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Background | Criteria | Northwest Colorado | Northeast Colorado
Southwest Colorado | Southeast Colorado

Canyons of the Ancients
National Monument
Montezuma County

Size: 164,000 acres

Elevation: 4900 - 7500 feet

Habitats: Primary – pinyon/juniper

Secondary – cliff/rock, grassland, sagebrush shrubland, semidesert shrubland

Ownership: Federal (Bureau of Land Management)

Land Use: Primary – undeveloped

Secondary – hunting, recreation/tourism, agriculture/livestock, research, oil extraction/exploration

IBA Criteria: 1, 2, 3, 4 (landbirds)

Site description

Location: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is located in southwestern Colorado, west of the towns of Cortez and Yellow Jacket.

Vegetative/natural features: The predominant vegetative cover at the site is pinyon-juniper, with some grasses, sage, and saltbush. McElmo Creek on the southern border is the only permanent water course.

Historic features: The site contains the highest known density of archaeological sites in the United States.

Ornithological Importance

The site provides among the best Gray Vireo range in the state, supporting a minimum of 500 pairs. It hosts the best densities of Black-throated Sparrows in the southwest region of the state.

Breeding species:	Average #	Maximum #
Black-throated Sparrow	>2,000
Gray Vireo	>1,000
Black-throated Gray Warbler	>500
Common Poorwill	>500
Gray Flycatcher	>1,000
Black-chinned Hummingbird	>500
Juniper Titmouse	>5,000
Sage Sparrow	>100
Ash-throated Flycatcher	>500

Migrant species:	Average #	Maximum #
Common Poorwill	>500 (spring, fall)

Wintering species:	Average #	Maximum #
Juniper Titmouse	>5,000

Conservation/Management Issues

Minor threats:
1. introduced animals;
2. cowbird parasitism.

Potential threats:
1. invasive/non-native plants;
2. pollution from nearby coal-fired power plants;
3. habitat conversion;
4. disturbance to birds and habitat.

Management details:
The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument was designated in June of 2000, and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Approximately 25,000 acres of the site are within the Cahone Canyon, Cross Canyon, and Squaw/Papoose Wilderness Study Areas.