Ah, the anticipation of spring! There’s nothing quite like spotting the first birds of the season to ignite memories of the good ol’ days.

As the winter chill fades, these avian arrivals signal that spring is just around the corner. Let’s take a nostalgic look at the birds that herald the changing of the seasons.

American Robin

The residents of Alaska will sometimes mark the arrival of spring by when they see the first American Robin arrive. Some Robins stick around during mild winters, especially if there are leftover berries.

However, if the weather is too cold, the birds will migrate to the south. You’ll most likely hear American Robins in the spring.

They string about 10 steadily repeated whistles together. Children are often taught to recognize a robin by listening for, “Cheerily, cheer up!

Cheer up! Cheerily, cheer up!” The song is much faster in the morning than it is later in the day, and in addition to the cheer-up song, robins also make tuk, chirr, and chirp sounds.

Red-winged Blackbird

The distinctive call of the Red-winged Blackbird is a sure sign that spring is near. These striking birds, with their jet-black feathers and bright red shoulder patches, often return to marshes and wetlands before the first daffodils bloom.

Their arrival heralds the start of a new breeding season.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds are a delightful sight with their bright blue plumage and soft, musical calls. As insect-eaters, they often return just as the first bugs begin to stir.

Their graceful presence and vibrant color light up the landscape, signaling the impending bloom of spring flowers.

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallows are among the first swallows to return, often gracing the skies with their aerial acrobatics. They arrive to build nests and raise their young as soon as the weather starts to warm.

Their presence reminds us of the interconnectedness of nature, as they feed on the flying insects that emerge in spring.

Killdeer

You may have encountered a killdeer performing its broken-wing act in the spring. When a predator is near, the adult bird drags its wings, limps around, and cries out as though it is badly injured.

This act is used to draw predators away from the killdeer’s nest. Once the predator heads away from the nest and toward what it thinks is an easy meal, the killdeer quickly snaps back to its normal behavior, creates some distance between it and the predator, and repeats the act.

Song Sparrow

Song sparrows are one of the few birds that are more vocal even than the chipping sparrow. Their noisy song throughout the spring and summer can create an almost constant backdrop to life outdoors.

In the spring and summer mating season, the male Song Sparrow sings a sweet song while perching. It usually visits bird feeders and feeds on insects and invertebrates in the summer.

But it eats seeds and fruits in winter.

Northern Flicker

Northern Flickers are a type of woodpecker often seen foraging on the ground for ants and beetles. Their distinctive call and colorful plumage make them a noticeable presence.

As they return to forests and woodlands, they signal the rejuvenation of these habitats in the springtime.

Common Grackle

Common grackles are most often seen in the spring and fall in Connecticut as they migrate between their breeding and wintering grounds. Common grackles are highly social birds and can often be seen in enormous flocks.

These loud birds are also known for their distinctive call, which sounds like a creaking door hinge.

Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrows are small, active birds with a distinctive trilling song. They often return to gardens and parks just before spring, drawn by the warming temperatures and budding trees.

Their cheerful presence and chattering add energy to the early spring environment.

Purple Martin

Purple Martins are among the earliest swallows to migrate northward, often arriving in late winter. They are drawn to nesting sites provided by humans, such as martin houses.

Their graceful flight and social nature make them a delightful herald of spring’s approach.

Spring signals the archive actually has

Spec	What our writers say
Robin as spring marker	Alaska residents mark spring by the first American Robin
Robin song	About 10 steadily repeated whistles
Robin mnemonic	Cheerily, cheer up! Cheer up! Cheerily, cheer up!
Killdeer in spring	Broken-wing act when a predator is near
Song sparrow season	Noisy song throughout the spring and summer
Song sparrow diet shift	Insects in summer, seeds and fruits in winter
Grackle timing	Most often seen in spring and fall in Connecticut
Grackle call	Sounds like a creaking door hinge

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