Denver, CO
Roadrunner spotted far from its usual range in Denver surprises birders
A Greater Roadrunner sighting in Denver has birders buzzing with no sign of Wile E. Coyote in pursuit far from the species’ usual range.
File photo: A Greater Roadrunner in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 3, 2026. (Image credit: David Becker/Getty Images)
A Greater Roadrunner sighting in Denver is stirring interest among birders after the cuckoo was seen by multiple people in recent weeks.
According to a report on eBird.org, a Greater Roadrunner was spotted on April 15 along South Parker Road in Denver. While this is the only report on eBird for Denver, other recent sightings have sparked interest in the local birding scene, with mentions appearing on the Birds of Colorado Facebook group and other birding websites.
Audubon Denver Master Birder Crystal Reser told AccuWeather that while the sighting is “unusual,” it is not a “rare bird alert” like a more recent sighting of a white-faced ibis in Colorado, a species that typically inhabits the southeastern United States. Still, the roadrunner is well north of where the birds are usually found.
Greater roadrunners are native to Texas, Oklahoma and the far southeastern corner of Colorado. They are not typically found in urban environments.
“They do like to run,” Reser said, referencing the Looney Tunes cartoon. “They spend most of their time on the ground, hunting snakes, insects and bugs and chasing them on the ground.”
Reser said the bird was spotted in a congested part of the city near the High Line Canal, which could provide clues about how it ended up so far north of its usual habitat.
“My guess, he followed the greenbelt heading north from Colorado Springs to Denver,” Reser said.
This Denver newcomer may also be young. A juvenile bird could have become disoriented while searching for food or exploring. It could also be seeking a new habitat. Reser said no Greater Roadrunners have ever nested in the Denver metro area.
“We are seeing more kind of unusual birds showing up in Colorado,” Reser said.
Spring migration is a good time for birders to spot non-native species, but Reser said roadrunners do not typically migrate far from their southwestern habitat.
Still, she said the sighting highlights how bird-watching can reveal broader environmental patterns. Storms and weather changes can also push birds into unusual areas.
“The important thing is to pay attention to what is happening in nature,” she said. “Birds are one of the best ways to be in tune with nature…and trying to do something to improve it.”
Providing water in birdbaths and planting native plants are two ways people can help their feathered friends.
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Denver, CO
Northbound I-25 closed between Denver and Colorado Springs after fatal multi-vehicle crash
Denver, CO
‘Thursday Night Football’ vs. Seahawks, Christmas Day vs. Bills highlight Broncos’ standalone matchups in 2026
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos are set to take center stage five times in 2026.
Denver is scheduled to play in five standalone games during its 2026 season, three of which will be contested at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Broncos will open their season with a “Monday Night Football” showdown against the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs. Last season, Denver swept the Chiefs for the first time since 2014.
This year’s Week 1 matchup will mark the first time since 2022 that Denver will begin its season in prime time. During Head Coach Sean Payton’s tenure, the Broncos have posted a 3-0 record on “Monday Night Football,” including last year’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Broncos will then host their first prime-time game of the year, a “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3. The Rams posted a 12-5 record in 2025, advancing to the NFC Championship Game.
The Sept. 27 game will mark the Broncos first home “Sunday Night Football” matchup since 2023. Denver is 2-0 in “Sunday Night Football” games under Payton, including a 2025 road victory over the Commanders.
Just three weeks later, Denver will host the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on “Thursday Night Football.” The Seahawks will be led by quarterback Sam Darnold and the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Denver is 1-0 on “Thursday Night Football” at home under Payton and 2-2 overall.
The Broncos will then play their second and final standalone road game, traveling to Pittsburgh for a Black Friday matchup with the Steelers. The Steelers won the AFC North in 2025 and advanced to the postseason for the third straight year. This will be Denver’s first-ever game played on Black Friday.
The Broncos’ final scheduled standalone game is set for Christmas Day. Denver will host the Buffalo Bills, setting up a rematch of last year’s Divisional Round game. The Broncos and Bills have faced each other out of the playoffs in the last two seasons, with the teams splitting the pair of games. The last time the teams faced off in the regular season was in 2023, when the Broncos earned a Monday night road victory.
This will mark the second consecutive year that Denver will play on Christmas. The Broncos are 3-2 all time on Christmas Day, including last year’s victory over the Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The NFL’s flexible scheduling rules could also lead to the Broncos playing additional prime-time games in 2026. The dates of Denver’s Week 17 and 18 games are also yet to be determined.
See below for a complete list of Denver’s standalone games:
Week 1: Broncos at Chiefs, “Monday Night Football,” Sept. 14, 6:15 p.m. MT, ABC/ESPN
Week 3: Broncos vs. Rams, “Sunday Night Football,” Sept. 27, 6:20 p.m. MT, NBC
Week 6: Broncos vs. Seahawks, “Thursday Night Football,” Oct. 15, 6:15 p.m. MT, Prime Video
Week 12: Broncos at Steelers, Black Friday, Nov. 27, 1 p.m. MT, Prime Video
Week 16: Broncos vs. Bills, Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2:30 p.m. MT, Netflix
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