Birds to See in Nova Scotia in April
118 bird species on our list for Nova Scotia are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Song Sparrow, American Crow, American Robin, Common Starling and American Herring Gull. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Blue Heron, Greater Yellowlegs and Hermit Thrush and 25 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Nova Scotia’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 118 birds in April
118 birds
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 6.02% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 5.78% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.83% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.62% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.47% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.39% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 3.09% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.04% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 2.43% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.99% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.79% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.67% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.63% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.62% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.47% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.45% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.43% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentUncommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.39% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.28% in Apr
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.26% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.26% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.23% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.21% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.14% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.07% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.07% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.06% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.04% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.02% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorRare16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorRare30–32 cmRegularly Dec–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentRare10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in Apr
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisSummer visitorRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Long-eared OwlAsio otusPassage migrantRare35–40 cmRegularly Apr · 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