Birds to See in Alabama in April
148 bird species on our list for Alabama are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Great Crested Flycatcher, American Redstart, Tennessee Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak and 34 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Prothonotary WarblerBusiest month of the year · Mar–Sep
Broad-winged HawkBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Solitary SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Northern WaterthrushBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
OvenbirdBusiest month of the year · Apr–Jun
From Alabama’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 148 birds in April
148 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Apr
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.41% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.38% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.10% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Apr
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.96% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.71% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.69% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.67% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.64% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.63% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.58% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.34% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.27% in Apr
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.27% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.24% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.24% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.22% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Apr- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Apr
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.17% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.16% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Apr
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.14% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.12% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Apr
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.10% in Apr
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Apr
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Apr
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorRare48–66 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Apr
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorRare64–79 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Apr
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 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