Hobbies And Interests
Ducks, Geese and Swans
These birds are from the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae. Birds from this group found in Michigan include Canada goose, mute, trumpeter and tundra swan, wood duck, gadwall, American wigeon, American black duck, mallard, blue-winged teal, northern shoveler, northern pintail, green-winged teal, canvasback, redhead, ring-necked duck, lesser scaup, common goldeneye and ruddy duck, as well as the hooded, redbreasted and common merganser. The Great Lakes are home to a very large population of Canada geese. American Black ducks are somewhat migratory and often found in the east central part of the U.S. in the winter, however some remain all year in the Great Lakes area.
Quails, Pheasants, Loons and Grebes
Common nesting birds found in Michigan include the northern bobwhite, ring-necked pheasant, the ruffled, spruce and sharp-tailed grouse, wild turkey, red-throated, Pacific and common loons, and pied-billed, red-necked and eared grebe. The common loon is found in the upper part of Michigan and the Upper Penisula in the summer months and during the loons' migration in the lower half of Michigan.
Pelicans, Cranes and Related Birds
Some waterfowl found in Michigan include the American white pelican, the American and least bittern, great blue heron, great egret, green heron, the black-crowned night-heron, the yellow-crowned night-heron and the sandhill crane. The great blue heron stands 4 feet tall and is distinctive for its doglike call. It is found only in summer months in Michigan.
Birds of Prey
Some birds of prey common to Michigan include the red-tailed hawk, the osprey, the bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-skinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, northern goshawk, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon and turkey vulture. The broad-winged hawk is a long traveling migratory bird, covering distances from Florida to Peru and Northern Brazil in large flocks. They can be found in great numbers in the fall in Michigan. Many birds of prey of Michigan are endangered or threatened including the peregrine falcon, the bald eagle, and the red-shouldered hawk. Michigan is home to a number of owls including the eastern screech owl, great horned owl, barred owl and the great gray owl.
Other Birds
The common nighthawk and the eastern whip-poor-will are also found in Michigan. Chimney swifts, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and a wide variety of woodpeckers, swallows, robins and warblers are found in Michigan as well. Kirtland's warbler and cerulean warbler are both considered endangered species.