Birds to See in Delaware in April
122 bird species on our list for Delaware are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, Turkey Vulture and Mourning Dove. New this month: Barn Swallow, Common Yellowthroat, Purple Martin and Great Crested Flycatcher and 27 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Delaware’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 122 birds in April
122 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.76% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.77% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.73% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.00% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.97% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorCommon33–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.97% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.78% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.75% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.67% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Apr
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.52% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.49% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.43% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.36% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentCommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.33% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.31% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.31% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoSummer visitorUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorCommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Apr
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorCommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Apr
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.24% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in Apr
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.17% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.16% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.15% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.14% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.14% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.06% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.06% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.01% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · records held back in Apr (protected)
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 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