Nunavut · Summer breeder

American Robins in Nunavut

When American are present in Nunavut, when they nest, which native Nunavut plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a yard.

Thrushes (Turdidae)American RobinTurdus migratorius
Status in Nunavut
Summer breeder
Nesting window
May–July
Broods
2–3 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a
Range note
Southern Nunavut only.

When to expect American in Nunavut

American Robins are summer residents in Nunavut, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Southern Nunavut only. Through the season they feed on earthworms, beetle larvae and caterpillars.

Arctic tundra across the mainland and Arctic Archipelago.

Nesting in Nunavut

Across Nunavut, American typically nest from May–July. Nest site: mud-lined cup on a branch fork or ledge; uses open-front nest shelves. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 13 days.

A few weeks of summer thaw when tundra birds nest.

  • American Robins don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, pin cherry, chokecherry for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Nunavut plants that attract American

Of the regional native plants we track for Nunavut, these 8 provide food or cover American use:

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Pin cherry
Prunus pensylvanica · Tree

Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Highbush cranberry
Viburnum trilobum · Shrub

Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.

White spruce
Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack
Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Willow (Bebb)
Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding American through the Nunavut year

Robins rarely eat seed. They come for water, lawn worms and winter fruit; many stay north all winter in flocks.

  • Best foods: Mealworms, Chopped apple and berries, Suet nuggets.
  • In Nunavut's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for American · Best feeder for American

Frequently asked

Are American in Nunavut year-round?

No. American Robins are summer breeders in Nunavut and leave for the winter. Southern Nunavut only.

When do American nest in Nunavut?

Nesting in Nunavut typically runs May–July, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.

What native plants attract American in Nunavut?

Paper birch, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Nunavut that provide food or cover for American.

American Robins in other regions

Other backyard birds in Nunavut

Sources

  1. American Robin — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. American Robin life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. American Robin — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Nunavut
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. Audubon Native Plants Database

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.