Birds to See in North Dakota in April
120 bird species on our list for North Dakota are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Canada Goose, American Robin, Mallard, Common Grackle and Red-winged Blackbird. New this month: Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler and 47 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From North Dakota’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 120 birds in April
120 birds
Canada GooseBranta canadensisWinter visitorCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 4.01% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.87% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 3.04% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 2.46% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.01% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosWinter visitorCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.79% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.77% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.65% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.44% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.33% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.09% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataWinter visitorCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.91% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.90% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusSummer visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.88% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.83% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataPassage migrantCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.82% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoWinter visitorCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.74% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.71% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.68% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.68% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.62% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.57% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.56% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.56% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.53% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.52% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.50% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantCommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.50% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.47% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.43% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesSummer visitorCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.36% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorCommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.35% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.34% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisWinter visitorCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.33% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.33% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.31% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.28% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusPassage migrantCommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.22% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorCommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.18% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.18% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusPassage migrantUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.15% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorSummer visitorUncommon139–157 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.13% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Apr
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.11% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.09% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Apr
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaSummer visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorCommon66–102 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.03% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.02% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaWinter visitorUncommon43–50 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Apr
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusResidentUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.01% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesSummer visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRegularly Mar–May · 0.00% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 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