Cardinals in Colorado in December
Yes, December is a good month to see cardinals in Colorado. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 5 of the 53 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Northern Cardinal · Archer Silverman CC BY
Good month for cardinals in Colorado
9.4%
of yearly sightings
5
records in December
#4
busiest month of 12
53
verified records a year
November 5.7%, December 9.4%, January 5.7%. Busiest month is May at 28.3%.
53 verified observations of cardinals in Colorado, recorded across 11 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When cardinals are recorded in Colorado
Peak month
May
15 records (28.3% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3 | 5.7% |
| February | 3 | 5.7% |
| Marchpeak | 8 | 15.1% |
| Aprilpeak | 8 | 15.1% |
| Maypeak | 15 | 28.3% |
| June | 3 | 5.7% |
| July | 0 | 0% |
| August | 3 | 5.7% |
| September | 1 | 1.9% |
| October | 1 | 1.9% |
| November | 3 | 5.7% |
| December | 5 | 9.4% |
Cardinals you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Northern Cardinal | 53 |
In Colorado, December carries 9.4% of the year's cardinals sightings, about 1.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 11 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from November (5.7%) into December, and it heads toward January (5.7%) after. The busiest month is May (28.3%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The cardinals most often recorded in Colorado are Northern Cardinal. Those counts are annual totals rather than a December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.
Which cardinals you are most likely to see
- Northern Cardinal53 records
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see cardinals in Colorado in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 5 of the 53 verified cardinals sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see cardinals in Colorado?+
December is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though May and March is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for cardinals in Colorado?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, March and April, based on 53 verified observations.
Which cardinals are you most likely to see in Colorado?+
The most-recorded species in Colorado are Northern Cardinal, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See cardinals in Colorado in other months
More places to see cardinals
More wildlife in Colorado