60 birds were recorded seen in North Carolina 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
Northern Cardinal
American Robin
Canada Goose
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Carolina Wren
Chipping Sparrow
Mourning Dove
House Finch
Eastern Towhee
All birds seen in North Carolina in April
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 2,671 | Apr (peak) |
| 2 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 2,355 | Apr (peak) |
| 3 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,888 | Apr (peak) |
| 4 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 1,486 | Apr (peak) |
| 5 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 1,248 | Apr (peak) |
| 6 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 1,225 | Apr (peak) |
| 7 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 1,220 | Apr (peak) |
| 8 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 1,083 | Apr (peak) |
| 9 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 1,035 | Apr (peak) |
| 10 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 1,008 | Apr (peak) |
| 11 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 995 | Apr (peak) |
| 12 | Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | New World Sparrows | 922 | Apr (peak) |
| 13 | Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 881 | Apr (peak) |
| 14 | Carolina Chickadee | Poecile carolinensis | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 875 | Apr (peak) |
| 15 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 780 | Jan (past peak) |
| 16 | White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | New World Sparrows | 758 | Jan (past peak) |
| 17 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 721 | Jan (past peak) |
| 18 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 701 | Apr (peak) |
| 19 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 684 | Apr (peak) |
| 20 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 619 | Jul (rising) |
| 21 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 604 | Jan (past peak) |
| 22 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 597 | Apr (peak) |
| 23 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 570 | Apr (peak) |
| 24 | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens | 550 | Apr (peak) |
| 25 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 529 | Apr (peak) |
| 26 | Barred Owl | Strix varia | Typical Owls | 524 | Apr (peak) |
| 27 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 506 | Apr (peak) |
| 28 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | New World Warblers | 506 | Jan (past peak) |
| 29 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 492 | Jan (past peak) |
| 30 | Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Ospreys | 480 | Apr (peak) |
| 31 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 462 | Mar (past peak) |
| 32 | Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers | 450 | Aug (rising) |
| 33 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 424 | Apr (peak) |
| 34 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Hummingbirds | 420 | Aug (rising) |
| 35 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 416 | Jan (past peak) |
| 36 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 415 | Apr (peak) |
| 37 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 409 | Apr (peak) |
| 38 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 395 | Apr (peak) |
| 39 | American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 373 | Apr (peak) |
| 40 | Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Woodpeckers | 366 | Apr (peak) |
| 41 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 342 | Apr (peak) |
| 42 | Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | New World Warblers | 337 | Apr (peak) |
| 43 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Cardinals and Allies | 310 | Apr (peak) |
| 44 | Brown-headed Nuthatch | Sitta pusilla | Nuthatches | 305 | Apr (peak) |
| 45 | Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | New World Warblers | 303 | Apr (peak) |
| 46 | White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus | Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis | 294 | Apr (peak) |
| 47 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 292 | Aug (rising) |
| 48 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 288 | Jul (rising) |
| 49 | Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | New World Vultures | 287 | Apr (peak) |
| 50 | Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Cardinals and Allies | 286 | May (rising) |