WhenToBird

American Robin · Turdus migratorius

When Do 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.

Robins in Michigan, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American RobinMar 8-14Mar 8-14May 1-7Aug 8-1474%
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 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.

Where in Michigan

Best counties for American Robin

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%

Common questions

When do 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 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 robins in Michigan?
The American Robin is reported most often in early May, on about 74% of Michigan checklists.