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Made for birdrs, by birdrs  ·  Birdr ·  v0.1
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Sightings mapMichigan

Recent bird sightings in Michigan

Every bird below was reported in Michigan by a birder submitting a checklist to eBird, the citizen science database run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This page refreshes hourly, so it reflects what's actually being seen in the state right now rather than what turns up here on average. Tap any species for photos, range, songs, and identification notes.

Birders have reported 224 species from 143 locations across Michigan in the last 7 days.

Rare bird sightings in Michigan

Species flagged as notable by eBird's Michigan reviewers — birds that are out of range, out of season, or reported in unusual numbers — over the last 14 days. One entry per species, most recent first.

  • Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanusBest in the East · Oct 14, 2026
  • Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiBayshore Marina · Oct 14, 2026
  • Summer TanagerPiranga rubraOakview Cemetery · Oct 14, 2026
  • Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosBates Rd, Williamsburg US-MI 44.78733, -85.43848 · Oct 14, 2026
  • Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magna8200–8320 S Branch Rd, Branch US-MI 43.87288, -86.01883 · Oct 14, 2026
  • Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31) · Oct 14, 2026
  • Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosFoote Overlook, Oscoda US-MI 44.45193, -83.51649 · Oct 14, 2026
  • Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusLong Lake County Park · Oct 14, 2026
  • Virginia RailRallus limicolaFred Meijer Trail-Vestaburg Area · Oct 14, 2026
  • Northern ParulaSetophaga americanaSterling State Park · Oct 14, 2026
  • Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisBird_Boss · Oct 14, 2026
  • Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaDeGraaf Nature Center · Oct 14, 2026
  • Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceusAlpena Community College --Alpena Campus · Oct 14, 2026
  • Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaAlpena Community College --Alpena Campus · Oct 14, 2026
  • Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinator2768 E Booth Rd, Au Gres US-MI 43.99786, -83.70006 · Oct 14, 2026
  • Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasGrosse point shores · Oct 14, 2026
  • Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusCalumet Sewage Lagoons · Oct 13, 2026
  • Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsCoopersville WTP (OUTSIDE FENCE ONLY) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Snow GooseAnser caerulescensBeaver Grove RA · Oct 13, 2026
  • SoraPorzana carolinaRogue River Park · Oct 13, 2026
  • Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusDead River mouth · Oct 13, 2026
  • Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta variaMy Yard · Oct 13, 2026
  • Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSection 33 Nature Reserve · Oct 13, 2026
  • Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaKinderhook Sewage Lagoons · Oct 13, 2026
  • Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresLudington Harbor · Oct 13, 2026
  • Townsend's SolitaireMyadestes townsendi29608 W North Shore Rd, Paradise US-MI 46.77243, -84.97731 · Oct 13, 2026
  • Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Green HeronButorides virescensLake Erie Metropark · Oct 13, 2026
  • White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollis11839 Meridian Road, Hudson, Michigan, US (41.756, -84.361) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virensScotts Mill County Park · Oct 13, 2026

Latest bird sightings in Michigan

The most recently reported species across Michigan in the last 7 days, with the location and date of the latest report for each.

  • Barred OwlStrix variaGrosse point shores · Oct 14, 2026
  • Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusEast Fowler Rd · Oct 14, 2026
  • Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusPointe LaBarbe · Oct 13, 2026
  • Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asioRiver Bend Albion · Oct 13, 2026
  • Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus2171 3rd Street, Bay City, Michigan, US (43.599, -83.863) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Canada GooseBranta canadensis2171 3rd Street, Bay City, Michigan, US (43.599, -83.863) · Oct 13, 2026
  • American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosBelle Isle Park, Detroit US-MI (42.3356,-82.9885) · Oct 13, 2026

How to use this list to find birds in Michigan

Recent sightings are the single most useful signal in birding. A species list tells you what could be in Michigan; a sightings feed tells you what is being seen this week, at which specific ponds, woodlots, and refuges. During spring and autumn migration the difference is enormous — the same site can hold twenty warblers one morning and almost nothing three days later.

Read the location names as much as the species names. When several unrelated birds are being reported from the same place, that spot is being actively covered and is usually worth your morning. If a bird you want appears once at an obscure location, check it on the sightings map before driving — some eBird locations are personal spots on private land rather than public hotspots.

Get Michigan rare birds sent to you

Checking a page is fine for planning; it's useless for chasing. Rarities often stay one or two days, so the birds worth driving for are gone before most people think to look. Birdr's rare bird alerts invert that: draw an alert zone around the part of Michigan you would realistically drive to, and Birdr checks fresh eBird data every 15 minutes and pushes you a notification when something notable is reported inside it. A free account covers one zone; Pro adds unlimited zones plus alerts for your watchlist species and life-list gaps.

More Michigan birding

Birds of Michigan field guideRare bird alertsBird sightings map

Recent bird sightings by state

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  • Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSt Joe Riverwalk · Oct 13, 2026
  • White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollisSt Joe Riverwalk · Oct 13, 2026
  • Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSt Joe Riverwalk · Oct 13, 2026
  • Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSt Joe Riverwalk · Oct 13, 2026
  • Wood DuckAix sponsa570 Red Rd, Michigamme US-MI 46.52347, -88.06044 · Oct 13, 2026
  • Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensisRedtail Nature Preserve · Oct 13, 2026
  • Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillusGermfask Mercantile & Hostel · Oct 13, 2026
  • White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysGermfask Mercantile & Hostel · Oct 13, 2026
  • American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaGermfask Mercantile & Hostel · Oct 13, 2026
  • American RobinTurdus migratoriusGrand River Valley Rail Trail (Ionia) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensGrand River Valley Rail Trail (Ionia) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Northern FlickerColaptes auratusGrand River Valley Rail Trail (Ionia) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusGrand River Valley Rail Trail (Ionia) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisJohns Road, EB. Private Access · Oct 13, 2026
  • American GoldfinchSpinus tristisZibiwes Nature Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • MerlinFalco columbariusZibiwes Nature Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmusFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapaFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianusFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Blue JayCyanocitta cristataFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusFred Meijer Flat River Trail (McPherson to 3 mile) · Oct 13, 2026
  • MallardAnas platyrhynchosHeron Pond Park · Oct 13, 2026
  • Great EgretArdea albaHeron Pond Park · Oct 13, 2026
  • Rock PigeonColumba livia3096–3134 22 Mile Rd NW, Kent City US-MI 43.29323, -85.75065 · Oct 13, 2026
  • KilldeerCharadrius vociferusUpper Macatawa Natural Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaUpper Macatawa Natural Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyonUpper Macatawa Natural Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataUpper Macatawa Natural Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataUpper Macatawa Natural Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebeUpper Macatawa Natural Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • European StarlingSturnus vulgarisUpper Macatawa Natural Area · Oct 13, 2026
  • House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusEast End Of Kreft · Oct 13, 2026
  • Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisEast End Of Kreft · Oct 13, 2026
  • Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusJanice Anschuetz Highland Preserve · Oct 13, 2026
  • American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus35707 Bal Clair St, New Baltimore US-MI (42.6744,-82.7424) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Turkey VultureCathartes aura4080 Pingree Road, Howell, Michigan, US (42.537, -84.022) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensis4080 Pingree Road, Howell, Michigan, US (42.537, -84.022) · Oct 13, 2026
  • Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsReed’s Lake - Eastern end · Oct 13, 2026
  • Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusHudson Mills fen wetland near Huron River · Oct 13, 2026
  • Mute SwanCygnus olorReed’s Lake - Eastern end · Oct 13, 2026
  • Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisReed’s Lake - Eastern end · Oct 13, 2026
  • Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisDrayton Plains Nature Center · Oct 13, 2026
  • House SparrowPasser domesticusDrayton Plains Nature Center · Oct 13, 2026
  • Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalisFarr’s Yard · Oct 13, 2026
  • Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumFarr’s Yard · Oct 13, 2026
  • Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaFarr’s Yard · Oct 13, 2026
  • Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus4132–4198 Kroes St NE, Rockford US-MI 43.09254, -85.56747 · Oct 13, 2026
  • Brown CreeperCerthia americanaNorth Heniser Rd, Traverse City US-MI 44.72304, -85.79726 · Oct 13, 2026
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