Colorado State Bird

Colorado State Bird

The admission of statehood for Colorado came on August 1 of 1876. It was the 38th state to get admission into statehood in the US. It is also one of the few states without any noticeable nicknames. The state’s capital is Denver, but as a birder, what you might be really curious about is the state bird of Colorado. Well, let’s find out!

What is the state bird of Colorado?

The state bird of Colorado is none other than migratory bird species, the Lark Bunting, which became the state bird in 1931.

The adult male of the species tends to be black with snowy white wings. When winter comes, though, the black turns into brown-grayish color. The brown-gray color is also the color of the female bird. While they are a common bird, over the years, they have had a severe decrease in population.

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What makes the state bird of Colorado unusual?

Among the sparrows, it’s only Lark Bunting whose plumage turns a drab color during winter. They are also considered to have a really striking appearance. The breeding males have a dark black color, almost velvety in nature. Yet, the wing coverts are snow white. The juvenile males and females of the species are all brown. However, the white wings remain a striking feature.

Colorado state bird facts

So, let’s find out some amazing facts about the Colorado state bird.

1. The breeding males Lark Buntings have a song flight that is absolutely fascinating. They ascend upward pretty quickly and then make their trip back to the earth. While they move downward, they go through their songs.

2. The domestic arrangements of Lark Buntings are particularly interesting. Pairs tend to form nests that are quite close to each other. This essentially creates a colony, though it is somewhat without rules. They are quite similar to Dickcissels in this aspect. For the most part, they tend to be monogamous. However, there are males that have multiple partners. This aspect of the relationship is termed polygony for birds.

If there are more males than females in an area, then those who are unmated help out with the nest. They essentially help raise the young ones of others by bringing food to them.

3. Lark Buntings either sing while they are perching somewhere or when they are doing a flight showcase essentially. They have two different songs for flights. There is the main song, usually seen when they are in flight. In this case, it’s one note after another with the distinct time between them and notable differences in speed and pitch. There is the second song done by rival males. It’s low notes with giant pauses and with cutting whistles. It’s generally harsh-sounding.

Final Thoughts

Lark Buntings prefer grasslands more than anything. The Colorado state bird certainly isn’t lacking in land with grass. So, coming across Lark Buntings in Colorado isn’t hard by any means. Even roaming around a city like Denver should help you spot several.

Ornithology

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