WhenToBird

American Robin · Turdus migratorius

When Do Robins Arrive in North Carolina?

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

American Robins are in North Carolina all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late January, peak in the second week of March (48% of checklists), and fall back by early July. In the quietest week (late August) they are still on about 18% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildJan 22-31late January
PeakMar 8-14the second week of March
Fall back byJul 1-7early July
FewestAug 22-31late August

Best: the second week of March. Here all year; numbers build from late January and fall back by early July. Peak: on about 48% of North Carolina checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Robins in North Carolina, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American RobinJan 22-31Jan 22-31Mar 8-14Jul 1-748%
0%20%40%60%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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Best counties for American Robin

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Hertford CountyBest the second week of March · 27 checklists that week, 1,343 in all89%
  2. Gates CountyBest mid November · 63 checklists that week, 4,066 in all83%
  3. Lenoir CountyBest the second week of March · 28 checklists that week, 2,189 in all78%
  4. Bladen CountyBest the second week of January · 78 checklists that week, 3,758 in all76%
  5. Pasquotank CountyBest early May · 23 checklists that week, 1,460 in all74%
  6. Chowan CountyBest late March · 80 checklists that week, 2,544 in all72%

Common questions

When do robins arrive in North Carolina?
American Robins are in North Carolina all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late January, peak in the second week of March (48% of checklists), and fall back by early July. In the quietest week (late August) they are still on about 18% of checklists.
When do robins leave North Carolina?
American Robins never fully leave North Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early July, but some are still reported in every week, about 18% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see robins in North Carolina?
The American Robin is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 48% of North Carolina checklists.