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The American Robin (Turdus
migratorius) is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. It
is basically grayish in color, except for an orange patch on the
chest; the similarity between this coloring and that of the smaller
and unrelated European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) led to its common
name. During the breeding season, the adult males grow distinctive
black feathers on their heads; after the breeding season they
lose this eye-catching plumage. This bird breeds throughout Canada
and the United States. While Robins occasionally overwinter in
the northern part of the United States and southern Canada, most
winter in the southern parts of the breeding range and beyond,
from the southern USA to Guatemala. Most depart south by the end
of August and begin to return north in March. (Exact dates vary
with latitude and climate, of course.)
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This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. In autumn
2003, migration was displaced eastwards leading to massive movements
through the eastern USA. This presumably led to no less than three
American robins being found in Great Britain, of which two were
overwintering as of January 2004. As with many migratory birds,
the males return to the summer breeding grounds before the females,
and compete with each other for nesting sites. The females then
select mates based on the males' songs and the desirability of
the nests they have built. Three or four blue eggs are laid in
a lined cup nest. The habitat is all sorts of woodland and more
open farmland and urban areas. Food is the typical thrush mixture
of insects, worms and berries. Robins are frequently seen running
across lawns, picking up earthworms by sight.
Above Picutres
From The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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