Birds to See in Michigan in February
95 bird species on our list for Michigan are recorded regularly in February
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow and White-breasted Nuthatch. New this month: Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle and Turkey Vulture.
On the move in February
GBIF · FebArriving
At their peak
From Michigan’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 95 birds in February
95 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.87% in Feb
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 4.51% in Feb
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.31% in Feb
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.22% in Feb
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 4.07% in Feb
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.92% in Feb
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Feb
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.46% in Feb
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.26% in Feb
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Feb
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.87% in Feb
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Feb
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Feb
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Feb
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.06% in Feb
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Feb
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Feb
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Feb
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.34% in Feb
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Feb
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Feb
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.08% in Feb
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Feb
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Feb
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Feb
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Feb
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Feb
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Feb
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Feb
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Feb
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Feb
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Feb
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.58% in Feb
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Feb
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.51% in Feb
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Feb
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Feb
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.39% in Feb
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Feb
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.36% in Feb
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Feb
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Feb
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.33% in Feb
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Feb
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Feb
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.26% in Feb
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.24% in Feb
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.20% in Feb
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.19% in Feb
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Feb
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Feb
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Feb
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Feb
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Feb
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Feb
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Feb
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Feb
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Feb
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Feb
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Feb
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Feb
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.05% in Feb
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.05% in Feb
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Feb
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Feb
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Feb
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Feb
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Feb
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Feb
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Feb
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Feb
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Feb
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Feb
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Feb
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorRare20–26 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Feb
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Feb
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made