Volunteers helping to monitor American robins across North America. 

Seasonal Message

Happy New Year! January can be a lean month for American robins as they search for food and water in larger flocks. Explore Journey North maps to learn where American Robins are being observed.

What to Report

Mid-Winter

Robins are nomadic in wintertime, and move to find sources of food. Help us assess where robins are present before migration begins by reporting to Journey North. Are you seeing robins? Let us know!

1. Report Robin (OTHER Observations)

• What: Are you seeing behaviors such as courtship and defending territories? Are you seeing robins on their nests, feeding young, fledging robins? Please let us know.
• Comments: Let us know more about the context of your observations.
• Frequency: Report once a week when robins are present. Occasional reporting welcome.
• Photos: Encouraged. Photos provide a voucher for observational reports.

2. Report Robin (WAVE seen)

• What: Did you see a wave or large flock of American robins? A wave is three or more robins.
• Comments: We love comments and appreciate additional details that tell us more about your observation. Let us know interesting behaviors (for example, flying, perching, feeding on worms, berries and/or nuts).
• Frequency: Report once a week when robins are present. Occasional reporting welcome.
• Photos: Encouraged. Photos provide a voucher for observational reports.

Welcome Robins, Welcome Spring! 

The return of robins is a favorite sign of spring in northern regions. You can help track migration from the southern states to the Arctic, where robins don’t usually arrive until May by participating in Journey North.

3. Report Robin (First SEEN) and/or Robin (First HEARD singing)

• What: Did you see or hear your first American robin of the spring migration season? Male robins sing when they arrive to their breeding territory. Please report these observations which help reveal the leading edge of migration.
• Comments: We love comments and appreciate additional details that tell us more about your observation. Let us know interesting behaviors (for example, flying, perching, feeding on worms, berries and/or nuts).
• Frequency: Once per spring season. Only one first spring observation is accepted for an individual observer reporting from a single location.
• Photos: Encouraged. Photos provide a voucher for observational reports.

After Spring “Firsts”

4. Report Robin (Nesting Behavior)

• What: Has nest building begun? Watch for signs such as the male or female flying with nest materials, or the female with mud on breast. Both gather nest materials but usually only the female builds.  
• Comments: Let us know more about the nesting behavior you are seeing.
• Frequency: Report once a week when robins are present. Occasional reporting welcome.
• Photos: Encouraged. Photos provide a voucher for observational reports.

5. Report Robin (OTHER Observations)

• What: Are you seeing behaviors such as courtship and defending territories? Are you seeing robins on their nests, feeding young, fledging robins? Please let us know.
• Comments: Let us know more about the context of your observations.
• Frequency: Report once a week when robins are present. Occasional reporting welcome.
• Photos: Encouraged. Photos provide a voucher for observational reports.