Barr Lake State Park
Colorado · Rocky Mountains
Easy
June-October
$10 per vehicle
Open daily, 5 AM - 10 PM
About This Location
Barr Lake State Park is a productive birding destination in Colorado, with 353 species recorded on eBird. This lake habitat attracts Canada Goose, Northern Shoveler, and American Wigeon among many others. Elevation changes create diverse habitats, from riparian valleys to alpine meadows, supporting a wide range of species.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor
Mallard x Mexican Duck (hybrid)
Anas platyrhynchos x diazi
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
American Coot
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Blue Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Sparrow
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Birding Tips
- 1
Scan the water surface methodically for diving ducks, loons, and grebes.
- 2
Check the shoreline and mudflats for shorebirds and wading birds.
- 3
Acclimate to altitude before hiking to high-elevation birding spots.
- 4
Purchase your day pass online in advance to avoid wait times at the entrance station.
- 5
A spotting scope is essential here — many waterbirds stay far from shore and are difficult to identify with binoculars alone.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR
- Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
- Brighton
More in Colorado
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Colorado alpine park with accessible tundra birding and elevation-diverse habitats.
Pawnee National Grassland
Colorado shortgrass prairie with grassland specialists and nesting raptors at Pawnee Buttes.
Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake) - Bent Co
Lake birding hotspot in Colorado with 227 recorded species.
Colorado Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Colorado →