This paper explores the numerical trends of winter ring recoveries of the European robin Erithacus rubecula in Spain to determine whether the number of extra-Iberian individuals has decreased in recent decades. Results show that despite the increasing numbers of ringed and controlled robins, the number of recoveries of individuals of northern origin has decreased since the 1970s. This pattern is congruent with the northwards retreat of the wintering grounds of some partially migratory bird species that may be due to global warming.