About us: We own two Wild Birds Unlimited nature shops in East Lansing & Okemos, Michigan
that provide a wide variety of supplies to help you enjoy the birdwatching hobby.

This blog was created to answer frequently asked questions & to share nature stories and photographs.
To contribute, email me at bloubird@gmail.com.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Michigan’s Top 20 Winter Backyard Birds

What birds can you see in Michigan in winter? ~ Coldwater, MI

There are lots of birds in Michigan during the winter. This is a very good question to have right before the Great Backyard Bird Count, too!

I’ve listed some of the most common birds you’ll see and the food they like at feeders.

1. House Sparrow- White Proso Millet, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips
2. Black-capped Chickadee- Shelled peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Nyjer Thistle, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
3. Northern Cardinal- Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Shelled peanuts, Striped Sunflower seed
4. Downy Woodpecker- Peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Suet
5. White-breasted Nuthatch- Peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
6. Mourning Dove- Oil Sunflower seed, Peanuts, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, White Proso Millet, Nyjer Thistle
7. Red-bellied Woodpecker- Peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
8. Northern Flicker- Peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
9. Dark-eyed Junco- White Proso Millet, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Nyjer Thistle
10. American Goldfinch- Nyjer Thistle, Sunflower Chips, Oil Sunflower Seed
11. Blue Jay- Peanuts in the Shell, Nuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
12. Tufted Titmouse- Shelled peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
13. House Finch- Safflower, Nyjer Thistle, Sunflower Chips, Oil Sunflower Seed
14. European Starling- Shelled peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
15. American Crow- Peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
16. Cooper’s Hawk- Songbirds, Squirrels, Unrendered Suet
17. Carolina Wren- Shelled peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips, Safflower, Suet, Striped Sunflower seed
18. Eastern Bluebird- Shelled peanuts, Suet, Suet Nuggets, Mealworms
19. American Robin- Shelled peanuts, Suet, Suet Nuggets, Mealworms
20. Cedar Waxwing- Mealworms, Suet Nuggets, Berries and Wild Fruit

Click HERE for the Eastern Seed Preference Guide
Of course there are a lot more birds in Michigan during the winter and they they don't just eat from feeders, but this gives you a start. For more information we have Birds of Michigan Field Guides or you can visit our online Bird Guide to identify birds at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/.

And to learn more about the Great Backyard Birdcount go to: http://lansingwbu.blogspot.com/2011/01/gbbc-is-almost-here.html
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Posted by: http://lansing.wbu.com/ Wild Birds Unlimited Mid-Michigan

3 comments:

  1. Interesting list. Here in Fowlerville I see all but the Carolina Wren and Cedar Waxwing in the winter, although Eastern Bluebirds are rare; I haven't seen any this year, nor robins.

    I also get Hairy Woodpeckers fairly regularly.

    Mike G.

    ReplyDelete

  2. I see everything but the bluebirds. We also have Brown Creepers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Sharp Shinned Hawks. I saw Pine Siskins at the beginning of winter but not lately. And I hear a Great Horned Owl.

    I left a lot of birds out but this should be the top 20 for most of mid-Michigan.

    Thanks for the comment.
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete

  3. Thank you for the list of what to foods to give specific birds. I see many of those birds here in Florida and need to put more food in my backyard feeders.

    ReplyDelete

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