Most of America’s finches are adapted to surviving in cold, northern locales. Therefore, it is unsurprising that the finches in Michigan are diverse and exciting.
Winter is the best time to look for the finches of Michigan, as these nomadic creatures often venture south from Canada into the state as they search for food. Ten different Michigan finches can be found during this season, with each species readily forming flocks and often visiting bird feeders. This means that those who feed birds in their yards may be interested in familiarizing themselves with the types of finches in Michigan.
Practicing finch identification is therefore important, as some finch birds in Michigan are difficult to distinguish from one another. Not to worry – I will discuss each of the ten finches in Michigan in this comprehensive article. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
10 Finches In Michigan
American Goldfinch
Seeing an American Goldfinch in Michigan is a common sight, as they are the most abundant Michigan finch. These exceptionally prolific yellow finches in Michigan are year-round residents, and most are familiar with these cheerful birds.
This Michigan yellow finch is distributed throughout the state, being readily found in parks, suburban landscapes, and farmsteads.
Interestingly, American Goldfinches are the only Michigan finches that change into distinct breeding and nonbreeding plumages. Males are easily recognizable with their yellow and black plumage, but they change into a subtle brown, gray, and muted yellow plumage in the nonbreeding season.
Females are less recognizable, and they look very similar to Lesser Goldfinches. Fortunately, Michigan birders don’t have to worry about this confusion, as there are no Lesser Goldfinches in the state.
When they’re not feeding at bird feeders, American Goldfinches commonly dangle from trees like birches as they attempt to consume the seeds of these plants. Listen for their “potato-chip” calls as they fly overhead.
Common Redpoll
Common Redpolls are small finches in MI with red crowns and tiny, yellow bills. They are irruptive in Michigan, therefore, their distribution changes annually. There are some years in which they are found throughout Michigan, while few may be present in the southern half of the state in other years.
Common Redpolls are perhaps the most social finch in Michigan, as they are often found in the company of dozens of additional redpolls. Flocks may descend on bird feeders, or they may be found in parks and overgrown, weedy habitats along the Great Lakes where they feast on seeds.
Those who provide adequate food may host Common Redpolls for an extended time in the winter, but hungry flocks can quickly deplete bird feeders. Common Redpolls begin to travel north in March and April as they migrate to their breeding grounds on the arctic tundra.
Evening Grosbeak
Evening Grosbeaks are large, gorgeous finches with enormous bills. Males are striking yellow finches in Michigan with black and white feathers, while females are still beautiful with their subdued colors. Overall, they are likely the most beautiful of the types of finches in Michigan.
These attractive finches in Michigan are present year-round in the northern half of the state, but southern Michigan receives regular winter records. Anywhere north of West Branch is generally considered to be suitable breeding habitat for Evening Grosbeaks. This Michigan finch merely requires tracts of boreal forest for its breeding territories.
Evening Grosbeaks will devour sunflower seeds that are offered at bird feeders. When they’re not feeding in backyards, watch for them to appear at crabapple trees, cherry trees, and other fruiting trees.
Hoary Redpoll
Hoary Redpolls are the most uncommon of the types of finches in Michigan, with slightly more than 1,000 records existing on eBird for the state. They look frustratingly similar to Common Redpolls, and they are almost always found associating with them. In fact, the two species are so similar that they will likely be lumped into one in the future.
Like Common Redpolls, Hoarys are winter visitors to Michigan. This Michigan finch is increasingly rare as one travels further south, but records have been made throughout the state.
Scan Common Redpoll flocks carefully, as there may be one or two Hoary Redpolls within a group. Their pale plumage and less rosy coloration on their breasts help birders to pick these finches of Michigan out. They’ll be found in all of the same habitats as Common Redpolls.
House Finch
Seeing a Michigan House Finch is a common sight, as they are second only to American Goldfinches in terms of their abundance. This finch in Michigan is found year-round throughout the state, though they are still fairly uncommon in the UP.
The upbeat songs of male House Finches fill the air in urban areas as the snow melts in spring. Many birders will be quite familiar with House Finches, as they are regulars at bird feeders no matter the time of year. However, be sure that you’re capable of separating House Finches from House Sparrows, as the females look rather similar.
When not in backyards, a House Finch in Michigan may be found in parks, cemeteries, and suburban neighborhoods. A Michigan House Finch is not adapted to survive in dense trees, so don’t go searching for one in boreal forests.
Pine Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeaks are the largest finches of Michigan. These round finches have bills that appear much too small for their sizable bodies. Males are a stunning shade of rosy red, while females are a Michigan finch with gray and orange colors.
Many Michigan residents will not be familiar with Pine Grosbeaks, as they are rather uncommon. It is thought that they once bred in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, but breeding has not been suspected for several decades. Pine Grosbeaks are fairly common in northern Michigan during the winter, but they are rare in the southern half of the state. Indeed, travel a bit further south to places like Illinois and these finches would be quite notable.
Pine Grosbeaks will visit bird feeders to dine on sunflower seeds. However, the locations that are often the most likely to attract Pine Grosbeaks are fruiting trees. Therefore, check orchards, parks, or neighborhoods with significant numbers of crabapple or cherry trees if you hope to see these winter birds in Michigan.
Pine Siskin
Pine Siskins are streaked greenish Michigan finches with sharp, conical bills. They use their specialized bills to extract seeds from pine cones and a variety of other seed heads, but their bills are also perfect for removing seeds from finch feeders.
Pine Siskins breed within the upper half of Michigan where they seek sections of boreal forest. However, a few pairs are typically documented breeding in the southern half of the state annually.
In winter, this Michigan finch species invades the entirety of the state. Yes, seeing a Pine Siskin in Michigan is practically expected during this time, as they are one of the most abundant finches in MI. They are often found in backyards, cemeteries, windbreaks, and other locations with mature coniferous trees.
Purple Finch
Purple Finches are fairly common Michigan finches, but they look quite similar to the much more abundant House Finch. Moreover, some mistake them for redpolls, so the House Finch vs Purple Finch vs redpoll debate may frequently play out in Michigan backyards.
Looking at the distribution of Purple Finches during Michigan summers is quite amusing. These birds breed throughout northern Michigan. However, halfway down the state, it is as if someone drew an invisible line where these finches in Michigan suddenly no longer breed.
Once winter approaches, Purple Finches disperse throughout Michigan. They flock to backyards, parks, and other areas with lots of juniper trees or shrubs. Here, they consume berries and have shelter from the often harsh winter elements. Listen for their clicking calls to help you detect them.
Red Crossbill
Red Crossbills are unique finches with specialized bills that help them to efficiently remove seeds from pine cones and spruce cones. Although their bills help them to extract seeds from cones, they are not ideal for eating seeds from bird feeders. Therefore, crossbills are uncommon at feeders.
Instead, look for these Michigan finches anywhere with coniferous trees. Of course, boreal forest habitat is an excellent place to look. However, those who live south of the boreal forest can check cemeteries, windbreaks, neighborhoods, and other locations with well-established conifers for this Michigan red finch.
Red Crossbills may breed in patches of pines in southern Michigan, but such behavior is uncommon. Instead, their highest breeding concentrations are in the Upper Peninsula, and they gradually get less common as one travels south. Red Crossbills move around a bit in the winter, so this Michigan finch species can appear anywhere in the state.
White-winged Crossbill
White-winged Crossbills possess a crossed bill just like their red relatives. Both crossbills are uncommon in Michigan, with each having slightly more than 11,000 observations submitted to eBird.
White-winged Crossbills are thought to breed in the UP and perhaps some spots around Grayling. However, they are certainly infrequent breeders, and it is difficult to confirm breeding since this Michigan finch bird is so nomadic.
Like many finches in Michigan, they travel south in winter. Look for them in many of the same places where Red Crossbills can be found. Therefore, pine plantations, cemeteries, and golf courses can be good places to check for these finches of Michigan.