Birds to See in West Sussex in April
170 bird species on our list for West Sussex are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, European Robin and Blue Tit. New this month: Barn Swallow, Common Swift, Whitethroat and House Martin and 29 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From West Sussex’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 170 birds in April
170 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Apr
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Apr
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.42% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Apr
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.27% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Apr
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Apr
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.90% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Apr
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Apr
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Apr
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.34% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Apr
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Apr
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Apr
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.96% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Apr
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Apr
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Apr
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.61% in Apr
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.55% in Apr
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.51% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.49% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.39% in Apr
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.36% in Apr
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Apr
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantCommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.34% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentUncommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.27% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in Apr
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.24% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusWinter visitorCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.15% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.13% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Apr
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaSummer visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.12% in Apr
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Apr
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.12% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPassage migrantCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisWinter visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · 0.10% in Apr
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Apr
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantCommon21–24 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.07% in Apr
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.06% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · 0.05% in Apr
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in Apr
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Apr
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorUncommon50–71 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.03% in Apr
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantRare33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in Apr
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaPassage migrantUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Black SwanCygnus atratusWinter visitorUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorRare80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
European ShagGulosus aristotelisWinter visitorUncommon65–80 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiScarceRare53–76 cmRegularly Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRegularly Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorWinter visitorRare14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Apr
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorRare58–70 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Apr
Little OwlAthene noctuaSummer visitorUncommon21–23 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% 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