American Robin

The American robin is a songbird in the thrush family. Thrushes are commonly referred to as “heralds of spring.” American robins have a positive relationship with humans. They are a friendly species that can help control pests. They also benefit the ecosystem by dispersing seeds from the fruit they eat.

4 Incredible American Robin Facts

• The American robin is the official state bird of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Connecticut.
• In the wild, their average lifespan is about two years. However, one individual lived to be almost 14 years old.
• American robins roost in groups of 20 to 200 individuals.
• Cowbirds sometimes lay their eggs in American robin nests, but robins usually recognize and reject the foreign eggs.

Where to Find American Robins

On the continent of North America, American robins reside in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They live in a temperate climate in woodland and shrubland habitats as well as open land areas. They commonly have habitats in residential areas, also. You can find them in the grass foraging for food when they are not roosting or nesting in trees. You may see them in lawns and gardens, farm fields, city parks, and wooded areas.

The best time of year to find this bird relies heavily on the location. Since they migrate, they are found in different areas depending on the season. However, they are active all year long.

Nests

Females build the nests with no help from their partners. She gathers twigs, grass, feathers, and paper to form the outside structure of the nest. She lines the nest with mud to hold it together. The inside is cushioned with soft materials, including grass and other plant matter. When finished, the nesting structure is about three to six inches tall and six to eight inches wide. The nest is located either in the fork of tree branches or in a dense bush. It is typically placed a great distance from the ground, between 4.9 and 14.8 feet high.

Classification and Scientific Name

The American robin’s scientific name is Turdus migratorius. It is in the thrush family, Turdidae, and the Aves class. Aves is a class of birds. The origin of the scientific name comes from the Latin words “turdus” meaning thrush, and “migratorius” which means to migrate.

There are seven American robin subspecies:

• Eastern robin (Turdus migratorius migratorius)
• Northwestern robin (Turdus migratorius caurinus)
• Southern robin (Turdus migratorius achrusterus)
• Western robin (Turdus migratorius propinquus)
• Mexican robin (Turdus migratorius phillipsi)
• Newfoundland robin (Turdus migratorius nigrideus)
• San Lucas robin (Turdus migratorius confinis).

American Robin vs. English Robin

The English robin, formally named the European robin, is where the American robin got its name. Early settlers noticed it had similar features to the European robin, mainly the appearance of its red-orange breast. This, however, seems to be the only comparative similarity between the two birds. These species are not closely related. Though they share the same order and class, they belong to different families.

The English robin is native to Europe and is part of the Muscicapidae family, also referred to as Old World Flycatchers. The American robin is actually a thrush that belongs to the Turdidae family. American robins’ anatomy is different, so they are also larger than their European lookalikes.

Size, Appearance & Behavior

American robins are between eight and 11 inches in length and weigh 2.6 ounces to 2.7 ounces. They have a wingspan of 12 to 16 inches. Their anatomy is typical of a thrush. Their anatomy features include feathers, wings, and a beak. The beak is yellow, and the throat is striped black and white. The head is black, and the back is gray or black. The chest is a vivid orange color. Males are usually somewhat larger than females and have more colorful features.

These birds exhibit social behavior. They tend to live in small groups and flock in larger groups at night. They are diurnal; they are most active during the day. They sing a melodious song. It is often one of the first bird songs you hear in the morning.

Migration Pattern & Timing

These birds are fully migratory. They migrate in flocks in the daytime. In the winter, they fly south. In the spring, they head north. In the fall, their migration depends on where there is a decent food supply available.

Diet

The American robin is an omnivore. It eats both plants and animals. It forages on the ground throughout the day and will also forage at night. About 60% of their diet consists of fruits and berries, and these foods are especially important in the winter.

What does an American robin eat?

Aside from fruits and berries, an American robin eats a variety of invertebrates such as earthworms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetle grubs, spiders, and snails.

Predators, Threats & Conservation Status

Because American robins frequently spend time in residential backyards, they are sometimes indirectly poisoned by pesticides used by humans and killed by pet cats. They are also preyed upon by several animals in the wild.

The American robin’s conservation status on the IUCN Red List is of least concern. The species is stable. Poaching was a problem in the past. They were hunted many years ago, but they are now protected by the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

What eats the American robin?

Other than domestic cats, American robins are eaten by birds of prey and snakes. Some birds that prey on American robins are hawks, eagles, snowy owls, and northern pygmy owls. Snake species that regularly eat them include rat snakes and gopher snakes. American robin eggs and young have additional predators due to their vulnerability. Some common animals that eat eggs and chicks are raccoons, squirrels, foxes, crows, common ravens, and blue jays.

Reproduction, Young & Molting

The breeding season for American robins occurs between April and July. Reproduction is viviparous. The courtship behavior of the male is meant to attract a mate. He shakes his wings, spreads his tail, and sings for her attention. The female usually lays between three and five light blue eggs. It takes 12 to 14 days for the eggs to hatch. When the chicks hatch, they are altricial. This means that they are not independent and require care and feeding from their parents. The chicks leave the nest and begin to fledge about 13 days after hatching. It generally takes them two weeks to get good at flying and be able to sustain flight.

Their average lifespan is two years, and they molt once a year.

Population

The estimated American robin population is about 370 million. Roughly 79% of them are in the United States, 45% are in Canada, and 13% are in Mexico. These birds have a huge range and are abundant. The population trend is increasing, and there is no current threat to its decline. Their conservation status is of the least concern.