When do robins leave California?

American Robins never fully leave California: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid July, but some are still reported in every week, about 10% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see robins in California?

The American Robin is reported most often in the second week of June, on about 26% of California checklists.

American Robin · Turdus migratorius

When Do Robins Arrive in California?

Photo: northerly, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American Robins are in California all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid January, peak in the second week of June (26% of checklists), and fall back by mid July. In the quietest week (early September) they are still on about 10% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildJan 15-21mid January

PeakJun 8-14the second week of June

Fall back byJul 15-21mid July

FewestSep 1-7early September

Best: the second week of June. Here all year; numbers build from mid January and fall back by mid July. Peak: on about 26% of California checklists.

Jancommon
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Robins in California, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Robin	Jan 15-21	Jan 15-21	Jun 8-14	Jul 15-21	26%

American Robin

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in California 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.

Where in California

Best counties for American Robin

Share of checklists at the peak

Nevada CountyBest mid June · 738 checklists that week, 25,896 in all66%
Alpine CountyBest early July · 274 checklists that week, 6,013 in all61%
Sierra CountyBest the second week of July · 283 checklists that week, 8,945 in all59%
San Francisco CountyBest early June · 2357 checklists that week, 130,018 in all57%
Amador CountyBest mid June · 137 checklists that week, 4,733 in all56%
El Dorado CountyBest early July · 649 checklists that week, 25,075 in all55%

Common questions

When do robins arrive in California?: American Robins are in California all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid January, peak in the second week of June (26% of checklists), and fall back by mid July. In the quietest week (early September) they are still on about 10% of checklists.
When do robins leave California?: American Robins never fully leave California: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid July, but some are still reported in every week, about 10% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see robins in California?: The American Robin is reported most often in the second week of June, on about 26% of California checklists.