Raptors of Dinosaur Ridge

These are the raptors we count at the hawk watch as photographed by Denver Field Ornithologists (DFO) members.

A great two-page raptor identification guide is available from Hawk Migration Association (HMA)
Download the HMA raptor guide

Black Vulture (RARITY) Vultures - non-raptors but often fly with them short flat wings; white primary patches; stiff wingbeats; rare in Colorado 0 recorded © John Breitsch	Turkey Vulture Vultures - non-raptors but often fly with them long wings; distinct dihedral; light flight feathers 11,816 recorded © John Breitsch	Osprey Other - unique shapes long, narrow wings; M shape in flight 1,490 recorded © John Breitsch
Golden Eagle Eagles - long, broad wings flies with slight dihedral; head projects less than tail; immature has distinct white at base of tail and primaries 1,134 recorded © John Breitsch	Northern Harrier Other - unique shapes long wings and tail; white rump 1,202 recorded © Jim Esten	Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipters - short, wide, rounded wings, long tail wrist of wing extends to head making it look nearly headless 6,756 recorded © John Breitsch
Cooper's Hawk Accipters - short, wide, rounded wings, long tail straight leading edge of wings; head extends beyond wings 8,561 recorded © John Breitsch	American Goshawk Accipters - short, wide, rounded wings, long tail bulky accipter approaching buteo size; often described as a stovepipe with wings 151 recorded © Jerry Liguori/Macaulay Library	Bald Eagle Eagles - long, broad wings long flat wings with straight leading edge; head and tail projection similar 1,419 recorded © John Breitsch
Mississippi Kite (RARITY) Other - unique shapes narrow, pointed wings and long tail; white body; dark wings and tail ; rare along Front Range 0 recorded © Don Danko/Macaulay Library	Red-shouldered Hawk Buteos - broad rounded wings, broad short tail narrowly banded tail; dark wing linings with window near wing tip; rare in Colorado 3 recorded © John Breitsch	Broad-winged Hawk Buteos - broad rounded wings, broad short tail smaller buteo with short banded tail; in good light has white underwings with black edge 1,814 recorded © John Breitsch
Swainson's Hawk Buteos - broad rounded wings, broad short tail dark breast and flight feathers; white wing linings; strong dihedral 880 recorded © John Breitsch	Red-tailed Hawk Buteos - broad rounded wings, broad short tail many sub-species but all have dark patagial/leading edge of wing 19,077 recorded © John Breitsch	Rough-legged Hawk Buteos - broad rounded wings, broad short tail dark belly and wrists; white tail with subterminal banding; strong dihedral 154 recorded © Jim Esten
Ferruginous Hawk Buteos - broad rounded wings, broad short tail large buteo; pale wth dark leggings; whitish tail 1,162 recorded © Jim Esten	American Kestrel Falcons - long pointed wings, long tapered tail light underneath; jay-sized; bouyant flight 13,123 recorded © Jim Esten	Merlin Falcons - long pointed wings, long tapered tail small and dark with banded tail; fast, direct flight 361 recorded © John Breitsch
Peregrine Falcon Falcons - long pointed wings, long tapered tail light breat and throat; quick, powerful wingbeats 453 recorded © John Breitsch	Prairie Falcon Falcons - long pointed wings, long tapered tail large, pale falcon; black armpits 483 recorded © John Breitsch

About Us

Named for its world-renowned fossil beds, Dinosaur Ridge is also a window into the seasonal movement of birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, falcons and more, over Colorado's Front Range. These raptors migrate in the spring along the eastern mountainous edge of the Rockies in part because mountain updrafts enable them to soar and conserve energy during their long journeys north to their breeding grounds.

Full Story
Access to Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch begins at the Stegosaurus parking lot off Interstate 70 and Jefferson County Road 93. The lot is at the southeast corner of Exit 259 from the freeway. Take the trail leading upslope from the southeast corner of the parking lot, (trail markers are located along the trail) then proceed south along Dinosaur Ridge to the ridge top.The trail is approximately 0.6 miles long.