Birds to See in South Carolina in April
133 bird species on our list for South Carolina are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Blue Jay. New this month: Great Crested Flycatcher, American Redstart, Northern Yellow Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler and 16 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From South 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 133 birds in April
133 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.93% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.44% in Apr
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.44% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Apr
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Apr
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.91% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.79% in Apr
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.71% in Apr
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Apr
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Apr
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.59% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.47% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.45% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.31% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.26% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.24% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.20% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.17% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in Apr
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusPassage migrantUncommon18–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Apr
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.13% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorUncommon33–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.08% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Apr
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisPassage migrantUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
VeeryCatharus fuscescensPassage migrantUncommon16–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusSummer visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaPassage migrantRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Apr
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · records held back in Apr (protected)
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboPassage migrantRare80–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 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