In this article, we’ll look at some of the most beautiful backyard birds found throughout Michigan. Certain species are in Michigan all year round, while others are only residents for a short period in Michigan.
If you read this to the end, I’ll also educate you on how to draw more beautiful birds to your backyard, give an overview of the various types of bird feeders that you can use, and mention several birdwatching hot spots in Michigan.
It’s hard to find an exact figure on how many species of birds are present within North America, the United States, or even within the State of Michigan. But, according to Wikipedia, there are at most around 450 species of birds found in Michigan. Michigan.
According to reports, there are 2,059 species in North America; another older source states 914. Therefore, I’m not certain what I believe in these figures, but they give some idea about species.
2024 | Most Beautiful Backyard Birds In Michigan (+ Free HD Images)
| Bird Name | Percentage of Popularity |
|---|---|
| Black-capped Chickadee | 48.5% |
| Downy Woodpecker | 38.9% |
| Blue Jay | 38.5% |
| Northern Cardinal | 37.8% |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 35.9% |
| Dark-eyed Junco | 35.8% |
| American Crow | 34.3% |
| American Goldfinch | 33% |
| Mourning Dove | 31.3% |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 29% |
| Tufted Titmouse | 26.3% |
| House Sparrow | 26% |
| House Finch | 20.7% |
| American Tree Sparrow | 20.3% |
| European Starling | 19% |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 17.6% |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | 11% |
| American Robin | 9.1% |
| Rock Pigeon | 8.9% |
| Eastern Bluebird | 6.6% |
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped_chickadee
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Paridae |
| Genus | Poecile |
| Species | P. atricapillus |
| Length | four to six inches |
| Weight | 11 g |
While the Black-capped chickadee is seen throughout the year throughout Michigan, this is the most often seen bird during winter in Michigan.
The Black-capped chickadee is a cute bird with a round head and a tiny body. They will happily eat in backyard feeders and look around, even humans!
Black-capped Chickadees have beaks and blackcaps as well as white cheeks. They are gray on their back and tail, wings, and thighs. They are particularly fond of suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, or peanut butter. They can even feed off your hands.
They are found in open woods, forests, parks, and open woods. The black-capped Chickadees devour seeds, berries, spiders, insects, and suet.
Chickadees can grab seeds and then climb up perches to open them and devour them. In winter, this Upside Down Suet Feeder helps to give the birds a dose of winter energy.
To attract more Black-capped chickadees to your yard, consider sunflower seeds, suet and peanuts, and peanut butter. They can even feed on your hand and are typically the first birds to come across new feeders. They also use nest boxes, particularly if you fill them up by putting in wood chips.
2. Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Dryobates |
| Species | D. pubescens |
| Length | 14 –17 cm |
| Weight | 21 – 28 g |
Downy Woodpeckers are found in Michigan throughout the year, but they are most often seen in winter.
Downy Woodpeckers are tiny birds that are commonly seen in backyard feeders. They’re often grouped with other birds like Nuthatches and chickadees. They are black and white coloring, with red patches on the rear of their heads.
Downy woodpeckers can be seen in woodlots and along the banks of streams, in backyards and parks in cities. They feed on mainly beetle larvae of insects and berries. They also consume grains and acorns.
A suet feeder upside-down is ideal for smaller woodpeckers like Downy Woodpeckers as they offer protection from rain and can deter aggressive birds from staking out territory. A large quantity filled with suet cake is the most cost-effective way to buy these cakes.
Additionally, black oil sunflower seeds draw many Downy Woodpeckers into your backyard. Mixing the suet and sunflower seeds in a fantastic combination of suet and feeders for hoppers will have two feeders within one.
To draw additional Downy Woodpeckers into your yard, Try suet feeders, but they can also consume black millet, sunflower seeds in oil, millet, and peanuts that are on platforms for feeders.
Downy woodpeckers are among the most frequently seen woodpeckers that go to feeders throughout Michigan in winter.
3. Blue Jay
Blue Jay
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Cyanocitta |
| Species | C. cristata |
| Length | 22 – 30 cm |
| Weight | 65 – 110 g |
Blue Jays live in Michigan throughout the year and represent the most frequent bird to be seen here in the summer and winter.
Blue Jays can be described as common birds of song, sporting blue upright crests with black and blue backs and white undersides. They are loud birds seen in families taking acorns if available and may travel in large numbers throughout their journey along the Great Lakes and Atlantic coast.
They are found in the forests, particularly near oa,k, as they feed on the acorns. They are also located in backyards close to feeders. In addition to acorns, they consume insects, nuts, seeds, and grain. They also may take nestlings from eggs or nestlings.
Blue Jays are big birds that like to fly in to grab the seeds of sunflower or peanuts and then take them to feed. Feeders on trays or platforms allow for swift exits.
To draw additional Blue Jays to your backyard, Try sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. They prefer feeders on tray or hopper feeders that are mounted on posts. They also like an outdoor birdbath.
Blue Jays are commonly seen during winter and summer in Michigan.
4. Northern Cardinal
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Cardinalidae |
| Genus | Cardinalis |
| Species | C. cardinalis |
| Length | 21 – 24 cm |
| Weight | 43 g |
Northern Cardinals are common birds in winter and summer in Michigan.
The males with bright red eyes Northern Cardinal with black around their face amazing image, particularly in winter when the background is white. Females are also somewhat glitzy due to their brown coloring and sharp brown crest highlights of red and red-colored beaks.
Northern Cardinals will sometimes attack their reflections during the breeding season, as they constantly defend their territory.
Cardinals are big birds with very large beaks, so they require a suitable hopper feeder or feeder with a large enough space to allow the birds to sit.
It is possible to attract additional Northern Cardinals to backyard feeders by feeding them sunflower seeds, peanuts, millet, milo. They can take advantage of big tube feeders when they have enough perch or platform feeders, or food available in the ground.
Northern Cardinals are common in Michigan’s winter and summer months; however, they are particularly stunning in winter against the snow.
5. White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Sittidae |
| Genus | Sitta |
| Species | S. carolinensis |
| Length | 15 cm |
| Weight | 20 g |
A white-breasted Nuthatches are common in the winter and summer months in Michigan, but they are most often seen in winter.
White-breasted Nuthatches are lively birds with gray-blue markings on the back, while white on the belly and face with black caps. They often sport chestnut coloring on the lower belly and beneath the tail.
They are located in deciduous forests and parks, woodland edges, and yards with trees or feeders. They mostly eat insects, including beetles, larvae, caterpillars, ants, and spiders.
Nuthatches love black sunflower seeds. The Droll Yankees feeder makes it extremely easy to wash, preventing food from getting moldy and causing birds to become sick.
White-breasted Nuthatches also feed on seeds and nuts, including hawthorns, acorns, sunflower seeds, and, occasionally, corn crops. They put large acorns and nuts into the tree bark and then smash them using their bills to break or “hatch” them to release the seeds.
It is possible to attract more White-breasted Nuthatches into your garden by planting sunflower seeds as well as peanuts on tubes or feeders made of suet.
6. Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-Eyed Junco
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Passerellidae |
| Genius | Junco |
| Species | J. hyemalis |
Eyes dark Juncos are common species in Michigan during winter. Some of them stay through the summer, but their numbers increase during winter, with birds migrating north from Canada and Alaska.
Eyes dark Juncos are sparrows that have diverse in color depending on the state. They tend to be slate-colored in the east, white, black, and brown in the west.
Some remain all the time across the western part of the Appalachian Mountains. Breeders within Canada and Alaska move south during winter across the United States. They are located in open and partially wooded areas, often found on the ground, and are prevalent worldwide.
Juncos prefer feeding near the ground. It’s important to keep feeders in the ground from the shrubs where predators and cats can hide; thus, this feeder covered in netting is perfect for keeping the elements out. This platform feeder is an affordable option that allows rainwater to be drained away.
It is possible to attract more dark-eyed Juncos to backyard feeders by offering various seeds, including sunflower seeds that are black Nyjer millet, cracked corn, millet, and peanuts. Feeders on platforms or sprinkled across the ground are ideal.
7. American Crow
American Crow
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Corvus |
| Species | C. brachyrhynchos |
American Crows are commonly found in Michigan throughout the year.
American Crows are massive all-black birds that make an eerie cawing sound. They are widespread birds that can be seen in all habitats such as treetops, forests, fields, beaches, or even towns.
They consume various things and typically feed on the ground-feeding insects, earthworms seeds, fruits, and seeds. They also consume young turtles, fish, mussels, clams, and mussels and even eat nestlings, eggs, and eggs of various species of birds. American Crows congregate in large quantities of up to 2 million crows during winter time to take a rest in roosts with other crows.
You can draw more American Crows in your yard by scattering peanuts around, but it could become a nuisance when drawn by pet food placed out.
8. American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Fringillidae |
| Family | Carduelinae |
| Genus | Spinus |
| Species | S. tristis |
American Goldfinches are common birds found in Michigan throughout the year.
American Goldfinches are popular birds, with males sporting bright black and yellow colors in spring. Females are dull brown, and males s are more in winter.
Before moving to the southern states, American Goldfinches breed in far northern states and Canada. They remain throughout the remaining U.S.
They are located in fields of weeds and overgrown areas, where they hunt for sunflower aster, thistle, and other plants. They can also be found in parks, suburban areas, and backyards.
Goldfinches usually travel in flocks, and having many of them to fly in is an incredible sight to make. This is achievable with the Droll Yankees locker feeder that boasts a whopping 20 ports to bring the party to life.
To draw additional American Goldfinches to your backyard, Try planting milkweed and thistles. They are frequent bird feeders, but they attract sunflower seeds and Nyjer seeds.
9. Mourning Dove
Morning Dove
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbidae |
| Class | Columbiformes |
| Genus | Zenaida |
| Species | Z. macroura |
The Mourning Doves are commonly found in Michigan throughout the year. However, they are seen more during the summer months than during winter.
Mourning Doves look elegant with their tiny-headed birds with large bodies with long tails. They’re soft brown, with black spots on their wings. Mourning Doves are found in the entire lower 48 during the entire year; however, they could migrate to breed from the north.
They can be observed perched on telephone wires or foraging to find seeds in fields, grasslands, and backyards. The Mourning Doves are found in open areas or at the woodland edges.
Doves are attracted to feeding near the ground, and it’s recommended to keep feeders on the ground away from trees where predators and cats could hide; thus, this covered feeder is perfect for keeping the elements out. An affordable option that lets rain runoff is this easy feeder platform.
You can attract additional Mourning Doves into your yard by scattering millet over the ground or on platforms feeders. They can also feast on the seeds of black sunflower; Nyjer cracked corn, peanut hearts.
10. Red-bellied Woodpecker
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| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Melanerpes |
| Species | M. carolinus |
| Length | 23 – 27 cm |
| Weight | 72 g |
The red-bellied Woodpeckers are common birds common in Michigan during summer and winter.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are characterized by a light red belly that is difficult to identify and are characterized by nape and cap in red and a black-and-white striped back. They’re about the same size as the Hairy Woodpecker at around 9 inches.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are more prevalent in the winter months in Michigan and are the second most widespread Woodpecker within Michigan.
They emit a loud chirp during the summer and spring months and can be found in forests, woods, and deadwood, particularly in the eastern states.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are primarily a dietary source for spiders and insects but can also consume acorns, pine cones, and nuts, as well as some seeds and fruit.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are known to visit backyards to eat suet. Try an upside-down suet feeder, which will stop the bully birds and squirrels. Suet cakes can be found in bulk and are cheaper.
Additionally, black oil sunflower seeds draw more Red-bellied Woodpeckers to your backyard. When you combine them with suet to make an excellent suet and hopper feeder and hopper feeder, you will have two feeders together.
It is possible to attract more red-bellied Woodpeckers by feeding them suet, and they may take a bite from the hummingbird feeders
11. Tufted Titmouse
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| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Paridae |
| Genus | Baeolophus |
| Species | B. bicolor |
| Length | 15 – 17 cm |
| Weight | 21 g |
Tufted Titmouse is a common bird found in Michigan during the winter and summer months.
Tufted Titmouse Tufted Titmouse appears gray at the rear but white underneath a cute gray crest and big eyes that frequently attract chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches.
They can be aggressive over smaller birds and can be found in parks, woodlands, and even backyard feeders. They feed on insects during the summer months, including caterpillars, ants, beetles, and wasps, along with snails and spiders. They also consume seeds, nuts, fruits and will seed shelled.
It is possible to attract Tufted Titmice to your backyard food sources by placing sunflower seeds and suet and peanuts on suet cages and tube feeders. They also consume food off of feeders on platforms. It is also possible to put an enclosure for nesting to lure breeding pairs.
12. House Sparrow
House Sparrow
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Passeridae |
| Genus | Passer |
| Species | P. domesticus |
| Length | 14 – 18 cm |
| Weight | 24 – 40 g |
The House sparrow is one of the most common birds found in Michigan during summer and winter.
The House Sparrow is another introduced species that has performed well and become among the most popular birds. They are often found in the vicinity of homes and structures and can be very docile, and they can feed off your hands.
House Sparrows are found in the most crowded areas, particularly around farms, towns, cities, and anywhere else you can find people. They consume a lot of grain and seeds and also discard food. They are considered invasive species since they are not native but can be seen in backyards, even when you don’t feed them.
Small birds require feeders that prevent larger “bully” birds like starlings, grackles, or blackbirds from eating the entire bird’s feed and frightening the small songbirds. Tube feeders with cages are crucial when setting up your feeder, along with the Woodlink Caged feeder, simple to wash and the perfect feeder for tiny birds.
You can draw additional House Sparrows to your backyard feeders by using a variety of bird seeds, such as corn, millet, or sunflower seeds.
13. House Finch
House Finch
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Genus | Haemorhous |
| Species | H. mexicanus |
The House Finch can be found in Michigan both in summer and winter.
House Finches are red in the head and breast for males and brown-streaked colors in females. The species was initially only found in western states. They were introduced to eastern states and have performed exceptionally well, even duplicating Purple Finch.
House finches are located in farms, parks, forests, forest edges, and backyard feeds. They can be seen in large, noisy groups, difficult to miss.
House finches feed on seeds, buds, and fruit,s like thistle Cactus, cherries, apricots and plums, blackberries, strawberries, and figs.
Nyjer seeds have become a favorite diet for finches. This simple and clean finch feeder made by Droll Yankees ensures your wild birds are healthy.
You can draw many more house finches in your backyard feeders by using black oil sunflower seeds or Nyjer seeds placed in feeders made of tubes and platforms feeders.
14. American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrows are winter birds found in Michigan arrthatetween September and October and then stay until April or May.
These are long-tailed brown-streaked birds sporting rusty caps faces that are gray and rusty eyeliner. They hunt in small flocks in weedy fields and under bird feeders.
Small birds require feeders that stop larger “bully” birds like starlings, grackles, and bl, blackbirds from eating all of your bird food and frightening the small songbirds. Tube feeders with cages are crucial when setting up your feeder, along with the Woodlink Caged bird feeder, simple to wash and the perfect feeder for tiny birds.
It is possible to attract additional American Tree Swallows to your garden platform feeders by using black sunflower seeds in oil Nyjer, cracked corn millet, and cracked corn. They can also feed on the ground underneath tube feeders and scavenge to search for dropped or taken away from the above seeds.
15. European Starling
European Starling
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Sturnidae |
| Family | Passeriformes |
| Genus | Sturnus |
| Species | S. vulgaris |
European Starlings are common birds in Michigan in the summer and winter months.
European Starlings are not native; however, they are one of the largest songbirds. They are large black birds with iridescent green, purple and blue hues.
Some consider them a nuisance because of their aggressive nature; they fly in large noise crowds and are observed perched at the high peaks of trees or flying across fields in large flocks.
It is possible to attract the European Starlings closer to your feeders by using sunflower seeds that are black-oil Suet, corn, cracked, and peanuts.
16. Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Leuconotopicus |
| Species | L. villosus |
| Length | 9.8 in |
| Weight | 40–95 g |
The Hairy Woodpeckers are common in Michigan during summer and winter.
Hairy Woodpeckers have a black and white color with an orange patch on their backs. Heads. They are slightly larger than their relatives, the Downy Woodpecker. They are common in forests and woods, and parks. They can also be seen in backyard feeders.
Hairy Woodpeckers have squirrel-proof suet feeds and cages to prevent bigger birds from taking full turns. A big pack of cakes made from suet is affordable to purchase suet cakes. Also, black sunflower seeds draw larger Hairy Woodpeckers to your yard, and when you combine them with suet to make the form of a wonderful combination suet hopper feeder, you will have two feeders together.
It is possible to attract more Hairy Woodpeckers into your backyard with suet feeders. You can also put black oil, sunflower,r, and peanut seeds in feeders on platforms.
Woodpeckers are one of the most common birds during wintertime in Michigan at the feeders, particularly for suet.
17. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Sittidae |
| Genus | Sitta |
| Species | S. canadensis |
| Length | 12 cm |
| Weight | 10 g |
A red-breasted Nuthatches are common birds throughout the year-round. However, they are seen more frequently in wintertime in Michigan.
Red-breasted Nuthatches live all through the year throughout the Northern states and eventually Canada, but they could migrate to the south in winter when cone crops are not as good. They’re blue-gray birds sporting stripes of white and black on their head and rusty underside.
Red-breasted Nuthatches are found in coniferous forests searching for cones and often frequent backyard feeders.
Nuthatches are fond of black sunflower seeds. This Droll Yankees feeder makes it very easy to clean, preventing food from getting worse and making birds sick.
You can draw more red-breasted Nuthatches into your yard by using Suet feeders, sunflower seed oil, black-oil sunflowers, mealworms, and peanuts.
18. American Robin
American Robin
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Turdus |
| Species | T. migratorius |
American Robins are frequent birds in Michigan, but they are not frequently seen during winter.
American Robins can be a regular sight on lawns, eating earthworms. They have blackheads and backs with orange or redbreasts. They are known to nest in trees in winter, which means you’re more likely to find them in your backyard in spring.
American Robins are found throughout the world, including forests, woodlands, mountains, parks, fields, and lawns. They feed on earthworms, snails, insects, and fruits.
It is possible to attract more American Robins into your yard by introducing sunflower seeds and suet, peanut hearts, fruits, and mealworms. Platform feeders are the best choice for food stored in the soil. You can also plant native plants that bear fruit like juniper hawthorn, sumac, and dogwood.
American Robins is the most popular bird during summer in Michigan but are less frequent in winter.
19. Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeon
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Columba |
| Species |