Journey North American Robin Migration Update: Spring 2009

Migration Update: April 7, 2009

Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

Today's Report Includes:

The Migration: Maps, Questions, Highlights

Explore: Cardinal and Robin Songs
M
What is a Song: Listen and Learn More

Links: More Robin Resources to Explore

Robins pushed into northern areas this week. What are they eating when snow still covers the land? >>

The Migration: Maps, Questions, Highlights

First Seen
(map/sightings)

First Wave
(map/sightings)

First Song Heard
(map/sightings)

Highlights:
Robin first sightings pushed into Canada and Alaska this last week. Warmer than normal temperatures in the NE US and SE Canada helped with the migration.

Reporters are observing the birds aren't finding worms in most of these colder regions, so they are foraging for apples, crabapples, berries, AND sumac to satisfy their hunger.

Read Sighting Highlights from the North >>

Today's Map Questions
>>

Map Questions >>

Explore: Cardinal, or Robin Song, or Both?

How many times in late winter do you "think" you hear your first robin singing, only to realize the song was really a cardinal greeting you instead? You are not alone! These 2 bird songs can be a little confusing. This week a Journey North reporter shared an interesting observation about robin vocalizations. Read Matthew Steere's note:

04/04/09
Dear Journey North,
Last Thursday I was surprised to hear a robin sound like a cardinal. I heard it sing the notes “cherrio” several times in a row--then its last note or two would be cheerrrrrrrr. The Cheeerrrrrr sound, sounded exactly like the cardinal. It kept doing this for a few minutes than it changed the phrases of its song. This time the last note was another type of cardinal sound. It sounded like it assimilated some of the northern cardinal phrases into its song.

Matthew Steere
Little Falls, NY

View some of the robins Matthew has been observing in photographs included in his First Wave report >>

What is a song?
Songs are the bird's most conspicuous vocalizations. They are different from a bird's other sounds, which are called notes, calls, and chips, depending on their structure and the volume at which they are delivered.

Listen and Learn More:

Robin or Cardinal Song? >>

Robin or Cardinal Song? >>

Links: More Robin Resources to Explore

Background: About This Migration Study >>
Listen and Discern: Robin Vocalization Dictionary >>
Robin or Cardinal Song: How to Tell for Sure>>
Observe (Checklist): Spring Phenology of Robins >>
Prepare (Lesson): When Will Our Robin Habitat be Ready? >>
Read Nonfiction: A Robin's Menu Through the Seasons>>
Interview: Dr. David Aborn >>

What does a robin need from its habitat? Is your robin's habitat ready?

More Robin Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next American Robin Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 14, 2008.