Female robins pick nesting sites tucked away in thickets or unexposed tree branches, but sometimes they nest on the ground or atop outdoor light fixtures, too. At dawn, they belt their melodious tunes, shake their wings, fluff their tail feathers, and puff their white-striped throats to entice lady robins.ħ.) Robins can raise up to three broods in one breeding season, each time laying 3-5 sky-blue eggs that take roughly 14 days to hatch. At the breeding grounds, male robins put on strutting courtship displays for females. At night, these large and noisy flocks will roost in trees together.ĥ.) Robins that do migrate can cover a lot of ground: Records show that some birds have traveled up to 3,000 miles, from Iowa to Alaska, during their spring migration.Ħ.) Like most other migratory birds, robins don’t maintain pair bonds and often take on new mates each spring. Birders can occasionally spot tipsy robins in the late winter and early spring, thanks to fermented berries they have devoured.Ĥ.) Often considered harbingers of spring, not all American Robins are migratory. While many northern robin populations migrate south during the winter in search of food, others remain somewhat local, forming groups that roam the countryside in search of the berries they prefer during the cold winter months. Research shows that American Robins mostly eat fruits in the fall and winter, and include more insects and worms in their spring and summer diets. Today, the American Robin exists in the form of seven subspecies, subtly differentiated by their body size and plumage, with the exception of one subspecies in southern Baja California, which sports pale gray-brown underparts in lieu of rusty tones.ģ.) Though known for being worm eaters, robins have varied diets.

The American Robin belongs to the thrush family, which also includes bluebirds and solitaires.Ģ.) Early colonial settlers named the American Robin for its resemblance to the familiar but unrelated European Robin, which is smaller but also sports an orange breast and upright posture. While many people are familiar with their cheer up, cheer up, cheerily caroling, here are some facts you might not know about this iconic American songbird.ġ.) There are dozens of different bird species across the globe-chats, flycatchers, thrushes-that include the word “robin” in their common name. Found in forests, fields, parks, and backyards across North America-including Mexico, Canada, and Alaska-the robin is also the official bird of three states: Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The American Robin is one of North America’s most familiar and widespread songbirds.

Robin & batman jeff lemire