Herons in Colorado in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see herons in Colorado. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 1,791 of the 8,562 sightings logged across the year (20.9%), 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 July 2, 2026.
Peak month for herons in Colorado
20.9%
of yearly sightings
1,791
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
8,562
verified records a year
April 16.1%, May 20.9%, June 17.2%. Busiest month is May at 20.9%.
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)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 228 | 2.7% |
| February | 194 | 2.3% |
| March | 368 | 4.3% |
| Aprilpeak | 1,378 | 16.1% |
| Maypeak | 1,791 | 20.9% |
| Junepeak | 1,473 | 17.2% |
| July | 919 | 10.7% |
| August | 821 | 9.6% |
| September | 733 | 8.6% |
| October | 326 | 3.8% |
| November | 165 | 1.9% |
| December | 166 | 1.9% |
Herons you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Blue Heron | 4,941 |
| Snowy Egret | 1,640 |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | 1,249 |
| Great Egret | 326 |
| Western Cattle-Egret | 112 |
| American Bittern | 76 |
| Green Heron | 73 |
| Yellow-crowned Night Heron | 38 |
In Colorado, May carries 20.9% of the year's herons sightings, about 12.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from April (16.1%) into May, and it heads toward June (17.2%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
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 May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May 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 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.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main heron viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best heron viewing area in Colorado.
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Broader backupBook a heron tour in Colorado
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see herons in Colorado in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 1,791 of the 8,562 verified herons sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 20.9% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see herons in Colorado?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and April.
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.
See herons in Colorado in other months
More places to see herons
More wildlife in Colorado