Birds to See in Massachusetts in April
133 bird species on our list for Massachusetts are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird and Blue Jay. New this month: Northern Yellow Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Barn Swallow and Rose-breasted Grosbeak and 19 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Massachusetts’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 133 birds in April
133 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.18% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.61% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.59% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.94% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.85% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.47% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.94% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.93% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.85% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.75% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.51% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.48% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.34% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.34% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.21% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.17% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.11% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.09% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.03% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Apr
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantRare20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Apr
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.00% in Apr
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 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