Birds to See in Michigan in April
144 bird species on our list for Michigan are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal and Song Sparrow. New this month: Baltimore Oriole, Northern Yellow Warbler, Gray Catbird and Yellow-rumped Warbler and 43 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Michigan’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 144 birds in April
144 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.22% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 3.92% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.28% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.84% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.48% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.78% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.98% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.93% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.85% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.56% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.51% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.41% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.37% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.31% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.28% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.26% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.24% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.23% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.11% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.10% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.08% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentRare21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraPassage migrantRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorRare16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantRare42–51 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.01% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorRare36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorRare25–30 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Aug–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