Birds to See in South Dakota in April
133 bird species on our list for South Dakota are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, Mallard and Common Grackle. New this month: Barn Swallow, Turkey Vulture, Chipping Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler and 53 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From South 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 133 birds in April
133 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.80% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.77% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.73% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.42% in Apr
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 3.31% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorCommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 2.45% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.43% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraSummer visitorCommon23–34 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 2.12% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.46% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Apr
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.22% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaSummer visitorCommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Apr
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.90% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantCommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.89% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.76% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.70% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorCommon32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.67% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.66% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisSummer visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.62% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.47% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorCommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.40% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorCommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.36% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisPassage migrantUncommon80–122 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.31% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.30% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.29% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.27% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantCommon28–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.27% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.26% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorCommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.25% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorUncommon33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.24% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.23% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.22% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantCommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.20% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorCommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantCommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Apr
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Apr
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Apr
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.13% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorCommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.09% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.09% in Apr
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.08% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.08% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorCommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusSummer visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaSummer visitorUncommon19–25 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.05% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorCommon28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.04% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraSummer visitorRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.03% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in Apr
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentRare64–79 cmRegularly Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantRare23–32 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorRare31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaSummer visitorRare43–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 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