Birds to See in Ontario in April
144 bird species on our list for Ontario are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Canada Goose and Common Grackle. New this month: Northern Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Chipping Sparrow and 41 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Ontario’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 144 birds in April
144 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.49% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 4.03% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.70% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.43% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 3.18% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.50% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.90% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.09% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.93% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.67% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.65% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.64% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.53% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.53% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.47% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.45% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.44% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.39% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.34% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.32% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.29% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.26% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.25% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.17% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.07% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorCommon64–79 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentRare36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorRare35–40 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantRare60–75 cmRegularly Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorRare30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaPassage migrantRare17–20 cmRegularly Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusWinter visitorRare21–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisWinter visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 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