60 birds were recorded seen in California in April in our iNaturalist sample; 36 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in April
Mallard
House Finch
Anna's Hummingbird
Canada Goose
California Towhee
Mourning Dove
Red-tailed Hawk
California Scrub-Jay
Lesser Goldfinch
Western Bluebird
Black Phoebe
Dark-eyed Junco
All birds seen in California in April
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 12,763 | Apr (peak) |
| 2 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 12,136 | Apr (peak) |
| 3 | Anna's Hummingbird | Calypte anna | Hummingbirds | 10,537 | Apr (peak) |
| 4 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 9,549 | Apr (peak) |
| 5 | California Towhee | Melozone crissalis | New World Sparrows | 8,791 | Apr (peak) |
| 6 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 8,565 | Apr (peak) |
| 7 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 8,360 | Jan (past peak) |
| 8 | California Scrub-Jay | Aphelocoma californica | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 8,104 | Apr (peak) |
| 9 | Lesser Goldfinch | Spinus psaltria | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 7,751 | Apr (peak) |
| 10 | Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | Thrushes | 7,725 | Apr (peak) |
| 11 | Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | Tyrant Flycatchers | 7,427 | Apr (peak) |
| 12 | Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | New World Sparrows | 7,133 | Apr (peak) |
| 13 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 7,040 | Apr (peak) |
| 14 | Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 6,471 | Apr (peak) |
| 15 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 5,938 | Jan (past peak) |
| 16 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 5,890 | Apr (peak) |
| 17 | Western Gull | Larus occidentalis | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 5,871 | Aug (rising) |
| 18 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 5,651 | Apr (peak) |
| 19 | Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 5,577 | Jan (past peak) |
| 20 | White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | New World Sparrows | 5,315 | Jan (past peak) |
| 21 | American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 5,224 | Apr (peak) |
| 22 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 5,222 | Apr (peak) |
| 23 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 5,207 | Apr (peak) |
| 24 | Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus | Woodpeckers | 4,945 | Apr (peak) |
| 25 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 4,893 | Apr (peak) |
| 26 | Common Raven | Corvus corax | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 4,875 | Apr (peak) |
| 27 | California Quail | Callipepla californica | New World Quails | 4,744 | Apr (peak) |
| 28 | Hooded Oriole | Icterus cucullatus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 4,449 | Apr (peak) |
| 29 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 4,382 | Apr (peak) |
| 30 | Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | New World Sparrows | 4,307 | May (rising) |
| 31 | American Coot | Fulica americana | Rails, Gallinules, and Coots | 4,027 | Jan (past peak) |
| 32 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 3,971 | Jan (past peak) |
| 33 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 3,970 | Jan (past peak) |
| 34 | Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits | 3,648 | Apr (peak) |
| 35 | Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | Cardinals and Allies | 3,591 | Apr (peak) |
| 36 | Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | Pelicans | 3,278 | Sep (rising) |
| 37 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 3,277 | Apr (peak) |
| 38 | Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 3,171 | Apr (peak) |
| 39 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 3,121 | Apr (peak) |
| 40 | Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | Typical Owls | 3,098 | Apr (peak) |
| 41 | Golden-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia atricapilla | New World Sparrows | 2,990 | Jan (past peak) |
| 42 | Allen's Hummingbird | Selasphorus sasin | Hummingbirds | 2,951 | Apr (peak) |
| 43 | Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | Tyrant Flycatchers | 2,942 | Apr (peak) |
| 44 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 2,909 | Jan (past peak) |
| 45 | Hudsonian Whimbrel | Numenius hudsonicus | Sandpipers and Allies | 2,898 | Apr (peak) |
| 46 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 2,806 | Apr (peak) |
| 47 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 2,755 | Jul (rising) |
| 48 | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | Tyrant Flycatchers | 2,696 | May (rising) |
| 49 | Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 2,672 | Apr (peak) |
| 50 | Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | Swallows and Martins | 2,570 | Apr (peak) |