Birds to See in Missouri in April
153 bird species on our list for Missouri are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay and Mourning Dove. New this month: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Catbird and Great White Egret and 55 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
Chipping SparrowBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Fish CrowBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Lesser YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Greater YellowlegsBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Long-billed DowitcherBusiest month of the year · Mar–May
From Missouri’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 153 birds in April
153 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.82% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Apr- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.32% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.30% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.97% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.91% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr- Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.80% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.57% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.52% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.49% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.49% in Apr- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.48% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.47% in Apr- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.45% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.40% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.34% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.33% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.32% in Apr
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Apr- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Apr
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantCommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.20% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.17% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Apr
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.13% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in Apr
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Apr
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.09% in Apr
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.07% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.06% in Apr
DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Apr
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorPassage migrantUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.05% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusPassage migrantUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataPassage migrantRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.03% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanPassage migrantUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusPassage migrantRare58–85 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaWinter visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaPassage migrantRare20–27 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraPassage migrantRare36–43 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.02% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentRare27–30 cmRecorded all year · 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
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorUncommon20–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentRare52–54 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaResidentRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 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