American Robin (Turdus migratorius) - local seasonal appearance

Based on 175 observations in Seymour township, Northumberland county, southeast Ontario, 1999-2003.

In this area the robin is mostly seen between 06 March and late October. The robin seldom lingers past about 25 October. On this date in 2002, after a sharp frost which shrivelled the last of the local shaggy mane mushrooms, a flock of 21 migrating robins was seen in dead trees beside Trout Creek. The three latest sightings in 1998-2003 were on 10, 11 and 30 November. A single good winter sighting was made on 17 January 1999 (plus a possible sighting one 23 January, not counted here).

The robin is a very common spring migrant (early March to early May) and a common fall migrant (early September to mid-November) at Presqu'ile provincial park, roughly 40 km to the south (LaForest, 1993, pp.283-285). A few sightings have beem made in December, January, and February (with a possible "earliest returnee" on 22 February 1976). It nests throughout the park. The bird is also very common in Peterborough county, to the northwest, with the usual range listed as 02 March to 03 November (Sadler, 1983, pp.123-124), although birds may stay later if the berry supply is good. The earliest returning bird may have been on 29 January 1983, "in that phenomenally mild winter".


robin [77 kb]

References

LaFOREST,SM (1993) Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Friends of Presqu'ile Park / Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 436pp.

SADLER,D (1983) Our Heritage of Birds: Peterborough County in the Kawarthas. Peterborough Field Naturalists / Orchid Press, Peterborough, ON, 192pp.


Graham Wilson, posted 16 April 2004

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