Chipping Sparrows in Colorado
When chipping sparrows are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect chipping sparrows in Colorado
Chipping Sparrows are summer residents in Colorado, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers, leafhoppers and caterpillars.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, chipping sparrows typically nest from April–July. Nest site: loose cup lined with hair, 3–10 ft up in conifers or shrubs. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 10–15 days, and young leave the nest after 9–12 days.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Chipping Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rabbitbrush for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Colorado plants that attract chipping sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover chipping sparrows use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Feeding chipping sparrows through the Colorado year
Chippers feed on lawns and low platforms and nest in ornamental evergreens near houses.
- Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower chips.
- In Colorado's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for chipping sparrows · Best feeder for chipping sparrows
Frequently asked
Are chipping sparrows in Colorado year-round?
No. Chipping Sparrows are summer breeders in Colorado and leave for the winter.
When do chipping sparrows nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 10–15 days.
What native plants attract chipping sparrows in Colorado?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for chipping sparrows.
Chipping Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
Sources
- Chipping Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chipping Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chipping Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.