The American Robin is a migratory songbird that is usually identified by its distinctive red breast, which can vary from pale rust to a dark red brick in color. The upper part of the body and wings are gray. The males and females are similar in appearance, with the female being a bit duller. They are approximately 8 to 11 inches in length with a wing span of 12 to 16 inches and weigh less than 3 ounces. It is one of the larger thrushes.

Depending on the time of year, robins can be spotted from Alaska and Canada to northern Florida and Mexico. They usually settle along the edge of forests and clusters of trees. They prefer the trees for nesting, but want the open ground for foraging.

Some will winter-over in milder climates, but the majority head south for the winter. They head south by the end of August and return north in February and March. The exact dates vary depending on the climate. They will be spotted in North Carolina long before they are spotted in Minnesota.

The American Robin begins to breed shortly after returning to its summer range. The male stakes out its territory and then uses song to attract a mate.

The robin prefers to build her nest in a dense bush or in a fork between two tree branches. It is usually located 5 to 15 feet above the ground and built exclusively by the female. The foundation of the nest consists of grass, twigs, feathers, and any other sturdy material available. The inside is then lined with a smooth layer of mud and cushioned with grass and any other soft material available.

Robins usually produce three broods each season and build a new nest for each one. In northern climates, the first nest is usually built in an evergreen tree with the later ones in deciduous trees. Robins are not shy birds and will build a nest in trees close to houses and other structures.

There are usually 3 to 5 light-blue eggs in a clutch and they are incubated for 12 to 14 days. Once they have hatched the female will only brood at night and in inclement weather. The mated pair usually work together to feed and guard the hatchlings. The adult robin will go to great lengths in protecting their young, including dive-bombing a marauding cat. The hatchlings are usually ready to leave the nest within 16 days. Although they can forge for themselves by this time, they tend to follow their parents around begging for food.

Although Robins brood three times a year, they only succeed in producing young 40 percent of the time. Of these, only 25 percent survive until November. About half of these will be around the following year. Robins can live to be 14 years old, but the entire population turns over on the average of every six years.

Robins eat different types of food depending on the time of day. In the morning they forage on lawns and other grassy open areas for worms, caterpillars, slugs and insects. Later in the day offerings of fruit will catch their attention. Visits to seed filled birdfeeder are rare, but not unknown.

Because they pick their food from the grass covered earth, Robins are especially vulnerable to pesticides. Before using a pesticide, read the label and make sure it will not harm your backyard guest.

Robins have a clear, cheerful sound with a number of different songs and calls. Once you have identified their cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, you will recognize it when you hear it again. They are one of the first birds to start singing in the morning and one of the last to be heard at night. The male is extremely vocal during courtship, whistling softy to attract a mate. Both the male and the female will whistle loudly when threatened or annoyed.

Listen to the song of the Northern Cardinal: Sound Byte: Northern Cardinal, National Park Service

Dunn, J.L. & Alderfer, J., Editors. 2006. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition. National Geographic Society.

Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.

Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Seattle Audubon Society
The American Robin, Chipper Woods Bird Observatory