Birds of Michigan

Nearly 450 species of birds inhabit the state of Michigan, as recorded by the Michigan Bird Records Committee. While around 90 of them are accidental, 7 are introduced. The only bird species extinct in Michigan is the passenger pigeon, which was last recorded here in 1879.

Of the several birding sites located throughout the state, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge is located over an area of about 95,000 acres. The nesting birds dwelling here include the common loon, trumpeter swan, osprey, and bald eagle. The sandhill crane is the largest of all the birds in Michigan, at 5 feet tall, with a 6-7 feet wingspan. The finches and sparrows found here are among the smallest.

The American robin has been regarded as the state bird of Michigan since 1931.

Birds of Michigan

  • American Robin
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • House Finch
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Tree Swallow
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Wood Duck
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Sandhill Crane
  • American Bittern
  • Eurasian Collared-Dove
  • Bell’s Vireo
  • Northern Flicker
  • American Woodcock
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Song Sparrow
  • Gray Catbird
  • Mourning Dove
  • Red-Tailed Hawk
  • European Starling
  • House Sparrow
  • Blue Jay
  • Eurasian Wigeon
  • Warbling Vireo
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Wilson’s Phalarope
  • Mute Swan
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Broad-billed Hummingbird
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • American Black Duck
  • Mallard
  • Painting Bunting
  • Broad-Winged Hawk
  • Summer Tanager
  • Neotropic Cormorant
  • Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • American Crow
  • Nashville Warbler
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • American Wigeon
  • Red-Shouldered Hawk
  • Golden-crowned Sparrow
  • Rough-legged Hawk
  • Blackburnian Warbler
  • Royal Tern
  • Bald Eagle
  • Canada Goose
  • American Avocet
  • Ring-necked Duck
  • Black-billed Magpie
  • Barred Owl
  • Long-eared Owl
  • Great Horned Owl

Birds of Prey: Red-Tailed Hawk, Broad-Winged Hawk, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Bald Eagle

Backyard Birds: Black-capped Chickadee, European Starling, American Crow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal

Migratory Birds:

In Summer: American Robin, American Woodcock, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Mourning Dove, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

In Winter: Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco, Snow Bunting, Downy Woodpecker, Red Crossbill

Water Birds: Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Canada Goose

Winter Birds: Dark-eyed Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay

Common Birds Identification by Color

Yellow Birds

Black Birds

  • Common Grackle
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • European Starling
  • Brown Thrasher
  • Rusty Blackbird

Red Birds

  • House Finch
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Scarlet Tanager

Blue Birds

  • Blue Jay
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Mountain Bluebird

White Birds

  • White-throated Sparrow
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Wood Stork
  • Snowy Plover
  • Ross’s Goose

Brown Birds

  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Brown Thrasher
  • House Sparrow
  • Song Sparrow
  • White-crowned Sparrow

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