Birds to See in District of Columbia in April
98 bird species on our list for District of Columbia are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Common Starling, Blue Jay and House Sparrow. New this month: Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, Barn Swallow and Great Crested Flycatcher and 26 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From District of Columbia’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 98 birds in April
98 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.23% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.83% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.28% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.52% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.65% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.40% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.20% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.84% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.84% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.72% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.68% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.66% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.57% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Apr
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.34% in Apr
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.26% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.12% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.10% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.06% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.05% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantRare23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorRare46–63 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 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