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
Lark Bunting
Calamospiza melanocorys
Cassin's Kingbird
Tyrannus vociferans
Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus
Red Crossbill (Ponderosa Pine or type 2)
Loxia curvirostra
Prairie Falcon
Falco mexicanus
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Canada Goose
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
American White Pelican
Bald Eagle
Western Wood-Pewee
Eastern Kingbird
Black-capped Chickadee
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
American Robin
House Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Bullock's Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's 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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Pawnee National Grassland
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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 →