Rocky Mountain

 Arsenal

National Wildlife 

Refuge

Bird List

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Welcome The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National 

Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of the 

largest urban refuges in the country. 

This Refuge provides important 

feeding and resting grounds for 

resident and migratory birds. The 

Refuge was designated as a Colorado 

State Important Bird Area by the 

National Audubon Society in 2008.

When to Visit The Refuge offers visitors unique 

opportunities to view birds and other 

wildlife. Dawn and dusk are the best 

times of day to observe birds, and 

spring and fall are the best seasons. 

However, many birds are present 

year-round on the Refuge. Colorful 

songbirds pass through in the 

spring. Shorebirds stop during their 

migrations in spring and fall. In winter, 

numerous bald eagles roost at the 

Refuge and long-eared owls gather in 

thickets. Waterfowl can be seen during 

all seasons on the Refuge’s lakes.

About the List This list of 273 birds follows the 

organization of the American 

Ornithologists’ Union’s Seventh 

Edition Checklist, including changes 

through the 55th Supplement. 

The information contained in this 

checklist is based on field data 

collected between 1989 and 2014 

by the Denver Audubon Society, 

Denver Field Ornithologists, 

Refuge staff and visiting birders.

Seasons Since many birds are migratory, their 

seasonal occurrence and relative 

abundance are noted as follows:

Sp Spring (March – May)

S Summer (June – August)

F Fall (September – November)

W Winter (December – February)

Seasonal 

Abundance:

c common – certain to be seen in

suitable habitat

u uncommon – present, but not 

certain to be seen

r rare – seen at intervals of 2 - 5 years

Ø not present – not seen on the Refuge

Other Codes ● breeds on the Refuge
Common Bird Name SP S F W

Ducks, Geese and Swans

Greater White-fronted Goose r Ø r r

Snow Goose r Ø r u

Ross's Goose Ø Ø r r

Cackling Goose u u u c

•Canada Goose c c c c

Trumpeter Swan Ø Ø r r

•Wood Duck u u u r

Gadwall c u c c

Eurasian Wigeon Ø Ø r Ø

American Wigeon c u c c

•Mallard c c c c

•Blue-winged Teal c c c Ø

Cinnamon Teal c u u Ø

•Northern Shoveler c u c c

•Northern Pintail c u c c

Green-winged Teal c u c c

Canvasback c r c c

•Redhead c u c c

Ring-necked Duck c u c c

Greater Scaup r Ø r Ø

Lesser Scaup c u u c

Surf Scoter r Ø r Ø

White-winged Scoter Ø Ø r Ø

Black Scoter Ø Ø r Ø

Bufflehead c Ø c u

Hooded Merganser u u u c

Common Merganser c r c c

Red-breasted Merganser r Ø r r

Common Goldeneye c r c c

•Ruddy Duck c u c u

Loons

Pacific Loon Ø Ø r Ø

Common Loon r r r Ø

Grebes

•Pied-billed Grebe c c c u

Horned Grebe r Ø r Ø

Red-necked Grebe r Ø Ø Ø

Eared Grebe u u u Ø

Western Grebe c u u r

Clark's Grebe r r r Ø
Common Bird Name SP S F W

Pelicans

American White Pelican c c c r

Cormorants

Double-crested Cormorant c c c Ø

Bitterns, Herons and Egrets

American Bittern r Ø r Ø

•Great Blue Heron c c c r

Great Egret r r r Ø

Snowy Egret u c c Ø

Little Blue Heron r r Ø Ø

Tricolored Heron r Ø Ø Ø

Cattle Egret r r r Ø

Green Heron r Ø r Ø

Black-crowned Night-Heron u u u Ø

Ibises and Spoonbills

White-faced Ibis c u u Ø

New World Vultures

Turkey Vulture u r u Ø

Osprey

Osprey u r u Ø

Hawks, Kites and Eagles

•Bald Eagle c c c c

•Northern Harrier u u u c

Sharp-shinned Hawk u r u u

Cooper's Hawk u r u u

Northern Goshawk r Ø Ø Ø

Broad-winged Hawk r Ø Ø Ø

•Swainson's Hawk c c c Ø

•Red-tailed Hawk c c c c

Ferruginous Hawk u r c c

Rough-legged Hawk u Ø u u

Golden Eagle u u u u

Rails, Gallinules and Coots

•Virginia Rail u r u r

Sora u u u Ø

•American Coot c c c c

Cranes

Sandhill Crane r Ø u r

Stilts and Avocets

Black-necked Stilt r r Ø Ø

•American Avocet c c u Ø
Common Bird Name SP

SFW

Plovers

Black-bellied PloverrØrØ

American Golden-PloverØØrØ

Snowy PloverrØØØ

Semipalmated PloverrØØØ

•Killdeercccr

Mountain Ploverr

ØrØ

Sandpipers and Phalaropes •Spotted Sandpiper

uuuØ

Solitary SandpiperuuuØ

Greater YellowlegsuuuØ

WilleturrØ

Lesser YellowlegsuuuØ

Upland SandpiperrrØØ

WhimbrelrØØØ

Long-billed CurlewurØØ

Marbled GodwitrØØØ

Stilt SandpiperrØrØ

SanderlingrØØØ

Baird's SandpiperuuuØ

Least SandpiperØrrØ

White-rumped SandpiperØØrØ

Pectoral SandpiperrØØØ

Semipalmated SandpiperrØØØ

Western SandpiperrrrØ

Long-billed DowitcheruuuØ

Wilson's Snipeuuur

Wilson's PhalaropecuuØ

Red-necked PhalaroperØrØ

Gulls and Terns

Sabine's GullØØrØ

Bonaparte's GullrØrØ

Franklin's GulluØuØ

Ring-billed Gullcccc

California Gulluru

Ø

Herring GullrØuu

Thayer's GullØØØr

Caspian TernØrØØ

Black TernrrrØ

Common TernØØrØ

Forster's TernrØØØ
Common Bird Name SP S F W

Pigeons and Doves

•Rock Pigeon (introduced) c c c c

•Eurasian Collared-Dove (introduced) u u u u

White-winged Dove r Ø Ø Ø

•Mourning Dove c c c u

Cuckoos

Yellow-billed Cuckoo r r Ø Ø

Barn Owls

Barn Owl u u u u

Typical Owls

Eastern Screech-Owl Ø Ø r r

•Great Horned Owl c c c c

Snowy Owl Ø Ø r Ø

•Burrowing Owl c c c r

•Long-eared Owl u u u u

•Short-eared Owl r r r r

Northern Saw-whet Owl Ø Ø r r

Nighthawks and Nightjars

•Common Nighthawk r u u Ø

Common Poorwill r r r Ø

Swifts

Chimney Swift r r Ø Ø

Hummingbirds

Broad-tailed Hummingbird r r r Ø

Kingfishers

•Belted Kingfisher c c c u

Woodpeckers

Lewis's Woodpecker r Ø r Ø

•Red-headed Woodpecker u u r Ø

Red-bellied Woodpecker Ø Ø r r

Red-naped Sapsucker r Ø r Ø

•Downy Woodpecker c c c c

•Hairy Woodpecker u Ø u u

•Northern Flicker c c c c

Caracaras and Falcons

•American Kestrel c c c c

Merlin r Ø u u

Peregrine Falcon u Ø u r

Prairie Falcon u r u u

Tyrant Flycatchers

Olive-sided Flycatcher r Ø r Ø

Western Wood-Pewee c c c Ø
Common Bird Name SP S F W

Willow Flycatcher r Ø r Ø

Least Flycatcher r Ø Ø Ø

Hammond's Flycatcher Ø Ø r Ø

Gray Flycatcher r Ø r Ø

Dusky Flycatcher u Ø r Ø

Cordilleran Flycatcher r Ø r Ø

Eastern Phoebe r Ø r Ø

•Say's Phoebe c c u Ø

Ash-throated Flycatcher r Ø Ø Ø

Great Crested Flycatcher Ø Ø r Ø

Cassin's Kingbird r Ø u Ø

•Western Kingbird c c c Ø

•Eastern Kingbird c c u Ø

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher r r Ø Ø

Shrikes

•Loggerhead Shrike u u u r

Northern Shrike r Ø u u

Vireos

Plumbeous Vireo r Ø r Ø

Cassin's Vireo Ø Ø r Ø

Blue-headed Vireo Ø Ø r Ø

Warbling Vireo u u u Ø

Philadelphia Vireo Ø Ø r Ø

Red-eyed Vireo r Ø r Ø

Jays, Magpies and Crows

•Blue Jay c c c c

Western Scrub-Jay Ø Ø r Ø

•Black-billed Magpie c c c c

American Crow c u c c

Common Raven r Ø r r

Larks

•Horned Lark c c c c

Swallows

•Tree Swallow c c u Ø

Violet-green Swallow u r r Ø

•Northern Rough-winged Swallow c c u Ø

•Bank Swallow c c u Ø

•Cliff Swallow c c c Ø

•Barn Swallow c c c Ø

Chickadees 

•Black-capped Chickadee c c c c

Mountain Chickadee r Ø r r
Common Bird Name SP

SFW

Nuthatches

Red-breasted Nuthatchrrrr

•White-breasted Nuthatchuuuu

Pygmy NuthatchØØrØ

Creepers

Brown CreeperrØru

Wrens

Rock WrenuruØ

•House WrencccØ

Winter WrenrØrr

Marsh Wrenrrrr

Bewick's WrenrrØØ

Gnatcatchers •Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

cruØ

Kinglets

Golden-crowned KingletØØrr

Ruby-crowned KingletuØur

Thrushes •Eastern Bluebird

rrrØ

Western BluebirdrØrØ

Mountain BluebirdcØur

Townsend's SolitaireuØuu

VeeryrØrØ

Swainson's ThrushuruØ

Hermit ThrushcØuØ

Wood ThrushrØØØ

•American Robincccc

Mimic Thrushes

Gray CatbirdrØrØ

Brown ThrasherrØrØ

Sage ThrasheruuuØ

•Northern MockingbirduuuØ

Starlings •European Starling

cccc

Pipits

American PipitrØrr

Waxwings

Bohemian WaxwingØØrr

Cedar WaxwingrØrØ

Longspurs and Buntings

Lapland LongspurrØØr
Common Bird Name SP S F W

Wood Warblers

Ovenbird r Ø Ø Ø

Worm-eating Warbler r Ø Ø Ø

Northern Waterthrush r r r Ø

Black-and-white Warbler r Ø Ø Ø

Orange-crowned Warbler u Ø u Ø

Nashville Warbler Ø r r Ø

Virginia's Warbler u Ø Ø r

MacGillivray's Warbler r r r Ø

•Common Yellowthroat c c c Ø

Hooded Warbler r Ø Ø Ø

American Redstart r Ø r Ø

Bay-breasted Warbler Ø Ø r Ø

•Yellow Warbler c c u Ø

Blackpoll Warbler r Ø Ø Ø

Black-throated Blue Warbler r Ø r Ø

Palm Warbler r Ø Ø Ø

Yellow-rumped Warbler c r u Ø

Prairie Warbler r Ø Ø Ø

Black-throated Gray Warbler Ø Ø r Ø

Townsend's Warbler r r r Ø

Hermit Warbler r Ø Ø Ø

Wilson's Warbler u r u Ø

Yellow-breasted Chat r r Ø Ø

Sparrows and Towhees

Green-tailed Towhee u Ø u Ø

Spotted Towhee u r u Ø

Cassin's Sparrow r u r Ø

American Tree Sparrow u r c c

Chipping Sparrow c u c Ø

Clay-colored Sparrow u u u Ø

Brewer's Sparrow u u u Ø

Field Sparrow r r r Ø

•Vesper Sparrow c c c Ø

•Lark Sparrow u c u Ø

Black-throated Sparrow r Ø Ø Ø

•Lark Bunting c c u Ø

Savannah Sparrow r r r Ø

•Grasshopper Sparrow u c r Ø

Fox Sparrow Ø Ø Ø r

•Song Sparrow c c c c

Lincoln's Sparrow u Ø Ø r
Common Bird Name SP S F W

Sparrows and Towhees (continued)

Swamp Sparrow Ø Ø r r

White-throated Sparrow Ø Ø r r

Harris's Sparrow r r r r

White-crowned Sparrow u r c c

Dark-eyed Junco c Ø c c

Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Allies

Scarlet Tanager r Ø r Ø

Western Tanager u r u Ø

Rose-breasted Grosbeak u u Ø Ø

•Black-headed Grosbeak u u u Ø

Blue Grosbeak r u u Ø

Lazuli Bunting u u r Ø

Indigo Bunting Ø r r Ø

Blackbirds and Orioles

Bobolink r Ø Ø Ø

•Red-winged Blackbird c c c c

•Western Meadowlark c c c c

•Yellow-headed Blackbird c c u r

•Brewer's Blackbird u u u r

•Common Grackle c c u r

Great-tailed Grackle r r Ø r

•Brown-headed Cowbird c u u Ø

Orchard Oriole u u r Ø

•Bullock's Oriole c c r r

Finches

•House Finch c c c c

Common Redpoll Ø Ø Ø r

Pine Siskin r Ø r r

Lesser Goldfinch Ø r r Ø

American Goldfinch c c c c

Evening Grosbeak Ø Ø r Ø

Old World Sparrows

•House Sparrow (introduced) c c c c

Accessibility Information

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from 

programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

is available to all individuals regardless of physical or mental 

ability. Dial 711 for a free connection to the State relay service 

for TTY and voice calls to and from the speech and hearing 

impaired. For more information or to address accessibility 

needs, please contact the Refuge staff at 303 / 289 0930, or the 

U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Equal Opportunity, 

1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240
Notes

Date:

Time:

Locality:

Weather:

Observers: 

Total Species:

Total Individual: 
Rocky Mountain Arsenal

National Wildlife Refuge

6550 Gateway Road, Building 121

Commerce City, CO 80022-1748

303 / 289 0930

303 / 289 0579 fax

rockymountainarsenal@fws.gov

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/rocky_mountain_arsenal

For State relay service:

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

April 2015