This list of birds of Michigan includes species documented in the U.S. state of Michigan and accepted by the Michigan Bird Records Committee (MBRC). As of January 2023, there are 456 species included in the official list. Of them, 92 are classed as accidental, 47 are classed as casual, seven have been introduced to North America, one is known to be extinct and another is believed to be, and two have been extirpated.
This is a comprehensive list of all bird species known to have occurred naturally in Michigan as permanent residents, summer residents, winter residents, transients, or vagrants. Non-native species that have not established self-sustaining populations, such as escapees from captivity, are excluded.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
The following codes are used to designate the status of certain species:
(A) Accidental - recorded fewer than four times in the last 10 years per the MBRC (C) Casual - recorded at least four, but 30 or fewer, times in the last 10 years and in fewer than nine of the last 10 years per the MBRC (I) Introduced - population established in North America as result of direct or indirect human action (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (Ex) Extirpated - no longer found in Michigan but continues to exist elsewhere
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills that are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Forty-four species have been recorded in Michigan.
American black duck, Anas rubripes American wigeon, Mareca americana Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (C) Black scoter, Melanitta americana Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (C) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Brant, Branta bernicla (C) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Common merganser, Mergus merganser Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (C) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Gadwall, Mareca strepera Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus King eider, Somateria spectabilis (C) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Ross's goose, Anser rossii Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Wood duck, Aix sponsa
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. One species has been recorded in Michigan.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (Ex)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Six species have been recorded in Michigan.
Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Ex) (last recorded 1981) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Five species have been recorded in Michigan.
Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (C)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Eight species have been recorded in Michigan.
Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (A) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (C) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Inca dove, Columbina inca (A) Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) (last record 1898) Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Three species have been recorded in Michigan.
Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (A) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Three species have been recorded in Michigan.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Three species have been recorded in Michigan.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (A) (sight record only) White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis (A)
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Eight species have been recorded in Michigan.
Anna's hummingbird, Colapte anna (A) Berylline hummingbird, Amazilia beryllina (A) Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (A) Costa's hummingbird, Colapte costae (A) Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (C) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus White-eared hummingbird, Hylocharis leucotis (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers. Eight species have been recorded in Michigan.
American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (C) Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata King rail, Rallus elegans (C) Sora, Porzana carolina Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. One species has been recorded in Michigan.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (A)
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". One species has been recorded in Michigan.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been recorded in Michigan.
American avocet, Recurvirostra americana Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (C)
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Seven species have been recorded in Michigan.
American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A) Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (A)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Thirty-six species have been recorded in Michigan.
American woodcock, Scolopax minor Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Dunlin, Calidris alpina Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (A) (last recorded 1879, probably extinct) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (A) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Red knot, Calidris canutus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Ruff, Calidris pugnax (C) Sanderling, Calidris alba Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (A) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Wandering tattler/gray-tailed tattler, Tringa incana/Tringa brevipes (A) Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (C) White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Willet, Tringa semipalmata Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata
Skuas and jaegers