No claim is made that this is an "official" checklist, but it can be considered a reliable guide to the birds that may be found at Nichols Arboretum.
 

English Name	Scientific Name
DUCKS, GEESE, and SWANS	Anatidae
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis
Mute Swan	Cygnus olor
Trumpeter Swan	Cygnus buccinator
Wood Duck	Aix sponsa
Gadwall	Anas strepera
American Wigeon	Anas americana
American Black Duck	Anas rubripes
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca
Canvasback	Aythya valisineria
Redhead	Aythya americana
Greater Scaup	Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup (T)	Aythya affinis
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula
Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator
PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, TURKEYS, and OLD WORLD QUAIL	Phasianidae
Ring-necked Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus
NEW WORLD QUAIL	Odontophoridae
Northern Bobwhite (T)	Colinus virginianus
LOONS	Gaviidae
Common Loon	Gavia immer
GREBES	Podicipedidae
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps
CORMORANTS	Phalacrocoracidae
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus
BITTERNS, HERONS, and ALLIES	Ardeidae
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron [Casual]	Nyctanassa violacea
NEW WORLD VULTURES	Cathartidae
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
KITES, HAWKS, EAGLES, and ALLIES	Accipitridae
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperii
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis
Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
CARACARAS and FALCONS	Falconidae
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Merlin	Falco columbarius
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
RAILS, GALLINULES, and COOTS	Rallidae
American Coot	Fulica americana
CRANES	Gruidae
Sandhill Crane	Grus canadensis
PLOVERS and LAPWINGS	Charadriidae
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus
SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES, and ALLIES	Scolopacidae
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria
American Woodcock	Scolopax minor
GULLS, TERNS, and SKIMMERS	Laridae
Bonaparte's Gull	Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia
Black Tern (T)	Chlidonias niger
PIGEONS and DOVES	Columbidae
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
CUCKOOS, ROADRUNNERS, and ANIS	Cuculidae
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus
Black-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus
TYPICAL OWLS	Strigidae
Eastern Screech-Owl	Megascops asio
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus
Long-eared Owl (T)	Asio otus
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Aegolius acadicus
GOATSUCKERS	Caprimulgidae
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor
Eastern Whip-poor-will (T)	Caprimulgus vociferus
SWIFTS	Apodidae
Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica
HUMMINGBIRDS	Trochilidae
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris
KINGFISHERS	Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon
WOODPECKERS and ALLIES	Picidae
Red-headed Woodpecker	Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus
Black-backed Woodpecker	Picoides arcticus
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS	Tyrannidae
Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus cooperi
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian Flycatcher	Empidonax virescens
Alder Flycatcher	Empidonax alnorum
Willow Flycatcher	Empidonax traillii
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus crinitus
Tropical/Couch's Kingbird [Accidental]	Tyrannus melancholicus/couchii
Eastern Kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus
SHRIKES	Laniidae
Northern Shrike	Lanius excubitor
VIREOS	Vireonidae
White-eyed Vireo	Vireo griseus
Bell's Vireo [Casual]	Vireo bellii
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus
Philadelphia Vireo	Vireo philadelphicus
Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus
JAYS, MAGPIES, and CROWS	Corvidae
Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos
LARKS	Alaudidae
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris
SWALLOWS	Hirundinidae
Purple Martin	Progne subis
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
CHICKADEES and TITMICE	Paridae
Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus
Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor
NUTHATCHES	Sittidae
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis
CREEPERS	Certhiidae
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana
WRENS	Troglodytidae
Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Winter Wren	Troglodytes hiemalis
KINGLETS	Regulidae
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula
OLD WORLD WARBLERS and GNATCATCHERS	Sylviidae
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
THRUSHES	Turdidae
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis
Veery	Catharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked Thrush	Catharus minimus
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina
American Robin	Turdus migratorius
MOCKINGBIRDS, THRASHERS, and ALLIES	Mimidae
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos
Brown Thrasher	Toxostoma rufum
STARLINGS and ALLIES	Sturnidae
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
WAXWINGS	Bombycillidae
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum
LONGSPURS and ALLIES	Calcaridae
Snow Bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis
WOOD-WARBLERS	Parulidae
Blue-winged Warbler	Vermivora pinus
Golden-winged Warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera
Tennessee Warbler	Oreothlypis peregrina
Orange-crowned Warbler	Oreothlypis celata
Nashville Warbler	Oreothlypis ruficapilla
Northern Parula	Parula americana
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pensylvanica
Magnolia Warbler	Dendroica magnolia
Cape May Warbler	Dendroica tigrina
Black-throated Blue Warbler	Dendroica caerulescens
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Gray Warbler [Accidental]	Dendroica nigrescens
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Hermit Warbler [Accidental]	Dendroica occidentalis
Blackburnian Warbler	Dendroica fusca
Yellow-throated Warbler	Dendroica dominica
Pine Warbler	Dendroica pinus
Kirtland's Warbler	Dendroica kirtlandii
Prairie Warbler	Dendroica discolor
Palm Warbler	Dendroica palmarum
Bay-breasted Warbler	Dendroica castanea
Blackpoll Warbler	Dendroica striata
Cerulean Warbler	Dendroica cerulea
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
Prothonotary Warbler	Protonotaria citrea
Worm-eating Warbler	Helmitheros vermivorum
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla
Northern Waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis
Louisiana Waterthrush	Parkesia motacilla
Kentucky Warbler	Oporornis formosus
Connecticut Warbler	Oporornis agilis
Mourning Warbler	Oporornis philadelphia
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler	Wilsonia citrina
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Canada Warbler	Wilsonia canadensis
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
TANAGERS	Thraupidae
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea
Western Tanager [Casual]	Piranga ludoviciana
NEW WORLD SPARROWS and ALLIES	Emberizidae
Eastern Towhee	Pipilo erythrophthalmus
American Tree Sparrow	Spizella arborea
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina
Clay-colored Sparrow	Spizella pallida
Field Sparrow	Spizella pusilla
Vesper Sparrow (T)	Pooecetes gramineus
Lark Sparrow (T)	Chondestes grammacus
Savannah Sparrow (T)	Passerculus sandwichensis
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow	Melospiza georgiana
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis
Harris's Sparrow	Zonotrichia querula
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis
CARDINALS and ALLIES	Cardinalidae
Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed Grosbeak [Accidental]	Pheucticus melanocephalus
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea
BLACKBIRDS and ALLIES	Icteridae
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark (T)	Sturnella magna
Rusty Blackbird (T)	Euphagus carolinus
Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater
Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
FINCHES and ALLIES	Fringillidae
Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator
Purple Finch	Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra
White-winged Crossbill	Loxia leucoptera
Common Redpoll	Carduelis flammea
Pine Siskin	Carduelis pinus
American Goldfinch	Carduelis tristis
Evening Grosbeak	Coccothraustes vespertinus
OLD WORLD SPARROWS	Passeridae
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus

 

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT FOR NICHOLS ARBORETUM:  206

MBRC Review List species are in blue.           top

Species not marked (T) in the checklist or specifically noted below are either in a Mike Kielb checklist through 2002 or were seen by Kielb through 2005 or are mentioned in the Washtenaw County book. This list does not include other species that Kielb may have documented since 2002.

(T) - Tinker, A.D. (1910), and not reported by other sources or in other material reviewed for developing this checklist; likely seen since 1910 but not necessarily recently

Gadwall - Jacco Gelderloos, early spring 2002

American Wigeon - Roger Kuhlman; 12-20-2006

Green-winged Teal - Roger Kuhlman; 12-29-2008

Canvasback - Norman Vesprini; 2-9-2007

Redhead - Norman Vesprini; 2-9-2007

Northern Harrier - Tinker; also others

Tropical/Couch's Kingbird - Mike Kielb; 5-13-2005

Northern Shrike - Ellie Shappirio and others; 10-27-2011

Horned Lark - Tinker; also Jacco Gelderloos, Hein Prinsen; 5-5-2002

Northern Mockingbird - Roger Kuhlman, Karen Drabenstott, Bruce Bowman; 5-6-1999

Western Tanager - seen by many; 5-8-2005

Clay-colored Sparrow - Jacco Gelderloos; 5-15-2002

Another checklist, Mike Kielb's (2002), can be found here (178 species). There is also a 1910 list of A.D. Tinker (138 species). (Both of these checklists are borrowed for publication here, with permission from Nichols Arboretum, as they are not presently available at any University or Nichols Arboretum web site.)

List Contributors

Washtenaw County birders have been the primary contributors to Nichols Arboretum bird checklist records, Mike Kielb primary among them as he stalks Nichols Arboretum continually. I have borrowed birds freely from his book (with John Swales and Dick Wolinski) and checklist. Eleven species came from the Tinker checklist. Some great records in this list are old and some are new--and many good birds on this list can be found at the Arb every year by birders who work at it (and many Arb lovers do!). If you have a species in your Arb list that is not in the above checklist, you are invited to submit it for inclusion.

Soon to be published new material from Mike Kielb will no doubt have some species not in the above checklist.

Location

Nichols Arboretum is located east of the University of Michigan's Central Campus in Ann Arbor. Its west side is bounded by the University of Michigan Medical Center and a cemetery. The Huron River bounds the Arb on the north, and Geddes Avenue and residential areas bound it on the south. Residences bound the Arb on the east. Ann Arbor is 35 miles west of Detroit.

Directions, Maps, and Parking

Directions and parking information accompany the maps.

  Location maps (directions and parking)
  Nichols Arboretum maps (parking and trails)

Description

Two books describe Nichols Arboretum in detail with information about what birds to look for, and where, in spring, summer, fall, and winter. Every birder who wants to explore Washtenaw County, one of the richest birding counties in Michigan, should have the first of these:  The Birds of Washtenaw County, Michigan (1992), by Michael A. Kielb, John M. Swales, and Richard A. Wolinski.  Every Michigan birder, and certainly all who have in mind coming to Michigan to bird, should have the second:  A Birder's Guide to Michigan (2004), by Allen T. Chartier and Jerry Ziarno.

These books have trail maps for the Arb, and you can also find trail maps here.

In these books and in your walks at the Arb you will become familiar with many named and unnamed areas. Some of the former are

  • School Girl's Glen
  • Dow Prairie
  • Heathdale
  • the Peony Garden
  • the Appalachian Glen
  • "the Rhododendron Glen"
  • the Caretaker's Road
  • the Huron River
  • "the river road" (Nichols Drive)
  • "the ridge trail"
  • "the beach"
  • "the valley"
  • "the warbler hot spot" or "warbler way"

Unnamed areas known to all birders include wood piles, scrub along a railroad track, a sometimes stream, meadow-like areas, deciduous woods, glens, and stands of pine trees.

The following description was excerpted The Birds of Washtenaw County, Michigan (1992).

Nichols Arboretum is the best studied ornithological site within Washtenaw County, if not Michigan. The spring migration, in particular, of birds in the Arb has been well studied over the years (Wood 1908; Tinker 1910, 1911; Barrows 1912; Wood and Tinker 1934; Wood 1951; Burrows 1954). The study of migration at this site was continued into the 1970s and 1980s with a complete survey of spring migrants, including peaks in migration, and early and late spring arrival dates (Kielb 1989). In contrast the fall migration is understudied, but there is no doubt that large numbers of migrants pass through. Even in winter interesting birds appear. In the summer, it is a nice place to take a stroll but lacks the abundance of interesting species that occur during other seasons.

... The fall warbler migration is as spectacular here as in the spring. Realistically many of the warblers are frequently drabber in plumage, but they are also much more numerous, and the length of their migration is more protracted than in the spring. The fall warbler migration starts in early August and continues into mid to late October. In late August the Arb can be full of migrants.

During the winter (late November through late February) the Arb is a good area to see winter finches and species that uncommonly spend the winter in the county.

Telephone: (734) 647-7600

This page has been visited times since July 29, 2005.

URL: http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/nichols_arb.html