By Michigan Audubon Staff | Guest Contributor
From the tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird to one of the heaviest birds in the United States, the Trumpeter Swan, Michigan is home to an impressive diversity of bird species. More than 450 birds have been recorded moving through our state, with some species only visiting during migration in the fall or spring.
Here are a few special Michigan birds every family should know.
Kirtland’s Warbler
This amazing warbler is one of the rarest songbirds in North America and breeds primarily in young jack pine forests in Michigan, with smaller populations in Wisconsin and Ontario. They spent nearly 50 years on the endangered species list, but thanks to intensive conservation efforts, they were delisted in 2019.
They spend the winter in the Bahamas, then return in the spring, selecting areas of jack pine forest with trees between 5 and 15 feet tall. They can be hard to see, but tours from Michigan Audubon and the Michigan DNR can bring you up close and personal to Kirtland’s Warbler habitat each summer.
American Robin
This highly recognizable bird is the State Bird of Michigan and has a unique story in bird conservation in the United States. The book Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, was in part inspired by research out of Michigan noting the effects of the pesticide DDT on American Robins. Their widespread die-offs due to the toxic pesticide became a cornerstone of the 20th-century environmental movement.
Following the ban of DDT, populations thrived. These cheery birds are right at home in neighborhoods and front yards, regularly nesting on houses, gutters and porch lights. Many robins spend the entire winter in Michigan and can produce up to three successful broods in one year!
Sandhill Crane
These huge birds can be easily mistaken for a deer in a field, but they have a history longer than you might think, with their prehistoric call and earliest fossil estimated at 2.5 million years old.
These amazing birds can live up to 37 years and are known for their dancing skills. They leap into the air, pumping their heads and stretching their long wings. Michigan Sandhill Cranes preen their feathers with iron-rich soil, giving them a rusty-red tint to their otherwise buffy gray plumage.
Each fall, Sandhill Cranes group together in large numbers each evening in wetlands across the state.
Pileated Woodpecker
The largest species of woodpecker in North America can be found all across Michigan in large trees and mature forests. You might also be able to spot them visiting backyard feeders, with a preference for suet.
These large birds carve rectangular holes in large trees for nesting, and these deep excavations can even cause a small tree to break in half! They can be found in Michigan year-round, eating a diet rich in insects like carpenter ants, termites and caterpillars, as well as wild fruit and nuts.
Chimney Swift
Largely dependent on human-made structures, Chimney Swifts roost by the thousands in large chimneys each fall and spring, giving urban birders and city dwellers a chance to experience the magic of migration right outside your door.
These unique birds do not perch on a branch or wire, but spend all day in the air, resting only at night. They feed exclusively on insects like mosquitoes, gnats and flies.
Swift Night Out events are held across the state to witness the amazing “bird tornado” roosting behavior each fall and spring. Michigan Audubon is learning more about this amazing bird through our live nest camera at Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary and Autonomous Recording Units in chimneys around the state.
Get Involved With Michigan Audubon
To get involved with Michigan bird conservation, events and educational opportunities near you, visit Michigan Audubon. Members have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re part of a team protecting birds and habitat throughout Michigan.
For a full list of Michigan Audubon activities and tours, including walks at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory and Michigan Young Birders Camp and School Programs, visit the organization’s website.
Explore Michigan’s Birds With Michigan Audubon
From guided walks and birding trips to programs designed for young birders, Michigan Audubon offers plenty of ways for families to get outside and learn more about the birds that call Michigan home.
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