Migration patterns of the bald eagle combined with the typical winter cold will give Coloradans plenty of great chances to spot this majestic bird species over the next few weeks – if they know where to look.

Each year, between November and March, more than 1,000 bald eagles migrate into the Centennial State, joining Colorado’s roughly 200 nesting pairs that claim local residency year-round. Not only does this mean that there are many more eagles to see during the winter months, weather-related factors tend to make them easier to spot.

As winter hits and mountain lakes freeze, eagles get pushed to lower elevation areas in search of fish that aren’t trapped beneath an icy surface that forms on high-elevation bodies of water. Many of the lower elevation lakes that these eagles tend to seek out are often in places found closer to human development, thus more accessible for hopeful birders.

This change of location isn’t the only factor that makes spotting eagles during early February easier.

The colder temperatures that tend to move in during this time of the year also mean less overall activity for the eagles, making eagles easier to spot at predictable roosts during particularly frigid days. Given how eagles tend to congregate in branches of shoreside trees overnight, spotting them in these areas during the coldest hours of dusk or dawn is a good strategy.

Looking for a place to find Colorado’s bald eagles? Lake Pueblo, John Martin Reservoir, Eleven Mile Reservoir, and Barr Lake are several popular spots, but it’s recommended that you chat with a local expert at any of those destinations to know exactly where to look.

Find a full list of places in Colorado where eagles are known to frequent here.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)

Photo Credit: John Morrison (iStock).

John Morrison