The monument's stunning red sandstone cliffs and canyons can be seen to the southwest from downtown Grand Junction. A variety of diverse habitats ornament the monument's cliffs and canyons, including pinyon/juniper, sage, and riparian. Many of the pinyon/juniper species can be easily found in all seasons; Pinyon Jay, Juniper Titmouse, and Bewick's Wren. In late spring and summer look for Peregrine Falcon, Ash-throated and Gray Flycatchers, Gray Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Black-throated Sparrow. Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon are resident, and Gray Vireo is common in the bottom of the canyons that open up into Grand Valley. Good and varied birding at all seasons. The west entrance of the monument has a wonderful visitor center, which is stuffed with all kinds of interesting natural history items, including checklists. Read more about Colorado National Monument here.

Habitat: Pinyon-Juniper Forest, Cliff Face, Sagebrush

Directions: Westbound on 1-70, take Exit 31 to East Entrance. From the off ramp turn left onto Horizon Drive for about one mile to a roundabout, exit the roundabout onto southbound 12th Street, and drive for two miles. Turn right on Grand Avenue for another two miles, cross over the viaduct and the Colorado River, and take the first left turn past the bridge. Stay on Monument Road for three miles to monument entrance. Eastbound on 1-70, take Exit 19 at Fruita to West Entrance. From the off ramp turn right on Colorado 340 for about three miles to the entrance station. Campgrounds are located in this vicinity, as well as excellent views of the surrounding valley floor. The main park road is the historic, paved, 23-mile Rim Rock Drive. A self-guided nature trail and 13 backcountry trails offer birding options. A printable travel guide is available at http://www.nps.gov/colm, and the phone number is 970-858-3617.

Acknowledgments: Hotspot information was originally compiled on Birding Colorado, a service of Colorado Field Ornithologists. CFO thanks all the original contributors.

Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.

The pinyon-juniper woodland that dominates most of this area provides an essential habitat for a wide diversity of birds. At least 54 breeding songbird species and nine breeding species of raptors have been identified in the monument. Several other species are known to pass through during migration and winter months. Recognizing the significance of this area, Colorado National Monument was designated as an important bird area (IBA) by the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy on May 10, 2000.