60 birds were recorded seen in Virginia in April in our iNaturalist sample; 40 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
Mallard
Eastern Bluebird
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Mockingbird
Great Blue Heron
White-throated Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Osprey
Chipping Sparrow
All birds seen in Virginia in April
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Cardinals and Allies | 3,204 | Apr (peak) |
| 2 | American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Thrushes | 3,162 | Apr (peak) |
| 3 | Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 2,542 | Apr (peak) |
| 4 | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 2,213 | Apr (peak) |
| 5 | Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | Thrushes | 1,640 | Apr (peak) |
| 6 | Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 1,509 | Apr (peak) |
| 7 | Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 1,473 | Apr (peak) |
| 8 | Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 1,444 | Apr (peak) |
| 9 | White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | New World Sparrows | 1,359 | Apr (peak) |
| 10 | Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Pigeons and Doves | 1,320 | Apr (peak) |
| 11 | Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Ospreys | 1,263 | Apr (peak) |
| 12 | Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | New World Sparrows | 1,151 | Apr (peak) |
| 13 | Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | Wrens | 1,133 | Apr (peak) |
| 14 | Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 1,126 | Apr (peak) |
| 15 | European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Starlings | 1,102 | Apr (peak) |
| 16 | American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 1,067 | Apr (peak) |
| 17 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Old World Sparrows | 1,035 | Apr (peak) |
| 18 | House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Finches, Euphonias, and Allies | 965 | Apr (peak) |
| 19 | Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 935 | May (rising) |
| 20 | Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Swallows and Martins | 924 | Apr (peak) |
| 21 | Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 910 | Apr (peak) |
| 22 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 903 | Apr (peak) |
| 23 | Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | New World Blackbirds and Orioles | 865 | Apr (peak) |
| 24 | Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 805 | Apr (peak) |
| 25 | Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | New World Vultures | 803 | Apr (peak) |
| 26 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Woodpeckers | 797 | Apr (peak) |
| 27 | Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | New World Sparrows | 793 | Apr (peak) |
| 28 | Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | Cormorants and Shags | 744 | Apr (peak) |
| 29 | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens | 743 | Apr (peak) |
| 30 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | New World Warblers | 733 | Apr (peak) |
| 31 | Carolina Chickadee | Poecile carolinensis | Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice | 712 | Apr (peak) |
| 32 | Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | New World Sparrows | 706 | Mar (past peak) |
| 33 | Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | Woodpeckers | 686 | Jan (past peak) |
| 34 | Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Woodpeckers | 656 | Apr (peak) |
| 35 | Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Tyrant Flycatchers | 643 | Apr (peak) |
| 36 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites | 626 | Jan (past peak) |
| 37 | Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Mockingbirds and Thrashers | 579 | May (rising) |
| 38 | Barred Owl | Strix varia | Typical Owls | 553 | Apr (peak) |
| 39 | Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | New World Vultures | 472 | Apr (peak) |
| 40 | Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 463 | Aug (rising) |
| 41 | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Ducks, Geese, and Swans | 460 | Apr (peak) |
| 42 | Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | Woodpeckers | 453 | Apr (peak) |
| 43 | Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies | 442 | Apr (peak) |
| 44 | White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | Nuthatches | 441 | Apr (peak) |
| 45 | Great Egret | Ardea alba | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns | 379 | Aug (rising) |
| 46 | Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | New World Warblers | 375 | May (rising) |
| 47 | American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | Crows, Jays, and Magpies | 356 | Apr (peak) |
| 48 | Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | Thrushes | 356 | Jan (past peak) |
| 49 | Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Swallows and Martins | 347 | May (rising) |
| 50 | Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Plovers and Lapwings | 320 | Apr (peak) |