One of the most relaxing, educational, and fun activities to do when the weather gets nice is bird watching. It’s great because the whole family can enjoy it, especially in a state like Michigan, where there are lots of different species to look for, it’s fun all day! While there are lots of places in the area to go and watch for birds, most can be found right there in your backyard. North America has over 2,000 species of birds, with over 400 right here in Michigan and we’d like to introduce you to a few.
– Northern cardinal. These are one of the most recognizable and common backyard birds found in America, and in Michigan year-round. They have bright red feathers and “mohawks” on their heads, with warm tones beaks.
– Blue jay. Blue Jays are found in lots of states across North America and are very well known. They can be spotted by their blue feathers on their backs, and white bellies, with a black ring around their neck.
– American robin. One of the most common birds to be found right in your backyard is the Robin. They are usually found hopping around on the ground hunting for worms in the grass. They have bright red, round bellies, and yellow beaks which make them stand out.
– American crow. One of the most well-known and common birds we can see all year long is the crow. They are solid black, and quite large in size, as well as highly intelligent. They are seen all year long in all parts of Michigan.
– Downy woodpecker. If you have a bird feeder in your backyard, chances are you’ve had a Downy Woodpecker visit you. They are one of the most common types of woodpeckers, generally found right in your backyard. They have white bellies, black and white speckled wings, and stripes on their head, usually with a red spot.
– Ruby-throated hummingbird. Hummingbirds are always exciting to see because out of all the common birds, they’re less frequent visitors. Hummingbirds are more common in the eastern half of the US, but this species is readily found in Michigan. They have bright red throats, green heads, and whites bellies, with long beaks.
Bird watching is great because it can be done from almost anywhere, but there are also lots of bird watching locations all throughout Michigan where the variety of birds being sighted might be a little more diverse. If you don’t want to travel, it’s easy to attract birds to your yard by adding some bird feeders, a source of water, birdhouses or shelter, and some native plants. There are also trails throughout Michigan as well that allow for you to get in some movement while looking for different species of birds. Happy bird watching!
