Most Common Backyard Birds of Michigan

There is no other place in the world that is more famous for the birds than Michigan. Do you know Michigan is home to 360 bird species? The Michigan Birds Record Committee records around 450 species that are available in the state. There are various types of birds that you can find in Michigan city in any season. In this article, we will cover many of the Michigan birds that you see daily. 

Let’s Jump onto the list of Michigan Birds:

Different Types Of Michigan Birds:

Below we have listed some famous birds of Michigan. From rare to popular and backyard to common birds, we have included it all.

American Robin

Your Michigan trip is incomplete without seeing Michigan robin- ‘the Michigan state.’ This Michigan state bird is 8.5 inches long and has a broken eye-ring. The head of this Michigan state bird is black to dark grey, and the belly is dull red; also, they have a thin yellow bill. American robins are considered the harbingers of spring. However, many people don’t know that they spend the entire winter in New England. 

Spruce Grouse

Spruce Grouse is an uncommon species, basically found in the boreal forest in Michigan. They are 16 inches in length, and spend most of the time on the ground. Male Spruce Grouse are brown with a black neck, and they have white spots on the belly. However, females are nondescript mottled with white markings on the sides of the throat. 

Snowy Owl

The snowy owl is one of the few birds that everyone comes out to look for. Some snowy owls migrate in winter to Southern Canada and the Northern United States. Male snowy owls are dark brown when they are young and get white as they get old. Females keep some dark marking throughout the years. However, both genders have yellow-gold eyes. You can see this bird on open beaches or roofs, poles, and perches. 

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkeys are very large birds with round tails, slim necks, and small long heads. They are one of the heaviest birds in Michigan but are smaller than the Trumpeter Swan. The wild Turkeys are dark with bronze-green iridescence and have dark wings. Moreover, they have strong feet and use their strong feet to scratch the leaf litter out of the way. 

American Woodcock

These Michigan birds are shy in nature and spend their time in the forest and on the forest floor. On spring nights, the males American Woodcock performs a very clear peent call. The face of this species is buffy, the neck and back are light gray, and the underparts are buffy. 

Yellow-Headed Blackbird

This yellow-headed blackbird has a golden head and demands your attention. You can see them in western and prairie wetlands. One interesting fact about these Michigan birds is they are dominant to red-winged blackbirds, and they always build their nests over the water. 

Northern Shrike

These Michigan Birds are rare songbirds, and both males and females sing throughout the year. They are stealthy hunters and have toothlike spikes known as ‘tomial tooth’ on either side of the upper bill, and this feature allows them to kill with a quick bite of the neck. The nest of the northern shrike is an open cup, and it is so deep that the female is completely out of view. They have black wings, a little black mask, and gray upperparts. 

Evening Grosbeak

Evening Grosbeak is large, heavyset finches and powerful conical bills. Their neck is thick, has a short tail and a full chest. Adult male evening grosbeak is yellow and black in color with a white patch in the wings. Moreover, their heads are dark with a bright stripe over the eyes. Females are grey with white and black wings. These Michigan birds are social birds that are found in winter. 

Kirtland’s Warbler

Kirtland’s Warbler is one of the rare birds in Michigan. The females are more selective than males in habitat choices and are slightly browner than males. Their above portion is blue-grey, and the lower portion is lemon-yellow with a broken white eye-ring. 

Northern Goshawk

These Michigan birds are a wilder relative of Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks. The best chance of finding Northern Goshawk is to spend the most time in a mature forest being as patient and quiet. Did you know female northern goshawks are 25% heavier than the males? They attack those that approach the nest too closely. 

Common Loon

This species is an iconic summer bird with a round head and dagger-like bills. Common Loons have long bodies and short tails, which are not visible. You can find them on lakes, rivers and coastlines, and freshwater lakes of the northern United States and Canada.

Mute Swan

Mute Swan is a large waterfowl with heavy bodies, slender neck, and short legs. They spend their time floating on the water and consume underwater vegetation. You can see this species in city parks, rivers, and lakes. You can find these birds in Michigan forests. 

Common Backyard Birds Of Michigan

There are some birds that you can keep in your backyard, and the examples are: 

Blue Jay

These common backyard birds of the US are famous for their intelligence and complex social systems. You can recognize the blue jay by their noisy calls and steady flights. They usually fly across the open areas. They eat eggs of other birds, but in an extensive study, it is found that only 1% of blue jays have eggs or birds in their stomach. Moreover, they are white or light grey with various shades of blue, black, and white. 

American Goldfinch

This species is a state bird of New Jersey, Lowa, and Washington. American Goldfinch is easy to find in North America except in deep forests. They are strict vegetarians in the bird world, and they consume only a vegetarian diet. They are smaller than a Tufted Titmouse and are found in weedy fields and floodplains. Male Goldfinches are bright yellow with black foreheads in spring and summer, whereas females are duller yellow. 

Mourning Dove

These backyard birds of Michigan have plump bodied with short legs, long-tailed and small bills. Their head looks small as compared to the body and has black spots on the wings. You can see this species in fields, overhead perches such as telephone wires, and patches of bare ground. These are the most frequently hunted species in North America. 

Song Sparrow

These backyard birds of Michigan are medium-sized sparrows whose bill is short and stout. The head of this song sparrow is fairly rounded, wings are broad, and the tail is long and round. You can find this species in any open habitat, such as backyards, fields, marsh edges, and forest edges. They sing aloud, clanking songs of two to six phrases. 

American Crow

This species is all black and has long legs, thick neck with a heavy, straight bill. The American crow is twice the size of the Blue Jay. When they lose their feathers, the old feathers appear brownish compared to the new feathers. These birds are very common to your backyards. You hear a wide variety of birds but don’t realize it. 

Now have a look at some common Michigan birds:

Common Michigan Birds

Dark-eyed Junco

Juncos are popular winter visitors to almost all the United States. These common Michigan birds have dark eyes, a white belly, and slate head and back. They are also known as ‘snowbirds’ due to their sudden appearance in some countries when the temperature starts dropping. White-eyed jumbos are easy to identify by their white cheeks sandwiched between a black cap and chin. 

House Sparrow

House sparrows are the other most common Michigan birds. They are a jumble of colors like brown backs, grey chest, caps, and a blatant black patch covering the chin and throats. These species live in organized units led by males with the biggest black patches and always hang in groups.

Hairy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a square head, long, straight bill, and long tail feathers. The bill of this species is nearly the same length as the head. They are contrastingly black and white, with black wings checkered with white. These common Michigan birds are found in woodlots, parks, open woodlands, and suburb parks.

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpeckers are easy to find, and they are the smallest and most abundant Woodpecker. These common Michigan birds have a blocky head, wide shoulders, straight bill, and straight-backed posture. The bill of this species is smaller than the bird’s size. Male downy woodpeckers have a red patch on the head’s back, and the outer tail feathers have some black spots.

Common Grackle

 These common Michigan birds are blackbirds that have taller and longer tails than a typical blackbird. You can see them in fields and lawns and always gather in noisy groups. They consume ripening corn and corn sprouts, and some people try to reduce their effects by spraying chemicals on corn sprouts. 

Final Word

Michigan is famous for fishing, cherries, cars, and outdoor recreation. However, your Michigan trip would be incomplete without seeing these birds. Winter is the perfect season for bird watching. These species are very common in America, so next time you visit Michigan, don’t forget to see them.