As winter begins across Michigan, bird-watchers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of winter finches moving in large numbers outside their typical range.
The latest winter finch forecast from the Finch Research Network predicts that purple finches, common and hoary redpolls, pine siskins and nomadic white-winged crossbills will move through the state this winter. As crops of berries, seeds and cones deplete throughout the winter, we could see some late movements of evening grosbeaks, pine grosbeaks and red crossbills into Michigan, though most movements will likely occur west of Lake Superior.
These birds depend on cone and berry crops of the boreal (northern) forest for food each winter. When there is not enough food, they will migrate outside their usual wintering grounds. This unusual migratory movement is called an irruption, which will bring northern finches south into lower Ontario, the Great Lakes and beyond. Irruptions don’t happen every year, which makes winter finch sightings particularly magical.
Learn how to identify, find and attract some of these winter gems.
Purple finch
Males of this small finch species have a raspberry-red head, breast and back. Females have thickly streaked undersides, with a whitish eyebrow and a dark line down the side of the throat.
Find them in wooded and semiopen areas, including forests, suburbs, swamps and overgrown fields.
Attract them with sunflower seeds, nyjer (a small, thin black seed) and millet. Use small and large tube feeders or hopper feeders. Plant native, seed-producing trees and grasses.
Pine siskin
This bird behaves like a goldfinch but is brown and streaked like a sparrow. It has a sharp, pointed bill and subtle yellow edges on wing and tail feathers.
Find them in semiopen areas, woodland edges and weedy fields.
MI Birds is a public outreach and engagement program created by Audubon Great Lakes and the DNR, which aims to increase all Michiganders’ engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities.
