Many of us cling to the idea of the American robin as spring's ambassador, arriving in early March to "chirrup-chirrup" that warm weather, and millions of other birds, are on their way.

Truth to tell, there are other birds that are more reliable harbingers of spring, since robins traditionally aren't the earliest returnees. And, with more and more robins spending the winter in our area these days, it's becoming less unusual to see one -- or a flock -- in March.

A surer bird-world signal that winter is waning is an overhead flock of snow geese or tundra swans, on their way to breeding grounds in the high Arctic. They may be thousands of feet in the air, so you might not spot their long V formations but it's thrilling to catch their high-pitched calls all the same.

Wood ducks return to local lakes early each March and it's always exciting to see them. Field guides just don't do these water birds justice -- the males are egregiously gorgeous, much handsomer than any other wild duck. If lakes are still locked in ice, wood ducks stack up in shoreline trees and gobble desiccated crabapples as they wait for ice-out.

Bufflehead -- small, black and white diving ducks that bob like corks on the water -- are another early returnee to city lakes.

Kestrels and killdeer

The small, speedy falcon known as the kestrel returns from the South in early spring. You might spot one perched on a utility wire, and if it's near a marsh, look for red-winged blackbirds, whose "chink-a-ree" calls announce ownership of a patch of cattails even while snow covers the ground. And that "p-tew" call from a park or golf course is a signal that a killdeer has returned.

Turkey vultures may have few fans, but the graceful, dark birds are already soaring over river valleys in the southern part of the state. These scavengers will soon reach our area, too, wheeling overhead throughout the day in their characteristic "tippy" flight. Vultures' highly developed sense of smell draws them to carrion, even if it's hidden under the forest canopy.

Another early bird, and one of the most thrilling to see for the first time each March, is the Eastern bluebird. These blue-on-blue thrushes, much smaller than their robin cousins, stake out a piece of real estate soon after arrival. Since they will nest only in cavities, a pair may adopt an old woodpecker tree hole or a human-made nest box. They prefer open areas for nesting, so they're not back-yard birds, but are becoming a familiar sight in large parks and on golf courses.

Hummingbird hustle

Many people don't feel it's truly spring until they see their first ruby-throated hummingbird, but we'll have to wait until late April or early May for these tiny dynamos to zip into our back yards. They're on their way, though: In the third week of February hummingbirds began to drop down on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico, tired and hungry after a 20-hour flight across the water. They fly 500 or more miles, all of it sustained flight with no soaring, to reach the Gulf's northern shores. Then they begin to speed northward and eastward to reach areas where they'll feed and breed for the summer.

In springtime, it's all about being the first to claim a breeding territory, and the race usually goes to the swift. Robins feel this imperative, too, but they also need to have ice leave the soil so they can pull out a dietary staple, those long, juicy earthworms. Since we can't really tell apart robins that spent the winter from orange-breasted birds that have just flown in on a warm breeze, it might be time to choose another bird to announce that spring is here. There are lots to pick from.

Val Cunningham, a St. Paul nature writer, bird surveyor and field trip leader, can be reached at valwrites@comcast.net.

LOOK FOR THE LOON

Don't forget that you can make a donation to the very deserving Nongame Wildlife Program at the Department of Natural Resources on your state tax or property tax form. Look for the loon symbol on the form and fill in a donation amount. The program supports Minnesota wildlife and could use your help. Find out more at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/checkoff.html.