Home / Environment / Rare Purple Gallinule Sighted in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Rare Purple Gallinule Sighted in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
8 Oct
Summary
- First-ever record of a purple gallinule in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
- Substantial songbird migration event observed at Whitefish Point
- Increase in sightings of American white pelicans, dark-eyed juncos, purple finches, and redpolls
On October 8th, 2025, the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory in Michigan's Upper Peninsula reported the sighting of a rare purple gallinule, a bird not previously seen in the region. This extraordinary occurrence was part of a "substantial songbird migration event" that the observatory had noticed on the previous Friday, October 6th.
The observatory shared the news of the purple gallinule sighting on social media, calling it a "showstopper." According to the observatory, this was the first-ever record of the species in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, as the purple gallinule is typically found in the southeastern United States.
In addition to the rare purple gallinule, the observatory also reported an influx of other migratory birds in the area. These included over 240 dark-eyed juncos, as well as a noticeable increase in the number of purple finches and redpolls. An American white pelican was also spotted during the migration event.
The observatory expects the migration patterns over the Whitefish Point area to remain active for the next few days, given the current weather forecast. The purple gallinule sighting, along with the other bird observations, highlights the importance of the Whitefish Point region as a crucial stopover site for migratory songbirds.
