Birds to See in Maryland in April
141 bird species on our list for Maryland are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay and Red-bellied Woodpecker. New this month: Gray Catbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Barn Swallow and Great Crested Flycatcher and 32 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Maryland’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 141 birds in April
141 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.97% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.38% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.24% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.03% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.96% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.72% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.60% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.57% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.43% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.41% in Apr
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.32% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.25% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter visitorUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.24% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.21% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.17% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · 0.11% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Apr
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.09% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.06% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.04% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Apr
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Apr
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 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