Michigan is home to a diverse array of bird species. With habitats ranging from the Great Lakes to forests, wetlands, and urban areas, Michigan provides a haven for both migrating and resident birds. Determining exactly how many species can be found in the state requires analyzing records compiled by ornithologists and bird enthusiasts over many years.
Record Keeping of Michigan Birds
Documenting the bird species found in Michigan has been an ongoing effort by both amateur birders and professional ornithologists. Some key developments in cataloguing Michigan’s birds include:
- The founding of the Michigan Audubon Society in 1904, one of the first state Audubon societies, which began keeping annual bird censuses.
- The publication of “A Preliminary List of the Birds of Michigan” by Michigan State University professor W.B. Barrows in 1912, which tabulated over 300 species from records and observations.
- Norman Wood’s 1923 publication “A Standardized List of the Birds of Michigan,” which became the basis for the first official checklist of Michigan birds.
- The organization of the Michigan Bird Survey by the Detroit Audubon Society in 1931 to coordinate statewide bird counts.
- The founding of the Michigan Bird Records Committee in 1991 to evaluate reports of rare bird sightings for inclusion on official state lists.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of both professionals and amateurs over more than a century, a robust database exists documenting bird species occurrences in Michigan.
Official Michigan Bird Checklists
The authoritative reference for determining the official number of bird species documented in Michigan is the periodic state bird checklists compiled and maintained by the Michigan Bird Records Committee (MBRC). This committee of ornithological experts reviews reports of rare and unusual bird sightings and decides which to accept as credible records for inclusion on the official state checklist.
The MBRC has produced the following checklists of Michigan birds:
| Checklist Edition | Year Published | Number of Species |
|---|---|---|
| 1st edition | 1991 | 415 species |
| 2nd edition | 1997 | 422 species |
| 3rd edition | 2003 | 430 species |
| 4th edition | 2008 | 435 species |
| 5th edition | 2013 | 440 species |
The most recent (6th) edition was published in 2018 and lists 441 species officially accepted as substantiated records for Michigan.
Details on Michigan’s Bird Species
Of the 441 confirmed bird species on Michigan’s 2018 checklist, 244 are known to breed or have bred in the state. Another 92 species are migrants that pass through the state each year. And 105 species are considered accidental or vagrant, with 5 or fewer accepted records within the state.
The species that breed in Michigan include familiar permanent residents like the American Robin, Northern Cardinal, and Black-capped Chickadee. Summer residents that nest here include birds like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Bluebird, and Baltimore Oriole. Breeding ducks, herons, terns, and other waterbirds round out the mix of Michigan’s nesting avifauna.
Migrating species follow routes like the Lake Huron and Lake Michigan shorelines, making stopovers in the state as they travel to and from breeding areas further north. Well-known migrants include flocks of Canada Geese, wood warblers, hawks, and sparrows moving through in spring and fall.
Rare vagrant species that have wandered into Michigan include exotic birds like the European Goldfinch and Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Accidental finds by hawk watchers, shorebird surveys, and backyards birders periodically add new discoveries to the state list.
Notable Species
Some noteworthy species found in Michigan include:
- Kirtland’s Warbler – An endangered species that nests almost exclusively in Michigan’s jack pine forests.
- Sandhill Crane – Flocks of up to 15,000 gather in southeast Michigan on migration stopovers.
- Piping Plover – This small Great Lakes shorebird nests in protected beaches along Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
- Northern Goshawk – A fierce forest-dwelling raptor that breeds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
- Snowy Owl – An irregular winter visitor from the Arctic tundra.
Conclusion
Based on the official 2018 Michigan bird checklist, the state has a documented avifauna of 441 species. This includes 244 breeding species, more than 90 regular migrants, and over 100 rare and accidental visitors. Careful cataloging of records by birders and ornithologists continues to refine the overall count, providing insights into Michigan’s diverse bird populations.
