General Information
Whether you're a native or a first-time visitor to Colorado, here is some helpful information to make your birding more enjoyable.
Ethics
Conscientious birders believe protecting the welfare of birds and their environment is the one of the most important aspects of birding. Please follow these guidelines while birding.
Publications
Need an atlas of Colorado or help finding other popular publications for the state?
Geographic Terminology
Learn the local lingo for referring to the different parts of Colorado.
Public & Private Lands
Coloradans are lucky to live in a state that is over one-third public land. However, it is not always obvious whether particular lands are open to the public, and what regulations govern them. It is the responsibility of the birder at all times to respect the rights of private property owners and the regulations in effect on public lands.
Habitats
Colorado is blessed with a tremendous variety of habitat types, which results in a tremendous variety of birds. In order to find a bird, you are best off looking for its habitat, and this requires at least a basic knowledge of Colorado's flora and geology. This section describes the main habitat types and some birds that are associated with them and may be hard to find elsewhere.
Hazards
Stay safe while birding! We've compiled a list of often encountered hazards in the state.
Weather
There is a saying about Colorado: no matter what time of year it is, and no matter what the weather is like, you can be sure that it is very unusual weather for that time of year! The saying may be tongue-in-cheek, but it is based in fact. Colorado has some of the most unpredictable weather in the nation.