Birds to See in North Carolina in April
156 bird species on our list for North Carolina are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Mourning Dove. New this month: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, American Redstart and Ovenbird and 28 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From North Carolina’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 156 birds in April
156 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.95% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.61% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.09% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.97% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.84% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.74% in Apr
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.66% in Apr
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.64% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.37% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.32% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.30% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.29% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.27% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Apr
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Apr
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.21% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.19% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.10% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.05% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentUncommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Apr
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Apr
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Jan–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.00% in Apr
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaSummer visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 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