Facts About A Frequently Seen Bird About Town

All About Those Rockin’ Robins

• Members of the thrush family, which also includes bluebirds, solitaires and Wood Thrushes

• Named by early colonists for the European Robin they had left behind; the two are distantly related; both have red breasts

Basic Robin Facts

• Male robins have a dark gray’ almost black, back and tail with a rust/brick colored breast

• Female is paler all over

• Juveniles have a spotted breast

Basic Robin Facts

• American Robins can be found throughout North America at some time during the year

• Those living in the West tend to be paler in color and often lack the white markings on the outer corners of their tail

Basic Robin Facts

• Most American Robins migrate in flocks primarily during the daylight hours

• Females migrate to areas where food is more abundant to help insure they are in top condition for the rigors of raising young in the spring

Migration Habits

• While the majority of American Robins migrate south each fall, a small number of stragglers usually remain behind and endure the winter

• The majority of over-wintering robins are males trying to insure they have first choice of nesting territories in the spring

Migration Habits

• Male robins that migrate usually arrive on the breeding grounds up to two weeks before the females return

• Robins usually return to the same area to nest each year and may occasionally use last year’s nest again after some renovation

Migration Habits

• Only the male sings, but both sexes have calls and alarm notes

• You typically hear robins first thing on a spring morning and the last thing before dark

Courting Habits

• Typically nest from April through July and can have 2-3 broods in a season

• Females build the nest and incubate the eggs alone

Nesting Habits

• Unlike most birds, robins do not lay their eggs at sunrise

• They lay their eggs several hours later during the mid-morning

• Since earthworms are easier to find in the early morning, they feed first and then return to their nest to lay their egg

Nesting Habits

Nesting Habits

• Over 50% of all nesting attempts by robins fail to produce young

• Out of the successful nesting attempts, only ¼ of the fledglings will survive until November

• Robins eat a variety of insects and berries and change their feeding habits depending on the time of day

• It’s been noted that robins eat 14 FEET of earthworms in a day

• Worms only make up about 15% - 20% of a robin’s summer diet

Fun Feeding Facts

• Locate earthworms by cocking their head to one side, using each eye to look for visible signs of worms

• You will likely find robins in your yard after a rain or after the sprinkler has been on or even after the lawn has been mowed, as this brings worms and insects to the surface

Fun Feeding Facts

• Robins also feed on wild and cultivated fruits and berries and insects such as beetle grubs, caterpillars, and grasshoppers

Fun Feeding Facts

• The average lifespan of a robin is 1 ½ years

• The oldest known robin lived to be 14 years old

• The American Robin population seems to be stable, even increasing - apparently benefiting from the urbanization and agricultural uses of the land

Life Expectancy

• Robins can be attracted to a feeding station by offering mealworms, fruit and a birdbath

• Robins are particularly vulnerable to pesticide poisoning due to their preference for foraging on lawns

Backyard Behavior

For more information about the American Robin, visit our online field guide:

www.rightbird.com

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