Birds to See in Minnesota in April
135 bird species on our list for Minnesota are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird and American Crow. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Barn Swallow, Chipping Sparrow and Ruby-crowned Kinglet and 50 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Minnesota’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 · 4.14% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.79% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.74% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 3.69% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.02% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.51% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.12% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.88% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.55% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.44% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.11% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.05% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.05% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.02% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.92% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.81% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.69% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.67% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.64% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.62% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.57% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.47% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.45% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.41% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.41% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.38% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.37% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.33% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.31% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.18% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.18% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorCommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.17% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.15% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.11% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantRare42–51 cmRegularly Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorUncommon140–160 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorUncommon66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorRare17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosPassage migrantRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.00% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 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