Birds to See in West Yorkshire in April
145 bird species on our list for West Yorkshire are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow and European Robin. New this month: Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, House Martin and Common Tern and 23 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From West Yorkshire’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 145 birds in April
145 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.88% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Apr
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 3.22% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in Apr
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Apr
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Apr
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.34% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.29% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Apr
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 1.42% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.42% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Apr
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Apr
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.23% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.00% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Apr
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorCommon40–45 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.92% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.91% in Apr
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Apr
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Apr
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Apr
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Apr
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Apr
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Apr
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.39% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.38% in Apr
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.32% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.29% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.29% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in Apr
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in Apr (protected)
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorCommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.19% in Apr
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.12% in Apr
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Apr
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaSummer visitorUncommon42–45 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.11% in Apr
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Apr
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.09% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Apr
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.07% in Apr
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.06% in Apr
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriWinter visitorUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.06% in Apr
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraSummer visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.05% in Apr
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.05% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.05% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.05% in Apr
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantRare33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.05% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.05% in Apr
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantRare23–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.03% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentRare37–41 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in Apr
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisResidentRare52–68 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantRare24–33 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Apr
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentRare37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusScarceRare10–11 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · records held back in Apr (protected)
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