Few other birds are more appropriately named for a singular color than this small but bright warbler, decked out from head to toe in brilliant yellow. Unlike many of its close relatives that only pass through southeast Michigan for a…

What bird sounds like a 64-bit Nintendo game, flits and dives with the grace of a giant bat, and has a name that would make a superhero jealous?  The not-so-common Common Nighthawk!  This member of the nightjar family has the…

Pleased, pleased, pleased to meetcha! This sweet song belongs to this week’s Bird of the Week, the Chestnut-sided Warbler. This small wood warbler migrates from its wintering grounds on the edges of forests and shade-coffee plantations of Central America to…

If there was a list of brightly colored Michigan animals that look like they belong in a tropical rainforest, the fiery Blackburnian Warbler would be right near the top. In this case that would be partially accurate, since these birds…

May is an exciting time in Michigan. Harsh cold snaps have finally given way to sunnier days and lush green backdrops have filled in once empty forests. For birders though, the wonder of May lies in the fact that it…

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny olive-green songbird with white wing bars and a white eye-ring. The namesake ruby crown is only present on males, and usually hidden. When agitated, it can be flared up into a bright expressive crest.…

Have you ever seen a small duck with a blue bill? You might think your eyes are playing tricks on you, but this strange bird does exist and is this week’s Bird of the Week! The Ruddy Duck is an…

Imagine that you’re walking along the edge of a wooded area in Michigan and you suddenly hear a multitude of different bird songs come from the same bush. You might reasonably assume you’re about to be treated with views of…

The Blue-winged Teal can be found across most of the United States and Canada during the warmer breeding months in freshwater marshes and shallow ponds. This dabbling duck snacks on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and plant material by flipping its rump…

Spot this bird while you can because it is only a migratory visitor to Michigan. The beautifully brownish-red colored Fox Sparrow stops by on its way to summer homes in northern Canada and Alaska or winter residences just south of…