WhenToBird

American Robin · Turdus migratorius

When Do Robins Arrive in New York?

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

American Robins are in New York all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from mid March, peak in early May (75% 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 15% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 15-21mid 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 mid March and fall back by the second week of August. Peak: on about 75% of New York 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 New York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American RobinMar 15-21Mar 15-21May 1-7Aug 8-1475%
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 New York 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 New York

Best counties for American Robin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Tioga CountyBest late June · 510 checklists that week, 21,713 in all84%
  2. Bronx CountyBest mid April · 632 checklists that week, 24,489 in all84%
  3. New York CountyBest mid April · 5878 checklists that week, 187,471 in all83%
  4. Montgomery CountyBest early July · 383 checklists that week, 17,048 in all82%
  5. Wyoming CountyBest the second week of July · 231 checklists that week, 11,458 in all82%
  6. Schenectady CountyBest late April · 586 checklists that week, 11,851 in all82%

Common questions

When do robins arrive in New York?
American Robins are in New York all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from mid March, peak in early May (75% 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 15% of checklists.
When do robins leave New York?
American Robins never fully leave New York: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of August, but some are still reported in every week, about 15% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see robins in New York?
The American Robin is reported most often in early May, on about 75% of New York checklists.