Birds of the Benzie Area (and Beyond)
No matter the time of year, there is plenty to see in Benzie County (and sometimes beyond - when members submit photos from their travels). Click on an image for a larger view. If you would like to submit your own bird/wildlife photos please email them to Emily Cook - cookemilyk@gmail.com
Last Updated on May 6, 2025
This Vesper Sparrow was spotted at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, off Esch Road. Apparently it doesn’t mind the barbed wire. (Photo: David Kane)
Carl Freeman has spotted many birds in his backyard this winter, including this Cedar Waxwing on their crabapple tree.
Another incredible find in Carl Freeman’s backyard is this Barred Owl. It has been hunting around their feeder and pond in the evenings.
David Kane recently spotted this Piping Plover - one of the extra special species endemic to our neck of the woods. They have returned to nest and raise their young.
We have our own Redstarts in Michigan but the Painted Restart is found in Arizona and Mexico, primarily. David Kane saw this one in Madera Canyon, Arizona.
The Verdin is another out-of-Michigan spot (Arizona by David Kane). While it resembles the body of a chickadee, it is actually the only bird in its genus Auriparus.
Pileated woodpeckers are always exciting when they arrive on a feeder - the size of a crow, they certainly stand out! (Photo: Carl Freeman)
On a winter trip to Arizona, David Kane saw the Rivoli’s Hummingbird in Madera Canyon. It has one of the highest heartbeats of any vertebrate - 420-1,200 beats per minute!
This juvenile shrike may be small but it is also a mighty predator, hunting other birds and small rodents. (Photo: Carl Freeman)
This Cape May Warbler is showing of its bright colors. Originally identified in Cape May, New Jersey, its habitat is actually much of the midwest and eastern US/Canada. (Photo by David Kane)
Photographed near the Platte River, this Common Loon is a flashback to last summer. Soon, they will be nesting once more in our area! (Photo: Jim Gribble)
David Kane saw this Winter Wren at Platte Point. A lover of forest understories, you will often hear its “warbling” song before spotting the bird, which can have a hard time sitting still.