18 White Birds In Michigan (With Pictures)
White birds in Michigan like egrets and Snowy Owls have a captivating charm that makes it hard to look away. But with so many similar-looking species like egrets, herons, and ibis, it can be tricky to tell them apart.
Luckily, this guide is here to help you identify these birds by their appearance and calls. It also provides information on when you can spot them in Michigan, making it easier for you to learn more about the birds in your area.
Explore White Birds In Michigan By Season
Discover the white birds you can find throughout the year in Michigan, including the Ring-billed Gull, Mute Swan, Rock Pigeon, and Trumpeter Swan.
In the summer months, keep an eye out for the Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Common Tern, American White Pelican, and Snowy Egret.
As winter sets in, watch for the Snow Bunting, Tundra Swan, Snowy Owl, Snow Goose, Ross’s Goose, and Gyrfalcon.
During migration season, be on the lookout for the Cattle Egret, Whooping Crane, and Little Blue Heron.
18 White Birds In Michigan
1. Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gulls are a familiar sight across white birds in Michigan year-round, making appearances in 17% of summer bird checklists and 11% during winter, according to reports from bird watchers.
Identifying these medium-sized gulls is easy thanks to their short, yellow bills sporting a distinctive black ring near the tip. During breeding season, adults boast a predominantly white plumage with pale gray backs and wings adorned with black tips and white spots. Their yellow eyes, outlined in orange, and yellow legs and feet complete the look. Both males and females share similar appearances.
Non-breeding adults can be told apart by light brown streaks on their heads and necks. Juveniles, on the other hand, are covered in brown streaks all over.
They’re adaptable birds, found in urban, suburban, and agricultural areas, as well as coastal waters, beaches, lakes, ponds, streams, estuaries, and mudflats. You’ll often spot them in parking lots, landfills, shopping malls, and reservoirs, where they tend to gather in large numbers.
As for their calls, they have a distinct vocalization.
Fun Fact: Ring-billed Gulls earned the nickname “fast food gulls” due to their tendency to hang around fast-food joints, scavenging for a quick bite.
2. Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Herons are a common sight during breeding season in northern Michigan, but some can be seen year-round in the southern part of the state. They feature in 17% of summer bird checklists and 3% during winter observations.
These majestic white birds in Michigan are among the largest herons native to North America. With their pale gray bodies, they can sometimes appear white in flight. Their distinguishing features include a white face adorned with a black crest or plume extending from the front of their eyes to the back of their heads. Their bills sport a yellow-orange hue.
Sporting long gray necks with black and white streaks at the front, along with pale grayish-blue bodies and dark wingtips, these herons are truly striking. Their lengthy gray legs complete their elegant appearance.
In Florida, there exists a white morph subspecies known as the Great White Heron.
Great Blue Herons can be found throughout most of the United States year-round. However, those that breed in the Mid-West and Canada migrate south for the winter.
These impressive birds inhabit various wetland habitats, including freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, flooded areas, lake shores, and coastlines.
3. Mute Swan
Mute Swans, non-native to Michigan, are present year-round, appearing in 8% of summer and 10% of winter bird checklists. These large birds were introduced for ornamental purposes but have since become established in the wild, posing a threat to native wildlife due to their aggressive behavior.
Recognizable by their entirely white plumage, long necks, orange bills with a black basal knob, and black legs, Mute Swans are uniform in appearance regardless of gender. Juveniles lack the orange bill coloration, sporting dusky-pinkish bills and occasional dusky-brownish highlights on their bodies.
Originally from Europe, Mute Swans have spread to the United States and southern Canada, predominantly inhabiting eastern states with smaller populations scattered elsewhere. They frequent city parks, protected bays, lakes, shallow wetlands, rivers, and estuaries.
4. Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeons, commonly found in Michigan, reside in the state throughout the year. They’re spotted in about 5% of summer checklists and 8% during winter.
You’ve probably seen them in towns or parks – they’re typically bluish-gray with two black bands on their wings and black tips on their tails. Look closely, and you’ll notice their shiny throat feathers and orange eyes.
But here’s a fun fact: they can also come in white, spotted, or even red varieties.
Rock Pigeons stick around all year and are spread across the United States, southern Canada, and the Pacific Coast up to Alaska.
They’re a common sight in cities, parks, and even backyards, particularly where there’s birdseed scattered around. Keep in mind, though, some cities have rules against feeding them because they’re seen as pests.
5. Great Egret
During the Michigan summer, from April to November, you’ll often catch sight of Great Egrets, especially as their numbers rise between mid-July and September. They make an appearance in about 6% of summer bird checklists, but during migration, that number can soar up to 15%.
In their prime breeding season, male Great Egrets sport striking neon green facial skin and elegant, wispy feathers (aigrettes) cascading from their backs to their tails, a spectacle they display during courtship akin to a peacock flaunting its tail feathers.
These majestic birds are known for their large size and pristine white plumage, earning them the moniker “Great White Herons.” Sometimes referred to as common egrets, they boast long, dagger-like bright yellow bills and towering black legs and feet.
Great Egrets can be found all over the world. While the ones in southern and coastal US states stick around throughout the year, those further inland and in Canada head south for migration.
Look for these majestic birds in freshwater and saltwater marshes, tidal flats, and even fish ponds. They’re quite adaptable!
6. Trumpeter Swan
Great Egrets can be found all over the world. While the ones in southern and coastal US states stick around throughout the year, those further inland and in Canada head south for migration.
Look for these majestic birds in freshwater and saltwater marshes, tidal flats, and even fish ponds. They’re quite adaptable!
Trumpeter swans breed in Alaska, western, and southern Canada before migrating to ice-free coastal regions. Some remain in northwestern and northern US states year-round, moving based on weather. They inhabit marshes, lakes, and rivers with dense vegetation, breeding in open areas near shallow waters, occasionally spotted in agricultural fields.
7. Snow Bunting
Snow Buntings are winter visitors in Michigan, seen from October to May, making up about 2% of winter bird checklists.
Breeding adult males sport an all-white plumage with black markings on their backs and wings, while females have brown streaks on their backs and pale undersides.
Non-breeding males and females look quite alike, with streaked backs, white bellies, and brown patches on their heads. However, non-breeding females tend to have a stronger reddish hue than males.
Juvenile Snow Buntings are mostly gray with dark wings and lighter gray bellies.
Snow Buntings breed in Alaska and northern Canada, then head south to southern Canada and the United States for winter. They’re also spotted in western Europe and eastern Russia.
During the summer, you’ll find Snow Buntings in rocky Arctic habitats, as well as lush areas like meadows and spots abundant with lichens. In winter, they’re masters of camouflage, blending seamlessly into barren fields.
These white birds in Michigan typically scour the ground for weeds and seeds or pluck them from flowering plants. Occasionally, they’ll snack on insects and small crustaceans, especially near the coast.
8. Tundra Swan
In Michigan, you’ll mostly see Tundra Swans in winter, from October to April, although a few stick around all year, making up about 1% of winter bird checklists.
These swans are easy to spot with their white bodies, long necks, and distinctive black bills, legs, and feet. Keep an eye out for the yellow patches near the base of their bills, though they may not always show up.
Young Tundra Swans, known as Whistling Tundra Swans, are pale brown with white accents and sport a mostly pink bill with a black tip and base.
Tundra Swans mainly breed in Alaska and Canada, then head to the United States for winter.
True to their name, you’ll spot Tundra Swans in Arctic tundra regions. They often gather in groups in wetlands, marshy lakes, ponds, estuaries, and bays, as well as in agricultural fields.
9. Common Tern
Common Terns are prevalent breeders in Michigan, appearing in around 2% of summer bird checklists. They typically arrive in April and commence their migration come October.
These seabirds, considered among the most widespread terns in North America, come in small to medium sizes.
During breeding season, Common Terns sport distinctive features including black caps and napes, white necks and chests, and orange bills with black tips. Their soft gray bodies, lighter underneath, complement their orange legs. Look closely, and you’ll notice dark-tipped wings forming a wedge on the upper side of the wingtips, with deeply forked white tails.
As the breeding season ends, adult Common Terns undergo changes: the front portion of their black caps fades, leaving behind white foreheads, while their bills and legs adopt a black hue.
During breeding season, Common Terns hang out near water, whether it’s freshwater or saltwater, as long as it’s in an open flat area like sandy beaches, dunes, marshes, or islands.
Come winter, you’ll find Common Terns wherever there’s fish. They frequent natural beaches, marine spots, estuaries, and big lakes. Sometimes, they take a break on boats, buoys, or piers
10. Snowy Owl
Snowy Owls are a vulnerable species in Michigan, mainly seen during winter from December to February, making up about 2% of winter bird checklists. However, there have been sightings around Midland and Bay City even during breeding season.
These iconic arctic hunters blend into the snowy landscape, poised to silently capture their prey.
With bright yellow eyes and feather-covered legs and feet for protection against the cold, Snowy Owls sport thick dark bars on their wingtips and incomplete bars on their tails.
Male Snowy Owls are mostly white, occasionally with a few brown spots.
In contrast, female Snowy Owls display dark brown to black flecks on their backs, wings, and flanks, with more complete barring on their tails compared to males.
Snowy Owls make their homes in the icy arctic regions globally, including northern Canada. During certain times, they fly down to southern Canada and the northern United States.
You’ll spot Snowy Owls in wide-open Arctic plains. They like spots with good views, such as small hills and rocky outcrops, so they can keep an eye on things around them.
11. American White Pelican
American White Pelicans grace Michigan’s skies from March to mid-January, but the prime months for sightings are April through October.
These majestic birds are among North America’s largest flyers, boasting the second-largest wingspan.
Outside of breeding season, adult American White Pelicans sport all-white plumage, save for black flight feathers visible during flight or when their wings are spread. Juveniles sport light gray feathers with darker brown napes.
During breeding season, adults maintain their white appearance but develop a striking yellow plate on their upper bills, akin to a horn, while their eyes, bills, and legs take on a vibrant orange hue.
American White Pelicans mate at secluded lakes across inland North America, then head to warmer climes for winter along the southern Pacific Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Central America. During migration, they make appearances in western and central US states.
Look for American White Pelicans in shallow freshwater lakes, wetlands, and along the edges of lakes and rivers. In winter, they can be found in coastal bays, inlets, and estuaries, where they search for food in shallow waters and perch on sandbars.
12. Snow Goose
Snow Geese are a familiar sight in Michigan year-round, but they’re especially abundant during the winter months, from September through March.
Named for their snowy white plumage, Snow Geese stand out with their black wingtips, pink bills featuring a black grin patch, and pink legs and feet.
Interestingly, there’s another version known as the Blue Goose, sporting a white head but a dark blue-gray body. Occasionally, both Snow Goose variants may have a slightly “stained” head from feeding.
While males generally tend to be larger, both versions of Snow Geese share similar characteristics between the sexes. Juveniles of the white morphs exhibit a dusky gray-brown hue, while blue morphs appear dark gray. However, both sport the distinctive pink bill and black grin patch.
Snow Geese primarily breed in Canada and migrate to spend winters in the United States.
You’ll often spot Snow Geese and Blue Geese hanging out together in freshwater marshes and grain fields. During winter, they tend to prefer salt marshes and coastal bays, but they’ll still drop by plowed cornfields and wetlands.
13. Snowy Egret
Snowy Egrets are somewhat rare in Michigan, but they do make appearances during the summer months, particularly from April to October, with more sightings noted between mid-July and August.
These elegant birds, named for their snowy-white appearance, sport striking yellow irises and patches of skin around their eyes. They’re characterized by their long, slender black bills, legs, and vibrant yellow feet.
During breeding season, they sprout delicate, lacy feathers on their heads, necks, and backs. Their facial skin takes on a reddish-pink hue, and their toes turn orange-red during courtship and aggressive encounters.
Juvenile Snowy Egrets resemble adults but lack the distinctive head plumes. Their bill and leg colors are lighter, with a more greenish-yellow tint to their facial skin and legs.
Snowy Egrets migrate from nearly all US states, except those along the Gulf Coast and southwest coast. They stick around all year in Mexico, Central, and South America.
Look out for Snowy Egrets in shallow, watery spots like marshes, riverbanks, lakesides, pools, salt marshes, and estuaries. When it comes to nesting, they favor swamp forests with plenty of protective trees and bushes.
14. Ross’s Goose
During the winter months in Michigan, you might catch a glimpse of Ross’s Geese between September and May, although they’re not very common here.
Ross’s Geese look a lot like Snow Geese and often hang out with them. They’re mostly white, except for their short, gray-based red-orange bills, short pink-red legs, and black wingtips. Both males and females look alike, but females are a tad smaller.
There’s a rare version of Ross’s Goose with a dark phase. It has a white head, a brownish bill with a red patch, and dark gray throats, underparts, and back.
Ross’s Geese breed up north in Canada and migrate south to spend the winter in the United States.
In winter, you’ll spot Ross’s Geese hanging out in both salt and freshwater marshes. But when it’s breeding season, they head to the arctic tundra to build their nests.
15. Cattle Egret
You might see Cattle Egrets passing through Michigan during migration, but they’re not all that common around here.
Cattle Egrets have a clever trick for catching their meals. They perch on the backs of cattle, taking advantage of the insects stirred up by the animals’ movements.
These egrets are on the smaller side, with white bodies and light orange-brown patches on their heads, necks, and backs.
Cattle Egrets are found all over the world, but in North America, they stick around year-round in the south, including Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and some southwestern states.
But the ones that breed farther north, especially in the eastern states of the US, head south for the winter after breeding.
You’ll spot Cattle Egrets hanging out in native grasslands, pastures, crop fields, and rice fields, especially near places with cows and other hoofed animals.
16. Whooping Crane
Whooping Cranes are rare sights in Michigan, classified as endangered, but you might catch a glimpse of them in the southern part of the state during migration.
These majestic birds are known for their graceful courtship dances and distinctive trumpeting calls. Once on the brink of extinction, their population has rebounded from around 20 individuals in the 1940s to approximately 600 today, thanks to conservation efforts.
They boast striking features, with all-white bodies, a red crown, and a black facial mask. In flight, their 7-foot wingspan reveals black feathers, while their long legs are also black.
Juvenile Whooping Cranes share the white body but sport rust-colored splotches. Their heads and upper necks are adorned with a rusty-brown hue.
Whooping Cranes breed in a small spot up in Canada and then make their way down to Texas. There’s also a group that’s been brought back in Wisconsin, and they head to Florida for the winter.
During breeding season, you’ll spot Whooping Cranes hanging out in shallow wetlands filled with bulrushes and aquatic plants. In the winter, they prefer shallow bays, tidal flats, and marshes near the coast, sometimes venturing onto nearby farmlands and grasslands.
Do You know Are Red Peacock Real or Fake
17. Little Blue Heron – Juvenile
In southeastern Michigan during migration season, you might catch a glimpse of Little Blue Herons, although they’re not a common sight.
Despite their name, Adult Little Blue Herons aren’t exactly small. They’re more medium to large-sized, with elongated bodies and a purplish hue on their heads and necks, adorned with dangling feathers.
Their eyes sport a pale yellow color, sometimes turning gray-green when it’s breeding time. Their bills are long and dagger-like, with a two-toned appearance – pale blue or grayish with black tips. Their bodies take on a slate-blue color, and their legs range from black to gray-green in hue.
Juvenile Little Blue Herons start off completely white in their first year, before transitioning into a mix of dark gray, blue, and white.
Little Blue Herons breed in the eastern US before heading south, while some stick around the Gulf Coast, Mexico, and South America throughout the year.
You’ll spot Little Blue Herons hanging out near water, like swamps, marshes, ponds, streams, and lagoons. They’re pretty adaptable, so you might even find them in places like tidal flats, canals, ditches, fish hatcheries, or flooded fields.
18. Gyrfalcon
Gyrfalcons, the largest Falcons, are rarely seen in Michigan but some spend winters in the state’s north from October to April. They’re apex predators of the Arctic, with three morphs: white, silver/gray, and dark. Silver/gray is common in North America. These birds inhabit the arctic and sub-arctic regions worldwide, with Canadian breeders migrating to the US for winter. They prefer harsh terrains like the treeless arctic tundra, staying near cliffs and open spaces for hunting. During migration, they target areas rich in bird prey, like coasts and farmlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the most common white birds in Michigan?
The American Robin is the most common bird in Michigan.
Q2: What are the big white and gray birds in Michigan?
The big white and gray birds in Michigan are likely Great Blue Herons or Snowy Egrets.
Q3: What bird is only found in Michigan?
The Kirtland’s Warbler is a bird species that is primarily found breeding in Michigan and nowhere else in the world.
Q4: Are egrets in Michigan?
Yes, egrets, including the Great Egret and the Snowy Egret, can be found in Michigan, particularly in wetland habitats.
