Michigan is home to an abundance of small brown birds that form the core of Michigan’s birding population. Though often disregarded due to their subtle colors, these nondescript species offer plenty of surprises when it comes to bird watching.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks can be hard to spot due to their habit of hiding among brush and shrubbery, so listen out for their high piercing song as an indicator that one may be near!
Eastern Phoebe
The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is one of the first birds to arrive each spring, marking one of our breeding birds as one of its first arrivals. This plain-looking flycatcher can easily be identified once you know what you’re looking for – simply perch conspicuously while watching insects flying nearby before darting out and trying its luck at catching them if unsuccessful; its characteristic behavior even inspired Robert Frost who wrote, “One had to be versed in country things to realize how swiftly a phoebe flitted.”
The Eastern Phoebe is a familiar sight around buildings and bridges, and one of our most commonly seen double-brooded nesters. It nests in open woodland, farmland, suburban areas near water bodies such as lakes or rivers; in winter it often moves to more protected places nearer to ground such as crevices of limestone bluffs for shelter – although in Midwest it also often nests beneath house eaves or similar buildings.
At first, it appeared as if Eastern Phoebe numbers in our region were declining, but recent results from breeding bird surveys indicate otherwise. They show an upward trend, becoming more common than at any point since 1967 and more abundant across all breeding habitat types from 1987-1992 than ever before. The Texas Breeding Bird Atlas supports this observation with significantly more abundance reported for them since 1987 than previous years.
Although male and female birds appear similar, one way to differentiate between them easily is their song. Phoebes typically produce a soft fee-bee melody with emphasis placed on each phrase of each syllable; Wood-Pewee calls are much louder with pure pee-a-wee chirps being produced by both species.
As is typical for small brown birds, the Eastern Phoebe feeds on insects and spiders during most months; during summer it also enjoys snacking on berries. Robert Frost noted in his poem, “The Need of Being Versed in Country Things”, that vegetable foods made up only 5.78 percent of their daily intake, with most coming in the form of tiny seeds and berries.
House Sparrow
In the mid 19th century, an unexpected visitor to Washtenaw County caused quite a stir among its residents. They weren’t impressed with this bird whose head looked similar to that of a sparrow but which managed to elude capture by quickly fleeing away. Over time, this newcomer quickly spread throughout North America, becoming one of its most widespread songbirds today.
House Sparrows have evolved to thrive near humans, competing with native birds that may evict them from their nests or try to take over trees where it roosts. Eating seeds and berries as well as foraging on the ground and visiting bird feeders for food, you might spot one in urban settings where it scavenges on sidewalks or streets or rural settings where it tidies up fields or barnyards.
The sparrow’s unique call is a short, high-pitched chirp. This bird lays up to six eggs that hatch within two weeks and takes another week before fledge. Their habitat includes open fields, grassy meadows, and along sedge and cattail edges.
Field Sparrows can be hard to come by in Michigan, making seeing one a true treat! Nesting residents of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula include Field Sparrows – breeding residents that appear in 10% of summer checklists here! Field Sparrows winter in southern areas but can sometimes be seen here throughout the year.
Swamp Sparrows are rare breeding residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, yet are surprisingly abundant as migrants in yards and other human-modified habitats. Omnivorous in their diet, these birds feed on insects, berries and seeds alike.
They breed in boreal coniferous forests, bogs, swamps and peatlands before migrating to Central and South America in winter. Look out for them in forests and wooded areas in wintertime; their dark slate-gray topside features light grayish white bottom half with pink beak and they have an upbeat song which ends with a short chirp.
These swift birds fly fast and low, foraging for insects on the ground or trees. With short wings that flare out at either end and long tails. Males have a harsh whistled call while females produce soft churr sounds.
American Robin
Robins are one of the first signs of spring and an integral component of Michigan’s ecosystem. These birds nest in open woodlands as well as urban environments and feed on insects and berries for food.
Robins construct cup-shaped nests with a firm inner foundation and an outer layer made up of twigs, coarse grasses, paper scraps and feathers. Female robins usually smear mud on the inside of their bowl before layering it with fine grasses to cushion their eggs as she lays between three to seven eggs that both parents raise together.
Adult robins can often be seen in pairs or small flocks during migration. They are highly territorial birds that defend their territory from other robins; their flight is swift and sustained enough for them to cover hundreds of miles at a time. Furthermore, these powerful drillers can create nesting cavities by excavating holes in dead trees for nesting purposes.
Birds with long lifespans such as the parrot are very popular pets in captivity; some species can live 20+ years! Their gentle personalities combined with their simple songs makes them particularly endearing to keep.
Flocks of robins often visit parks and woodlands in search of food, their cheerful song signalling the coming of springtime.
The American Robin is famous for pecking at windshields, windows and hubcaps in response to their own reflections, possibly as an act of protest against being caught by their reflection. They serve as effective insect predators that help maintain vegetable gardens and farms with pest control needs, although their numbers have declined due to DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) use to combat Dutch Elm Disease as well as habitat loss in certain regions.
Assigning Michigan with its state bird can be contentious. There is wide-spread support, though, for Kirtland’s Warbler as their state bird. Doing so would recognize an amazing conservation success story and celebrate an indigenous species unique to Michigan – its comeback from near extinction being one of the greatest feats of bird conservation ever. For more on Michigan’s state bird debate click here.
Eastern Bluebird
Michiganders love watching Eastern Bluebirds with their bright iridescent blue plumage capturing many hearts across Michigan during warmer months. Migratory species, this bird feeds both seeds and insects making it an invaluable asset to Michigan’s ecosystem by dispersing seed dispersion and insect control.
The Eastern Bluebird can be found throughout North America, from southern Canada to the Caribbean and from Great Plains to U.S. east coast. While they usually migrate during fall and winter migrations, recent years have seen its range expand year-round; now residing year-round in Michigan counties throughout its southern regions.
Bluebirds nest in open country areas with scattered trees such as farm fields or woodland clearings, while also frequently visiting backyard bird feeders in spring. Bluebirds spend their winters in the Southeastern US or Mexico.
When it comes to breeding, Eastern Bluebirds typically lay their clutch of eggs between April and May. Females will remain on their eggs for 12-14 days before leaving only to feed and water their young birds once hatching takes place. When those young bluebirds can fly freely they’ll head off in search of new environments for life-long lifelong happiness.
These small migratory songbirds can easily be identified by their deep metallic blue heads, backs, wings and throats; their rusty-red throats and foreheads; as well as white spots on their underparts. This species breeds across North America from spring through summer in Michigan – frequently at bird feeders but also forest edges, parks or meadows.
Like its Eastern Bluebird cousin, Indigo Buntings can often be found visiting backyard bird feeders during spring. Consuming both seeds and caterpillars, this bird plays an integral part of ecosystem. Males feature brilliant blue feathers that shimmer under sunlight while females and juveniles have more subdued coloring; both sexes enjoy frequent visits to woodland edges, parklands, gardens where it often perches high up a treetop to sing its distinctive song.