American Robins Returning North

One week ago our church grounds started teeming with robins, and I believe they are birds migrating north. Around Valentine's Day.(when the temperature is about 37 degrees F) we start seeing an influx of robins, many more than overwintered.

Robins eat fruit until the ground thaws and they can find earthworms and insects. The robins continue to hang around the church yard this week because of the fruit available. This morning there were 9 robins plucking fruit from a crabapple tree.

Migrating males arrive first. You can tell a male by his dark head feathers, streaked throat, yellow bill, and deep orange breast feathers. 

Extra:  male American robin portrait in crabapple tree