Chatfield State Park
Colorado · Rocky Mountains
Easy
June-October
$10 per vehicle
Open daily, 5 AM - 10 PM
About This Location
Chatfield State Park is a productive birding destination in Colorado, with 334 species recorded on eBird. This mountain and forest habitat attracts Canada Goose, Gadwall, and Mallard 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
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Northern Harrier
Circus hudsonius
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis
Northern Parula
Setophaga americana
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)
Agelaius phoeniceus
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group)
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Osprey
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Black-capped Chickadee
Northern House Wren
Gray Catbird
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Yellowthroat
Birding Tips
- 1
Bring layers as mountain weather changes rapidly at elevation.
- 2
Check exposed ridges and thermals for soaring raptors and swifts.
- 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
Scan the canopy edges at dawn for migrating warblers and other songbirds during spring and fall.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Chatfield Reservoir
- South Platte Park
- Waterton Canyon
More in Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park
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 →