When do robins leave Massachusetts?

American Robins never fully leave Massachusetts: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early August, but some are still reported in every week, about 27% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see robins in Massachusetts?

The American Robin is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 74% of Massachusetts checklists.

American Robin · Turdus migratorius

When Do Robins Arrive in Massachusetts?

Photo: northerly, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American Robins are in Massachusetts all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in the second week of May (74% of checklists), and fall back by early August. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 27% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 15-21mid March

PeakMay 8-14the second week of May

Fall back byAug 1-7early August

FewestJan 8-14the second week of January

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

Januncommon
Febcommon
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 Massachusetts, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Robin	Mar 15-21	Mar 15-21	May 8-14	Aug 1-7	74%

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts

Best counties for American Robin

Share of checklists at the peak

Middlesex CountyBest late May · 10402 checklists that week, 307,511 in all84%
Suffolk CountyBest late April · 4130 checklists that week, 112,443 in all82%
Hampshire CountyBest mid June · 2678 checklists that week, 162,423 in all81%
Norfolk CountyBest late April · 3973 checklists that week, 114,756 in all80%
Hampden CountyBest early May · 1213 checklists that week, 35,410 in all80%
Bristol CountyBest the second week of May · 2245 checklists that week, 65,262 in all76%

Common questions

When do robins arrive in Massachusetts?: American Robins are in Massachusetts all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in the second week of May (74% of checklists), and fall back by early August. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 27% of checklists.
When do robins leave Massachusetts?: American Robins never fully leave Massachusetts: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early August, but some are still reported in every week, about 27% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see robins in Massachusetts?: The American Robin is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 74% of Massachusetts checklists.