WhenToBird

Birding spots

Best Birding Spots in Michigan

By species reported, the top birding spots in Michigan are Tawas Point State Park, Whitefish Point, and Pointe Mouillee State Game Area. Tawas Point State Park has the longest list (275 species), and its best season is spring.

Species counts are birds reported at least three times in that season at that spot, 2016–2025. Busy spots list more species simply because more people look, so compare the checklist counts. Spot names come from public map data and hotspot listings.

SpotCountySpeciesChecklistsWinterSpringSummerFall
Tawas Point State ParkIosco County2758,00688258198209
Whitefish PointChippewa County2716,71838236188236
Pointe Mouillee State Game AreaMonroe County2643,630107237201175
Metro Beach MetroparkMacomb County25611,771101234178214
Nayanquing Point State Wildlife AreaBay County2453,15259230171142
Erie Marsh PreserveMonroe County2422,4088322716283
Lake Erie MetroparkWayne County2324,141105199135206
Maple River State Game AreaGratiot County2312,24069209158129
Muskegon County Wastewater System Management AreaMuskegon County2252,33079188145166
Arcadia LakeManistee County2232,53860195151171
Huron National ForestIosco County2202,42637199160152
Presque Isle ParkMarquette County2192,67245188138179
Peninsula PointDelta County21868622196119153
Lost LakeMason County2171,46152182133143
Fish Point State Wildlife AreaTuscola County21799877199124151
Chelsea State Game AreaWashtenaw County2162,39971178126175
Point la BarbeMackinac County2161,41326173144168
Tobico LagoonBay County2152,39057194133161
Belle IsleWayne County2142,412100182106170
Crystal BayouSaginaw County2131,55471197125157
Holland State Park (Ottawa Beach)Ottawa County2114,72680158112148
Tiscornia ParkBerrien County2073,62877144108161
Millennium ParkKent County2063,52575186125154
Corey MarshClinton County2052,16456183145176
Sleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreLeelanau County2051,57240163149112
St. Johns Marsh State Wildlife AreaSt. Clair County2036716217711392
Wildwing Lake (east)Oakland County2004,58587176118159
Wolf LakeVan Buren County2002,45192182124166
Stony Creek MetroparkMacomb County2001,61361181104127
Harbor IslandOttawa County1992,1095717996127

By county