Birds to See in Canada in April
184 bird species on our list for Canada are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, American Crow, Song Sparrow, Canada Goose and Red-winged Blackbird. New this month: Common Yellowthroat, Chipping Sparrow, Barn Swallow and Lesser Yellowlegs and 44 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
Red-winged BlackbirdBusiest month of the year · All year
Common GrackleBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Turkey VultureBusiest month of the year · All year
Sandhill CraneBusiest month of the year · All year
Mountain BluebirdBusiest month of the year · All year
Golden PloverBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
From Canada’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 184 birds in April
184 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.35% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.84% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.53% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.51% in Apr- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.24% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Apr- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.33% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Apr- Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.79% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.66% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.56% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.40% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.36% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.34% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr- Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.24% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.23% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.20% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.19% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.17% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.15% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusWinter visitorUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentUncommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.09% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr- Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.05% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.05% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaResidentUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.05% in Apr
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorUncommon36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in Apr
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorRare17–20 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Apr
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorRare60–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Apr
King EiderSomateria spectabilisResidentRare46–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaSummer visitorRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorRare20–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiWinter visitorRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusScarceRare140–165 cmRegularly Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr- Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaPassage migrantRare26–29 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in Apr
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantRare40–44 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in Apr
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Apr
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.00% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorRare16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Apr
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorRare26–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Steller's Sea-eagleHaliaeetus pelagicusPassage migrantRare85–105 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 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