When do robins leave North Dakota?

American Robins never fully leave North Dakota: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid October, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.7% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see robins in North Dakota?

The American Robin is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 65% of North Dakota checklists.

American Robin · Turdus migratorius

When Do Robins Arrive in North Dakota?

Photo: northerly, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American Robins are in North Dakota all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late March, peak in the second week of May (65% of checklists), and fall back by mid October. In the quietest week (the second week of February) they are still on about 5.7% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 22-31late March

PeakMay 8-14the second week of May

Fall back byOct 15-21mid October

FewestFeb 8-14the second week of February

Best: the second week of May. Here all year; numbers build from late March and fall back by mid October. Peak: on about 65% of North Dakota checklists.

Janrare
Febrare
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Robins in North Dakota, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American Robin	Mar 22-31	Mar 22-31	May 8-14	Oct 15-21	65%

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 Dakota 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 Dakota

Best counties for American Robin

Share of checklists at the peak

Steele CountyBest early July · 93 checklists that week, 6,291 in all92%
Stark CountyBest the second week of May · 218 checklists that week, 4,072 in all84%
Traill CountyBest mid June · 19 checklists that week, 764 in all83%
Pierce CountyBest the second week of October · 13 checklists that week, 403 in all82%
Morton CountyBest early October · 48 checklists that week, 3,404 in all81%
LaMoure CountyBest early June · 13 checklists that week, 472 in all79%

Common questions

When do robins arrive in North Dakota?: American Robins are in North Dakota all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late March, peak in the second week of May (65% of checklists), and fall back by mid October. In the quietest week (the second week of February) they are still on about 5.7% of checklists.
When do robins leave North Dakota?: American Robins never fully leave North Dakota: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid October, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.7% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see robins in North Dakota?: The American Robin is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 65% of North Dakota checklists.