Birds to See in Japan in April
141 bird species on our list for Japan are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail and Great Cormorant. New this month: Little Tern, Black-tailed Godwit, Sand Martin and Ruff and 9 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Japan’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 141 birds in April
141 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 4.03% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.97% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Apr
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorCommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.94% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.70% in Apr
CootFulica atraWinter visitorCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Apr
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.13% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Apr
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandisResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Apr
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorCommon40–47 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.71% in Apr
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Apr
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorCommon38–44 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.51% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.49% in Apr
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.46% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaResidentCommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.27% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.26% in Apr
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.24% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.20% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.16% in Apr
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Apr
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.16% in Apr
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.14% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Apr
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.13% in Apr
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.11% in Apr
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Apr
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.08% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.08% in Apr
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Apr
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Apr
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSummer visitorUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.06% in Apr
WryneckJynx torquillaResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusSummer visitorUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.05% in Apr
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.04% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.04% in Apr
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPassage migrantUncommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataWinter visitorUncommon50–60 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Apr
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Apr
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Apr
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Apr
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorRare18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Apr
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaWinter visitorRare58–77 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.02% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorRare10–11 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Apr
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentRare24–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaWinter visitorUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaResidentRare33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.02% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisWinter visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Apr
HoopoeUpupa epopsPassage migrantRare25–32 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorRare78–90 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorSummer visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Apr
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorRare42–45 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentRare69–81 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaPassage migrantRare58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Long-eared OwlAsio otusResidentRare35–40 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaSummer visitorRare34–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–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