Where Do American Robins Live? (Habitat + Distribution)

American Robin (birds) is a medium-sized songbird from the thrush family. These birds are easily identified by their brick red underparts, white eye rings, and gray back feathers.

Every year from late winter to spring, their cheerful singing can be heard every morning and after sunset. So where do American robins live, and where are the best places to spot them?

The American robin is found in North America, from north to south, and from coast to coast. They can be seen throughout most of the United States year-round, although they migrate locally and over long distances in many areas. American robins prefer tree-covered habitats and open areas of fallen leaves, grass, and lawns where they can forage for insects during the warmer months.

Berries are an important part of the winter diet, and birds flock to areas where this food source is readily available.

In winter, berries are an important food source for American robins

The American robin is one of the few species that has benefited from human changes to the environment. Their habit of foraging on lawns makes farms, suburbs, and towns great places to spot American robins. They’re such a familiar sight in America, especially in spring, that they’ve earned the title of official state bird in three states!

American robins are common backyard birds that can be attracted by providing clean, fresh water to bathe and drink, as well as placing their favorite treats. Planting native plants that produce berries will also attract them and many other native birds.

American robins often nest in backyards, sometimes even forgoing traditional tree branch nesting sites and choosing to set up shop on our windowsills!

This article describes the habitat and distribution of the American robin, one of North America’s most popular and widespread songbirds. Read along with us to find out where these birds live, where you can see them, and what you can do to attract them to your home.

Closeup shot of an American Robin foraging on a lawn

What is the distribution range of the American robin?

The American robin is widely distributed in North America, from Alaska and Canada in the north to Mexico in the south. They have been recorded in the lower 48 states of the United States, Alaska, each of the ten Canadian provinces, and many states in northern and central Mexico.

Read on to learn about the habitat of the American robin.

What is the habitat of the American robin?

American robins occupy a variety of habitats, preferring areas near rivers and streams. They prefer woodlands, forests, and mountains in wilderness areas, but they are well adapted to rural, suburban, and even urban areas. Look for robins around fields, parks, and yards covered by lawns and trees.

Migrating American robins seek similar habitats throughout their winter and summer ranges, while short-distance migrators may head directly downhill to lower-elevation woodlands and forests in winter.

Fruit is the most important part of their winter diet, so these birds seek out areas with abundant berry-producing shrubs and trees at this time. Wooded settings dominated by invasive fruit trees are often favored.

Robins usually prefer habitats with good tree cover

How rare is it to see American Robin?

The American robin is a very common bird. It’s not uncommon to see them on a daily basis in areas with suitable habitat, and if you live near habitat, you might even be lucky enough to see thousands of these birds coming and going every day.

These birds are most visible in the spring and summer when they forage in backyards and other lawn areas. In winter, they gather around fruit trees and shrubs.

Where’s the best place to see American Robin?

American robins are common in human settlements, so you probably don’t need to hit the roads to spot these beautiful birds. Perhaps the most rewarding place to view them is in the comfort of your own backyard, although more adventurous birders can also seek them out in wilderness areas.

If American robins don’t visit your community, try visiting parks and fields in your area, or wildlife areas with woodland or forest habitat near waterways.

American robins are partial migrants, though, so depending on the time of year, you may have to wait a few months for them to return to your area.

Perched American Robin singing on a branch in early spring

Where does the American robin live in the United States?

You can see the American robin year-round in every state in the lower 48 and Alaska. However, these birds tend to come and go at different times of the year as they undergo long and short migrations.

Where do American robins live in Canada?

American robins are summer visitors to much of Canada, and you can spot them in suitable habitat in each of the country’s ten provinces. They occur year-round in southern and western British Columbia, southern Alberta, and parts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

American Robin Eating Orange Berries

Where are American robins most common?

American robins are most common in areas with suitable foraging habitats, nests and fresh water sources. They are frequent visitors to parks and backyards in spring and summer, but gather around berry-producing trees and shrubs in fall and winter.

Where do American robins live in winter?

American robins migrate short distances throughout most of their range, although they migrate at high rates in the north and south. Long-distance migrants leave the far north in the fall to winter in parts of the United States and Mexico. In some southern states, these birds are only seen in winter.

The American robin is a winter visitor in parts of the following southern United States states:

• california
• Nevada
• Arizona
• Texas
• new mexico
• Louisiana
• Florida

American Robin in winter snow, Vancouver, Canada

Where do American robins live in the summer?

The American robin advances north into Canada and Alaska during the summer and leaves the southern part of its range. In most of the United States, these birds migrate within 100 miles of their breeding grounds, so if you live in the mid-latitudes of the United States, there’s a good chance you’ll find them nearby year-round.

The American robin has a complex migration pattern, driven primarily by changing food sources. They are often associated with the onset of spring, but this is often the result of becoming more noticeable as the weather warms and they begin to forage insects and vocalize in lawns.

These familiar birds are partial migrators to many states (and interiors) in the United States, where they are only seen for part of the year. Look for American Robins in Summer:

• Montana
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Minnesota
• the state of Wisconsin
• Michigan
• maine

American robins are more often seen on lawns during the summer, while foraging for insects and worms

Where do American robins go at night?

American robins are diurnal birds. They gather to sleep in communal tree perches about an hour before sunset, often with other flocks of birds such as European mynah and common freckle. These public habitats can be large, sometimes with populations as high as 250,000 individuals, although populations of 200 or fewer are more common.

What attracts the American robin?

American robins prefer places where they can find food and water. The American robin’s diet does not include bird food, but these birds will enjoy berries, chopped fruit, mealworms, and suet. Providing fresh water in a bird bath will also attract these popular songbirds.

Perhaps the best way to attract American robins is to create a native garden with abundant berry-producing trees, a natural water feature, and some lawn areas where the birds can forage. If you’re lucky, a pair of American robins might even choose to nest in your backyard.

Consider planting the following native plant species to keep robins in your yard:

• Chokeberry (aronia)
• native juniper (juniper)
• Hackberry (Bauhinia)
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

American Robin eating juniper berries