Birds to See in Kentucky in April
129 bird species on our list for Kentucky are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse and Mourning Dove. New this month: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Barn Swallow, Common Yellowthroat and Great Crested Flycatcher and 44 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
Chipping SparrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Lesser YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Greater YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Broad-winged HawkBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Fish CrowBusiest month of the year · All year
Long-billed DowitcherBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
From Kentucky’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 129 birds in April
129 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.86% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.83% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Apr- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.23% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.83% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.66% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.42% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.41% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.34% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.31% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.30% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.29% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.28% in Apr- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.28% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Apr- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.24% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.22% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in Apr
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.20% in Apr- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Apr
- Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.16% in Apr
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.14% in Apr
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.08% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.07% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.06% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Apr- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Apr
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaPassage migrantCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriWinter visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Apr
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorRare54–67 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 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