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American Robin

(Turdus migatorius)

Photo: Ron Austing

Size             : 9 - 11 inches long (23 - 28 cm)

Description      : Male     - Dark gray-brown above, deep orange-red breast; black head and tail
                   Female   - Same as male, but lighter
                   Juvenile - spotted breast

Preferred Habitat: Farmland, open woods, gardens, suburbs, parks, cedar bogs

Preferred food   : Fruit, earthworms, insects
                                      
Breeding Range   : Found across the Canada, United States, and  Mexico

Winter Range     : North to Newfoundland, southern Ontario, west to British Columbia and south 
                   to Mexico, the Gulf coast and Florida

Interesting Facts: - Best known American bird, recognized even by the youngest child
                   - Although considered the symbol of spring, it often winters in the 
                     northern states, abandoning lawns for marshes and swampy areas
                   - Considered a game bird at one time, was hunted by the thousands
                   - Largest member of the thrush family
                   - Very fond of bathing, will more likely come to a birdbath than to a feeder
                   - On the rare visit to a feeder, it may eat raisins, very ripe fruit, and small 
                     pieces of suet; prefers to eat on the ground
                   - Often the first and last singer of the day; when you hear 'cheer-up, cheer, cheer, cheer-up' 
                     at dawn and dusk, it's a robin!
                   - Nest early in the season, often in a cedar or other evergreen, since leaves of deciduous
                     trees have not yet appeared
                   - Nest is cup-shaped, made of twigs, held together with mud and lined with fine grasses 
                     and animal hair
                   - Male alternates helping the female build the nest and defending his territory by singing
                   - Will not tolerate a cowbird egg in its nest and will immediately toss it out
                   - Broods per season: 2 or 3; incubation period:11 - 14 days; nestling period 9 - 16 days;
                     clutch size: usually 3 - 4; egg color: beautiful blue
                   - Female may have a bald patch on the breast during nesting season; this is the 'brood patch',
                     a spot of bare skin that helps to keep the eggs warm
                   - Both parents feed the nestlings
                   - Fledgling state lasts 2 - 4 weeks; female starts second brood during this time, while the 
                     male continues caring for the first