Tag: Birds
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Purple Martins
Michigan in the Great Lakes Purple Martins Did you know that Purple Martins are swallows? Purple Martins are considered to be the largest swallow found in North America. These perching songbirds are known to be synanthropic in that they tend to live near and benefit from humans while remaining wild and undomesticated. In fact, many…
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Red-headed Woodpecker
Michigan in the Great Lakes Red-headed Woodpecker Did you know the male and female Red-headed Woodpecker look alike? Because of this, Red-headed Woodpeckers are known as monomorphic rather than dimorphic like most woodpeckers where the male and female appear different. Red-headed Woodpeckers have a red head, a black back and tail, and black and white…
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Red-winged Blackbird
Michigan in the Great Lakes Red-winged Blackbird Did you know that Red-winged Blackbirds are some of the first birds to return to Michigan in the spring? They migrate south for the winter. The males usually return before the females and stake out territories. Red-winged Blackbirds are often found in marsh wetlands in Michigan, sometimes near…
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Northern Cardinals
Michigan in the Great Lakes Northern Cardinals Did you know that Northern Cardinals get their red color from the food they eat? Northern Cardinals are birds known to eat fruits and berries containing carotenoids which are pigments that cause their feathers to be red. They also eat seeds and insects. Northern Cardinals are prevalent in…
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Sandhill Cranes
Michigan in the Great Lakes Sandhill Cranes Have you ever seen a Sandhill Crane? It is a tall, slender bird found in marshes, swamps and other wetlands. It has long legs, a long neck and a grayish body with a distinctive red patch on the crown of its head. Most Sandhill Cranes in Michigan migrate…
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Piping Plovers
Michigan in the Great Lakes Piping Plovers Have you ever seen a Piping Plover? The Piping Plover is a small, endangered shorebird with a white breast and sandy-brown feathers on its back and head. It is found in both the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, especially in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake…
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Robins
Michigan in the Great Lakes Robins Did you know that the American Robin is the state bird of Michigan? Robins can be found in Michigan year-round, although most of them fly south for the winter and return in early spring. They eat earthworms, insects, fruits, and berries. The scientific name for the American Robin is…
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Egrets
Michigan in the Great Lakes Egrets Great Egret Did you know that the Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society? The Great Egret is a tall, white bird. It has black legs and feet and a long, yellowish-orange bill. It can be found wading in shallow water in ponds, lakes, rivers, and…
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Snowy Owls
Michigan in the Great Lakes Snowy Owls Did you know that Snowy Owls are usually awake during the day and spend a lot of their time on the ground? They can be found in both the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, mostly during the winter months. They breed in the arctic in the summer.…
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Swans, Ducks and Geese
Michigan in the Great Lakes Swans, Ducks and Geese Mute Swans Did you know that a female swan is called a Pen and a male swan is called a Cob? Young swans are called cygnets. The scientific name for the Mute Swan, shown in the photo above, is Cygnus olor. Mute Swans are white and…
Terri Greening 