Resident or short-distance migrant. Robins can be found year round almost anywhere south of Canada. Birds that breed from Canada to the north slope of Alaska leave in fall for the U.S. Some robins winter as far south as the Southwest, Mexico, and the Gulf Coast.
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The American Robin is a well-known songbird in North America, but its wintering habits raise a common question: Do robins migrate? Springtime singer or snowy sentinel?
The answer is yes and no. For good reason, robins are associated with springtime: in many regions, they herald the arrival of warm weather But that does not mean that these birds are immune to the bite of winter.
In contrast to hummingbirds and long-distance migrants, which migrate south in large numbers in the fall, robins respond to the arrival of winter in two different ways.
Many retreat southward. While large winter flocks of robins arrive in far-southern regions like Texas and Florida, Northern Canada is devoid of these birds. However, robins are not drawn to travel in warmer climates because they can tolerate extremely low temperatures and have downy, warm feathers on their plumage. The true driving force is foodor rather, the absence of it. When robins’ warm-weather diet of insects and earthworms becomes less abundant, they start looking for new food sources.
However, not all robins are affected by the decline in invertebrate populations; in fact, a significant portion of them remain in the north, which is their second response to winter. They have been observed in every U. S. state (except Hawaii) and all southern Canadian provinces in January. Theyre able to remain thanks to several important adaptations.
Initially, they shift their diet, moving from invertebrates that are high in protein to winter fruits and berries that are high in vitamins, such as junipers, hollies, crabapples, and hawthorns.
They also begin moving. Robins fiercely protect their areas and rear their young in the spring and summer. They move around a lot in the winter, looking for their go-to dish for the cold weather. Weather also influences robin movements. If there is a lot of snow and it stays for several days, they might move on in search of better weather.
Robins also form flocks in the winter. These flocks, which can have hundreds or thousands of members, are distinct from the spring and summertime bird territorial pairings. There are important advantages to flocking: bigger groups provide more eyes and better opportunities to identify and evade predators. They also increase the odds of discovering food.
Lastly, during the winter, robins don’t make much noise, and this is usually the case throughout their range. Males usually maintain a subdued presence, though some start singing toward the end of winter as spring approaches and mating hormones kick in.
When combined, these modifications significantly reduce the robin’s profile in the northern portion of their range, resulting in fewer sightings and the mistaken belief that they are nonexistent.
So how do Robins make their wintertime decisions to stay or migrate?
Although a satisfactory explanation is still lacking, gender may be a factor because men are more likely than females to stay in northern regions. This provides a clear territorial advantage by giving males first dibs on the best areas for reproduction.
Northern robin flocks disperse as spring approaches and continue to forage for invertebrates in the ground, such as earthworms. At this time of year, robins migrate back from the South; males arrive a few days to two weeks ahead of females. Males start singing loudly as they start guarding their territory in both situations. The result? Robins seem to be everywhere once again.
The American Robin appears to have benefited from agricultural development and urbanization, in contrast to many other birds. Despite growing populations, it is still susceptible to many of the same threats that affect less adaptive species.
Since American Robins forage on lawns and other open spaces that are frequently sprayed with toxins, pesticide poisoning remains a serious concern. While DDT has been outlawed in the US, other harmful substances like glyphosate (found in the well-known weed killer Roundup), neonicotinoids, and chlorpyrifos are still in use. An important source of food for this bird, earthworms, can also be impacted by pesticide use.
American Robins are particularly susceptible to being eaten by outdoor cats since they frequently forage and eat on the ground. Other frequent dangers include car crashes, communications tower collisions, and window collisions.
Numerous policy initiatives of ABC aid in lessening the effects of these risks. Specifically, our Bird-Smart Glass and Cats Indoors programs provide ways to make backyards safer. We also provide advice on how to enhance the habitat in your backyard so that the American Robin and other birds can live there year-round.
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FAQ
Where do robins go for the winter?
Where do Robin birds migrate to?
Why am I seeing robins in the winter?
Where do robins go in the summer?