Your Guide to Blue Birds in Michigan
Spotting blue birds in Michigan brings a dash of color to any day out in nature. These feathered beauties are easy to distinguish thanks to their vibrant blue plumage, which can shimmer in the sunlight and ranges from sky blue to deep indigo. When observing blue birds, you’ll notice their behaviors are as varied as their hues. Some may perform acrobatic flights, while others prefer a stately perch high above the ground.
The Great Lakes state offers an alluring array of blue birds, from the charming Eastern Bluebird to the elusive Cerulean Warbler, with unique shades and characteristics that appeal to birdwatchers and nature lovers alike. Join us as we unveil the vibrant world of Michigan’s blue birds, providing you with insights into their distinguishing features, nesting habits, preferred foods, and the environments they inhabit.
For more birdwatching in Michigan see our articles on backyard birds, hawks, owls, ducks, and woodpeckers.
What species of blue birds are in Michigan?
1. Eastern Bluebirds
Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Size: 6.3-8.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Eastern Bluebird is a small-sized bird that belongs to a family of North American songbirds known as the Turdidae. The Eastern Bluebird is mostly found in farmlands, orchids, gardens, and open woods.
The male bluebird is mostly blue with a rusty color throat and chest. The female is much duller with a grayish head and back and bluish wings and tails. Its breast is light orange-brown and its dirty white belly.
Nesting
Nests are made by the Eastern Bluebird in the holes of trees, like pine and dead trees. The Eastern Bluebird lays three to five eggs at a time and incubates them for around 12 days. The chicks become mature in 12 to 15 days.
Diet
Eastern Bluebird. diet is as colorful as their feathers; they feast on a variety of insects and berries and will visit feeders.
Habitat
Eastern bluebirds are mostly found in the northern part of the United States. They are also found in Canada and Mexico. They can be found in Michigan year-round but during the winter months, some Eastern Bluebirds may migrate south, while others may remain in the state if there is suitable food and shelter available.
Song And Call
The Eastern Bluebird produces a beautiful melody with its vocals.
2. Indigo Bunting
Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Size: 4.7-5.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Indigo Bunting, a jewel among Michigan’s avian treasures, the male is all blue with a silver bill and the female is brown with some white on her throat. Sometimes the females have some blue on their wings and immature males have a patchy blue with brown.
Nesting
The female Indigo Bunting builds the nest close to the ground in open fields, near the wood edges, near roadways, and even by railroad tracks. Sometimes the males will watch but will not help.
They have 1 to 3 broods per season and lay 3 to 4 white eggs. The incubation period is 11 to 14 days and the nestling period is 8 to 14 days.
Diet
The indigo Bunting feels on small seeds, fruits, berries, and small insects. You can attract them to your backyard feeders when you use small seeds, especially thistle or nyjer.
Habitat
These small songbirds favor open woodlands and brushy fields. Look for them perched on high vantage points, singing melodious tunes to ward off rivals and attract mates. You will see them in Michigan during the breeding season from early April through September/October. When they are ready to migrate south for the winter they form flocks and will travel together at night using the stars as guidance
Song And Call
You can hear them singing as they are known for their whistling song
3. Blue Jays
Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata Size: 9.8-11.8 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Blue Jay, with its vibrant blue crest, wings, and tail, stands out in Michigan’s avian crowd. You’ll recognize its white face and underparts, as well as the distinct black necklace that crosses its throat and frames its head. They are large birds with a wingspan of about 20 inches.
They are loud and noisy, but other birds trust them to notify them of danger. Jays are one of the species that will mob hawks and owls and pin them down in trees, alerting all the birds in the area that a predator is nearby.
Blue jays are brilliant birds and have a wide range of vocalizations. They are known to mimic other birds, animals, and even humans. Blue jays will also use their intelligence to solve problems.
Nesting
Blue Jays build their nest 10 to 25 feet above the ground, mostly in trees by any V branches. However, once I had a blue jay build their nest near the light next to my front door. That was crazy as we couldn’t use our front door during that time because they would dive down at us if we went near the door.
The nest is a cup-like structure made of grass, twigs, and mud. Although both the male and female gather material for the nest, the female does most of the building while the male does most of the gathering.
There are usually 2 to 7 eggs that are light brown with darker brown spots on them. The incubation period is 17-18 days and the young remain in the nest from 17 to 21 days.
Diet
Blue Jay’s diet consists of nuts, fruits, and insects. They will also eat bird seed from backyard feeders and they have been known to steal food from other birds
Jays love whole peanuts. Toss a handful on your lawn or patio and watch what happens. They fly away with their peanuts and leave the feeders alone for a while.
Habitat
Blue Jays are quite common birds in Michigan. They can be found in suburban areas, parks, and forests. They can be found year-round in the northeast but they tend to migrate south for the winter months.
Song and call
4. Barn Swallow
Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica Size: 5.9-7.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Barn Shallow is the size of a sparrow but what stands out about them are their long, pointed wings and long, forked tail. The color on their face and back is cobalt blue and tawny on their underparts. Its throat and chin are rusty to orange. Males are more brightly colored than females.
The barn swallow is the most common swallow in the world. They are known for flying very low over the ground and water.
Nesting
Both the male and the female build their nests by making cup shapes of mud on rafters, eaves, and cross beams of barns and sheds, or even bridges. They sometimes use nests from previous years too.
Barn Shallows have 1 to 2 broods per season with 3 to 7 cream-pinkish eggs with brown, lavender, and gray spots. The incubation period is 12 to 17 days with the nesting period being between 15 to 27 days.
Diet
Barn Shallow diet consists of all types of flying insects and captures most of their food while flying. They have a unique way of eating, called gleaning, which involves swallowing large chunks of food rather than small pieces. They rarely come to bird feeders but may be attracted to eggshells or oyster shells left on a platform feeder.
Habitat
Barn Swallow likes to be in open areas such as fields, parks, and roadways. You will also see them in marsh areas, along coastal waters, ponds, and meadows. They breed in the United States and Southern Canada and fly south for the winter.
They are usually seen in Michigan in the summertime, flying high into the air in search of food
Song And Call
They also sing a long warbler song full of warbling notes and mechanical sounds.
5. Blue Gray Gnatcatcher
Scientific Name: Polioptila caerulea Size: 3.9 to 4.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher stands out with a clear color pattern that’s quite distinguishable even from a distance. Observe the head, upper parts, and tail bearing a delicate light blue, while the rest of the body contrasts in a subtle gray. This striking combination makes the Gnatcatcher a delight to identify amidst Michigan’s diverse avian landscape.
Nesting
Both sexes will choose the nest site and build the nest together usually in broadleaf trees. They will build several nests in a breeding season and have between 1 and 2 broods.
There are 3 to 5 eggs for each brood. The eggs are pale blue with some red/brown spots. The incubation period is 11 to 15 days and the nesting period is 10 to 15 days.
Diet
The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher eats insects such as plant and tree bugs, spiders, beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. They do not eat seeds or fruits and are not feeder birds.
Habitat
In Michigan, you can see the BlueGray Gnatcatcher during the spring and summer months during the breeding season. You can see them in open woods, deciduous forests, and thickets.
Song And Call
6. Cerulean Warbler
Description and Field Marks
Scientific Name: Setophaga cerulea Size: 4.5 to 5 inches
The Cerulean Warbler is a striking and diminutive songbird known for its vibrant blue plumage and lively presence in deciduous forests. Males exhibit more vibrant blue coloring than females, who have a slightly duller, though still discernibly blue, appearance. The underparts are typically white, creating a sharp contrast with the vivid blue of the upperparts. A distinct black streak runs through the eye, enhancing the bird’s facial features.
Nesting
Cerulean Warblers typically choose nesting sites in the upper canopy of mature deciduous forests near water sources such as rivers or streams. The female constructs the nest, which is a cup-shaped structure made of fine grasses, plant fibers, and spider silk.
The female lays a small clutch of eggs, typically ranging from 3 to 5 eggs. Incubation is primarily carried out by the female, and it lasts for about 11 to 14 days. Both parents care for the young until they leave the nest about 10 to 12 days after hatching.
Diet
The bulk of the Cerulean Warbler’s diet is composed of various insects, including caterpillars, beetles, moths, ants, and other arthropods. They will occasionally consume small fruits and berries, especially during the non-breeding season.
Habitat
Cerulean Warblers favor mature deciduous forests with a well-developed canopy composed of hardwood trees, such as oak, hickory, maple, and beech.
In Michigan, Cerulean Warblers are typically observed during their breeding season, which spans from late April to early August. During the non-breeding season, Cerulean Warblers migrate to Central and northern South America.
7. black-throated blue warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga caerulescens Size: 5 to 6 inches
Description and field Marks
This small, plump bird has easily identifiable features such as its dark blue upperparts and white underparts, black throat, pointed bill, and white patches at the base of its wings. Females are greenish-gray all over, and some even have tints of blue on their wings or tail feathers.
Nesting
Black-throated Blue Warblers prefer breeding in mature, moist, and dense deciduous or mixed forests. The female builds the nest, which is typically located on a horizontal branch or fork of a tree, shrub, or sapling. She lays a small clutch of 3 to 4 eggs. Incubation is carried out by the female and lasts 11 to 13 days. Both parents actively participate in raising the chicks.
Diet
Its diet also consists of a variety of insects and berries
Habitat
For the best chances of observing Black-throated Blue Warblers in Michigan, consider exploring wooded areas, especially those with a mix of mature trees and a well-developed understory. You can see them in Michigan during the breeding season and then move south for the winter months.
Song and Call
8. Great Blue Heron
Scientific Name: Ardea herodias Size:3.2 to 4.5 feet tall
Description and Field Marks
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird with its plumage primarily gray-blue, with a white face and crown, and a black stripe extending above the eye and down the back of the neck. They have long, s-shaped necks, and their legs are long and slender.
Nesting
Great Blue Herons nest in colonies called rookeries, usually in tall trees near water bodies, such as lakes, rivers, and marshes. Nests are made by both the male and the female and a platform is made of sticks and twigs, and it is lined with softer materials like moss, reeds, or grass.
Clutches usually consist of 2 to 6 pale blue eggs with both parents taking turns incubating the eggs for around 25 to 30 days. Both parents are involved in feeding the chicks until they leave in about 60 days.
Diet
Great Blue Herons are expert hunters, primarily employing a patient stalking strategy. Diet includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and even birds. They are known for swallowing their prey whole.
Habitat
Great Blue Herons inhabit a wide range of wetland environments, from freshwater to saltwater, where they can find an abundance of prey. Lakeshores, riversides, ponds, and wetlands are prime locations for these birds.
Great Blue Herons can be observed in Michigan throughout the year, but their presence and behavior can vary based on the season.
Call
9. Purple Martin
Scientific Name: Progne subis Size: 6 inches
Description And Field Marks
The males are dark blue with a glossy look with black wings and tails while the females are brown with darker brown wings and tails and white breasts.
The Purple Martin is a member of the Swallow family. It is not a Martin at all but was named for the color of its back. They are very graceful flyers as they can fly backward, sideways, and even upside down!
Nesting
Purple Martins are very social birds and like to live in colonies. They build their nests side by side in the same tree. They will also build nests in birdhouses, especially the “condo” type.
The female lays 3 to 6 white eggs. The incubation period is 15 to 18 days and the young remain in the nets for about a month.
Diet
The Purple Martins get all their food from the air. They drink nectar from flowers, and they eat flying insects.
Habitat
The Purple Martin is a migratory bird. It winters in South America. In the spring, Purple Martins return to North America. If you put a Purple Martin house in your backyard you will get plenty of them. It typically spends its springs and summers in the Great Lakes state and throughout the eastern half of the country. You can find them in towns, farms, mountain forests, and many other common semi-open areas.
Song And Call
Purple Martin colonies are noisy, with birds chattering to each other and making a whirring sound as they fly overhead.
10. Belted Kingfisher
Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon Size: 11 to 14 inches
Description and field marks
Belted Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with bluish-gray plumage on the upperparts, with a prominent white collar around the neck. Both males and females have a bluish-gray band across the chest, which is more pronounced in males. The bill is long, straight, and dagger-like, often with a dark coloration.
Nesting
Belted Kingfishers nest in burrows that they excavate into earthen banks, typically along rivers, lakes, or other water bodies. Both males and females contribute to the excavation process.
The female lays a clutch of 5 to 8 white, glossy eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for about 22 to 24 days they also help with raising the chicks.
Diet
Belted Kingfishers are skilled and specialized fish hunters, but they also consume a variety of aquatic prey. They often hover over water bodies before diving headfirst to catch fish. Although fish make up a significant part of their diet also eat crustaceans, insects, amphibians, and small mammals.
Habitat
Belted Kingfishers are commonly found near various water bodies, including rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries, and coastal areas. They are adaptable and can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments.
Belted Kingfishers are present in Michigan throughout the year, and their presence is particularly notable during the breeding season and while foraging along water bodies.
11. northern parula
Scientific Name: Setophaga americana Size: 4 to 4.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Northern Parulas bring a flash of color to Michigan’s green canopies. You will recognize them by their blue-gray backs and wings paired with a distinctive bluish-gray patch on the back. Males also boast a captivating band of chestnut and yellow beneath their throats, a feature absent in the more subtly colored females.
Nesting
Northern Parulas nest in deciduous and mixed forests making compact cups made of moss, lichens, and plant fibers, lined with softer materials like feathers.
The female lays a small clutch of 2 to 5 eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, which lasts about 12 to 14 days as well as feeding the chicks.
Diet
Their diet includes various insects, caterpillars, spiders, and other small invertebrates. During migration, they may also consume fruits and nectar.
Habitat
Northern Parulas migrate to Michigan for their breeding season, starting in late April.
They are commonly found in deciduous and mixed forests, especially those with a well-developed understory, near water bodies like swamps, wetlands, and wooded areas along rivers.
Song and Call
12. Tree Swallows
Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor Size: 5.5-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
Tree Swallows are medium-sized birds with distinctive iridescent plumage. The upper parts, including the back, wings, and tail, are a glossy and brilliant metallic blue-green color. The underparts are white, creating a striking contrast with the blue-green upperparts. In some lighting conditions, the white underparts may appear slightly buff-colored.
One of the key features of Tree Swallows is their deeply forked tail, which is a characteristic trait of swallows. This forked tail aids in their agile and maneuverable flight. Their wings are relatively short and rounded, allowing them to perform quick and precise aerial maneuvers as they catch insects on the wing.
Nesting
Tree Swallows are cavity-nesting birds. They build cup-shaped nests made of grasses, feathers, and other plant materials, usually inside natural tree cavities or man-made nest boxes. They are known for their communal nesting behavior, often nesting in colonies in suitable areas.
The female lays a clutch of 4 to 7 eggs, which she incubates for about two weeks. Both parents participate in feeding and caring for the chicks once they hatch.
Diet
These swallows are excellent aerial insect catchers. They are often seen flying gracefully through the air, darting and swooping as they catch insects on the wing. They have a distinctive flight pattern, with rapid wingbeats followed by short glides.
Habitat
Tree Swallows can be found in a variety of open habitats, including fields, meadows, marshes, wetlands, and bodies of water like lakes and ponds. They are particularly associated with areas near water where they can find insects to feed on.
They typically arrive in Michigan for the breeding season in late March to early April. The peak of their breeding activity is from late April through August. After the breeding season, Tree Swallows start their southward migration. You might still see them in Michigan during the fall migration, which generally occurs from late August to early October.
Song and call
13. Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis Size: 4.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The red-breasted nuthatch is a small bird, dark gray on top with a rusty color breast. It has a short tail and a sharp bill. The female is similar to the male except she has lighter gray on top and a paler rust color underneath.
Often found during fall and winter working their way down tree trunks. Smaller and slimmer than the White-breasted Nuthatch.
The red-breasted nuthatch is the only bird that can climb down a tree head first by using its tail as a brace. It does this to keep from falling off tree branches.
Nesting
The red-breasted nuthatch nest is a hole in a tree. The female lays eggs between April and June, with an average clutch size of 4 to 6 eggs. The young stay in the nest for about 11 days and then leave the nest.
Diet
The red-breasted nuthatch diet consists of insects and seeds. They love suet and peanut butter and peanuts, so they are big on winter feeders.
Habitat
Red-breasted Nuthatches can be found in various habitats, including coniferous and mixed forests. In Michigan, you can see them in both summer and winter. They do not migrate to the same extent as some other bird species, and their presence is more closely tied to the availability of food, particularly conifer seeds.
Song And Call
14. Rock Pigeon
Scientific Name: Columba livia Size: 11.8 to 14.2 inches
Description And Field Marks
The pigeons are between the size of a Robin and a Crow. They come in several colors but most commonly have gray plumage, black bars on their wings, and a bluish-gray head.
Nesting
The female makes the nest while the male brings her the materials. She will lay 1 to 3 white eggs and bother the male and the female will take turns during the incubation period which lasts around 18 days.
The young remain in the nest for about a month and both parents will take turns feeding and caring for them. Pigeons can have anywhere from 1 to 6 broods each year.
Diet
Pigeons will eat just about anything but most commonly eat seeds and fruits. They are usually fed bread crumbs in city parks and will eat out of garbage cans whatever they can find.
Habitat
Rock Pigeons can be found in Michigan throughout the year. They are highly adaptable birds and are commonly seen in urban and suburban areas.
Song And Call
15. White-breasted Nuthatch
Scientific Name: Sitta carolinensis Size: 5.1-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The White-breasted Nuthatch gets its name from the fact that it stuffs nuts and seeds under tree bark, then uses its sharp beaks to hatch the seed from the shell. The White-breasted Nuthatch has a black cap on top of their heads, with white on either side and on their bellies.
Plump little birds, larger and heavier-bodied than Red-breasted Nuthatch. Nuthatches always start at the top of the tree and work their way down to the ground.
Nesting
They make their nets in tree cavities or holes made by woodpeckers at least 15 feet above the ground. Females build their nests out of grasses, twigs, mosses, and bark fibers.
They only have one brood per year consisting of 5 to 9 eggs. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots. The eggs are incubated by the females. The males feed them during that time.
Both the male and female feed their young which leave the nest at any point from 14 to 26 days.
Diet
The White-breasted Nuthatch will visit most seed feeders and like mixed seed blends, black sunflower seeds, peanut butter, peanuts, or suet. They usually like to grab and run, taking a seed and immediately flying off to eat it or cache it in a nearby tree.
Habitat
The White-breasted Nuthatch is a common bird in Michigan and can be seen throughout the year. They are well-adapted to various habitats, including deciduous and mixed woodlands, and are often found in suburban and urban areas.
Song And Call
Their call sounds like a squeaky wheel.
16. American Cliff Swallow
Scientific Name: Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Size: 5.5-6.7 inches
Description and Field Marks
The Cliff Swallow is a small, migratory songbird with a distinctive appearance. It has a squared-off tail, a steel-blue crown, and a cinnamon-colored face with a dark, mask-like throat. The underparts are whitish, and the back and wings exhibit a glossy, iridescent blue-black coloration.
Nesting
Cliff Swallows are renowned for their unique gourd-shaped mud nests, often built in colonies on vertical surfaces such as cliffs, bridges, or buildings. These structures have a small entrance at the top and are meticulously crafted by the swallows using mud pellets mixed with grass and feathers. Colonies can consist of dozens to hundreds of nests.
Diet
Cliff Swallows primarily feed on flying insects, including bees, wasps, and flying ants. They are agile fliers, capturing prey during acrobatic flight. These swallows are often observed foraging over open areas, water bodies, and agricultural fields.
Habitat
In Michigan, the best place to find Cliff Swallows is near lakes, marshes, and ponds. They are highly social birds, often nesting in colonies for protection against predators.
Migration patterns may vary, but Cliff Swallows are generally present in Michigan from April to September, with the peak of breeding activity occurring in May and June.
Song and Call
Their song is an odd grinding sound with squeaks, almost like someone making a balloon animal. Both males and females sing a cheerful but shrill song.
attracting bluebirds to Your Backyard
Attracting bluebirds to your backyard is a rewarding experience. Here are some tips you can use to make your yard more attractive to them:
- Plant native trees and shrubs. Junipers, dogwoods, sumacs, hollies, serviceberries, and elderberries are some good choices. Bluebirds love to eat berries and other fruit, so these plants can be a natural way to attract them.
- Provide a source of water. A birdbath or fountain is ideal. Bluebirds are strongly attracted to moving water, so a fountain or dripper feature may bring them in.
- Keep your yard clean and free of pests.
- Use an open area with low grass and perches for the bluebirds to hunt insects.
- Leave dead trees or dead limbs on live trees, as they provide important nesting and roosting sites for bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds.
- Offer mealworms at your feeders. Live mealworms are the best feeder fare for these choosy birds. You can buy them at pet supply or wild bird stores.
- Avoid using pesticides and other lawn chemicals, as these are dangerous for birds that feed on the ground.
- Keep cats indoors. Each year, cats kill millions of songbirds. Newly fledged nestlings are especially susceptible.
By following these steps you should have bluebirds visiting your backyard in no time!
Birdwatching Hotspots for Blue Birds in Michigan
For those seeking the thrill of spotting Michigan’s vivid blue avian residents, there are several must-visit locales across this picturesque state. Tawas Point State Park is celebrated for its array of blue feathered species, particularly during the migration seasons. Here, one might glimpse the enchanting Eastern Bluebird or the less common Cerulean Warbler.
Near the Great Lakes, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers birders a chance to see the Pileated Woodpecker and Blue Jays amongst its diverse habitat. Further inland, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge boasts water-bound blues like the Great Blue Heron and the Blue-winged Teal.
Lastly, urban environments should not be overlooked. The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is a unique urban habitat that supports Tree Swallows and Indigo Buntings. Its managed areas provide ample opportunity for spotting these species, especially in the warmer months.
Each site presents a distinctive backdrop for birdwatching adventures, enriching your quest to observe Michigan’s blue birds in their natural surroundings.
Migration Patterns of Blue Birds
Michigan’s blue birds partake in captivating seasonal migrations that mark the rhythm of nature’s calendar. As temperatures drop and resources dwindle, many wing their way to warmer southern climes. Come spring, these feathered travelers return, rejuvenating Michigan’s landscapes with their vivid hues and cheerful songs. Migration patterns vary among species. For example, the Eastern Bluebird takes short migratory trips, often remaining within the United States, whilst the Indigo Bunting may travel by night across the Gulf of Mexico to reach Central America. Planning to catch a glimpse of these migrants requires keen attention to timing, as their stay in Michigan is transient, and their arrival heralds the turning of the seasons. Through birdwatching, you observe an enchanting spectacle of avian movement, connecting with the pulse of the natural world.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or a casual observer, the world of blue birds invites us to connect with nature on a deeper level. For more information on blue birds in Michigan as well as all birds refer to the Michigan Audubon.
Let us continue to celebrate, protect, and marvel at the vibrant blue feathers that grace Michigan’s skies, reminding us of the delicate balance we share with the natural world. So, the next time you catch a glimpse of a blue bird soaring through the Michigan landscape, take a moment to appreciate the beauty and significance they bring to our lives and ecosystems.
