American Robin

(Genus, species:  Turdus migratorius)

Each year, we've had a pair of robins build their nest and raise their chicks under the drain-spout of our roof.  The cheerful singing of the male robins wakes us up each morning (though I must admit that the peeping of the chicks gets to be a bit much when they're waiting for breakfast).

Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther

Distribution/Location

General:  Most of us don't have to wander far to bird watch if you're happy to watch the American Robin.  They're one of the first to arrive in spring and happily hop along on front lawns searching for a meal of worms. 

The American Robin is a member of the Bluebird and Thrush family.  It's called the 'American' robin because it was named after a similar (though smaller) bird found in Great Britain.

Description - male:  The male robin's most striking feature is  his red/orange breast and belly.  They have gray-brown back and tail feathers with a slightly darker head.  Their white throat is streaked with black and their undertail coverts are white.  

They have brown legs and a thin yellow bill that they use for pecking worms and insects out of the ground.

Description - female:  The female robin's coloring is quite similar to the male, but everything is a slightly paler color.  

Description - young:  The young robins also look similar, but have a heavily spotted breast.

male
Used with permission. 
© Leanne Guenther

Habitat:  

Other enemies include bobcats, owls, hawks, crows, jays, snakes, squirrels, chipmunks and raccoon.  Most of these enemies feed on the young or eggs, not the adult birds.

Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther

Migration: 

Robins begin their return to nesting grounds each spring in about February.  They arrive in southern Canada in March and in the more northern areas in mid-May.  The males arrive at their breeding grounds first with the females following about a week behind.