NPS The recreation area has several vegetation types that provide ideal habitat for birds, which can be classified as woodlands, water (riparian and reservoir), sagebrush scrub, and canyon. From colorful songbirds to impressive raptors, Curecanti is a great place for birdwatching. For a complete list of bird species found at Curecanti National Recreation Area, use the tool below. Select 'Birds' under species category. A bird checklist is available upon request at the Elk Creek Visitor Center. Select a Park:Select a Species Category (optional):
Search results will be displayed here.
Year-round Residents
NPS/D. Goodman Black-billed MagpieBlack-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia) are year-round residents across the American and Canadian west. These birds are related to jays and crows.Magpies prefer open areas and live in meadows, grasslands, and sagebrush scrublands. They are ground foragers and omnivores; diets range widely from wild grains, insects, small mammals, and carrion (roadkill). Magpies are noisy and quite vocal birds. They often perch on fenceposts, road signs, or tree branches and make a regular stream of calls. They are often visible around the Elk Creek Visitor Center, campground, and marina. 
NPS/D. Goodman Canyon WrenThe Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) have a sweet, almost haunting song that may be the only evidence of their presence. These wrens are far more often heard than seen. They have small bodies with a large belly and a long, slightly curved beak. Their coloration is rusty brown with a white throat. Their wings and tail have black barring throughout.They nest on ledges like a Peregrine Falcon does, laying eggs in depressions. They hop and poke about ledges and alcoves looking for spiders and insects to eat. 
Photo courtesy of Dave Showalter Gunnison Sage-GrouseThe Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) is a newly named species native to the Gunnison Basin and surrounding areas, recognized by the American Ornithological Union in 2000 as a separate species. It was formerly classified as part of the Greater Sage-grouse species (Centrocercus urophasianus). The Gunnison Sage-grouse is about one third smaller the size of the Greater Sage-grouse, has different coloration of tail feathers, and a distinct mating ritual.Once native in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, there is only three to four thousand birds remaining in isolated populations. The sage-grouse in the Gunnison Basin, including those in and around Curecanti National Recreation Area, account for the majority of these birds (88%). Habitat loss, habitat degradation, development, roads, recreation, and invasive species have all affected and isolated the birds from one another. In 2014, Gunnison Sage-grouse were listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and designated critical habitat within each subpopulation. 
NPS/Jeremy Stringfield Mountain ChickadeeMountain Chickadees (Poecile gambeli) exist throughout the higher elevations of the American West. These chickadees are about 5 inches (13 cm) long. They have black and white heads, a white stripe over the eye, and gray bodies. Their song is a distinct "chica-a-dee" call.Mountain Chickadees prefer conifer forests and stay near the tops of trees. They are foragers, mostly eating insects, berries, and seeds. Nests are usually in a hole in a tree and the same site may be used in subsequent years. 
NPS/D. Goodman Red-tailed HawkRed-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a common hawk across North America. These hawks can be spotted soaring over fields and wooded areas, or perched on telephone poles. Most adults have a reddish tail with white underneath. Western Red-tails have more variable coloration. Wings can span up to 4 feet (1.2 m). Their call is a distinct high-pitched scream.Red-tailed Hawks have varied diets including reptiles, birds, and small mammals. They watch from a perch and then swoop in to catch prey. Their bodies are lightweight for their size which makes them well adapted to flying. Keep an eye out for these hawks at overlooks. 
Photo courtesy of Ken Kingley Steller's JaySteller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) lives from the side canyons to the canyon rim where Douglas fir trees grow. They prefer woodlands and coniferous forest habitats. These birds are omnivores and consume seeds, nuts, and some insects. They get moisture from insects, but also need access to puddles, ponds, or other water sources.Steller's Jay is black and blue colored with a crest on its head. They have a loud call and can imitate sounds of other birds and mammals. Like other jays, they can be raucous, meddlesome, and opportunistic about food on picnic tables. Summer Residents
NPS/Jeremy Stringfield Mountain BluebirdMountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) share canyon rim habitat with owls but are daytime eaters of insects. Males have bright blue bodies, while females have gray bodies with blue wings. Mountain Bluebirds are migratory, not year-round residents here.
NPS Peregrine FalconPeregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) nest on ledges on canyon walls. These falcons have a blue-gray back and a grey or tan underside. Their wingspan can reach up to 3.5 feet (1.1 m) across.
NPS/D. Goodman Sage ThrasherSage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) is a small, ground foraging bird that migrates across the American West. It is about the size of a robin, with black, brown, and grey coloring. During spring breeding season, males sing a continuous melody. They often mimic other birds while singing.Sage Thrashers breed and hunt in sagebrush shrubland, which provide protection for nesting. Their diet consists of insects (summer) and berries or wild fruit (winter). They can be elusive birds, only popping up occasionally instead of taking flight. 
NPS/Jacob Frank White-throated SwiftWhite-throated Swifts (Aeronautes saxatalis) are aerial feeders whose scientific name means “rock-inhabiting air sailor.” These swifts have long, slim bodies and very narrow wings. They are black and brown birds with a white throat and some underbelly.White-throated Swifts nest high on canyon walls in rock crevices and feed mostly in early morning and at evening, when flying insects are most active. ResourcesAlden, Peter, and National Audubon Society. 1999. National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Rocky Mountain States. New York: A. Knopf; New York.Audubon. "Guide to North American Birds." 2024. National Audubon Society. Guide to North American Birds | Audubon Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2019. All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. https://www. NPSpecies Birds Checklist. National Park Service, Integrated Resource Management Applications. https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/Search/SpeciesList/CURE Roberts S and Others. 2024. Status and trends of landbird populations in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network: 2023 field season. Science Report. NPS/SR—2024/138. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2304411 |
Last updated: October 30, 2024