Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Michigan

The birds, plants, and insects most often recorded in Michigan. A starting field list, drawn from iNaturalist research-grade observations, for what is likely living near you.

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Birds

Birds Commonly Recorded In Michigan

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 7,888 records
  2. Canada Goose Branta canadensis 7,567 records
  3. American Robin American Robin Turdus migratorius 6,679 records
  4. Red-Winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 5,338 records
  5. Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 4,903 records
  6. Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis 4,745 records
  7. Wild Turkey Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo 4,487 records
  8. Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens 4,164 records
  9. Blue Jay Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata 3,966 records
  10. Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 3,923 records
  11. Black-Capped Chickadee Black-Capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus 3,791 records
  12. American Goldfinch American Goldfinch Spinus tristis 3,689 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Michigan

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Common Milkweed Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca 7,876 records
  2. Eastern White Pine Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus 5,967 records
  3. Large White Trillium Large White Trillium Trillium grandiflorum 5,802 records
  4. Ghost Pipe Ghost Pipe Monotropa uniflora 5,463 records
  5. Jack-In-The-Pulpit Jack-In-The-Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum 5,410 records
  6. Mayapple Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum 5,226 records
  7. Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus 5,113 records
  8. Wild Carrot Wild Carrot Daucus carota 4,833 records
  9. American Beech American Beech Fagus grandifolia 4,765 records
  10. Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata 4,711 records
  11. Eastern Skunk Cabbage Eastern Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus 4,603 records
  12. Sensitive Fern Sensitive Fern Onoclea sensibilis 4,596 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Michigan

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus 9,429 records
  2. Common Eastern Bumble Bee Common Eastern Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens 8,596 records
  3. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis 5,229 records
  4. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 4,133 records
  5. Spongy Moth Spongy Moth Lymantria dispar 3,921 records
  6. Japanese Beetle Japanese Beetle Popillia japonica 2,923 records
  7. Red-Spotted Admiral Red-Spotted Admiral Limenitis arthemis 2,858 records
  8. Isabella Tiger Moth Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabella 2,655 records
  9. Red Admiral Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta 2,633 records
  10. Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 2,579 records
  11. Ebony Jewelwing Calopteryx maculata 2,451 records
  12. Milkweed Tussock Moth Milkweed Tussock Moth Euchaetes egle 2,422 records

Go Deeper

Use the live finder to narrow this to your town and season. Then read Who Lives Here, how to attract wildlife to your yard, and planting for local wildlife. For tools and field guides, see the recommended gear.

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