State bird selection reflects a region’s heritage and natural history, serving as a familiar symbol of local wildlife. Michigan’s official bird represents a common sight across its diverse landscapes and is a welcome sign of the changing seasons. The chosen bird is familiar in parks, forests, and suburban yards throughout the Lower and Upper Peninsulas.
The American Robin: Michigan’s Official Bird
The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was officially adopted as Michigan’s state bird in 1931. This decision followed a 1929 public contest organized by the Michigan Audubon Society to determine the state’s most popular bird. The robin secured nearly a quarter of the total votes cast by Michiganders, reflecting its widespread appeal.
The Michigan legislature formalized the designation, acknowledging the American Robin as the “best known and best loved of all the birds in the state.” While there have been occasional attempts to challenge its status, the robin remains the recognized avian symbol. It shares this honor with Connecticut and Wisconsin.
Key Characteristics and Appearance
The American Robin is a relatively large songbird, measuring 8 to 11 inches in length with a robust, rounded body. Its most distinctive feature is the warm, brick-red or rusty-orange breast, which contrasts sharply with its gray-brown back and wings. Males have a darker black head, while females have a paler gray head, a difference known as sexual dimorphism.
The bird also features a bright yellow bill and a white throat streaked with black. Juveniles look notably different, sporting a heavily spotted breast and a mottled back that gradually changes to the adult coloration. When foraging on the ground, the robin is often seen standing upright before cocking its head to one side to locate earthworms and insects.
Habitat and Seasonal Presence in Michigan
The American Robin is highly adaptable, thriving across a variety of habitats throughout Michigan, including dense forests, farmlands, and suburban areas. They are a common sight in city parks and on residential lawns, where short grass allows easy access to soil invertebrates. The breeding season typically extends from April through July, with females constructing cup-shaped nests of grass and twigs reinforced with mud.
While the robin is widely regarded as a harbinger of spring, not all individuals migrate south. A portion of the population remains in Michigan year-round, especially where they can find reliable food sources. These overwintering birds switch their diet from earthworms and insects to fruits and berries found on trees and shrubs. The “first robin of spring” is often a bird that only moved a short distance away, not one arriving from the deep South.