Birds in Colorado (Passerines, perching birds)

Colorado has an official State Bird -- the Lark Bunting. (Tom Grey photo )
Bill Schmoker's bird photos:www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/index.html
Ken Conger's bird photos:www.kencongerphotography.com/Nature
Tom Grey's bird photos:tgreybirds.com/
USGS Patuxent Bird identification:www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/

These bird families are in the order Passeriformes, or perching birds.
This order has more than half of all bird species.
Family Alaudidae. Larks.
Family Cardinalidae Cardinals, Grosbeak, Tanager.
Family Corvidae Ravens, Crows, jays, magpies, etc
Family Emberizidae Juncos, Towhees & some Sparrows
Family Fringillidae True Finches
Family Hirundinidae Swallows and Martins
Family Icteridae. Blackbirds, orioles, meadowlarks, etc.
Family Paridae tits, chickadees, and titmice
Family Parulidae . New World Warblers
Family Passeridae Sparrows
Family Sittidae Nuthatches
Family Sturnidae -- Starlings
Family Troglodytidae -- Wrens
Family Turdidae Thrushes (Bluebirds, Robins, etc)
Family Tyrannidae Kingbirds, Tyrant flycatcher

These families are in other orders.
Family Accipitridae. Hawks and Eagles
Family Anatidae. Ducks, Geese.
Family Ardeidae Herons and Egrets.
Family Cathartidae New World vultures.
Family Cerylidae Kingfishers
Family Charadriidae. Killdeer, Plovers, dotterels, and lapwings
Family Columbidae. Pigeons and Doves
Family Falconidae. Falcons and Caracaras
Family Gruidae Cranes
Family Laridae. Gulls and Terns
Family Meleagrididae Wild Turkeys
Family Odontophoridae Quail
Family Pandionidae . Osprey.
Family Pelecanidae Pelicans
Family Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants
Family Picidae. Woodpeckers
Family Podicipedidae. Grebes.
Family Rallidae Coots & Rails.
Family Recurvirostridae Avocets
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers
Family Strigidae -- Owls
Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds

Swallows and Martins. Family Hirundinidae.

A Cliff Swallow colony, at Pueblo lake. With the nests built under an overhang, the ground-based predators can not reach the nests. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae Genus: Petrochelidon Species: P. pyrrhonota
A Cliff Swallow colony was busy building nests at Antero lake, Park Co., CO on 9 Jun 2011. Their nests are considerably longer than those built by the barn swallows, and the opening is on the side, instead of the top like barn swallows prefer.
A Barn Swallow glaring at me from it's nest, at the Fountain Creek Nature center, at Fountain, Colorado. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae (swallows) Genus: Hirundo Species: H. rustica and the one we have in Colorado is the H. r. erythrogaster sub-species. This video of one of them building a nest was taken on 14 May 2011: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtnPaDoJJHA at the Fountain Creek Nature Center.
Three baby Barn Swallows waiting to be fed, at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on June 26, 2016.
On 19 May 2011, I saw a large number of Violet-Green Swallows flying low and fast over moving water at the Fountain Creek Regional Park. I didn't get a good picture, since they would not stop and pose for pictures. I'll try again next trip. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae Genus: Tachycineta Species: T. thalassina

Family Cardinalidae. Cardinals, Grosbeak, Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak, male and female. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae Genus: Pheucticus Species: P. melanocephalus The pictures were taken 10 May 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO. The identification was provided by Gary Lefko, at coloradobirder.ning.com/.
This is an immature Black-headed Grosbeak. It was found at the Bear Creek Nature Center in Colorado Springs, CO on 3 June 2011. Identified by Adrienne Petterson.
Male Western Tanager. These pictures were taken in May 2013 by Alyssa Erickson, near Colorado Springs, CO. The identification was provided by Wayne Erickson. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae Genus: Piranga Species: ludoviciana

Family Sturnidae. Starlings.

European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris. The first picture was taken 10 April 2008, in El Paso County, CO. They were attracted to a slice of bread. The second picture was taken on 27 September 2008. The last three pictures were taken near Brush Hollow, Fremont Co., Colorado on 21 May 2010. These birds are unusual in that the beak will be dark in the fall, and orange/yellow the rest of the year. Watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=iECROV45tgQ some of them at a bird feeder on 30 April 2011. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae Genus: Sturnus Species: S. vulgaris
These European Starlings appear to be juveniles. At this time of year, the breeding adults will have an orange bill, and spots on the body. These photos were taken on 13 June 2011 in Colorado Springs.
This European Starling is in the process of losing it's juvenile plumage. It was seen on 9 August 2011 in Colorado Springs.

Family Fringillidae -- True Finches.

A male and female House Finch. Below that, another male & female pair in El Paso County, Colorado on 7 January 2011. Bill Schmoker has more pictures at www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/HOFI.html. Also, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywR97DEc0tY to see a male eating suet on 28 April 2011, in Colorado Springs, CO. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Parvorder: Passerida Family: Fringillidae Subfamily: Carduelinae Genus: Carpodacus Species: C. mexicanus
A female Lesser Goldfinch. The pictures were taken in El Paso County, Colorado on 14 November 2007. The identification was provided by Gary Lefko, at coloradobirder.ning.com/. The third picture is a male Lesser Goldfinch, found on 25 August 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. The fourth picture is a better shot of a male Lesser Goldfinch, 31 July 2010 same place. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Infraorder: Passerida Superfamily: Passeroidea Family: Fringillidae Genus: Carduelis Subgenus: (Spinus) Species: C. psaltria
American Goldfinch. These pictures were taken on 27 August 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. They were eating sunflower seeds. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae Genus: Carduelis Species: C. tristis

Family Passeridae. Sparrows

House Sparrows. The top picture, of a male, was taken 16 June, 2008 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The second picture is of a female, taken 15 March 2009 in Colorado Springs.
This bird is not native to Colorado. It is an African species, introduced in 1850, and first reported in Colorado in 1895 (ref. the rticle "Alien Invasion" by Mary Taylor Young, in the July/August 2010 issue of the Colorado Outdoors magazine. This bird is now well established.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Species: P. domesticus

www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i6882id.html

Family Emberizidae -- Juncos and Towhees, some Sparrows

A Spotted Towhee, found at the Bear Creek Nature Center, on the west side of Colorado Springs, Colorado on 1 September 2009. The third picture was taken at the same place, but on 25 May 2011. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus: Pipilo Species: P. maculatus
Another Spotted Towhee, this one in my front yard on 30 January 2013.
A Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia. Found 1 November 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. The second picture looks like another Song Sparrow. This one was running around in a thick tangle of cat-tails at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 2 March 2011. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus: Melospiza Species: M. melodia
This small bird didn't give me time for more than these two quick shots. The experts at the Colorado Birder web site said this is a Song Sparrow. The tail looked too long, but I guess holding it vertical made it look longer than a Song Sparrow would have. Found at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 20 July 2011.
White-crowned Sparrows. Thes first two were found at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on March 29, 2010. The third picture was taken on May 3, 2010 in Colorado Springs in my front yard. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus: Zonotrichia Species: Z. leucophrys
Another White-crowned sparrow, in poor light. It was seen on December 17, 2010 in Colorado Springs.
Another White-crowned sparrow, found in the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 5 April 2011.
A Lark Sparrow, found in rural Elbert county, Colorado on 27 May 2011. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus: Chondestes -- Swainson, 1827 Species: C. grammacus
This is a Dark-eyed Junco. That species comes in four different races (maybe), and this one appears to be the Oregon Race version. The picture was taken in El Paso County, Colorado on 10 March 2008. Some experts say that if the hood in clearly defined, then it is the Oregon Race. There seems to be a lot of disagreements among the experts about how many species of Juncos there are, and which ones are a sub-species or a race of which ones. So, there are at least 3, and maybe as many as 8 species of Juncos. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithe Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Infraorder: Passerida Superfamily: Passeroidea Family: Emberizidae Genus: Junco Species: Junco hyemalis
This is another version of the Dark-eyed Junco, this one called the Slate-colored Junco. This picture was taken on 12 March 2008, in El Paso Co., Colorado. But some say that this species of Juncos is not present in the Rocky Mountain region, birding.about.com/od/birdprofiles/ig/Pictures-of-Juncos/Junco---Slate.htm but the picture they show looks identical to this one.
The first picture of a Junco was taken in Colorado Springs, 16 March 2009, and is probably a Pink-sided Junco, sometimes considered a part of the Oregon sub-race, and sometimes considered to be a separate species. The second picture was taken on 15 December 2010 in Colorado Springs. It appears to be the same as in the preceding picture.
Another Pink-sided Junco, 5 January 2011 in Colorado Springs, El Paso county, Colorado.
This is the Gray-headed type of Dark-eyed Junco. It is not as widespread, and nests mostly in Utah and Colorado. It was found on 14 February 2011 at the Bear Creek Nature Center in Colorado Springs.

Family Parulidae -- New World Warblers

This one is a Yellow-rumped Warbler, and the Myrtle sub-species. It was found on 28 April 2011 at Prospect Lake in Colorado Springs. It was not willing to pose for pictues, and kept trying to keep a lot of tree branches in the way. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae Genus: Dendroica Species: D. coronata
This one is the same Yellow-rumped Warbler species as the one above, but it is the Audubon's sub-species. The most noticeable difference is that the throat is yellow in the Audubon's version. The first picture was taken on 19 May 2011 at the Fountain Creek Regional Park, and the second was taken on 21 May 2011, same place.
A Yellow Warbler, seen on 28 May 2011 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. There were a pair of them, but the other one escaped before I could get my camera ready. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae Genus: Dendroica Species: D. petechia (about 35 sub-species)
A male Northern Parula. See Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_parula. Pictures taken by Wayne Erickson, in Colorado Springs May 2015. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae Genus: Setophaga Species: S. americana

Family Turdidae Thrushes -- Bluebirds, Robins, etc.

A Western Bluebird. Seen on 11 May 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae Genus: Sialia Species: S. mexicana
A Mountain Bluebird. Seen on 6 November 2010 near Pueblo Lake, Pueblo county Colorado. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae Genus: Sialia Species: S. currucoides
More Mountain Bluebirds, these at Elevenmile Lake, Park county Colorado, on 20 March 2011. A few of them were hovering in one spot above the beach, and would then drop down to the sand. Catching insects, I suppose. The temperature was about 45 degrees F, and fairly windy.
This bird was on the roof of the rest stop at the summit of Wilkerson Pass, Park county Colorado, on 9 June 2011. One of the attendants there said it was a female Mountain Bluebird that had been hanging around for some time.
A Robin, newly arrived back in El Paso county CO in March 2008. The second picture was taken in the summer of 2007, and the third picture is later, when the baby robin is almost ready to leave the nest. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae Genus: Turdus Species: T. migratorius

Family Tyrannidae, Tyrant flycatchers.

This is a Say's Phoebe. It's breeding area is western North America from Alaska to Mexico. They migrate to southern Mexico for the winter. This one was found in Elbert county, Colorado on 17 May 2010. Gary Lefko at the Colorado birder web site identified it for me. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae Genus: Sayornis Species: S. saya
This Say's Phoebe spent quite a bit of time beside the firing line at the Ben Lomond Gun Club's high power shooting range in Elbert county, Colorado on 24 June 2011. It did not seem to mind the shooting, even a big .50 caliber rifle. It has something in it's beak, maybe some seed pods.
This is the nest built by a Say's Phoebe, under the roof covering the firing positions at the high power rifle range. Since the parents seem to have no problem with the noise caused by a lot of rifles, I guess the young ones will also be acclimated. Picture taken on 14 May 2012 in Elbert county, Colorado.
This one is a Western Kingbird. The first picture was taken on 8 June 2010, Elbert county, Colorado. The second and third pictures were taken at the same place, but on 27 May 2011. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae Genus: Tyrannus Species: T. verticalis
This is an Eastern Kingbird. The first picture was taken in Elbert County, Colorado on 8 June 2010. The second and third pictures were taken on 21 May 2011 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center, near Fountain, Colorado. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae Genus: Tyrannus Species: T. tyrannus

Family Icteridae. Blackbirds, orioles, Bobolinks, meadowlarks, grackles, cowbirds, oropendolas and caciques.

A Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta. This is a medium-sized blackbird. At one time, they were thought to be the same species as the Eastern Meadowlark, and in fact they sometimes interbreed. But the young seem to have low fertility, so they are now considered different species. These pictures were taken on 30 April 2009 in Elbert County, Colorado. This is the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming. Click here to hear the song courtesy of Cornell bird song library. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Sturnella Species: S. neglecta
This one appears to be a juvenile Western Meadowlark. It was found in Elbert county, Colorado on 18 June 2010.
Another Western Meadowlark, this one at Elevenmile Lake, in Park Co., CO on 20 March 2011.
A Brewer's Blackbird, at Elevenmile Lake, Park County Colorado, on 29 August 2008. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Euphagus Species: E. cyanocephalus
Another Brewer's Blackbird, also at Elevenmile Lake, Park County Colorado, on 17 June 2011.
Common Grackles. The first picture was taken in 2007, and originally identified as a Blackbird. Later research has shown that it was a Common Grackle. It was being picky about what it wanted from the bird feeder. The next two pictures are of two birds were part of a group of about 10 that visited our back yard in Colorado Springs on 21 July 2008. The identification was made by the experts on coloradobirder.ning.com/. Here is a video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHPJUX_cX4w showing a Grackle having lunch on 30 May 2011 at my bird feeder in Colorado Springs, CO. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Quiscalus Species: Q. quiscula
Another Common Grackle, photographed at my bird feeder in Colorado Springs on 16 April 2011. The sun was shining on him, and his irridescent feathers show up nicely.
This one appears to be a male Great-tailed Grackle. It was found at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 28 May 2011. It's tail is almost as long as it's body. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Quiscalus Species: Q. mexicanus
Red-Wing Blackbird. The first two pictures were taken at the Fountain, CO Nature Center on 20 March 2008. The third picture is of a female, taken 8 May 2008 at the same place. The fourth picture shows more Redwing blackbirds, but with smaller wing patches. For more Red-wing Blackbird pictures, click here . Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Agelaius Species: A. phoeniceus
This is another immature female Red-Winged Blackbird, found on 26 July 2010 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center, in a patch of Milkweed plants. This one has been banded, and why would anyone band a Red-Winged blackbird?
Four or five of these birds were found at Antero lake, Park Co., CO on 9 June 2011. They tried to stay behind the branches of a bush, so I did not get clear photos, but I am satified that these are Yellow-Headed Blackbirds. They acted like Blackbirds, sounded quite a bit like Blackbirds, and their coloring appears to be a match to the Yellow-Headed Blackbird. The first photo is a female. The second may be a male, but I'm not sure. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Xanthocephalus Species: X. xanthocephalus
This is a female Orchard Oriole. Picture taken 8 August 2009 at the Fountain Creek Nature Center. The experts at coloradobirder.ning.com/ confirmed my identification. The male has a different color pattern. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Icterus Species: I. spurius
A female Bullock's Oriole. She stopped by my bird feeder on 20 May 2011, but stayed only a few seconds. I got about a 3 second video, and took this picture from the video. Video is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh3z53ZBKCg . Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Icterus Species: I. bullockii
Another female Bullock's Oriole. This one visited on 18 June 2012 in Colorado Springs. Identification was provided by Austin Hess on ColoradoBirder.ning.com.
These are Brown-headed Cowbirds. They were seen on 7 May 2010 in Colorado Springs, CO. These birds are unusual in that they do not build nests; the female lays her eggs in the nests of other birds, and lets those other birds hatch and feed the young ones. The second picture appears to be of a female. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Genus: Molothrus Species: M. ater

Wrens. Family Troglodytidae.

Some species live in caves, therefore the name Troglodyte, Cave dweller.

A House Wren. Seen at the Fountain Creek Nature Center on 4 June 2009. These are small birds.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Neoaves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Infraorder: Passerida
Superfamily: Certhioidea
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Troglodytes
Species: T. aedon

These are Rock Wrens. They look like House Wrens, only bigger. These were a little bigger than a sparrow. They spend their time digging for spiders and insects around and under big rocks.
They were found on 3 August 2011 around the rocks at Eleven Mile Lake, Park county Colorado. As long as I stood still, they would come fairly close.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Salpinctes (Cabanis, 1847)
Species: S. obsoletus

Family Corvidae. Ravens, Crows, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs and nutcrackers.

A Blue Jay. This picture was taken 1 October 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. Males and females are almost identical in appearance, so I don't know which this one is.
The second picture was taken on 16 September 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. This one has a crest on the back of it's head, although it does not show well from this angle. The crest on it's head can lay flat, or stand up, depending on the mood of the bird.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Neoaves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Superfamily: Corvoidea
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Cyanocitta
Species: C. cristata

This Bluejay visited my new feeder which I put close to a window, so I can get good pictures. I should have thought of this years ago. It has a lot of brown on it. This would be a young one, maybe not finished moulting.
This one was seen on 14 December 2010 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Four Bluejays at one time in my feeder. Two with white breasts, and two young ones with the brown or tan breasts.
They were here on 17 December 2010, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This video www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN8Qm10xKpM was taken on 2 May 2011.

I think that this one is a Steller's Jay. It looked and acted like some kind of Jay, but would not get out in the open in some sun so I could get a better picture. The picture was taken on 1 September 2010 at the Bear Creek Nature Center in Colorado Springs. The folks that work there say they have several species of Jays, including a Steller's Jay.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Cyanocitta
Species: C. stelleri

I think that this one is a Western Scrub Jay. It also looked and acted like some kind of Jay, and would not get out in the open in some sun so I could get a better picture. This picture was taken on 20 August 2011 at the Bear Creek Nature Center in Colorado Springs.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Aphelocoma
Species: A. californica

This one is a Western Scrub Jay for sure. It was at my bird feeder on 13 September 2012, and I was able to get some fairly good pictures.

American Crows. These pictures were taken on 2 October 2009, in a parking lot in Colorado Springs.
Actually, the bird on the right in the second picture looks more like a Raven. The bill looks more curved, there appears to be some fur on the upper part of the beak, and the legs do not seem to have the pronounced scales found on Crows.
The third picture is of a crow which was attracted to the suet in my bird feeder on 29 March 2011 in Colorado Springs.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Species: brachyrhynchos
There are many species of crows, with a dozen or so being found in Central and North America. The American Crow is the most common.

A Raven. This one was on the roof of the Wendy's restaurant in Woodland Park, Colorado on 15 June 2009. It was much larger than a crow, and had a very different voice.
From www.frfrogspad.com/raven.htm,

Crows average around 17 inches long, and ravens about 24-27.
A raven weighs about four times that of a crow.
Crows have a wing span around 21/2 feet and while ravens are about 31/2 - 4 feet.
A raven's wing sometimes makes a prominent "swish, swish" sound, while a crow's wingbeat is usually silent.
Ravens have pointed wings, while crows have a more blunt and splayed wing tip.
Crows have a fan-shaped tail (squared-off), while raven tails are long and wege-shaped.
Besides having a bigger, more powerful bill, a raven's bill is curved, while a crow has a more-or-less flat pointed bill. Additionally, atop a raven's bill is a tuft of hairs absent on crows.
A crow's call is a "caw" and a raven's is a low and slow croak.
Crows exhibit at least two dozen different calls, while ravens can express themselves with more than 100 different vocalizations, depending on the expert cited, and are known to mimic other sounds. Ravens are acrobatic flyers and have been seen rolling, looping, and even flying upside down.
Raven's nests are generally between 2' and 4' in diameter.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Species: corax (Probably the common raven)

Another Raven, this one on one of the old buildings in Cripple Creek, Teller county Colorado. Photo taken on 28 August 2012.

Magpies. The variety that we have in Colorado is the Black-billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Pica
Species: P. hudsonia

The first picture was taken in El Paso county, CO. on 5 May 2009. The second was taken on 28 September 2009.
The third picture is of a somewhat small and ragged looking Magpie, with a short tail. It was at Elevenmile Lake on 22 July 2008. It is probably a young one.

A Blue Jay. This picture was taken 1 October 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. Males and females are almost identical in appearance, so I don't know which this one is. The second picture was taken on 16 September 2009 in Colorado Springs, CO. This one has a crest on the back of it's head, although it does not show well from this angle. The crest on it's head can lay flat, or stand up, depending on the mood of the bird. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Infraclass: Neognathae Superorder: Neoaves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Superfamily: Corvoidea Family: Corvidae Genus: Cyanocitta Species: C. cristata
This Bluejay visited my new feeder which I put close to a window, so I can get good pictures. I should have thought of this years ago. It has a lot of brown on it. This would be a young one, maybe not finished moulting. This one was seen on 14 December 2010 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Four Bluejays at one time in my feeder. Two with white breasts, and two young ones with the brown or tan breasts. They were here on 17 December 2010, Colorado Springs, Colorado. This video www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN8Qm10xKpM was taken on 2 May 2011.
I think that this one is a Steller's Jay. It looked and acted like some kind of Jay, but would not get out in the open in some sun so I could get a better picture. The picture was taken on 1 September 2010 at the Bear Creek Nature Center in Colorado Springs. The folks that work there say they have several species of Jays, including a Steller's Jay. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Cyanocitta Species: C. stelleri
I think that this one is a Western Scrub Jay. It also looked and acted like some kind of Jay, and would not get out in the open in some sun so I could get a better picture. This picture was taken on 20 August 2011 at the Bear Creek Nature Center in Colorado Springs. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Aphelocoma Species: A. californica
This one is a Western Scrub Jay for sure. It was at my bird feeder on 13 September 2012, and I was able to get some fairly good pictures.
American Crows. These pictures were taken on 2 October 2009, in a parking lot in Colorado Springs. Actually, the bird on the right in the second picture looks more like a Raven. The bill looks more curved, there appears to be some fur on the upper part of the beak, and the legs do not seem to have the pronounced scales found on Crows. The third picture is of a crow which was attracted to the suet in my bird feeder on 29 March 2011 in Colorado Springs. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: brachyrhynchos There are many species of crows, with a dozen or so being found in Central and North America. The American Crow is the most common.
A Raven. This one was on the roof of the Wendy's restaurant in Woodland Park, Colorado on 15 June 2009. It was much larger than a crow, and had a very different voice. From www.frfrogspad.com/raven.htm, Crows average around 17 inches long, and ravens about 24-27. A raven weighs about four times that of a crow. Crows have a wing span around 21/2 feet and while ravens are about 31/2 - 4 feet. A raven's wing sometimes makes a prominent "swish, swish" sound, while a crow's wingbeat is usually silent. Ravens have pointed wings, while crows have a more blunt and splayed wing tip. Crows have a fan-shaped tail (squared-off), while raven tails are long and wege-shaped. Besides having a bigger, more powerful bill, a raven's bill is curved, while a crow has a more-or-less flat pointed bill. Additionally, atop a raven's bill is a tuft of hairs absent on crows. A crow's call is a "caw" and a raven's is a low and slow croak. Crows exhibit at least two dozen different calls, while ravens can express themselves with more than 100 different vocalizations, depending on the expert cited, and are known to mimic other sounds. Ravens are acrobatic flyers and have been seen rolling, looping, and even flying upside down. Raven's nests are generally between 2' and 4' in diameter. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: corax (Probably the common raven)
Another Raven, this one on one of the old buildings in Cripple Creek, Teller county Colorado. Photo taken on 28 August 2012.
Magpies. The variety that we have in Colorado is the Black-billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Pica Species: P. hudsonia The first picture was taken in El Paso county, CO. on 5 May 2009. The second was taken on 28 September 2009. The third picture is of a somewhat small and ragged looking Magpie, with a short tail. It was at Elevenmile Lake on 22 July 2008. It is probably a young one.