26 White Birds In Michigan

Michigan’s beautiful landscapes are home to many white and black birds that attract nature lovers and birdwatchers. This article focuses on 26 different white birds in Michigan, including snowy egrets and swans, and explains their importance to the environment. We have mentioned their size, weight, beak color and other characteristics which bird lovers for easy identification of these beautiful species. By exploring wetlands and coastal areas, you can see both migratory and resident birds that help us appreciate Michigan’s wildlife. Each bird is important to the ecosystem and inspires wonder in those who observe them.

Snowy Owl

The Snowy Owl is 20 to 25 inches tall and weighs between 3.5 and 6.5 pounds. Males owls are mostly white, while females have brown spots for camouflage. Their round faces and yellow eyes make them look striking, and their wings can span up to 56 inches. They glide silently and are agile hunters, mainly catching small mammals like lemmings. Snowy Owls make various haunting calls in the Arctic.

Great Egret

The Great Egret is 32 to 40 inches tall and weighs 2 to 5.5 pounds. During breeding, its beautiful white feathers become long and wispy, and males are usually a bit larger. The bird has a 7 to 8-inch beak that helps it hunt, and it glides gracefully over wetlands with slow wingbeats. It has long dark greenish-black legs which help it wade through shallow water. Great Egrets live in marshes and coastal wetlands in Michigan. By using sharp calls to attract mates and defend their territory. They mostly feed alone but can perch to look for fish. They build nests high in trees and lay three to five eggs, with both parents taking care of the chicks.

Cattle Egret

The Cattle Egret stands 18-22 inches tall and weighs 14-18 ounces. It has a sturdy body, thick neck, and short legs, with a wingspan of 37-43 inches. Males have bright feathers during breeding, while females have duller colors. Their beaks are perfect for catching insects. Cattle Egrets often follow livestock to find food in disturbed soil in area of Michigan. They are social birds that make sharp calls and gather in groups when migrating. They nest in trees or shrubs near water, showing their ability to live in different environments.

Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret is a beautiful bird that stands 24-28 inches tall and weighs 20-25 ounces. Its white feathers stand out against its bright yellow feet. Males and females look similar, but males have brighter colors during breeding season. The bird has a long, sharp beak for catching fish and crustaceans in shallow water. Its legs are 6-10 inches long which allows it to move easily in wetlands of Michigan. With long, narrow wings, the Snowy Egret flies gracefully across different habitats. Its yellow eyes are striking, and it makes soft croaks and loud squawks when mating and defending its territory while nesting in groups.

Snow Goose

Snow Geese are usually 28 to 30 inches tall and weigh between 3.5 and 6.5 pounds. Males are mostly white, while females can be grey or brown. They have short beaks, about 1.2 inches long, which help them eat tundra plants. Their wings are broad about 20 to 24 inches which allows them to fly strong distances during migrations of over 2,000 miles from Canada to the southern U.S in Michigan. There are also blue-gray versions alongside the common white ones, both with similar wing shapes. Their bright orange legs help them search for food in grassy areas near water, and their calls are loud and clear, attracting birdwatchers.

Trumpeter Swan

The Trumpeter Swan is a large bird that stands 50 to 65 inches tall and weighs 15 to 30 pounds. They have beautiful white feathers. Males are a bit larger and have wingspans up to 10 feet. Their long neck and straight beak, which is about 3 to 4 inches long which help them find food and communicate. Their strong black legs about 12 to 14 inches which support them while swimming. In winter, they migrate hundreds of miles from Michigan and nest near marshy areas with plenty of plants, showing how well they adapt to rich environments.

Tundra Swan

The Tundra Swan is a large bird that measures 51-59 inches long and weighs 14-28 pounds. Males are bigger, and adults have white feathers, black necks, and yellow patches near their eyes. They have long bodies, wedge-shaped heads, and 4-5 inch beaks for grazing. Their wingspan is 6.5-7.5 feet, which helps them fly powerfully and glide. They have short, strong legs that are dark gray or black, which help them move through marshes. They nest in groups near freshwater, building mounds lined with down to raise their young. These birds make soft whistles and trumpeting sounds during migration across Michigan, North America.

Mute Swan

The Mute Swan is an impressive bird in Michigan which is 51 to 59 inches tall with a wingspan of 79 to 94 inches. Males weigh between 22 and 30 pounds, while females weigh slightly less, at 20 to 25 pounds. They have beautiful white feathers, a long neck, and a bright orange beak with a black knob on males. Females have similar colors but are a bit duller. These swans can fly up to 15 mph, showing both grace and strength. They engage in interesting behaviors, like synchronized swimming during courtship, which highlights their monogamous nature and preference for shorter migrations.

Caspian Tern

The Caspian Tern is 14 to 20 inches long and weighs 14 to 19 ounces. Males have a white belly and gray wings, while females are a bit duller. Their strong, pointed beaks, which are 3 to 4 inches long, help them catch fish. They usually nest in sandy coastal areas of Michigan or islands near water which show they can adapt to find food. They communicate with sharp barks. Females make simple nests by scraping the ground and lining them with pebbles or shells, showing their resourcefulness.

Forster’s Tern

Forster’s Tern is a 12-15 inch bird known for its graceful look and unique feathers commonly found in Michigan. Males have a white body, gray back, and black cap, while females have duller colors. Their 2-inch beaks are perfect for fishing, and they have long gray legs. Their long, forked tails help them move easily. Bright orange-red eyes make them stand out and help them blend in with the water. During migration, they fly from North America’s freshwater to Central Mexico and the Caribbean, looking for the best nesting spots on shingle shores and sandy islands.

Common Tern

The Common Tern is 12 to 15 inches tall and weighs 3.5 to 8 ounces. It has a white body, gray wings, and a black cap. Its slender beak, which is 1.5 to 2 inches long which helps it catch fish. The tern has long yellow or orange legs that make it look striking. In the air, it has pointed wings and a forked tail, which help it move quickly. These birds migrate thousands of miles from North America Michigan to South America. With sharp red-orange eyes, they mainly eat small fish. They nest in coastal colonies, using pebbles to hide their eggs from predators.

Ring-billed Gull

The Ring-billed Gull lives in North America Michigan and is 18 to 22 inches long, weighing 1.5 to 3.2 pounds. Both males and females have gray wings and white bodies with black-ringed yellow bills. Their long, pale yellow legs and wide wings help them glide smoothly over water. They often tilt their heads when resting. In winter, they migrate from North America to Central America. Their raspy calls help them communicate and mark their territory while nesting on beaches or rooftops.

Herring Gull

The Herring Gull measures 18 to 26 inches long and weighs 2.5 to 4.5 pounds. Males are larger than females and have gray wings and white bellies. Breeding adults have black markings on their heads, while young gulls are mottled brown for camouflage. With their strong 2-3 inch beaks help them eat a wide variety of food, from ocean areas to landfills. With bright yellow legs that are also 2-3 inches long, they live well in coastal and urban areas of Michigan. Their powerful wings allow them to fly long distances during migration. They make loud cawing sounds to show territory and communicate with each other.

Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull is a small white bird in Michigan that measures 30-36 cm tall and weighs 225-300 grams. Males and females look alike, with a white body and a black cap during breeding season. Young gulls have brown and gray feathers that help them blend in near water. They have a slender, downturned beak for catching insects and small fish, and their short, pale yellow legs help them move. They fly gracefully from northern Canada to coastal areas in the US for the winter.

Glaucous Gull

The Glaucous Gull is 23-26 inches tall and weighs 3.5-6.5 pounds. It has a wingspan of 53-60 inches, which helps it fly in Arctic areas in Michigan. Males are usually larger and have more noticeable features than females, but both have similar pale gray feathers. Their strong, slightly curved bills are 2.7 to 3.2 inches long and help them open shells. The gull’s yellowish legs stand out against their feathers. They like coastal and icy places and feed on marine life.

Iceland Gull

The Iceland Gull is a medium-sized bird in Michigan which is 21-25 inches tall and weighing 2.5-3.5 pounds. Both males and females have similar light feathers, ranging from almost white to light gray. Adults have shinier feathers than young birds, which have brown spots. Their beak is slender, measuring 1.6-2.4 inches long and slightly hooked for scavenging. Their yellowish legs are 2-3 inches long, and they have a wingspan of about four feet, which helps them glide. Iceland Gulls migrate, breeding along the coasts of Greenland and wintering in North America or Europe.

Snow Bunting

The Snow Bunting is a small white bird in Michigan which is about 6.5 to 7 inches long and weighing 1.2 to 1.6 ounces. Males are mostly white with black wings during breeding, while females are brown with lighter streaks. They have short, cone-shaped beaks, about 0.5 inches long, which help them crack seeds, their main food. Snow Buntings live in open areas like tundras and eat seeds and insects before migrating south for the winter. They fly with strong flaps and glides, which helps them move easily in the snow.

Whooping Crane

The Whooping Crane is about 5 feet tall and has a wingspan of 7.5 feet. Males weigh 15-25 pounds, while females are a bit lighter. Their white feathers have black tips and a red crown, with males showing brighter colors during mating. They have long legs for wading and strong beaks for finding food in shallow wetlands. Their flight includes slow flaps and soaring glides, along with their unique trumpeting calls. These cranes form strong social bonds and migrate thousands of miles to Texas or Florida.

Ross’s Goose

The Ross’s Goose is a small white bird in Michigan that measures 61 to 66 cm and weighs 1.3 to 2.3 kg. Males and females look alike, both having white feathers, black wingtips, and grayish heads. Their short, triangular beak and long legs which gives them a delicate appearance. These geese fly well, often forming V-shaped groups and flying in sync. They make high-pitched ‘honk’ calls in open fields and wetlands during migration. Each year, they travel thousands of miles from the Arctic tundra to warmer areas for winter.

American White Pelican

The American White Pelican is a large bird in Michigan which is 50 to 65 inches tall and weighing 8 to 30 pounds. They have bright white feathers with black tips on their wings and long, curved beaks that are 12 to 14 inches long. Their legs are about 5 inches long and are yellowish or light orange. With their wide wings, they glide on warm air currents, and their short tails help them land smoothly. Their eye colors vary, which helps them see well when looking for food. During breeding season, they make honking sounds in wetlands.

White-breasted Nuthatch

The White-breasted Nuthatch is a small bird found in Michigan which is about 6.3 to 7.5 inches long and weighing 0.7 to 1.1 ounces. Both males and females have blue wings and backs, white bellies, and a black crown. Their round bodies, short necks, and long tails help them fly well. They have straight beaks about 0.5 inches long, which they use to get insects from tree bark and crack seeds. Their strong legs help them blend in with tree trunks. They fly powerfully and can climb trees and feed while hanging upside down. They build nests in tree holes, using feathers and bark for warmth.

Leucistic American Robin

Leucistic American Robins have light-colored feathers due to a genetic change. They are 9 to 11 inches tall and weigh between 6.2 and 8.5 ounces. Unlike regular robins, leucistic robins have white and light colors, with females usually being lighter than males. Their strong, cone-shaped beak which helps them find insects and berries. When they fly, they use rounded wings that are 12 to 16 inches wide by making short flaps and glides. Their white or cream tail feathers add to their graceful flight. Their nesting habits are similar to those of regular robins.

Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk

The Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk is a special white bird in Michigan with light colors because of a genetic change. They usually stand 18-25 inches tall and weigh 1.5 to 3.5 pounds, with a wingspan of 45-52 inches. Unlike regular Red-tailed Hawks, leucistic ones have creamy white feathers with light patterns. Their strong, hooked beak is 1.5-2 inches long which is perfect for catching small animals or birds. They have long legs that are slightly pink and fly with broad wings and a short tail. Their unique screams help them communicate, especially when they migrate from late summer to early fall.

Leucistic Mourning Dove

The Leucistic Mourning Dove is 9 to 13 inches long and weighs 4.5 to 6.5 ounces bird in Michigan. Unlike regular doves, leucistic doves are pale. Males have off-white and light gray colors, while females are darker. Their feathers lack the rich browns of typical doves which gives them a unique appearance. They have slender beaks about 1 inch long for eating seeds and short, light pink legs. Their broad wings help them glide smoothly. They build nests in trees or shrubs using twigs and grasses for hiding. Their soft cooing adds to their calm presence in various habitats.

Albino European Starling

The albino European starling is similar in size to regular starlings which 8-9 inches tall and weighing 2.5-3.5 ounces. Unlike other starlings, they have all-white feathers. With their thick, cone-shaped beaks are about 1 inch long and help them eat insects and fruits. Their legs are short, around 2-3 inches, and are usually light pink or pale yellow. These starlings often gather in groups to find food and rest. They have pointed wings with a wingspan of 12-15 inches, which helps them fly quickly to escape predators. They make various sounds, from whistles to screeches, especially during nesting season from late spring to early summer.

Albino House Sparrow

The Albino House Sparrow is a special type of common house sparrow mostly founded in Michigan. It measures 15 to 18 cm and weighs 24 to 39 grams mostly found Michigan. Unlike regular sparrows, it has pure white feathers with some light variations and no brown or black streaks. Its short, strong beak is about 1.2 cm long and is lighter than that of colored sparrows. The legs are pinkish and measure 3 to 4 cm. With rounded wings, they fly in a bouncy way. Their calls are simpler than those of colorful sparrows. These sparrows live well in cities of Michigan, searching for food in trash and seeds.

Conclusion

Michigan has many types of white birds, like whooping cranes and great egrets, which help the state’s environment. These birds play a key role in their ecosystems and draw in birdwatchers. The presence of leucistic and albino birds shows the variety in their genetics. It’s important to raise awareness about their homes and the need for conservation. We must actively work to protect Michigan’s bird diversity for future generations.

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