Migration News: April 7, 2015
By Jane Duden
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The robin chorus is spreading and the rush for robin real estate is on. Find out if your neighborhood has what a robin seeks in a territory.

Two male American Robins fighting midair
Squabbling for Territory by Andy Wilson
Highlights: More Northern Arrivals

Spring has arrived in North America, although it's hard to believe in areas where snow and cold still linger. Six Canadian provinces reported this week, again in the lead. Another early bird was reported in Alaska, but spring is still just beginning. Winter flocks are breaking up, with no huge robin waves reported this week. More spring behaviors are being seen, including a few nesting reports.

"Waves of Robins in the fields here. Males and females. Suddenly they are everywhere. They are a sight for sore eyes for sure."
04/03/15   Patricia H.. in Gulliver, MI

Leapfrog Migration
At each latitude, the first birds to arrive and sing are the ones that will stay. Robins coming after these singing robins "jump over" them to migrate farther north in a leapfrog migration. Birds heading farther north simply wait to continue until weather conditions seem right, with clear skies and southerly winds. You can tell the robins that are staying from those that are "jumping over" by whether or not they are singing the territorial song.

"This morning I heard my first robin singing his heart out! Our ground is still mostly covered in snow. A welcome sound after a long winter."
04/03/15   Lynda G. in Parry Sound, Ontario

Male American Robin preeningRandy Indish
Keeping Busy

Perched American robin with mouthful of leaves
Amy Evoniuk
Gathering

American Robin eating sumacElizabeth Howard
Scrounging for Food

 

Explore: Will a Robin Choose Your Neighborhood?

A male robin wants the best territory for his mate and babies—and the early bird, or the one that never left— often gets the best territory. Investigate what a robin looks for when choosing a territory.

Cover of slideshow: Will a Robin Chooe Your Backyard?

Maps: Report Your Sightings
 
Robin Migration: What to Report Robin Migration Map: First Robin Robin Migration Map: Waves of Robins
What to Report First Seen
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Waves
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Robin migration map: First robins heard singing Robin Nesting Behavior Earthworm migration map
Singing
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Nesting
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Earthworms
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Next Update April 14, 2015