


Often these V-shaped formations can be seen in the evening, when the birds fly to their roosting spots in Michigan. When a group of cormorants flies together, they like to form up in a V shaped formation. It is a skilled diver and hunts fish with its large, hooked bill. This cormorant likes to gather in large flocks that roost on trees close to water. It is a summer visitor in Michigan, and is commonly found on the shores of the Great Lakes. The Double-crested Cormorant is a large, dark waterbird with a long neck and blue eyes. It waits patiently for a suitably sized fish to come close enough to be grabbed with its long, yellow bill. This enormous blue bird in Michigan likes to hunt for small fish by wading in the shallows of estuaries, mud flats and marshes along the seaboard. It is almost entirely blue gray, except for a white throat and eye stripe, as well as dark gray wing feathers. With a wingspan of up to 6 feet, this heron is one of Michigan’s largest birds. The Great Blue Heron is one of the most common herons in Michigan, where it can be seen year round. This species is one of the white birds that can be seen in Michigan. Outside of the breeding season it is less common, but where it occurs it can be seen in large flocks. Great Egrets forage in any type of shallow water in Michigan, including ponds, lakes, and rivers, as well as flooded areas. It lives in both saltwater and freshwater habitats, and often nests in large colonies on the banks of marshes, lakes, and rivers. It is all white, and has long black legs and feet along with a thick, yellow bill.ĭuring the summer breeding seasons, the Great Egret grows a plume on its back that extends all the way to the tip of its tail. This heron is one of Michigan’s biggest birds and is a scarce visitor during spring and fall migration. The Great Egret has a range that spans nearly the whole planet, and can be found on almost all continents. Sandhill Cranes form large flocks outside of the breeding season, and migrate to southern parts of the USA and Mexico to spend the winter. They are rare breeding birds throughout Michigan. These cranes are found in open landscapes with wetlands, prairies, and meadows in Canada and the northern United States. They are well known for their complex courtship dancing rituals and long distance migrations. These large birds are up to 4.5 feet tall, which makes them the largest birds in the Great Lake state.Īdult Sandhill Cranes have pale gray body plumage, as well as a red crown and forehead, which contrasts with a buff white cheek.ĭepending on their diet and location, some Sandhill Cranes can have a rusty color instead of the normal gray coloration.
#Large birds of prey michigan full
Now let’s dive into the details, and take a closer look at each of these species in order to get the full scoop: Sandhill Crane Yet other birds are summer visitors during the breeding season, and some are scarce vagrants that are rarely seen in the state (more on that below). While many of these big birds are year-round residents of Michigan, some only occur in the state during the winter, as migratory birds that spend the cold months in Michigan. The 17 types of large birds that can be seen in Michigan are: What are the types of large birds in Michigan? To help you identify the bird you saw, we’ll cover the most common large birds of Michigan in this article. Identifying big birds found in Michigan is not as easy as it might seem, since there are many bird species in Michigan that are on the large side.

1.4 What is the largest bird of prey in Michigan?ĭid you recently come across a large bird in the state of Michigan, and want to know what species it was?
