Birds to See in Montana in April
118 bird species on our list for Montana are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird and Common Starling. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, Barn Swallow and Osprey and 28 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
American RobinBusiest month of the year · All year
Red-winged BlackbirdBusiest month of the year · All year
Western MeadowlarkBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Mar–Dec
Sandhill CraneBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Eurasian TealBusiest month of the year · All year
From Montana’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 118 birds in April
118 birds
- American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.27% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.63% in Apr- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.59% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.02% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Apr- Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.07% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Apr- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.58% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Apr- Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.40% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Apr- Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.08% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.94% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.85% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorCommon36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.71% in Apr
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.67% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.55% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.55% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.54% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.45% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoWinter visitorCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.41% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Apr
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorCommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.36% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.36% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.34% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.31% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.20% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.19% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorCommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Apr
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.17% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.16% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.16% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.15% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusResidentUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorCommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusSummer visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.04% in Apr
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusSummer visitorUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaSummer visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiSummer visitorRare19–25 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
ChukarAlectoris chukarWinter visitorRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentRare40–46 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.00% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioSummer visitorRare16–25 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.00% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusPassage migrantRare140–165 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentRare19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Boreal OwlAegolius funereusSummer visitorRare21–28 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