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American Robin
(Turdus migratorius)
Banded April 6, 1998 - Carmel, Indiana
General Information
The American Robin, the largest of the North American thrushes, is found over most of
North America in the summer months. Its familiar song, cheer-up, cheer cheer cheer-up ,
begins well before daybreak and in many regions signals the start of spring. It is
notorious for its ability to find, catch and eat earthworms. Contrary to popular wisdom,
earthworms are found by sight rather than by sound. Diet also consists of beetles,
grasshoppers, other insects, and many fruits including grapes, cherries, pokeberries, and
mistletoe, and in southern states, the fruits of the Sabal Palm.
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Adults are gray or blackish above and brick
red below. A white patch occurs in the vent area. Females are generally duller with a more
grayish head. |
Figure 1 - American Robin
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Figure 2 - American Robin
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The head is darker in males, and more grayish
in females. The bill is yellow. A partial white eye ring is also visible. |
The female robin builds a cup nest of mud,
sticks and grasses in a protected area on a firm support. |
Figure 3 - American Robin Nest
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Figure 4 - Robin Eggs
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From 3 to 5 smooth, glossy blue eggs are
incubated by the female and hatch in about two weeks. |
Young are born naked and blind. They are
tended by both parents, and leave the nest in about 14 to 16 days. It takes about a month
for the young birds to learn to feed themselves. |
Figure 5 - Robin Chicks
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Figure 6 - Flank and Belly
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The underside of the adult bird is brick red.
Young birds are more mottled. The red color elicits a strong aggressive response during
the breeding season. Many robins will spend hours and days attacking their reflection in a
window or a shiny surface on a car. |
Primary flight feathers are grayish. Wingspan
is 14 to 16 inches. |
Figure 7 - Primary Flight Feathers
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Figure 8 - Tail Feathers
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The tail feathers are blackish
and show a white spot on each outer tail feather. |
Banding Recoveries
The Bird Banding Lab web site reports that between 1955 and 1997, a total of 432,185 American Robins were banded. Of these, 14,322
have been recovered, a recovery rate of 3.31%. Banding studies show that robins are short
distance migrants that can live up to 11 or more years in the wild. Albino birds commonly
occur. If you should recover a banded bird, please report the band number to the Bird
Banding Lab by calling 1-800-327-BAND.
Conservation Status
American Robins perform an important role in consuming large numbers of
destructive insect pests. Their taste for many kinds of fruits and berries also aids those
plants in seed dispersal when seeds pass through the digestive system and are deposited in
areas distant from the host plant. Robins are uncommon cowbird hosts, and doing well in
most of their range. In some regions in the northeast and the west, however, population
declines are being observed.
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All images are courtesy of CWBO. All image copyrights are owned by CWBO.
Any use of these images must have permission of CWBO. |
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