WhenToBird

Turdus migratorius · Turdidae

When Do American Robins Arrive in Michigan?

Adult male American Robin
Photo: northerly, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American Robins are in Michigan all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of March, peak in early May (74% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of August. In the quietest week (early January) they are still on about 12% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 8-14the second week of March
PeakMay 1-7early May
Fall back byAug 8-14the second week of August
FewestJan 1-7early January

Best: early May. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of March and fall back by the second week of August. Peak: on about 74% of Michigan checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

0%20%40%60%80%Jan 1-7: 10% of 38160 checklistsJan 8-14: 12% of 24696 checklistsJan 15-21: 13% of 23771 checklistsJan 22-31: 15% of 31347 checklistsFeb 1-7: 17% of 23225 checklistsFeb 8-14: 17% of 27398 checklistsFeb 15-21: 17% of 36606 checklistsFeb 22-28: 25% of 27127 checklistsMar 1-7: 33% of 29700 checklistsMar 8-14: 44% of 31587 checklistsMar 15-21: 56% of 32118 checklistsMar 22-31: 63% of 47777 checklistsApr 1-7: 69% of 38557 checklistsApr 8-14: 72% of 42207 checklistsApr 15-21: 71% of 42759 checklistsApr 22-30: 74% of 64458 checklistsMay 1-7: 75% of 60998 checklistsMay 8-14: 75% of 72091 checklistsMay 15-21: 72% of 59058 checklistsMay 22-31: 71% of 64724 checklistsJun 1-7: 71% of 35990 checklistsJun 8-14: 71% of 32595 checklistsJun 15-21: 71% of 30017 checklistsJun 22-30: 71% of 33988 checklistsJul 1-7: 70% of 28708 checklistsJul 8-14: 68% of 25175 checklistsJul 15-21: 64% of 24084 checklistsJul 22-31: 59% of 33522 checklistsAug 1-7: 52% of 25098 checklistsAug 8-14: 44% of 24353 checklistsAug 15-21: 37% of 25059 checklistsAug 22-31: 35% of 37489 checklistsSep 1-7: 35% of 28410 checklistsSep 8-14: 37% of 27887 checklistsSep 15-21: 40% of 26614 checklistsSep 22-30: 42% of 32557 checklistsOct 1-7: 44% of 25844 checklistsOct 8-14: 42% of 27741 checklistsOct 15-21: 42% of 24693 checklistsOct 22-31: 39% of 32460 checklistsNov 1-7: 32% of 23660 checklistsNov 8-14: 24% of 21542 checklistsNov 15-21: 17% of 19922 checklistsNov 22-30: 13% of 25069 checklistsDec 1-7: 12% of 18272 checklistsDec 8-14: 12% of 18961 checklistsDec 15-21: 14% of 24171 checklistsDec 22-31: 13% of 30908 checklistsJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Michigan that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
Second week of November

Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.

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Where in Michigan

Best counties

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Genesee CountyBest mid June · 552 checklists that week, 29,698 in all88%
  2. Shiawassee CountyBest late May · 142 checklists that week, 3,113 in all86%
  3. Clinton CountyBest the second week of June · 178 checklists that week, 10,597 in all86%
  4. Ionia CountyBest the second week of May · 237 checklists that week, 5,509 in all86%
  5. Macomb CountyBest early May · 2541 checklists that week, 61,232 in all85%
  6. Eaton CountyBest the second week of May · 608 checklists that week, 14,101 in all85%

Best spots

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Kilburn ParkWashtenaw County, best the second week of May · 26 checklists that week, 463 in all100%
  2. Sunfish LakeKent County, best late April · 24 checklists that week, 405 in all100%
  3. Stage Coach ParkBarry County, best mid July · 21 checklists that week, 1,301 in all100%
  4. Plaster Creek TrailKent County, best late March · 21 checklists that week, 1,094 in all100%
  5. Algonac State ParkSt. Clair County, best late June · 34 checklists that week, 1,486 in all100%

Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.

Best time of day

In Michigan, the American Robin is most often listed on checklists started between 6 and 8 am (66% of those checklists).

0%20%40%60%80%12 am: too few checklists (712) to judge1 am: too few checklists (592) to judge2 am: too few checklists (532) to judge3 am: too few checklists (516) to judge4 am: too few checklists (1592) to judge5 am: too few checklists (6849) to judge6 am: 74% of 39298 checklists7 am: 63% of 120344 checklists8 am: 55% of 180109 checklists9 am: 52% of 171966 checklists10 am: 46% of 156332 checklists11 am: 42% of 134964 checklists12 pm: 40% of 120967 checklists1 pm: 39% of 113852 checklists2 pm: 39% of 110773 checklists3 pm: 39% of 105530 checklists4 pm: 41% of 100958 checklists5 pm: 50% of 80085 checklists6 pm: 58% of 62883 checklists7 pm: 61% of 44912 checklists8 pm: too few checklists (21062) to judge9 pm: too few checklists (5920) to judge10 pm: too few checklists (1629) to judge11 pm: too few checklists (775) to judge12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.
Week-by-week table
MonthDays 1-78-1415-2122-end
January10%12%13%15%
February17%17%17%25%
March33%44%56%63%
April69%72%71%74%
May75%75%72%71%
June71%71%71%71%
July70%68%64%59%
August52%44%37%35%
September35%37%40%42%
October44%42%42%39%
November32%24%17%13%
December12%12%14%13%

Neighboring states

  • Ohio: arrives the second week of March, in the same week than Michigan
  • Indiana: arrives the second week of March, in the same week than Michigan
  • Illinois: arrives the second week of March, in the same week than Michigan
  • Wisconsin: arrives the second week of March, in the same week than Michigan

Common questions

When do American Robins arrive in Michigan?
American Robins are in Michigan all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of March, peak in early May (74% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of August. In the quietest week (early January) they are still on about 12% of checklists.
When do American Robins leave Michigan?
American Robins never fully leave Michigan: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of August, but some are still reported in every week, about 12% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see a American Robin in Michigan?
The American Robin is reported most often in early May, on about 74% of Michigan checklists.
Where in Michigan are American Robins seen most often?
By county, Genesee County, Shiawassee County, and Clinton County have the highest peak reporting rates for the American Robin (counties with at least 200 checklists).