Most commonly seen birds in Michigan

Written by:
March 14, 2023
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Most commonly seen birds in Michigan

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in Michigan using data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch. Birds are ranked by the percent of sites visited from Feb 18-Mar 3. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 287 count sites in Michigan. States with less than 10 count sites were not included in rankings for each bird.

Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project where participants collect data on birds at their feeders, was founded in Ontario by Erica Dunn and the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1976. The project partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology after 10 years to scale the project across the U.S. and Canada and now has over 20,000 participants.

The data Project FeederWatch collects is used by scientists to understand trends in bird populations. If you would like to participate as a FeederWatcher you can learn more about the project here.

Read on to see which birds are most commonly seen in your state.

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#45. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 1.11
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 59%
--- #2. Mississippi: 50%
--- #3. South Carolina: 45%
--- #4. Louisiana: 40%
--- #5. Alabama: 39%
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#44. Common Raven

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 1.63
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alaska: 31%
--- #2. New Mexico: 18%
--- #3. Nevada: 16%
--- #4. Arizona: 15%
--- #5. California: 8%
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#43. Sharp-shinned Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.01
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Idaho: 12%
--- #2. Nevada: 11%
--- #3. Rhode Island: 10%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #4. New Mexico: 7%
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#42. White-crowned Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.38
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 74%
--- #2. California: 67%
--- #3. Arizona: 59%
--- #4. New Mexico: 36%
--- #5. Utah: 21%
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#41. Sandhill Crane

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.09
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 4%
--- #2. Michigan: 2%
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#40. Common Redpoll

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.54
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alaska: 41%
--- #2. Minnesota: 2%
--- #2. Michigan: 2%
--- #2. Maine: 2%
--- #5. Wisconsin: 1%
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#39. Pine Grosbeak

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 3.5
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alaska: 24%
--- #2. Minnesota: 7%
--- #3. Michigan: 2%
--- #3. Maine: 2%
--- #3. Idaho: 2%
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#38. Rock Pigeon

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 3.77
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 32%
--- #2. Arizona: 18%
--- #3. New Mexico: 16%
--- #4. South Dakota: 14%
--- #5. Colorado: 6%
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#37. Evening Grosbeak

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 5.55
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 21%
--- #2. Vermont: 10%
--- #2. Arizona: 10%
--- #4. New Hampshire: 9%
--- #5. Idaho: 7%
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#36. Canada Goose

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 6.86
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #3. West Virginia: 5%
--- #4. Illinois: 4%
--- #4. Indiana: 4%
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#35. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.31
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 80%
--- #2. Arkansas: 79%
--- #3. Delaware: 77%
--- #4. Maryland: 72%
--- #5. Virginia: 69%
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#34. Red-headed Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.55
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Iowa: 8%
--- #1. Missouri: 8%
--- #3. Arkansas: 7%
--- #4. Kentucky: 6%
--- #5. Louisiana: 5%
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#33. Mallard

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 5.62
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 8%
--- #2. Utah: 7%
--- #2. Rhode Island: 7%
--- #4. South Dakota: 5%
--- #4. Louisiana: 5%
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#32. Red-tailed Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.11
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Connecticut: 10%
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #3. Illinois: 7%
--- #5. Missouri: 6%
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#31. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.79
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 50%
--- #2. Mississippi: 42%
--- #3. Delaware: 30%
--- #4. South Carolina: 28%
--- #4. New Jersey: 28%
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#30. Pine Siskin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 2.41
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 49%
--- #2. Maine: 20%
--- #2. Colorado: 20%
--- #4. Arizona: 16%
--- #5. Montana: 13%
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#29. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.39
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Washington: 59%
--- #3. Oregon: 56%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 50%
--- #5. Delaware: 47%
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#28. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 2.05
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 50%
--- #2. Arkansas: 32%
--- #3. Alabama: 27%
--- #4. North Carolina: 25%
--- #5. Missouri: 24%
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#27. Wild Turkey

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 6.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 21%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 15%
--- #3. Wisconsin: 12%
--- #3. Minnesota: 12%
--- #5. Wyoming: 11%
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#26. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 32%
--- #2. Arizona: 26%
--- #3. New Mexico: 18%
--- #4. Illinois: 17%
--- #4. Mississippi: 17%
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#25. Brown Creeper

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 15%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 13%
--- #3. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 10%
--- #3. South Dakota: 10%
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#24. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- Average group size: 1.11
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 79%
--- #2. Colorado: 66%
--- #3. Montana: 65%
--- #4. Washington: 63%
--- #4. Nevada: 63%
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#23. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- Average group size: 2.94
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 70%
--- #2. North Carolina: 65%
--- #2. South Carolina: 65%
--- #4. Arkansas: 57%
--- #5. Virginia: 52%
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#22. Carolina Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 1.17
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. North Carolina: 84%
--- #3. South Carolina: 80%
--- #4. Virginia: 77%
--- #5. Georgia: 75%
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#21. Pileated Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 1.19
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Minnesota: 28%
--- #2. West Virginia: 21%
--- #3. Michigan: 17%
--- #4. Indiana: 16%
--- #4. Wisconsin: 16%
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#20. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 1.85
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 65%
--- #2. New Jersey: 60%
--- #3. Washington, D.C.: 40%
--- #4. Ohio: 38%
--- #4. Kentucky: 38%
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#19. American Tree Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 22%
- Average group size: 2.28
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Wisconsin: 25%
--- #2. Iowa: 23%
--- #2. Vermont: 23%
--- #4. Wyoming: 22%
--- #4. Michigan: 22%
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#18. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 23%
- Average group size: 2.43
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Arkansas: 64%
--- #3. Tennessee: 59%
--- #4. Nevada: 58%
--- #5. Oklahoma: 55%
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#17. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 25%
- Average group size: 2.1
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 49%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 45%
--- #3. North Carolina: 39%
--- #4. Vermont: 37%
--- #5. Georgia: 34%
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#16. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 36%
- Average group size: 2.59
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 60%
--- #2. New Jersey: 56%
--- #3. New York: 48%
--- #4. Louisiana: 45%
--- #4. Illinois: 45%
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#15. Red-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 45%
- Average group size: 1.28
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 69%
--- #2. South Dakota: 57%
--- #3. Alaska: 55%
--- #4. Montana: 54%
--- #5. Oregon: 45%
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#14. Hairy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 50%
- Average group size: 1.32
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Hampshire: 69%
--- #2. Maine: 67%
--- #3. Minnesota: 63%
--- #3. Vermont: 63%
--- #5. Connecticut: 61%
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#13. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 50%
- Average group size: 3.6
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Nebraska: 67%
--- #3. Indiana: 66%
--- #4. Ohio: 62%
--- #4. Missouri: 62%
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#12. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 61%
- Average group size: 6.41
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Iowa: 88%
--- #3. Illinois: 87%
--- #4. Nebraska: 79%
--- #5. Indiana: 74%
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#11. House Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 63%
- Average group size: 3.71
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 97%
--- #2. Arizona: 94%
--- #3. New Mexico: 90%
--- #4. Ohio: 87%
--- #5. Colorado: 86%
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#10. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 68%
- Average group size: 2.04
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 91%
--- #1. Connecticut: 91%
--- #3. New Hampshire: 90%
--- #4. North Carolina: 86%
--- #5. Tennessee: 84%
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#9. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 70%
- Average group size: 2.31
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Rhode Island: 87%
--- #2. Massachusetts: 77%
--- #3. New Jersey: 76%
--- #4. Nebraska: 73%
--- #4. Ohio: 73%
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#8. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 72%
- Average group size: 1.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 88%
--- #2. New Jersey: 86%
--- #3. Arkansas: 82%
--- #4. Connecticut: 80%
--- #5. Ohio: 78%
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#7. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 74%
- Average group size: 4.73
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 77%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 76%
--- #2. Wisconsin: 76%
--- #4. Michigan: 74%
--- #5. Missouri: 73%
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#6. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 78%
- Average group size: 4.24
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. New Jersey: 90%
--- #3. West Virginia: 88%
--- #3. Delaware: 88%
--- #5. Rhode Island: 87%
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#5. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 79%
- Average group size: 4.17
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 96%
--- #2. Washington: 94%
--- #3. New Jersey: 93%
--- #3. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. Connecticut: 92%
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#4. Northern Cardinal

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 81%
- Average group size: 2.67
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Arkansas: 96%
--- #3. Maryland: 95%
--- #3. South Carolina: 95%
--- #5. West Virginia: 93%
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#3. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 82%
- Average group size: 1.45
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 93%
--- #2. Maine: 85%
--- #2. Vermont: 85%
--- #4. Connecticut: 84%
--- #4. Massachusetts: 84%
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#2. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 87%
- Average group size: 1.66
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Minnesota: 89%
--- #2. Arkansas: 89%
--- #4. Missouri: 88%
--- #4. Iowa: 88%
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#1. Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 91%
- Average group size: 2.63
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 97%
--- #2. Minnesota: 96%
--- #3. Vermont: 94%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. New Hampshire: 92%
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