WhenToBird

Turdus migratorius · Turdidae

When Do American Robins Arrive in Nebraska?

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

American Robins are in Nebraska all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early March, peak in early May (72% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of August. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 17% of checklists.

When to look

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

Best: early May. Here all year; numbers build from early March and fall back by the second week of August. Peak: on about 72% of Nebraska checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

0%20%40%60%80%Jan 1-7: 17% of 4210 checklistsJan 8-14: 17% of 2891 checklistsJan 15-21: 17% of 2685 checklistsJan 22-31: 25% of 3834 checklistsFeb 1-7: 29% of 2803 checklistsFeb 8-14: 32% of 3134 checklistsFeb 15-21: 35% of 4508 checklistsFeb 22-28: 40% of 3238 checklistsMar 1-7: 51% of 3862 checklistsMar 8-14: 58% of 4894 checklistsMar 15-21: 63% of 5862 checklistsMar 22-31: 67% of 8598 checklistsApr 1-7: 69% of 5530 checklistsApr 8-14: 68% of 5528 checklistsApr 15-21: 69% of 6091 checklistsApr 22-30: 71% of 8661 checklistsMay 1-7: 72% of 9842 checklistsMay 8-14: 72% of 10044 checklistsMay 15-21: 70% of 8863 checklistsMay 22-31: 69% of 10207 checklistsJun 1-7: 67% of 4922 checklistsJun 8-14: 66% of 4054 checklistsJun 15-21: 70% of 3680 checklistsJun 22-30: 71% of 4349 checklistsJul 1-7: 72% of 3277 checklistsJul 8-14: 70% of 2803 checklistsJul 15-21: 66% of 2842 checklistsJul 22-31: 61% of 3920 checklistsAug 1-7: 52% of 2981 checklistsAug 8-14: 49% of 2819 checklistsAug 15-21: 41% of 3179 checklistsAug 22-31: 44% of 4599 checklistsSep 1-7: 45% of 3958 checklistsSep 8-14: 46% of 3460 checklistsSep 15-21: 44% of 3435 checklistsSep 22-30: 47% of 4975 checklistsOct 1-7: 52% of 3611 checklistsOct 8-14: 59% of 3605 checklistsOct 15-21: 55% of 3474 checklistsOct 22-31: 49% of 4352 checklistsNov 1-7: 42% of 3119 checklistsNov 8-14: 33% of 2887 checklistsNov 15-21: 36% of 2568 checklistsNov 22-30: 30% of 3506 checklistsDec 1-7: 26% of 2453 checklistsDec 8-14: 27% of 2756 checklistsDec 15-21: 27% of 3760 checklistsDec 22-31: 26% of 3746 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 Nebraska 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.

Embed this map on your site

Where in Nebraska

Best counties

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wayne CountyBest late June · 25 checklists that week, 1,960 in all99%
  2. Gosper CountyBest early July · 15 checklists that week, 483 in all95%
  3. Sherman CountyBest late May · 15 checklists that week, 399 in all92%
  4. Madison CountyBest the second week of July · 14 checklists that week, 1,920 in all92%
  5. Saline CountyBest late June · 16 checklists that week, 724 in all92%
  6. Garfield CountyBest late May · 20 checklists that week, 366 in all91%

Best spots

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Mercer ParkDouglas County, best mid April · 28 checklists that week, 696 in all100%
  2. Two Rivers State Recreation AreaDouglas County, best late March · 20 checklists that week, 436 in all100%
  3. Medelmans LakeMadison County, best mid May · 20 checklists that week, 367 in all100%
  4. Salt LakeLancaster County, best late June · 51 checklists that week, 2,553 in all100%
  5. Cottonmill Lake State Recreation AreaBuffalo County, best late May · 32 checklists that week, 587 in all99%

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

Best time of day

In Nebraska, the American Robin is most often listed on checklists started between 6 and 8 am (69% of those checklists).

0%20%40%60%80%12 am: too few checklists (60) to judge1 am: too few checklists (70) to judge2 am: too few checklists (74) to judge3 am: too few checklists (97) to judge4 am: too few checklists (318) to judge5 am: too few checklists (1382) to judge6 am: 74% of 6945 checklists7 am: 68% of 19066 checklists8 am: 62% of 24661 checklists9 am: 56% of 23438 checklists10 am: 51% of 20424 checklists11 am: 47% of 16727 checklists12 pm: 45% of 14774 checklists1 pm: 43% of 14443 checklists2 pm: 44% of 14830 checklists3 pm: 45% of 14445 checklists4 pm: 50% of 13353 checklists5 pm: 57% of 10506 checklists6 pm: 66% of 9208 checklists7 pm: 66% of 6334 checklists8 pm: too few checklists (2406) to judge9 pm: too few checklists (531) to judge10 pm: too few checklists (201) to judge11 pm: too few checklists (82) 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
January17%17%17%25%
February29%32%35%40%
March51%58%63%67%
April69%68%69%71%
May72%72%70%69%
June67%66%70%71%
July72%70%66%61%
August52%49%41%44%
September45%46%44%47%
October52%59%55%49%
November42%33%36%30%
December26%27%27%26%

Neighboring states

  • Kansas: year-round, peaks mid March
  • South Dakota: year-round, peaks the second week of June
  • Iowa: year-round, peaks late June
  • Missouri: year-round, peaks late March

Common questions

When do American Robins arrive in Nebraska?
American Robins are in Nebraska all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early March, peak in early May (72% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of August. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 17% of checklists.
When do American Robins leave Nebraska?
American Robins never fully leave Nebraska: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of August, but some are still reported in every week, about 17% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see a American Robin in Nebraska?
The American Robin is reported most often in early May, on about 72% of Nebraska checklists.
Where in Nebraska are American Robins seen most often?
By county, Wayne County, Gosper County, and Sherman County have the highest peak reporting rates for the American Robin (counties with at least 200 checklists).