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This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Rocky Mountain National Park, a park in the U.S. state of Colorado. This list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS).

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 66th Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, N. A. Mason, and P. C. Rasmussen. 2025. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. https://checklist.americanornithology.org/taxa/ retrieved September 5, 2025 Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.

This list contains 265 species and eight identifiable subspecies or forms when taxonomic changes have been made. Unless otherwise noted, all are considered to occur regularly in Rocky Mountain National Park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to designate the abundance of some less-common species.

(R) Rare - "usually seen only a few times each year" per the NPS (60 species) (U) Uncommon - "likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season and may be locally common" per the NPS (82 species) (O) Occasional - "occur in a park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year" per the NPS (58 species) (H) Historical - "not in park" per the NPS, but historical records exist (6 species) (Unc) Unconfirmed - "Attributed to the park based on weak ... or no evidence, giving minimal indication of the species' occurrence in the park" per the NPS (12 species) (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (5 species)

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.

Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons, lakes, marshes (O) Canada goose, Branta canadensis, lakes, marshes, rivers (U) Wood duck, Aix sponsa, lakes, marshes (R) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors, lakes, marshes, rivers (U) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera, lakes, marshes, rivers (U) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypatea, lakes, marshes, rivers (R) Gadwall, Mareca strepera, lakes, marshes, rivers American wigeon, Mareca americana, lakes, marshes, rivers (R) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, lakes, marshes, rivers Northern pintail, Anas acuta, lakes, marshes, rivers (R) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca, lakes, marshes, rivers (U) Canvasback, Athya valisineria, lakes, marshes (R) Redhead, Athya americana, lakes, marshes (U) Ring-necked duck, Athya collaris, lakes, marshes, rivers (U) Lesser scaup, Athya affinis, lakes, marshes (U) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola, lakes, rivers (U) Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica, lakes (O) Common merganser, Mergus merganser, lakes, marshes, rivers Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, lakes, marshes (U)

New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (H)

Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.

Wild turkey, Meleagris gallapavo, montane forests, meadows (R) (introduced to the park) Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (H) White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus, alpine tundra (U) Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus, montane and subalpine forests, meadows Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) (H) Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I) (H)

Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, lakes, marshes (U) Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus, lakes, marshes (O) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis, lakes, marshes (U) Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis, lakes, marshes (U)

Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They feed on seeds, fruit, and plants. Unlike most other birds, the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk", which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.

Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura, montane forests, riparian (U) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata, aspen forests, riparian (U) Rock pigeon, Columba livia, developed areas (U) (I)

Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.

Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (H)

Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.

Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor, riparian, montane forests, meadows (U) Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii, montane forests, meadows (R)

Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae

The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Black swift, Cypseloides niger, cliffs, rocky areas, waterfalls (U) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (Unc) White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis, cliffs, canyons, rocky areas (U)

Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.

Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, montane forests (O) Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri, montane forests (R) Calliope hummingbird, Stellula calliope, montane and subalpine forests, meadows (R) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus, montane and subalpine forests, meadows (U) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus, montane and subalpine forests, meadows

Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis, marshes, meadows (R)

Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Virginia rail, Rallus limicola, marshes (U) Sora, Porzana carolina, marshes (U) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata, lakes, marshes (O) American coot, Fulica americana, lakes, marshes (U)

Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

American avocet, Recurvirostra americana, lakes, marshes (R)

Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus, lakes, marshes, sandbars, meadows (U) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (H)

Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus, marshes, meadows (O) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa, marshes, meadows (O) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii, lakes, marshes (R) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla, lakes, marshes (R) Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri, lakes, marshes (R) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata, lakes, marshes, meadows Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia, lakes, marshes, sandbars Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria, lakes, marshes (R) Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes, lakes, marshes (R) Willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, lakes, marshes, sandbars (R) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, lakes, marshes (R) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor, lakes, marshes, rivers (R) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus, lakes, marshes (O)

Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae

Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.

Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (Unc)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (Unc) Bonaparte's gull, Larus philadelphia, lakes, marshes, rivers (R) Franklin's gull, Larus pipixcan, lakes, marshes, rivers (U) Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis, lakes, marshes, rivers (U) California gull, Larus californicus, lakes, marshes, rivers (U) Herring gull, Larus argentatus, lakes, marshes, rivers (R) Black tern, Chilidonias niger, lakes, marshes, rivers (O) Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri, lakes, marshes, rivers (R)

Loons Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae