Birds to See in Iowa in April
135 bird species on our list for Iowa are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal and Turkey Vulture. New this month: Gray Catbird, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak and 50 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Wood DuckBusiest month of the year · Feb–Nov
Greater YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Vesper SparrowBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Long-billed DowitcherBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
American AvocetBusiest month of the year · Apr–Nov
From Iowa’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 135 birds in April
135 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.08% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.70% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.46% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.32% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.42% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.83% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Apr- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.53% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Apr- Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.28% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.16% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 1.06% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.03% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.96% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.93% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.79% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.75% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.74% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.74% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Apr- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.55% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.44% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.41% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.37% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.34% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.33% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.31% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.29% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerPassage migrantCommon66–91 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.21% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorPassage migrantUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantCommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.18% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Apr- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.15% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentUncommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Apr- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Apr- American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.08% in Apr
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.07% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.06% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentRare36–43 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.02% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxScarceRare20–32 cmRegularly Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in Apr
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusScarceRare20–26 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · records held back in Apr (protected)
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRegularly Apr–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