Life in the Rocky Mountain region means the great outdoors always beckons for adventure, from rocky canyons to majestic mountains. Whether you’re hitting the trail or enjoying an afternoon on the deck, here are five birds of the Rocky Mountain region to watch for.

Steller’s Jay

The Steller’s Jay’s tall spiky crest with its bright blue body makes quite a statement. These intelligent social birds with the raucous calls are far from timid around humans, which make them either irritating or delightful, depending on your perspective. They’ll happily visit your feeder to snap up some peanuts. But stay on guard, because they may be eyeing your backyard barbecue, waiting for their moment to swoop in to steal a bite.

Lark Buntings are considered some of the “best dressed” with their tuxedo-like feathers. Milehightraveler / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Lark Bunting

This bird is not a lark, nor a bunting. It’s a sparrow. With his jet-black feathers and white wingbars, the state bird of Colorado is a hands-down winner in the best-dressed sparrow department. During nesting season, Lark Buntings can be found throughout the open grasslands. In the spring, search males making his trilling song in flight to announce his territory.

An easy way to tell if Red-naped Sapsuckers have recently been in the area is to look for tiny holes drilled into the trees. eyezaya / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Red-naped Sapsucker

You’ll find this woodpecker with striking red markings on its head hammering away on trees in hopes of releasing some of the sweet sap to sip. If you spy tiny holes drilled into the aspen trees on your next mountain hike, that’s a surefire sign that the Red-naped Sapsucker was around.

The best way to spot the iridescent Broad-tailed Hummingbird is to put a hummingbird feeder in your landscape. Christophe Merceron / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

It wouldn’t be summer in the mountains without these iridescent green birds zipping from bloom to bloom, their ethereal hum ringing through the trees. For homes near the foothills, a hummingbird feeder provides ample opportunity for an up-close look at these gorgeous hummingbirds.

If you're looking to attract the whimsical Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, make sure your feeder is filled with lots of black oil sunflower seed. Kahj19 / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

In the fall, bird lovers in the western Rocky Mountains look forward to the return of the Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, an attractive bird dressed in delicate pinks and soft browns. Set out a wild bird food mix with plenty of black-oil sunflower seeds and you’ll draw a crowd.

Whether you live in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana or Utah, the Rocky Mountain region is home to a large variety of bird species — well beyond this starter list. Get to know them by filling your feeders year round with Lyric Supreme Wild Bird Mix. With 12 nutritious ingredients and chock full of sunflower seeds, you’ll enjoy the many colorful visitors that stop in for a snack.