Herons in Colorado in August

Yes, August is a good month to see herons in Colorado. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 821 of the 8,562 sightings logged across the year (9.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.

American Bittern photographed in ColoradoSnowy Egret photographed in ColoradoGreat Blue Heron photographed in Colorado
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for herons in Colorado

9.6%

of yearly sightings

821

records in August

#5

busiest month of 12

8,562

verified records a year

July 10.7%, August 9.6%, September 8.6%. Busiest month is May at 20.9%.

Best months: May, June, April

8,562 verified observations of herons in Colorado, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When herons are recorded in Colorado

Peak month

May

1,791 records (20.9% of the year)

Quietest month

November

165 records

MonthObservationsShare
January2282.7%
February1942.3%
March3684.3%
Aprilpeak1,37816.1%
Maypeak1,79120.9%
Junepeak1,47317.2%
July91910.7%
August8219.6%
September7338.6%
October3263.8%
November1651.9%
December1661.9%

Herons you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Great Blue Heron4,941
Snowy Egret1,640
Black-crowned Night Heron1,249
Great Egret326
Western Cattle-Egret112
American Bittern76
Green Heron73
Yellow-crowned Night Heron38

In Colorado, August carries 9.6% of the year's herons sightings, about 1.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from July (10.7%) into August, and it heads toward September (8.6%) after. The busiest month is May (20.9%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The herons most often recorded in Colorado are Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron. Those counts are annual totals rather than a August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August itself.

Which herons you are most likely to see

  • Great Blue Heron4,941 records
  • Snowy Egret1,640 records
  • Black-crowned Night Heron1,249 records
  • Great Egret326 records
  • Western Cattle-Egret112 records
  • American Bittern76 records
Plan your tripBent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Plan your heron 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 herons in Colorado in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 821 of the 8,562 verified herons sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 9.6% of the annual total.

Is August a good time to see herons in Colorado?+

August is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though May and June is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for herons in Colorado?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and April, based on 8,562 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Colorado are Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.