Red-Winged Blackbird

Red-winged blackbirds are a common sight in Michigan’s wetlands, meadows, and agricultural fields. The males are unmistakable with their jet-black bodies and bright red shoulder patches (“epaulets”) bordered by yellow. Listen for their melodious kon-ka-ree song.

American Robin

Robins are a familiar backyard bird in Michigan, recognized by their reddish-orange breast and cheery spring song. They breed statewide and often nest on building ledges. Robins are commonly seen across Michigan gobbling up earthworms and other insects on the ground.

Northern Cardinal

The bright red plumage and distinctive crest make the northern cardinal easy to identify, even among winter snow. Cardinals are year-round residents that frequent backyards and parks. Listen for their loud, whistling song.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Michigan’s only regular breeding hummingbird, the ruby-throated hummingbird can be seen visiting flower gardens and backyard nectar feeders during spring and summer. The males have an iridescent red throat.

American Goldfinch

Goldfinches breed in open, weedy fields across Michigan. The males show bright yellow and black plumage in summer. Their bouncy flight and lively calls make them hard to miss. Goldfinches are common visitors to thistle and nyjer seed feeders.

Cedar Waxwing

Named for the wax-like tips on its wings, the cedar waxwing is a sleek, social bird of Michigan’s woodlands and orchards. Waxwings travel in flocks and love to gorge on berries. Listen for their high-pitched whistle.

Blue Jay

Common and conspicuous, blue jays are known for their raucous jay! jay! calls. Their blue, black, and white markings are unmistakable. Find them in forests, parks, and backyards across Michigan. Jays sometimes mimic hawks as a ploy to scare other birds away from food sources.

Bald Eagle

The majestic bald eagle has made an incredible comeback nationwide and especially in Michigan. Some of the best places to see bald eagles include the Upper Peninsula, Tawas Point, and along major rivers and lakeshores statewide where they hunt fish.

Sandhill Crane

These large, elegant birds breed in Michigan’s marshlands and fields. Their loud, rolling bugle calls echo across the landscape. Sandhill cranes migrate in impressive flocks that stop to rest and feed in agricultural areas during spring and fall.

Belted Kingfisher

Watch for these widespread but elusive birds as they hunt fish from streamside perches or flap overhead, showing off their shaggy crests and chunky bills. Belted kingfishers make a harsh, rattling call and dig breeding burrows in riverbanks.

Osprey

Ospreys thrive around bodies of water where they snatch fish from the surface using their large, hooked beaks. These powerful raptors have made an impressive return in Michigan, aided by nesting platforms. Look for ospreys soaring over lakes or standing guard by their giant nests.

Yellow Warbler

The yellow warbler’s bright yellow plumage seems to glow among the new spring leaves in Michigan’s wet lowland woods. You’ll often hear them singing their sweet canary-like song, “sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet,” even from hidden perches.

Common Loon

Known for its haunting, laughing calls, the common loon breeds on Michigan’s northern lakes. These diving birds are awkward on land but extremely fast and agile swimmers, catching fish underwater. In winter, loons migrate to the ocean but return each spring.

Black-Capped Chickadee

Chickadees are acrobatic little birds whose “chicka-dee-dee” calls brighten up winter days and backyard feeding stations, where they greedily snatch seeds. In summer, listen for their faster “fee-bee” song.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Look up to see one of Michigan’s most common raptors soaring overhead, flashing its reddish tail. Red-tailed hawks are seen in open country statewide, often hunting by roadsides. Their piercing screams are a familiar sound.

Common Nighthawk

Watch for nighthawks making graceful dives high overhead on summer evenings as they hunt insects on the wing. They have long, pointed wings and are active at dusk. Nighthawks sometimes nest right on gravel rooftops.

House Finch

Native to the southwest, house finches are now well-established statewide. The males have red heads and breast feathers that can range from pale orange to bright cherry red. House finches are common visitors to backyard feeders and nest in a variety of man-made sites.

Great Blue Heron

These stately, long-legged waders are a common sight around Michigan’s wetlands and waterways as they stalk fish and frogs. Great blue herons sometimes nest in colonies called rookeries, high in trees near water.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Watch for these large, black, goose-sized birds as they perch with their wings outstretched or dive for fish. Double-crested cormorants often nest in groups on offshore islands and are a common sight along the Great Lakes and large inland lakes.

Eastern Bluebird

The brilliant blue plumage of male eastern bluebirds seems to bring a bit of sky into backyards and open country across Michigan. Bluebird numbers declined historically but have rebounded thanks to nest box programs.

Broad-Winged Hawk

Broad-winged hawks breed in Michigan’s woodlands and migrate in massive flocks known as “kettles,” riding thermals south in September. Their buzzy whistling calls carry far. Look for broad-winged hawks perched in trees alongside clearings.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

These agile little birds scoot up, down, and sideways along tree trunks, probing bark crevices for insects. White-breasted nuthatches are common woodland birds with powder-blue upperparts, black caps, and bold white faces. Listen for their nasal yank-yank calls.

Barn Swallow

Barn swallows often nest inside barns and under eaves, building distinctive mud cup nests. They have deeply forked tails and iridescent blue-black upperparts. Watch for them swooping low over fields, snapping up insects.

Red-Headed Woodpecker

One of the most striking birds in Michigan, the red-headed woodpecker shows off its namesake red head and neck. They inhabit open woods and groves of dead trees. Red-headed woodpeckers are declining nationwide but can still be found locally in Michigan.

Wood Duck

Few birds can match the beauty of the male wood duck with its iridescent greens, purples, and red eyes. Wood ducks nest in tree cavities near wooded swamps and ponds and are a common breeding duck in southern Michigan.

Mourning Dove

Mourning doves are graceful visitors to backyard feeders and open country across Michigan. Listen for their cooing calls and watch for their silhouette in flight, with pointed tail and tapered neck. Mourning doves are a popular game bird.

Eastern Screech Owl

Despite their name, these small, eared owls don’t actually screech but instead produce a soft, melancholy whinny. Look for them in woodland holes and nest boxes. Eastern screech owls come in brown and gray color morphs.

Hooded Merganser

Male hooded mergansers sport striking black and white patterns with fan-shaped crests. Females are elegant brown ducks. Watch for them on secluded forest ponds and slow-moving streams. Hooded mergansers nest in tree cavities.

Tree Swallow

Streamlined aerialists with steely blue backs and snowy white underparts, tree swallows breed in tree cavities near open country across Michigan. Big flocks roost together on wires in late summer before migrating south.

Great Horned Owl

Michigan’s largest owl, often first detected by its low, booming hoots. Great horned owls thrive statewide in woodlands and even city parks. Their huge nests are often in old crow or hawk nests high in trees.

Wild Turkey

Restored flocks of these large, wary birds now roam forests and fields throughout Michigan after near extinction here. Males (toms) display by fanning their tails and puffing out feathers. Listen for their gobbling.

American Kestrel

Michigan’s smallest falcons are bird-hunting specialists that perch on wires and tree branches watching for prey. Kestrels show colorful barring on their backs and tails and striking facial patterns. They nest in cavities.

Key Things to Look for When Birdwatching in Michigan

Now that you know some of the best birds to look for, here are a few birdwatching tips to help you find and identify species in Michigan:

Learn the habitats. Know where different birds live and concentrate your efforts accordingly. Marshlands attract wading birds, while warblers and other songbirds frequent woods.

Focus on behavior. Make note of how birds move and feed as this can be a helpful ID clue. For instance, swallows catch insects on the wing, while chickadees glean branches.

Get the timing right. Some birds are migratory and only pass through the state in spring and fall. The breeding season of May-July is best for finding nesting songbirds.

Bring binoculars. Binoculars provide better views of key field marks compared to the naked eye. They are essential gear for birdwatching.

Use bird guides. Keep field guides handy for reference and brush up on songs and calls. Apps like Merlin Bird ID can help ID mystery birds.

Head to hotspots. Visit renowned birding locations like Point Pelee National Park or Tawas Point State Park to see sought-after species.

Be patient. Birding requires quiet observation. Sometimes you’ll need to stand still for a while before birds emerge.

Prime Seasons and Locations for Birding in Michigan

Spring Migration

Spring migration kicks off in March as waterfowl and blackbirds arrive from the south. April and May bring peak songbird migration as neotropical warblers, orioles, tanagers, and other breeding birds pass through Michigan on their way north. Great birding hotspots include Point Pelee National Park, Whitefish Point, Mackinac Island, and Tawas Point State Park.

Summer Breeding Season

June-July is nesting time for many species. Head to northern Michigan for boreal specialties like black-backed woodpecker and gray jay. Southern Michigan parks and preserves host breeding warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. Look for nesting behavior and pay attention to songs and calls.

Fall Migration

As early as July, shorebirds start moving south through Michigan. September is the peak month for songbird migration as colorful warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, and other neotropical migrants stream south. Hawk migration also peaks in September-October along the lakeshores.

Winter Waterfowl

Hardy waterfowl and other birds tough out Michigan’s winters rather than migrating south. Look for ducks like common goldeneye and mergansers on the Great Lakes and inland lakes and rivers. Eagles, hawks, chickadees, woodpeckers and finches are active all winter.

Tips for Identifying Birds You Can’t See

Even an experienced birder sometimes hears an intriguing call or song but can’t actually see the bird making it. Here are some identification tips for mystery birds:

• Focus intently – Close your eyes and visualize the sound to help pick out key features. Is it rising or falling in pitch? Does it have buzzy, musical, or rattling qualities? How long is the song or call?
• Isolate the sound – Block out competing noises. If possible, record the call on your phone so you can replay it and listen closely.
• Consider behavior – What’s the bird doing while calling? Searching for food? Courting a mate? Singing from an exposed perch? Hinting at behavior helps ID.
• Note habitat – If you know the habitat, you can narrow down the list of suspects. Is it near water? In dense forest? At a backyard feeder? Habitat preferences aid ID.
• Consult apps – Use identifying apps like Merlin Bird ID that allow you to hum or record an unknown bird song and get ID suggestions based on machine learning algorithms.
• Describe it – Try articulating what you hear as clearly as possible and check sightings forums where other birders can interpret your description.

Being attentive to songs, calls, habitat, and behavior – even for birds you can’t see – will make you a better birder and enrich your time spent in nature.

FAQs About Birdwatching in Michigan

What time of day is best for birdwatching in Michigan?

Early morning, when birds are most active singing and foraging, is ideal. Many birds also feed actively before roosting in the evening. Limit midday birding when heat drives bird activity down.

Where can I see rare birds in Michigan?

Some of the best hotspots to potentially see vagrant rarities include Whitefish Point, Tawas Point State Park, Port Huron, the Detroit River, and Saugatuck along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

What do I need to get started birdwatching?

At minimum, you’ll want binoculars, a field guide (book or app), and patience. Optional gear includes a spotting scope, camera, birding checklist, and app like eBird to log sightings. Dress for the weather.

How can I attract birds to my backyard?

Offer a water source like a birdbath, fountain, or small pond. Supply native plants that provide seeds, berries, and nectar. Put up nest boxes suitable for cavity nesters like chickadees or bluebirds. Provide bird feeders.

Where are good birding spots near Detroit?

Top metro Detroit birding hotspots include Point Mouillee State Game Area, Lake Erie Metropark, Oakwoods Metropark, Lake St. Clair Metropark, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and Belle Isle Park.

Conclusion

From piping plovers to pileated woodpeckers, Michigan provides prime habitat for a spectacular array of birds. They are everywhere from bustling backyard feeders to remote wilderness forests. Grab your binoculars, tune your ears to nature’s symphony, and discover Michigan’s feathery richness for yourself. The avian wonders await! Just be sure to also watch for rare Black Squirrels, which are native to Michigan.