Cherry Creek State Park
Colorado · Rocky Mountains
Easy
June-October
$10 per vehicle
Open daily, 5 AM - 10 PM
About This Location
Cherry Creek State Park is a productive birding destination in Colorado, with 337 species recorded on eBird. This river/riparian habitat attracts Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, and Green-winged Teal 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
Sage Thrasher
Oreoscoptes montanus
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis
Northern Parula
Setophaga americana
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Eastern Warbling Vireo
Vireo gilvus
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)
Agelaius phoeniceus
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group)
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Snowy Egret
American White Pelican
American Kestrel
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Canada Goose
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Mallard
American Avocet
Spotted Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Downy Woodpecker
Western Wood-Pewee
Birding Tips
- 1
Walk along the water slowly, scanning overhanging branches for kingfishers and warblers.
- 2
Check sandbars and gravel bars for shorebirds and terns.
- 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
Bring quality optics — a good pair of binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) makes all the difference in species identification.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Cherry Creek Reservoir
- Denver Botanic Gardens
- Chatfield State Park
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 →