Colorado · Summer breeder

Western Kingbirds in Colorado

When western kingbirds are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis

Status in Colorado: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3a–7b

When to expect western kingbirds in Colorado

Western Kingbirds are summer residents in Colorado, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent.

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, western kingbirds typically nest from May–July. Plan around that window: April for setup, July for clean-out.

Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.

Western Kingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, ponderosa pine, gambel oak for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Colorado plants that attract western kingbirds

Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover western kingbirds use:

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Gambel oak

Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding western kingbirds through the Colorado year

Top foods: None — open country with wires and fences is the draw.
In Colorado's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for western kingbirds · Best feeder for western kingbirds

Frequently asked

Are western kingbirds in Colorado year-round?

No. Western Kingbirds are summer breeders in Colorado and leave for the winter.

When do western kingbirds nest in Colorado?

Nesting in Colorado typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 18–19 days.

What native plants attract western kingbirds in Colorado?

New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for western kingbirds.

Western Kingbirds in other regions

Alberta Arizona British Columbia California Idaho Kansas Manitoba Montana Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon Saskatchewan South Dakota Texas Utah Washington Wyoming

Other backyard birds in Colorado

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Gambel's Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Ladder-backed Woodpecker Curve-billed Thrasher Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Pinyon Jay Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Greater Roadrunner Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.