WhenToBird

American Robin · Turdus migratorius

When Do Robins Arrive in Illinois?

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

American Robins are in Illinois all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of March, peak in mid May (76% of checklists), and fall back by mid August. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 21% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 8-14the second week of March
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Fall back byAug 15-21mid August
FewestJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: mid May. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of March and fall back by mid August. Peak: on about 76% of Illinois 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. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Robins in Illinois, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American RobinMar 8-14Mar 8-14May 15-21Aug 15-2176%
0%20%40%60%80%American RobinJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Best counties for American Robin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Greene CountyBest the second week of June · 40 checklists that week, 329 in all93%
  2. Macoupin CountyBest late March · 16 checklists that week, 806 in all93%
  3. Livingston CountyBest the second week of June · 21 checklists that week, 1,092 in all92%
  4. Scott CountyBest mid April · 12 checklists that week, 320 in all92%
  5. Bureau CountyBest early June · 173 checklists that week, 10,244 in all92%
  6. Christian CountyBest early June · 23 checklists that week, 1,446 in all92%

Common questions

When do robins arrive in Illinois?
American Robins are in Illinois all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of March, peak in mid May (76% of checklists), and fall back by mid August. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 21% of checklists.
When do robins leave Illinois?
American Robins never fully leave Illinois: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid August, but some are still reported in every week, about 21% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see robins in Illinois?
The American Robin is reported most often in mid May, on about 76% of Illinois checklists.