Cardinals in Colorado in February

Yes, February is one of the best months to see cardinals in Colorado. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 18 of the 68 sightings logged across the year (26.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

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 photographed in ColoradoNorthern Cardinal photographed in ColoradoNorthern Cardinal photographed in Colorado
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for cardinals in Colorado

26.5%

of yearly sightings

18

records in February

#1

busiest month of 12

68

verified records a year

January 4.4%, February 26.5%, March 11.8%. Busiest month is February at 26.5%.

Best months: February, May, March

68 verified observations of cardinals in Colorado, recorded across 11 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When cardinals are recorded in Colorado

Peak month

February

18 records (26.5% of the year)

Quietest month

July

No verified records

MonthObservationsShare
January34.4%
Februarypeak1826.5%
Marchpeak811.8%
April811.8%
Maypeak1522.1%
June34.4%
July00%
August34.4%
September11.5%
October11.5%
November34.4%
December57.4%

Cardinals you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Northern Cardinal53
Pyrrhuloxia15

In Colorado, February carries 26.5% of the year's cardinals sightings, about 18.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 11 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from January (4.4%) into February, and it heads toward March (11.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so February is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The cardinals most often recorded in Colorado are Northern Cardinal and Pyrrhuloxia. Those counts are annual totals rather than a February split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in February itself.

Which cardinals you are most likely to see

  • Northern Cardinal53 records
  • Pyrrhuloxia15 records
Plan your tripBent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Plan your cardinal trip in Colorado

Start with live tours near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see cardinals in Colorado in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 18 of the 68 verified cardinals sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 26.5% of the annual total.

Is February a good time to see cardinals in Colorado?+

February is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of February, May and March.

What month is best for cardinals in Colorado?+

February is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through February, May and March, based on 68 verified observations.

Which cardinals are you most likely to see in Colorado?+

The most-recorded species in Colorado are Northern Cardinal and Pyrrhuloxia, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.