diff --git a/homeassistant/components/rainbird/coordinator.py b/homeassistant/components/rainbird/coordinator.py
index be8ccfa7ea7b..a4b4870b3cea 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/rainbird/coordinator.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/rainbird/coordinator.py
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@ from pyrainbird.async_client import (
 )
 from pyrainbird.data import ModelAndVersion, Schedule
 
+from homeassistant.const import CONF_MAC
 from homeassistant.core import HomeAssistant
 from homeassistant.helpers.debounce import Debouncer
-from homeassistant.helpers.device_registry import DeviceInfo
+from homeassistant.helpers.device_registry import CONNECTION_NETWORK_MAC, DeviceInfo
 from homeassistant.helpers.update_coordinator import DataUpdateCoordinator, UpdateFailed
 
 from .const import DOMAIN, MANUFACTURER, TIMEOUT_SECONDS
@@ -104,13 +105,18 @@ class RainbirdUpdateCoordinator(DataUpdateCoordinator[RainbirdDeviceState]):
         """Return information about the device."""
         if self._unique_id is None:
             return None
-        return DeviceInfo(
+        device_info = DeviceInfo(
             name=self.device_name,
             identifiers={(DOMAIN, self._unique_id)},
             manufacturer=MANUFACTURER,
             model=self._model_info.model_name,
             sw_version=f"{self._model_info.major}.{self._model_info.minor}",
         )
+        # The unique id is the formatted MAC for current config entries, but was
+        # historically the serial number, so derive the connection from the MAC.
+        if mac_address := self.config_entry.data.get(CONF_MAC):
+            device_info["connections"] = {(CONNECTION_NETWORK_MAC, mac_address)}
+        return device_info
 
     async def _async_update_data(self) -> RainbirdDeviceState:
         """Fetch data from Rain Bird device."""
diff --git a/tests/components/rainbird/snapshots/test_init.ambr b/tests/components/rainbird/snapshots/test_init.ambr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..594652e0c857
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/rainbird/snapshots/test_init.ambr
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# serializer version: 1
+# name: test_device_registry
+  DeviceRegistryEntrySnapshot({
+    'area_id': None,
+    'config_entries': <ANY>,
+    'config_entries_subentries': <ANY>,
+    'configuration_url': None,
+    'connections': set({
+      tuple(
+        'mac',
+        '4c:a1:61:00:11:22',
+      ),
+    }),
+    'disabled_by': None,
+    'entry_type': None,
+    'hw_version': None,
+    'id': <ANY>,
+    'identifiers': set({
+      tuple(
+        'rainbird',
+        '4c:a1:61:00:11:22',
+      ),
+    }),
+    'labels': set({
+    }),
+    'manufacturer': 'Rain Bird',
+    'model': 'ESP-TM2',
+    'model_id': None,
+    'name': 'Rain Bird Controller',
+    'name_by_user': None,
+    'primary_config_entry': <ANY>,
+    'serial_number': None,
+    'sw_version': '9.12',
+    'via_device_id': None,
+  })
+# ---
diff --git a/tests/components/rainbird/test_init.py b/tests/components/rainbird/test_init.py
index 56f4fe32f7cd..a8df4bf188c0 100644
--- a/tests/components/rainbird/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/components/rainbird/test_init.py
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 
 from http import HTTPStatus
 from typing import Any
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
+from syrupy.assertion import SnapshotAssertion
 
 from homeassistant.components.rainbird.const import DOMAIN
 from homeassistant.config_entries import ConfigEntryState
-from homeassistant.const import CONF_MAC
+from homeassistant.const import CONF_MAC, Platform
 from homeassistant.core import HomeAssistant
 from homeassistant.helpers import device_registry as dr, entity_registry as er
 
@@ -42,6 +44,24 @@ async def test_init_success(
     assert config_entry.state is ConfigEntryState.NOT_LOADED
 
 
+async def test_device_registry(
+    hass: HomeAssistant,
+    config_entry: MockConfigEntry,
+    device_registry: dr.DeviceRegistry,
+    snapshot: SnapshotAssertion,
+) -> None:
+    """Test the controller device registry entry, including the network MAC connection."""
+    # Load a platform so the controller device is registered.
+    with patch("homeassistant.components.rainbird.PLATFORMS", [Platform.SENSOR]):
+        await hass.config_entries.async_setup(config_entry.entry_id)
+        await hass.async_block_till_done()
+
+    device_entry = device_registry.async_get_device(
+        identifiers={(DOMAIN, MAC_ADDRESS_UNIQUE_ID)}
+    )
+    assert device_entry == snapshot
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("config_entry_data", "responses", "config_entry_state", "config_flow_steps"),
     [