Birds to See in South Africa in April
98 bird species on our list for South Africa are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Egyptian Goose, Cape Sparrow, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow and Southern Masked Weaver. New this month: Grey Wagtail.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprAt their peak
From South Africa’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 98 birds in April
98 birds
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
Cape SparrowPasser melanurusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Apr
Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilisResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Apr
Pied CrowCorvus albusResidentCommon46–52 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Apr
Southern Masked WeaverPloceus velatusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Apr
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentCommon53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Apr
Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitensResidentCommon25–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.53% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentUncommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Apr
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensisResidentUncommon75–115 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Magpie ShrikeUrolestes melanoleucusResidentUncommon35–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
Common OstrichStruthio camelusResidentUncommon210–275 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinicaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Apr
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentUncommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
African JacanaActophilornis africanusResidentUncommon23–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoResidentUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicusResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
African PenguinSpheniscus demersusResidentUncommon60–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorusResidentUncommon44–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
SecretarybirdSagittarius serpentariusResidentUncommon112–150 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Apr
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Crowned EagleStephanoaetus coronatusResidentRare80–99 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Apr
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
White-chinned PetrelProcellaria aequinoctialisResidentUncommon50–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Pale-winged StarlingOnychognathus nabouroupResidentRare25–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorRare37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentRare50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentRare14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Apr
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusResidentRare33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentRare50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
African Pygmy-falconPolihierax semitorquatusResidentRare19–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusPassage migrantRare12–13 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisResidentRare43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusResidentUncommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorRare18–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorRare14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorRare24–28 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
White-bellied BustardEupodotis senegalensisResidentRare48–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Damara TernSternula balaenarumSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaPassage migrantRare17–20 cmRegularly Apr · 0.00% in Apr
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorRare32–34 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Nov–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