The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in Colorado This Week

Q: What rare birds are in Colorado this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Denver, then the whole state. Each species is checked against five years of confirmed sightings, and the most unusual come first.

Q: How many bird species are seen in Colorado?

509 bird species in 212,400 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 66 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the state, so a new one of them is news.

Q: What counts as rare in Colorado?

Near Denver or your own ZIP, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings within 25 miles in five years, or one that is seen there but almost never in these weeks of the year. On the statewide list, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings anywhere in Colorado.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in Colorado?

The Colorado Bird Records Committee. From its page: “The primary purpose of the committee is to provide a repository for information regarding the records of rare or unusual birds within the state of Colorado.”

Q: How do I see rare birds near me in Colorado?

Enter your ZIP on the rare bird alert for a list around your own spot, and check it each week in spring and fall migration, when most strays turn up. Each bird links to its iNaturalist species page with photographs and a range map.

Q: Are needs ID sightings included?

Yes, for this week only, because confirmation takes days and a rare bird may be gone by then. The five year record the week is checked against counts research grade sightings only.

Colorado logged 212,400 confirmed bird sightings across 509 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 66 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Denver covers 25 miles around the city. The Colorado Bird Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Denver

Rare birds near Denver this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Denver in the last seven days, with the ones that are rare there, out of season or uncommon first and the reason for each.

Reading this week's bird sightings within 25 miles of Denver from iNaturalist.

Somewhere else in Colorado? Enter your ZIP for the circle around it.

Colorado birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

212,400

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

509

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in Colorado

Species seen 3 times or fewer

13 percent of the state list, the birds that make news

25 mi

Live circle

around Denver, or any ZIP you enter

Counted from iNaturalist’s research grade bird records in Colorado from October 9, 2021 to October 1, 2026, read October 9, 2026.

Across Colorado

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in Colorado in the last seven days, checked against the state’s own five year record: Rare here means 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the whole state.

Reading this week's bird sightings across Colorado from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in Colorado

509 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in Colorado over five years, and 66 of them were confirmed 3 times or fewer. A sighting of one of those is the kind a state records committee reviews before it joins the official list.

Colorado Bird Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in Colorado.

“The primary purpose of the committee is to provide a repository for information regarding the records of rare or unusual birds within the state of Colorado.”

Colorado Bird Records Committee, read October 9, 2026.

Nine birders and photographers on a wooden boardwalk over a marsh, with long lenses, a spotting scope and binoculars all pointed to the left, under spring trees — Birders and photographers setting up on an overlook. Word of an unusual bird travels this way: one person posts a photograph, and the people nearby go and look. “Birdwatchers stop to set up equipment at overlook”, Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain

Colorado rare bird questions

What rare birds are in Colorado this week?

How many bird species are seen in Colorado?

What counts as rare in Colorado?

Who confirms rare bird records in Colorado?

How do I see rare birds near me in Colorado?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for Colorado birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.Colorado fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.Colorado hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.Colorado eagle watchingWhere bald eagles gather in winter.Colorado snowy owlsWhere the winter irruptions reach.Colorado sandhill crane migrationWhere the cranes stage and when.

Rare birds in other states

Sightings and records from iNaturalist, read live for this week. The lists are built from counts per species, and each bird links to its species page. For your own spot, enter a ZIP on the rare bird alert.