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 Dec. 24 to Jan. 6. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 258 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.
You may also like: Most popular girl names in the 60s in Michigan
#46. Chipping Sparrow
- Average group size: 1.25
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 58%
--- #2. Mississippi: 55%
--- #2. South Carolina: 55%
--- #4. North Carolina: 34%
--- #5. Alabama: 33%

#45. Fox Sparrow
- Average group size: 1.42
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington: 24%
--- #1. Oregon: 24%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 18%
--- #4. California: 15%
--- #5. Kentucky: 10%
#44. Common Grackle
- Average group size: 1.47
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 29%
--- #2. New Jersey: 27%
--- #3. Delaware: 22%
--- #4. Arkansas: 21%
--- #5. Tennessee: 16%

#43. Pine Grosbeak
- Average group size: 3.19
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alaska: 32%
--- #2. Minnesota: 6%
--- #3. Colorado: 2%
--- #3. Maine: 2%
--- #5. Michigan: 1%
#42. Canada Goose
- Average group size: 7.47
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 6%
--- #2. Rhode Island: 3%
--- #3. Georgia: 2%
--- #3. Connecticut: 2%
--- #3. Indiana: 2%
You may also like: Counties in Michigan where people spend most of their paycheck on housing
#41. Ruffed Grouse
- Average group size: 1.37
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alaska: 4%
--- #2. Montana: 3%
--- #3. Michigan: 2%
--- #3. Wisconsin: 2%
#40. White-crowned Sparrow
- Average group size: 1.39
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 73%
--- #2. California: 69%
--- #3. Arizona: 59%
--- #4. New Mexico: 31%
--- #5. Washington: 20%
#39. Red-headed Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.51
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Iowa: 9%
--- #1. Mississippi: 9%
--- #3. Kentucky: 6%
--- #4. Tennessee: 5%
--- #4. Kansas: 5%
#38. Brown-headed Cowbird
- Average group size: 1.6
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alabama: 23%
--- #2. Ohio: 15%
--- #3. Tennessee: 14%
--- #3. Florida: 14%
--- #3. Delaware: 14%
#37. Boreal Chickadee
- Average group size: 2.09
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alaska: 46%
--- #2. Michigan: 2%
You may also like: Best high schools in Michigan

#36. Common Redpoll
- Average group size: 2.45
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alaska: 21%
--- #2. South Dakota: 6%
--- #3. West Virginia: 3%
--- #4. Michigan: 2%
--- #4. New Hampshire: 2%
#35. Red-winged Blackbird
- Average group size: 2.56
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 35%
--- #2. Mississippi: 27%
--- #3. Colorado: 23%
--- #4. Texas: 20%
--- #5. Utah: 19%
#34. Rock Pigeon
- Average group size: 3.8
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 27%
--- #2. South Dakota: 18%
--- #3. Arizona: 17%
--- #4. New Mexico: 16%
--- #5. New York: 6%
#33. Cedar Waxwing
- Average group size: 6.86
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Texas: 16%
--- #2. Mississippi: 9%
--- #2. Idaho: 9%
--- #4. South Carolina: 8%
--- #5. North Carolina: 7%
#32. Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Idaho: 16%
--- #2. Missouri: 7%
--- #2. Kansas: 7%
--- #2. Utah: 7%
--- #5. Connecticut: 6%
You may also like: Most popular girl names in the 80s in Michigan
#31. Red-tailed Hawk
- Average group size: 1.06
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 20%
--- #2. Mississippi: 9%
--- #3. Tennessee: 6%
--- #3. Connecticut: 6%
--- #3. Massachusetts: 6%

#30. Pine Siskin
- Average group size: 2.11
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 39%
--- #2. Colorado: 16%
--- #3. Arizona: 15%
--- #4. Maine: 14%
--- #5. Alabama: 10%

#29. Evening Grosbeak
- Average group size: 5.09
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 17%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 12%
--- #2. Vermont: 12%
--- #4. Maine: 9%
--- #5. Colorado: 7%
#28. White-throated Sparrow
- Average group size: 1.31
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arkansas: 79%
--- #2. Maryland: 74%
--- #3. New Jersey: 70%
--- #4. Virginia: 68%
--- #5. Delaware: 67%
#27. Purple Finch
- Average group size: 2.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 27%
--- #2. Arkansas: 25%
--- #2. Georgia: 25%
--- #4. Missouri: 23%
--- #5. North Carolina: 22%
You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 80s in Michigan
#26. Wild Turkey
- Average group size: 6.71
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Hampshire: 17%
--- #2. Vermont: 14%
--- #2. Maine: 14%
--- #4. Wyoming: 12%
--- #5. Montana: 10%
#25. Brown Creeper
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arkansas: 17%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 12%
--- #3. Maine: 11%
--- #4. Indiana: 10%
--- #5. Maryland: 8%
#24. Song Sparrow
- Average group size: 1.39
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington: 57%
--- #2. Kentucky: 54%
--- #3. Oregon: 49%
--- #4. West Virginia: 38%
--- #4. Pennsylvania: 38%
#23. American Robin
- Average group size: 2.4
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 47%
--- #2. Tennessee: 41%
--- #2. North Carolina: 41%
--- #4. Washington: 39%
--- #4. New Mexico: 39%

#22. Eastern Bluebird
- Average group size: 3.02
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 67%
--- #2. North Carolina: 63%
--- #3. South Carolina: 60%
--- #4. Mississippi: 55%
--- #5. Virginia: 50%
You may also like: Where people in Michigan are moving to most

#21. Cooper's Hawk
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 33%
--- #2. Arizona: 24%
--- #3. Kentucky: 21%
--- #4. New Jersey: 20%
--- #5. Illinois: 17%

#20. Northern Flicker
- Average group size: 1.1
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Montana: 72%
--- #2. Colorado: 67%
--- #3. Washington: 65%
--- #4. Oregon: 62%
--- #5. Nevada: 53%
#19. Carolina Wren
- Average group size: 1.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. North Carolina: 84%
--- #1. South Carolina: 84%
--- #3. Georgia: 81%
--- #4. Alabama: 80%
--- #5. Virginia: 79%
#18. Pileated Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.17
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Minnesota: 36%
--- #2. Michigan: 19%
--- #2. Wisconsin: 19%
--- #4. Indiana: 18%
--- #5. West Virginia: 15%
#17. American Crow
- Average group size: 2.19
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 44%
--- #2. Maine: 42%
--- #2. Arkansas: 42%
--- #4. Minnesota: 38%
--- #5. Virginia: 32%
You may also like: Most diverse counties in Michigan
#16. American Tree Sparrow
- Average group size: 2.04
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Wisconsin: 32%
--- #2. South Dakota: 24%
--- #2. Michigan: 24%
--- #4. Vermont: 23%
--- #5. New York: 20%

#15. European Starling
- Average group size: 3.26
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Indiana: 74%
--- #2. Kentucky: 69%
--- #3. Ohio: 67%
--- #4. Delaware: 64%
--- #5. Missouri: 56%
#14. Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Average group size: 1.31
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 71%
--- #2. Alaska: 61%
--- #3. Washington: 50%
--- #4. Wisconsin: 48%
--- #4. Michigan: 48%

#13. Hairy Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.31
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Vermont: 72%
--- #2. Maine: 69%
--- #3. New Hampshire: 63%
--- #4. Minnesota: 62%
--- #5. Connecticut: 61%

#12. House Finch
- Average group size: 3.72
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arizona: 91%
--- #2. Kentucky: 87%
--- #3. Colorado: 86%
--- #3. New Mexico: 86%
--- #3. Indiana: 86%
You may also like: Highest-earning counties in Michigan

#11. House Sparrow
- Average group size: 6.89
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Iowa: 91%
--- #2. Illinois: 87%
--- #2. Nebraska: 87%
--- #4. Indiana: 80%
--- #5. Ohio: 79%
#10. Tufted Titmouse
- Average group size: 2.18
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 100%
--- #2. Connecticut: 92%
--- #3. North Carolina: 90%
--- #3. Georgia: 90%
--- #5. Massachusetts: 89%
#9. Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.14
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 87%
--- #2. Ohio: 81%
--- #3. Connecticut: 80%
--- #4. Kentucky: 79%
--- #5. Indiana: 78%
#8. American Goldfinch
- Average group size: 4.52
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 79%
--- #2. Missouri: 76%
--- #3. Wisconsin: 75%
--- #3. Arkansas: 75%
--- #5. Maine: 74%
#7. Blue Jay
- Average group size: 2.32
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nebraska: 87%
--- #2. Indiana: 83%
--- #3. Ohio: 82%
--- #4. Iowa: 81%
--- #5. New Jersey: 80%
You may also like: Best counties to raise a family in Michigan

#6. Mourning Dove
- Average group size: 4.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 87%
--- #1. Kentucky: 87%
--- #3. New Jersey: 86%
--- #4. Mississippi: 82%
--- #4. Indiana: 82%

#5. Northern Cardinal
- Average group size: 2.47
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Kentucky: 100%
--- #2. Arkansas: 96%
--- #2. Missouri: 96%
--- #4. Maryland: 94%
--- #5. Tennessee: 93%

#4. Dark-eyed Junco
- Average group size: 3.95
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nebraska: 97%
--- #2. Washington: 95%
--- #2. Oregon: 95%
--- #4. Missouri: 92%
--- #4. Delaware: 92%
#3. White-breasted Nuthatch
- Average group size: 1.47
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 87%
--- #2. West Virginia: 85%
--- #3. Connecticut: 84%
--- #3. Vermont: 84%
--- #5. Massachusetts: 83%

#2. Downy Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.63
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arkansas: 92%
--- #2. Connecticut: 91%
--- #2. Minnesota: 91%
--- #4. Massachusetts: 90%
--- #5. Iowa: 88%
You may also like: 17% of people live near toxic release facilities—here's how it breaks down in Michigan
#1. Black-capped Chickadee
- Average group size: 2.78
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Vermont: 98%
--- #2. Maine: 96%
--- #2. Massachusetts: 96%
--- #4. Minnesota: 95%
--- #4. Connecticut: 95%