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 years 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

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 Its been noted that robins eat 14 FEET of earthworms in a day Worms only make up about 15% - 20% of a robins 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: Web Resource