Birds to See in Northern Ireland in April
138 bird species on our list for Northern Ireland are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Common Starling and Eurasian Wren. New this month: Barn Swallow, House Martin, Willow Warbler and Common Swift and 13 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Northern Ireland’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 138 birds in April
138 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.43% in Apr
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.23% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Apr
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Apr
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Apr
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Apr
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.33% in Apr
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Apr
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.78% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.46% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Apr
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.13% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.85% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Apr
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Apr
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.69% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.58% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.55% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Apr
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.47% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Apr
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Apr
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.35% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.33% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in Apr
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.31% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.30% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.28% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.23% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.20% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.17% in Apr
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Apr
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.16% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.13% in Apr
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Apr
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.10% in Apr
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.10% in Apr
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Apr
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.09% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Apr
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jan–Aug · 0.09% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneWinter visitorUncommon45–47 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.06% in Apr
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraWinter visitorUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.06% in Apr
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in Apr
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.05% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Apr
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisSummer visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.05% in Apr
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.05% in Apr
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · records held back in Apr (protected)
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentRare29–31 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.03% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Dec–Aug · records held back in Apr (protected)
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% 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