Michigan, home to beautiful forests and lakes, is known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation. This makes it a popular destination for nature lovers, and a great place for bird-watching enthusiasts to catch a glimpse of a variety of bird species. In this article we will look specifically at the red birds you can find in Michigan.
11 Red Birds in Michigan
The 11 red bird species you’ll be able to see in Michigan include the northern cardinal, house finch, purple finch, scarlet tanager, summer tanager, red crossbill, common redpoll, white-winged crossbill, pine grosbeak, rose-breasted grosbeak and red-headed woodpecker. Let’s take a look at each one!
1. Northern Cardinal
Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis
Northern cardinals are familiar birds found throughout the eastern U.S. In Michigan they remain year-round throughout the state. The males of this species have bright red plumage with a red crest and black eye-mask.
Females are more muted brown with hints of red on their wings and tails. Cardinals are easy to attract to backyard feeders by leaving out their favorite, black oil sunflower seeds.
2. Purple Finch
Scientific Name: Haemorhous purpureus
Male purple finches are beautiful birds with raspberry-red plumage on their heads, chests, and backs with brown and cream-colored streaks on their wings and tail. The females do not have red plumage but instead are cream and brown to help them blend in with their surroundings when nesting.
Like other finch species, purple finches have a short, stout beak adapted for cracking open seeds. These birds are winter visitors in lower Michigan, while in northern Michigan they may choose to remain year-round.
3. House Finch
