Rampart Reservoir
Habitat: Reservoir; Mixed-Conifer Forest
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Sears Range
Habitat: Grassland/Prairie
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Sondermann Park
Habitat: Lowland Riparian
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Stratton Open Space
Habitat: Lowland Riparian, Reservoir, Ponderosa Forest, Mixed-Confer Forest
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Ute Valley Park
Habitat: Pinyon-Juniper Forest
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Waldo Canyon
Habitat: Ponderosa Forest, Scrub Oak Forest, Stream
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Use the form on the home page to contact the editor with corrections or to volunteer to add a site.

eBird Seasonal Bar Chart

Latest Unusual Birds (eBird) in El Paso County

 


CBRC Accepted Records from El Paso County

SpeciesAccession No.Date(s)
Tundra Swan2007-013 3/19/2007
Eurasian Wigeon2004-1074/17/2004
Eurasian Wigeon2020-010 4 Apr 2020
Black Scoter1997-01911/8/1997
Black Scoter1999-02811/11/1999 - 11/28/1999
Red-necked Grebe2-82-64/10/1982
Inca Dove1997-0491/18/1997
Inca Dove1998-0759/22/1998
Inca Dove2015-122 11/16/2015
White-winged Dove2000-0745/6/2000
White-winged Dove2001-0425/6/2001
Black-billed Cuckoo2015-065 05/25/2015
Common Nighthawk2014-20206 Sep 2014
Eastern Whip-poor-will29-82-165/13/1982
Eastern Whip-poor-will2006-073 5/20/2006
Mexican Whip-poor-will29-81-197/15/1981 - 7/30/1981
Mexican Whip-poor-will2022-043 14 Jun 2022
Rivoli’s Hummingbird2002-041 5/19/2002
Rivoli’s Hummingbird2008-090 7/6/2008 - 7/8/2008
Blue-throated Mountain-gemN-31-76/29/1972 - 8/4/1972
Blue-throated Mountain-gem31-96-426/16/1996
Blue-throated Mountain-gem1999-0877/29/1999
Ruby-throated Hummingbird2016-078 25 Sep 2016
Costa's Hummingbird2013-273 11/01/2013
Broad-billed Hummingbird2006-030 4/13/2006
Common Gallinule2022-034 19 Apr 2022
Limpkin2023-010 23 Jun 2023
Piping Plover2022-010 4 May 2022
Snowy Plover2015-055 05/03/2015
Ruddy Turnstone19-95-299/9/1995
Buff-breasted Sandpiper19-72-378/22/1972
American Woodcock2013-282 02/09/2013
American Woodcock2014-031 01/15/2013
American Woodcock2014-021 02/09/2014
Parasitic Jaeger2010-096 9/11/2010
Black-legged Kittiwake23-92-2711/2/1991
Black-legged Kittiwake2009-095 11/8/2009 - 11/9/2009
Little Gull2000-0499/25/2000 - 9/27/2000
Laughing Gull2013-172 06/30/2013
Short-billed Gull2008-154 12/26/2008
Western Gull2014-171 11/30/2014
Least Tern2006-096 6/2/2006
Arctic Tern2014-132 09/05/2014
Arctic Tern2020-029 17 Oct 2020
Royal Tern2004-126 6/17/2004
Red-throated Loon2000-0026/6/2000
Arctic Loon2023-025 2 Jun 2023
Yellow-billed Loon2000-0043/26/2000 - 4/18/2000
Neotropic Cormorant2009-100 10/22/2009
Neotropic Cormorant2020-009 3 Apr 2020
Least Bittern1905-0011905
Least Bittern1907-0016/18/1907
Little Blue Heron5-74-465/12/1974
Tricolored Heron5-78-455/14/1978
Reddish Egret1875-0018/ /1875
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron5-91-137/28/1991
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron2014-024 08/26/2005
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron2010-016 4/16/2010 - 4/19/2010
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron2013-222 10/05/2013
White Ibis2022-029 6 May 2022
Glossy Ibis2002-0695/4/2002
Glossy Ibis2006-051 5/13/2006
Glossy Ibis2009-023 4/26/2009
Swallow-tailed Kite1877-0018/8/1877
Common Black Hawk2010-028 5/16/2010
Common Black Hawk2021-019 7 May 2021
Red-tailed Hawk2012-21815 Feb 2012
Snowy Owl2010-0051/11/2010
Spotted Owl1873-0016/ /1873
Spotted Owl1919-0015/24/1919
Northern Saw-whet Owl2007-035 5/12/2007
Acorn Woodpecker2010-090 7/20/2010
Acorn Woodpecker2012-055 5/21/2012
Acorn Woodpecker2012-211 12/15/2012 - 4/19/2013
Acorn Woodpecker2015-019 02/15/2015
Acorn Woodpecker2015-133 12/18/2015 - 01/01/2016
Red-breasted Sapsucker2017-039 12/21-12/30/2017
Ladder-backed Woodpecker2006-026 3/23/2006
Merlin2007-014 3/25/2007
Great Crested Flycatcher2008-106 9/12/2008
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher2022-044 10 Sep 2022
Tropical Kingbird2017-040 09/17/2017
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher1999-0986/10/1999
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher2004-0346/28/2004
Eastern Wood-Pewee34-83-355/24/1983
Eastern Wood-Pewee2003-1208/30/2003
Eastern Wood-Pewee2007-048 8/13/2007 - 8/16/2007
Eastern Wood-Pewee2011-053 5/15/2011 - 5/16/2011
Eastern Wood-Pewee2016-081 05/18/2016
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher2006-086 5/24/2006
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher2017-058 09/20/2017
Acadian Flycatcher2023-021 22 May 2023
Alder Flycatcher2006-055 5/14/2006
Alder Flycatcher2006-068 5/16/2006
Alder Flycatcher2006-076 5/20/2006
Alder Flycatcher2007-050 8/16/2007
Alder Flycatcher2010-059 5/23/2007
Alder Flycatcher2008-098 9/3/2008
Alder Flycatcher2009-108 5/23/2009
Alder Flycatcher2010-038 5/22/2010
Alder Flycatcher2014-077 05/25/2014
Buff-breasted Flycatcher34-91-47 19 May 1991
Black Phoebe34-91-483/31/1991
Black Phoebe2006-024 3/12/2006 - 3/26/2006
Black Phoebe2014-18617 Feb 2014
Vermilion Flycatcher1965-0015/3/1965
Vermilion Flycatcher2006-025 3/18/2006 - 3/19/2006
Vermilion Flycatcher2006-038 4/21/2006
White-eyed Vireo51-96-645/10/1996 - 5/13/1996
White-eyed Vireo2000-0914/26/2000
Bell's Vireo2012-009 9/4/2011
Gray Vireo2003-026 5/9/2003
Yellow-throated Vireo51-77-648/24/1977
Yellow-throated Vireo51-96-685/23/1996
Yellow-throated Vireo1999-1055/15/1999
Yellow-throated Vireo2007-14227 Apr 2007
Blue-headed Vireo2006-060 5/15/2006
Blue-headed Vireo2007-037 5/19/2007
Blue-headed Vireo2009-028 5/7/2009
Blue-headed Vireo2009-116 9/16/2009
Blue-headed Vireo2012-145 9/14/2012 - 9/18/2012
Philadelphia Vireo51-82-185/13/1982
Philadelphia Vireo51-93-1016/3/1993
Philadelphia Vireo2008-053 5/7/2008 - 5/8/2008
Philadelphia Vireo2008-067 5/17/2008
Philadelphia Vireo2011-049 5/12/2011 - 5/26/2011
Philadelphia Vireo2012-177 09/27/2012
Purple Martin2006-083 5/23/2006
Cactus Wren2018-001 03/22/2018
Carolina Wren2001-05612/24/2000
Pacific Wren2017-059 09/23/2017
Pacific Wren2019-041 14 Dec 2019
Pacific Wren2022-047 25 Feb 2022
Sedge Wren2003-07910/17/2003 - 10/22/2003
Sedge Wren2008-124 10/21/2008
Long-billed Thrasher2006-006 1/14/2006 - 2/3/2006
Bendire's Thrasher1882-0015/8/1882
Gray-cheeked Thrush2006-059 5/15/2006
Gray-cheeked Thrush2006-065 5/16/2006
Gray-cheeked Thrush2007-030 5/3/2007
Gray-cheeked Thrush2008-060 5/14/2008
Gray-cheeked Thrush2008-066 5/17/2008
Gray-cheeked Thrush2012-161 5/6/2012 - 5/8/2012
Gray-cheeked Thrush2013-158 05/22/2013
Gray-cheeked Thrush2014-017 05/10/2013
Gray-cheeked Thrush2014-022 05/13/2013
Gray-cheeked Thrush2014-023 05/16/2013
Swainson's Thrush (Russet-backed)2006-071 5/19/2006
Swainson's Thrush (Russet-backed)2006-093 5/30/2006
Swainson's Thrush (Russet-backed)2010-026 5/13/2010
Wood Thrush2002-183 10/4/2002
Wood Thrush2010-037 5/21/2010
Wood Thrush2011-124 9/21/2011
Wood Thrush2014-098 04/28/2012
Varied Thrush44-94-5111/21/1994 - 11/22/1994
Varied Thrush2008-137 12/3/2008
Varied Thrush2011-157 11/7/2011
Varied Thrush2014-168 12/02/2014
Sprague's Pipit2015-118 10/20/2015
Brambling56-83-5910/31/1983 - 11/4/1983
Black Rosy-Finch2009-003 1/13/2009
Purple Finch56-77-121/2/1977
Purple Finch56-83-583/19/1983
Purple Finch2004-0035/5/2002
Purple Finch2008-056 5/11/2008
Purple Finch2016-005 01/10/2016
Common Redpoll2011-175 12/3/2011 - 12/6/2011
Common Redpoll2012-213 11/28/2012
Common Redpoll2013-058 12/22/2012
Common Redpoll2013-059 12/22/2012
Common Redpoll2013-084 02/08/2013
White-winged Crossbill56-73-2 1 Jan 1973
Grasshopper Sparrow2011-179 12/24/2011
Field Sparrow2006-075 5/20/2006
Field Sparrow2013-030 10/05/2012
Fox Sparrow (Red)2006-028 4/5/2006
Fox Sparrow (Red)2008-131 11/3/2008
Fox Sparrow (Red)2009-097 12/14/2009
Fox Sparrow (Red)2010-172 10/12/2010
Fox Sparrow (Red)2014-18806 Apr 2014
Fox Sparrow (Slate-colored)2007-021 4/12/2007
Golden-crowned Sparrow2008-018 2/23/2008
Golden-crowned Sparrow2008-063 5/15/2008
Baird's Sparrow1897-0018/23/1897 to 10/13/1897
Baird's Sparrow2000-1539/26/2000
Baird's Sparrow2014-128 09/03/2014
Eastern Towhee2006-002 1/6/2006 - 2/3/2006
Eastern Towhee2015-033 12/27/2013
Eastern Towhee2015-128 05/24/2014
Streak-backed Oriole2011-170 11/25/2011
Scott's Oriole2018-050 05/31/2018
Worm-eating Warbler52-80-725/27/1979
Worm-eating Warbler1998-1325/1/1998
Golden-winged Warbler52-75-475/9/1975
Golden-winged Warbler52-91-596/6/1990
Golden-winged Warbler52-91-585/20/1991
Golden-winged Warbler2012-144 5/2/2012
Golden-winged Warbler2013-162 06/01/2013
Blue-winged Warbler52-82-556/11/1982
Brewster's Warbler52-80-29 30 Apr 1980
Brewster's Warbler52-87-69 21 May 1987
Brewster's Warbler2009-037 5/13/2009
Prothonotary Warbler52-80-185/16/1979
Prothonotary Warbler52-82-5611/6/1982
Prothonotary Warbler52-93-406/1/1993 - 6/3/1993
Prothonotary Warbler52-94-735/21/1994
Prothonotary Warbler52-94-749/18/1994
Prothonotary Warbler52-95-845/10/1995
Prothonotary Warbler1998-1308/30/1998
Prothonotary Warbler1999-1425/15/1999
Prothonotary Warbler2000-13510/9/2000
Prothonotary Warbler2009-12420 Sep 2009
Swainson's Warbler52-86-155/17/1986
Swainson's Warbler52-92-167/16/1992 - 7/23/1992
Lucy's Warbler2012-045 4/20/2012
Lucy's Warbler2018-040 04/14/2018
Lucy's Warbler2022-049 23 May 2022
Lucy's Warbler2023-015 15 Apr 2023
Connecticut Warbler2010-029 5/17/2010
Connecticut Warbler2013-029 09/10/2012
Connecticut Warbler2019-043 29 May 2019
Mourning Warbler52-80-265/18/1975
Mourning Warbler1997-1015/23/1997
Mourning Warbler2015-070 05/18/2015
Kentucky Warbler52-85-115/27/1985 - 5/28/1985
Kentucky Warbler52-86-125/11/1986
Hooded Warbler2006-20302 May 2006
Cape May Warbler52-91-6311/15/1991 - 11/25/1991
Cape May Warbler2008-065 5/17/2008
Cape May Warbler2008-078 5/27/2008
Cape May Warbler2010-097 9/13/2010
Cape May Warbler2012-186 10/02/2012
Bay-breasted Warbler52-78-465/29/1978
Bay-breasted Warbler52-80-745/16/1979
Bay-breasted Warbler52-91-705/20/1991
Bay-breasted Warbler2000-1315/14/2000
Bay-breasted Warbler2004-024 5/19/2002
Bay-breasted Warbler2005-155 5/5/2005
Bay-breasted Warbler2008-064 5/17/2008
Bay-breasted Warbler2011-069 5/28/2011
Blackburnian Warbler52-94-645/15/1994
Black-throated Blue Warbler2006-20520 May 2006
Palm Warbler2013-30407 May 2013
Pine Warbler52-80-353/9/1980
Pine Warbler2010-160 12/4/2010
Yellow-throated Warbler52-94-675/8/1994
Yellow-throated Warbler2004-122 5/14/2004
Yellow-throated Warbler2005-030 4/25/2005
Yellow-throated Warbler2006-033 4/16/2006
Prairie Warbler1998-1268/24/1998
Prairie Warbler2005-036 5/8/2005
Prairie Warbler2011-110 8/20/2011
Prairie Warbler2015-049 04/29/2015
Prairie Warbler2021-033 13 May 2021
Hermit Warbler52-91-655/4/1991
Canada Warbler52-74-375/12/1974
Canada Warbler52-76-665/26/1976
Canada Warbler52-95-928/28/1995
Canada Warbler2003-1198/31/2003
Canada Warbler2014-145 09/22/2014
Canada Warbler2016-082 09/08/2016
Hepatic Tanager2002-104 5/11/2002
Hepatic Tanager2019-003 05/25/2019
Scarlet Tanager1902-0015/17/1902
Scarlet Tanager2011-107 8/8/2011 - 8/9/2011
Scarlet Tanager2020-063 16 May 2020
Northern Cardinal2007-012 3/13/2007 - 3/17/2007
Painted Bunting2014-104 05/18/2006
Painted Bunting2009-089 9/27/2009
Painted Bunting2015-093 05/03/2015