Birds in Michigan in February: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in Michigan in February in our iNaturalist sample; 6 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Top birds in February

Northern Cardinal460 obs.

Downy Woodpecker431 obs.

Black-capped Chickadee347 obs.

Mallard338 obs.

Canada Goose338 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco311 obs.

Red-tailed Hawk273 obs.

Bald Eagle268 obs.

White-breasted Nuthatch262 obs.

Red-bellied Woodpecker260 obs.

Common Goldeneye246 obs.

American Robin231 obs.

All birds seen in Michigan in February

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	Cardinals and Allies	460	Apr (rising)
2	Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	431	Apr (rising)
3	Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	347	Apr (rising)
4	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	338	Apr (rising)
5	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	338	Apr (rising)
6	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	311	Jan (past peak)
7	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	273	Apr (rising)
8	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	268	May (rising)
9	White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Nuthatches	262	Apr (rising)
10	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	Woodpeckers	260	May (rising)
11	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	246	Feb (peak)
12	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	231	Apr (rising)
13	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	221	Apr (rising)
14	Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	220	May (rising)
15	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	213	May (rising)
16	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	204	Apr (rising)
17	Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	Woodpeckers	194	May (rising)
18	American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	176	Aug (rising)
19	Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	171	May (rising)
20	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	170	Jan (past peak)
21	Trumpeter Swan	Cygnus buccinator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	168	Jun (rising)
22	American Tree Sparrow	Spizelloides arborea	New World Sparrows	164	Jan (past peak)
23	Sandhill Crane	Antigone canadensis	Cranes	161	May (rising)
24	Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	160	May (rising)
25	Redhead	Aythya americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	158	Feb (peak)
26	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Starlings	148	Apr (rising)
27	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	146	Apr (rising)
28	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice	146	Apr (rising)
29	American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	140	Apr (rising)
30	Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	Thrushes	139	Apr (rising)
31	Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	115	Mar (rising)
32	Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	112	Apr (rising)
33	Redpoll	Acanthis flammea	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	107	Feb (peak)
34	Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	101	Dec (rising)
35	Snowy Owl	Bubo scandiacus	Typical Owls	101	Jan (past peak)
36	Hairy Woodpecker	Leuconotopicus villosus	Woodpeckers	99	May (rising)
37	Greater Scaup	Aythya marila	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	82	Feb (peak)
38	Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	Waxwings	78	Jul (rising)
39	Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	Nuthatches	74	Sep (rising)
40	Pine Siskin	Spinus pinus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	70	Apr (rising)
41	Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	69	Jan (past peak)
42	Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	Woodpeckers	68	Apr (rising)
43	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	62	Apr (rising)
44	Canvasback	Aythya valisineria	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	61	Feb (peak)
45	Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	Falcons and Caracaras	60	May (rising)
46	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	60	Aug (rising)
47	Rough-legged Hawk	Buteo lagopus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	60	Apr (rising)
48	Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	Larks	60	Feb (peak)
49	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Wrens	60	Jan (past peak)
50	American Herring Gull	Larus smithsonianus	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	59	Jul (rising)

Birds Seen in Michigan in February

Top birds in February

All birds seen in Michigan in February