Birds to See in Alberta in April
115 bird species on our list for Alberta are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Canada Goose, Mallard, American Crow, American Robin and Common Raven. New this month: Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Franklin's Gull and Greater Yellowlegs and 39 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
American CrowBusiest month of the year · All year
American RobinBusiest month of the year · All year
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Red-tailed HawkBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Northern PintailBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jan
Eurasian TealBusiest month of the year · Mar–Jan
From Alberta’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 115 birds in April
115 birds
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 5.41% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 4.82% in Apr- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosSummer visitorCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 4.47% in Apr
- American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.79% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaResidentCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.40% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisSummer visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Apr- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.02% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.67% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.43% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.41% in Apr- Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.32% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Apr- Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.15% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.88% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.71% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.64% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusSummer visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.55% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.54% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.53% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.52% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.48% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.47% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.46% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.45% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.35% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.33% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.33% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.25% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.23% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Apr
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusSummer visitorUncommon20–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.13% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorUncommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Apr
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaSummer visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorUncommon8–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.02% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Long-eared OwlAsio otusSummer visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisPassage migrantUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantRare62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorRare100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusPassage migrantRare21–28 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioPassage migrantRare16–25 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
ChukarAlectoris chukarSummer visitorRare32–38 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made