60 birds were recorded seen in Michigan in April in our iNaturalist sample; 33 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top birds in April
Canada Goose
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Mallard
Northern Cardinal
Wild Turkey
Common Grackle
Sandhill Crane
Mourning Dove
Black-capped Chickadee
Downy Woodpecker
Song Sparrow
All birds seen in Michigan in April
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,793 | Apr (peak) |
| 2 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 1,793 | Apr (peak) |
| 3 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,619 | Apr (peak) |
| 4 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,463 | Apr (peak) |
| 5 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 908 | Apr (peak) |
| 6 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 773 | Apr (peak) |
| 7 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 648 | Apr (peak) |
| 8 | Sandhill Crane | Antigone canadensis | Cranes | 639 | May (rising) |
| 9 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 571 | Apr (peak) |
| 10 | Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 566 | Apr (peak) |
| 11 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 566 | Apr (peak) |
| 12 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 539 | May (rising) |
| 13 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 494 | Aug (rising) |
| 14 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 490 | Apr (peak) |
| 15 | Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 483 | Apr (peak) |
| 16 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 474 | Apr (peak) |
| 17 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 471 | May (rising) |
| 18 | Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | Woodpeckers | 456 | Apr (peak) |
| 19 | White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | New World Sparrows | 444 | Apr (peak) |
| 20 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 442 | Apr (peak) |
| 21 | Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 440 | May (rising) |
| 22 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 432 | May (rising) |
| 23 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 427 | Apr (peak) |
| 24 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 421 | May (rising) |
| 25 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | New World Warblers | 411 | Apr (peak) |
| 26 | Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | New World Sparrows | 407 | Jan (past peak) |
| 27 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 398 | Aug (rising) |
| 28 | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 391 | Apr (peak) |
| 29 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 387 | May (rising) |
| 30 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 385 | May (rising) |
| 31 | Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Woodpeckers | 367 | May (rising) |
| 32 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 344 | May (rising) |
| 33 | White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | Nuthatches | 342 | Apr (peak) |
| 34 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 341 | Apr (peak) |
| 35 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 329 | Apr (peak) |
| 36 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 314 | Apr (peak) |
| 37 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 307 | Apr (peak) |
| 38 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 301 | May (rising) |
| 39 | Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 294 | Apr (peak) |
| 40 | Blue-winged Teal | Spatula discors | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 291 | Apr (peak) |
| 41 | Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Corthylio calendula | Kinglets | 286 | Apr (peak) |
| 42 | Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 252 | Jun (rising) |
| 43 | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | Woodpeckers | 250 | Apr (peak) |
| 44 | Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 247 | Jul (rising) |
| 45 | Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | Treecreepers | 243 | Apr (peak) |
| 46 | Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 240 | Apr (peak) |
| 47 | Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | Thrushes | 233 | Apr (peak) |
| 48 | Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | Kinglets | 233 | Apr (peak) |
| 49 | American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 218 | Apr (peak) |
| 50 | Common Loon | Gavia immer | Loons | 213 | Jun (rising) |