The Devil Bird Has Been Spotted In Michigan, Are We in Danger?

A rare bird called the "Devil Bird" has been spotted in Michigan but what is this mystery bird and are we in danger?

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What is a Devil Bird?

I lived in Michigan most of my life and I had never seen or heard of a "Devil Bird" until a co-worker brought it up today.

I did some digging and a "Devil Bird" is actually an anhinga. The bird is also sometimes referred to as a "Snake Bird" since it swims in the water with only its neck above water often looking like a snake ready to strike.

An anhinga is a bird that primarily lives in warmer climates like Florida and South America so it is very rare to see one of these birds outside of where they are normally found.

There are a couple of different species of anhinga birds in America. They are often seen swimming in shallow warm waters where they hunt for fish with their long sharp beaks. Has a "Devil Bird" ever been spotted in Michigan?

Devil Bird Sightings In Michigan

The "Devil Bird" is not a native bird to Michigan or any state north of our southern states from Florida to Texas but occasionally they are spotted in the midwest.

According to the Michigan Bird Records Committee, there have been a few sightings anhingas, (aka the Devil Bird) in the state.

It appears there may have been four sightings of the Devil Bird in Michigan but only two have been confirmed.

One anhinga was spotted on September 18, 2005, at Lake Erie Metropark located in Wayne County, and the other was spotted on May 2, 2015, at Portage Bay in Delta County.

Is The Devil Bird Dangerous To Humans?

The good news is the anhinga bird are not dangerous to humans or ecosystems in Michigan. The only thing that has to worry about one of these Devil Birds is small fish that usually are not of any value to humans.