This Bird Doesn’t Belong in Denver — But It’s Here

It might blow your mind to think of all the bird species that call Colorado home. If you had to guess, how many do you think there are? According to the Colorado Bird Records Committee, there are more than 500 recognized species in the state.

A Rare Bird Sighting in Colorado

This month, one bird species was spotted in the Denver Metro Area that does not belong in the state. According to AccuWeather, a Greater Roadrunner bird was spotted by numerous people over the past few weeks off of South Parker Road.

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Great Roadrunners can be found in Colorado, but not usually in the Denver Metro Area. To see a Greater Roadrunner in the state in its natural habitat, you would have to take a trip to the extreme southeastern portion of Colorado, as they are not typically found in urban environments.

How Did the Roadrunner Get to the Denver Metro Area?

Audubon Denver Master Birder, Crystal Reser, told AccuWeather that her best guess is that this Greater Roadrunner bird more than likely followed a greenbelt north from Colorado Springs to the Denver Metro Area.

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Since the species of bird typically does not migrate from its southwestern habitat, Reser suspects that the Greater Roadrunner could be a juvenile that became disoriented while searching for food or exploring. Also, these birds love to run, living up to their name, the roadrunner. Meep Meep.