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American Robin

Turdus migratoriusOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Thrushes (Turdidae)
Codes: Common Name: AMRO Scientific Name: TURMIG ITIS Taxonomic No.: 179759
Least Concern
 
American Robin: The adult American Robin has gray-brown upperparts, a rich red-brown breast and a white lower belly. The head is dark gray-brown with white splotches around the eye and a dark brown streaked throat.
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American Robin Variations

American Robin
Female
American Robin
American Robin
Adult
American Robin
American Robin
Juvenile
American Robin

Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
Sliced orange secures easily to the center of the ring. Low cost.
Attract with Nectar
Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
Charm and Attraction
Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

American Robin: Large, familiar North American thrush, gray-brown upperparts, rich red-brown breast, and white lower belly and undertail coverts. Head appears black with white splotches surrounding the eyes, and throat is white with black streaks. Swift, direct flight on rapidly beating wings.

Range and Habitat

American Robin: Breeds from Alaska east to Newfoundland and south to California, Texas, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Usually spends winters north to British Columbia and Newfoundland. Preferred habitats include towns, gardens, open woodlands, and agricultural lands.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body


Listen to Call

Similar Sounding

Voice Text

"cheerily cheer-up cheerio"

Interesting Facts

 During breeding season, male American Robins grow black feathers on their heads to attract females. Once the mating season is over, these feathers are lost.

 These birds have been observed wading belly deep in water to catch small fish.

 There is a Crayola crayon named Robin’s Egg Blue.

 A group of robins are collectively known as a "worm" of robins.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Irina Rud-Volga

Splitbar
Range Map for American Robin

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Family Thrush (Turdidae)_blue
Species Turdus migratorius
Length10 Inches
Wingspan15 Inches

American Robin

American Robin: Large, familiar North American thrush, gray-brown upperparts, rich red-brown breast, and white lower belly and undertail coverts. Head appears black with white splotches surrounding the eyes, and throat is white with black streaks. Swift, direct flight on rapidly beating wings.

● Song: "cheerily cheer-up cheerio"

● Foraging & Feeding: American Robin: Feeds on wild and cultivated fruits, berries, earthworms, and insects such as beetle grubs, caterpillars, and grasshoppers; appears to "listen” to the ground by cocking its head when stalking earthworms.

● Breeding & nesting: American Robin: Three to seven pale blue eggs, sometimes flecked with brown, are laid in a well-made cup of mud reinforced with grass and twigs, lined with softer grass, and built in a tree or on a ledge. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female. Robins usually have two broods per season.

● Similar species: American Robin: Rufous-backed Robin has rufous back and black-tipped yellow bill. Varied Thrush has dark band across breast and orange wing bars.

Flight Pattern

Swift strong direct flight.
American Robin: Adult
● Range & Habitat: American Robin: Breeds from Alaska east to Newfoundland and south to California, Texas, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Usually spends winters north to British Columbia and Newfoundland. Preferred habitats include towns, gardens, open woodlands, and agricultural lands.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationWidespread, Abundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight2.7 Ounces
Perching-like BodyX
Undertail covertsX
Small feathers that cover the areas where the retrices (tail feathers) attach to the rump.
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX