Birds to See in Wisconsin in April
144 bird species on our list for Wisconsin are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal and Mallard. New this month: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Barn Swallow, Northern Yellow Warbler and Chipping Sparrow and 50 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
Common GrackleBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Turkey VultureBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Wood DuckBusiest month of the year · Jan
Pied-billed GrebeBusiest month of the year · Mar–Nov
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
From Wisconsin’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 144 birds in April
144 birds
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 4.16% in Apr
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 3.91% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Apr
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.93% in Apr
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Apr
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Apr
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Apr- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.25% in Apr
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Apr
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Apr
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Apr
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.86% in Apr
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Apr
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Apr
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Apr
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.29% in Apr- Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.29% in Apr
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Apr- Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.21% in Apr
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Apr
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.02% in Apr
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Apr- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.81% in Apr
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.80% in Apr
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.78% in Apr
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.63% in Apr
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.57% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.57% in Apr
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.55% in Apr
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.54% in Apr
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.53% in Apr
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.50% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.48% in Apr
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.45% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.44% in Apr
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.43% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.34% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Apr
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.33% in Apr
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Apr
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.27% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.24% in Apr
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Apr
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.19% in Apr
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.16% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Apr
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentUncommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Apr
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Apr
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Apr
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.11% in Apr
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorUncommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.11% in Apr
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorCommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Apr
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorCommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Apr
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorCommon11–12 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Apr
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
WilletTringa semipalmataSummer visitorRare33–41 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Apr
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.02% in Apr
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Apr
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraPassage migrantRare36–43 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.02% in Apr
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Apr
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantRare20–32 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.01% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Apr
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Apr
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantRare42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Apr · 0.01% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Apr
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosSummer visitorRare21–26 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Apr
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaSummer visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Apr
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.00% in Apr
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaResidentRare17–20 cmRegularly Apr–May · 0.00% in Apr
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusPassage migrantRare28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Great TitParus majorWinter visitorRareRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusWinter visitorRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Apr
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Apr
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusPassage migrantRare140–165 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Apr
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 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