Birds to See in China in April
179 bird species on our list for China are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Little Egret and Little Grebe. New this month: Common Tern, Common Swift, Whimbrel and Gull-billed Tern and 20 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From China’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 179 birds in April
179 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Apr
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Apr
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentCommon24–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Apr
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorCommon10–11 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.94% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Apr
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.45% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.44% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.39% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.39% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.34% in Apr
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Apr
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.25% in Apr
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorUncommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.25% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.23% in Apr
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Plumbeous Water-redstartPhoenicurus fuliginosusResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataSummer visitorUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in Apr
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.19% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Apr
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.17% in Apr
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.13% in Apr
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.12% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Oriental Scops-owlOtus suniaSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaResidentUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.09% in Apr
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.08% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
WryneckJynx torquillaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Apr
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorUncommon46–61 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.06% in Apr
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Apr
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentUncommon68–78 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in Apr
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in Apr
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Apr
White-tailed RobinMyiomela leucuraResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Apr
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusSummer visitorUncommon90–105 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.03% in Apr
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Lady Amherst's PheasantChrysolophus amherstiaeSummer visitorUncommon100–120 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrinaResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
White-crested LaughingthrushGarrulax leucolophusWinter visitorUncommon27–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Apr
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Blue-eared BarbetPsilopogon cyanotisResidentRare20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorUncommon36–39 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Apr
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentUncommon98–120 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorUncommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Chestnut MuniaLonchura atricapillaPassage migrantRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataResidentRare65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaSummer visitorUncommon24–25 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentRare31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Apr
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorRare10–12 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Reeves's PheasantSyrmaticus reevesiiSummer visitorRare100–210 cmRegularly Dec–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
Desert FinchRhodospiza obsoletaSummer visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantRare62–68 cmRegularly Feb–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Mar–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisPassage migrantRare76–110 cmRegularly Mar–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusPassage migrantRare120–145 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly Dec–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaPassage migrantRare58–77 cmRegularly Jan–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