Common Birds in Michigan

Michigan’s Most Common Birds: A Guide for Bird Lovers

If you love birds, Michigan is a great place to be. With its mix of wetlands, forests, open fields, and big city parks, the state is a paradise for bird watchers. No matter your experience level, there’s always something new to discover in birding. From colorful backyard visitors to majestic water birds, let’s take a look at the common birds you’ll see in Michigan and how you can attract them to your yard.

Birds You’ll See Year-Round

Some birds stick around all year, no matter how cold it gets. Take the black-capped chickadee, for example. This little bird with a black cap and white cheeks is a staple at backyard feeders and isn’t afraid of the snow. Another year-round favorite is the northern cardinal, the males are bright red, and their cheerful song makes winter days feel a little warmer.

If you set up bird feeders with sunflower seeds, you’ll likely attract white-breasted nuthatches and tufted titmice too. These small songbirds are fun to watch, especially the nuthatches, which love to climb trees upside-down.

Birds That Stay in Michigan During the Winter

While many birds migrate south for the winter, several hardy species remain in Michigan throughout the colder months. The black-capped chickadee, northern cardinal, blue jay, and American goldfinch are just a few that can withstand Michigan’s cold. Woodpeckers, such as the downy and hairy woodpeckers, also stay put, relying on insects hidden under tree bark.

Raptors like the red-tailed hawk and great horned owl are well-equipped for winter survival. These birds have thick feathers and adapt their hunting strategies to find prey even when snow covers the ground.

Why Do Some Birds, Like Robins, Stay in Michigan Year-Round While Others Migrate?

Migration is primarily driven by food availability rather than temperature. American robins, for example, don’t always migrate south. Instead, many of them shift their diet from insects and worms (which are scarce in winter) to berries and fruits, allowing them to stay in Michigan year-round. Other birds, like warblers, rely heavily on insects, which disappear in cold weather, forcing them to fly south.

How Do Birds Survive Michigan’s Cold Winters?

Birds that remain in Michigan during winter have several adaptations to survive the cold:

• Fluffing Feathers: Birds puff up their feathers to trap warm air close to their bodies, creating insulation against the cold.
• Shivering: Just like humans, birds shiver to generate heat.
• Roosting Together: Some species, like bluebirds, huddle together in tree cavities or birdhouses to share body heat.
• Changing Diets: Many birds switch from eating insects to consuming seeds, nuts, and berries, which are available even in winter.
• Tucking in Their Feet and Beaks: To conserve heat, birds tuck their feet into their feathers and pull their heads close to their bodies.

Backyard Visitors & How to Attract Them

Want to turn your yard into a bird-watching hotspot? The best way is to put up a mix of feeders. Here are a few birds you might see in your backyard:

• American goldfinch – These bright yellow birds love sunflower seeds and often show up in large flocks.
• Dark-eyed junco – A winter visitor with dark eyes and white underparts, they love hopping around on the ground looking for food.
• Downy woodpeckers – Small but mighty, these birds have white plumage with black spots and are one of the most common woodpeckers in the state.
• Red-bellied woodpeckers – Despite the name, their most noticeable feature is a bright red cap. They love suet and peanuts.
• Ruby-throated hummingbird – The only hummingbird species in eastern North America, it will happily visit nectar feeders in summer.

How to Make Your Yard Bird-Friendly Without Attracting Predators

To create a bird-friendly environment while minimizing the risk of attracting predators, follow these tips:

• Place Feeders Strategically: Keep feeders at least 10 feet from dense shrubs or trees where predators might hide.
• Use Baffles: Install baffles on bird feeders to deter climbing predators like raccoons and squirrels.
• Provide Cover, But Not Too Much: Plant native trees and shrubs for shelter, but avoid thick, low vegetation near feeders where cats or hawks could ambush birds.
• Keep Cats Indoors: Outdoor cats are a significant threat to birds. Keeping them inside protects both birds and the cats themselves.
• Clean Feeders Regularly: Dirty feeders can spread disease, weakening birds and making them easier targets for predators.

Michigan’s Woodpeckers

Michigan has several woodpecker species, and they’re all fascinating to watch. Hairy woodpeckers look a lot like downy woodpeckers but are slightly larger with a longer bill. If you’re lucky, you might spot a pileated woodpecker—these are the big ones with striking black plumage, white stripes, and a bright red crest.

Birds of Open Fields and Wetlands

If you head out to Michigan’s wetlands or open areas, you’re in for a treat. One of the most eye-catching birds is the sandhill crane—these tall, elegant birds have a long neck and make deep, rolling calls that you can hear from far away. Another wetland favorite is the great blue heron, often seen standing still in shallow water, waiting to catch fish or small insects.

And let’s not forget one of the most famous birds of the United States, the bald eagle. With its white face and dark eyes, this majestic raptor is often spotted near Lake Michigan and other large bodies of water.

Michigan’s Songbirds and Warblers

Michigan is home to plenty of beautiful songbirds, especially during the breeding season. Some standouts include:

• Song sparrows – These little birds have a melodious song that fills the air in spring and summer.
• White-throated sparrows – Recognizable by their white stripes on their heads, they often sing a clear, whistling tune.
• Black-throated green warblers – A stunning little bird with striking black-and-yellow markings, often seen in wooded areas.
• Red-eyed vireo – These birds are small but mighty singers, often filling the forests with their songs.

Protecting Michigan’s Birds

If you’re a bird lover, there are plenty of ways to help Michigan’s feathered residents. Organizations like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy work to protect birds from threats like habitat loss. Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the Upper Peninsula is one of the best places to see birds in their natural habitat, and they offer education programs and field trips to help people learn more about conservation.

Conclusion

Michigan is an amazing place for bird watchers, from spotting a red-winged blackbird in a marsh to observing a mourning dove on a power line or a barn swallow swooping over an open field. With so many different bird species to see, every season offers something new.

So grab your binoculars, fill up those bird feeders, and get ready to enjoy the incredible variety of birds that call Michigan home!