Michigan is best known as a home to the Kirtland's Warbler, but Michigan can offer the birder much more than just this species. With over 3,000 miles of shoreline on 4 of the 5 Great Lakes, along with 11,000 interior lakes and 36,000 miles of streams and rivers, Michigan offers one of best overall bird habitats in North America. Over 400 species can be found in the Great Lake State. Regular species that can be found here are Purple Finch, White-winged Crossbills, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay and Spruce Grouse.

Wintertime in the Upper Michigan peninsula bring such species as Boreal Owls, Northern Hawk, Snowy Owls, Great Gray, and even Gyrfalcon.

During the spring, more than 20 species of warblers can be found here. On into the summer one can find Yellow-throated, Cerulean, and Connecticut Warblers. In the fall, loons, grebes, sea ducks, and jaegers can be seen in Michigan.

Popular places to bird watch in Michigan are western Lake Erie, Manistee, Alpena, Port Huron, Whitefish Point, and Presque Isle. If you're looking to expand your life list, few states offer the birding habitat assortment that Michigan does.