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Difference between revisions of "American Robin" - BirdForum Opus

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;''Turdus migratorius''
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[[Image:1-American Robin Saranac Lake .JPG|thumb|450px|right|Male<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Saluki2|Saluki2}}<br />Saranac Lake, [[New York]], 3 April 2018]]
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[[Image:American_Robin2.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by mmdnje<br />Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA]]
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;[[: Category:Turdus|Turdus]] migratorius''
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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The American Robin is 25–28 cm (10–11 in) long. It weighs about 77 g (2.7 oz). It has gray upperparts and head, and orange underparts, usually brighter in the male. There are seven sub-species, but only T. m. confinus in the southwest is particularly distinctive, with pale gray-brown underparts.  
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Length 9-11 inches (23–28 cm); weight 2.7 oz <br />
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*Gray mantle.
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During the breeding season, the adult males grow distinctive black feathers on their heads; after the breeding season they lose this eye-catching plumage.  
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*Head black in summer male, dark gray in female and winter male; with white streaks on throat.
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[[Image:Juv_American_Robin.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo of juvenile by KCFoggin<br />Location: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA]]
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*Brick-red breast in male, orange in female, with belly white and undertail coverts white with blackish streaks.
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*White eye-crescents, interrupted at front and back.
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*Bill yellow in males, dusky yellow in females; usually with a dark tip.
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*Legs reddish-brown.<br />
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'''Juvenile''': scaly dark brown spots on orangey breast; mantle with whitish spots or streaks.
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====Similar species====
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[[Image:Robin Female.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|GarryKirsch|GarryKirsch}}<br />Quinte West, Ontario, 19 April 2009]]
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None in most of North America; in the mountains of Mexico [[Rufous-backed Thrush]] is similar, but readily distinguished by its back as well as breast being rufous-orange, and its lack of the white eye crescents.
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====Variations====
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The subspecies vary in intensity of color, with ''T. m. nigrideus'' the darkest and ''T. m. confinis'' the palest, and also slightly in size, with ''T. m. caurinus'' marginally the smallest.
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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Bird of North America.Breeds over most of North America, in the east as far as Labrador and Newfoundland.  
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[[Image:Juv_American_Robin.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|KC+Foggin|KC Foggin}}<br /> Myrtle Beach, [[South Carolina]], [[USA]], 4 August 2007]]
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Most of [[North America]].<br />
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Northern birds are migratory leaving breeding areas in August-September and eastern birds winter from Newfoundland southwards, returning late March-mid May.  
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'''Breeds''' over most of [[Canada]], the [[United States]], and [[Mexico]]; in the east as far as [[Labrador]] and [[Newfoundland]], in the south to northern [[Florida]], central [[Texas]] and southern [[California]], with disjunct populations in the mountains of [[Mexico]] south to [[Chiapas]]; in the north absent from only the Arctic tundra in northernmost Canada and [[Alaska]]. Northern birds are migratory leaving breeding areas in September-October and eastern birds winter from Newfoundland southwards, returning late March-mid May.<br />
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'''Winters''' in southernmost Canada (southwest [[British Columbia]] and southernmost [[Ontario]]), throughout the United States except the nothern parts of the Great Plains states and northern New England, and throughout Mexico. The northern boundary of wintering is variable depending on the size of fruit crops, with birds remaining further north (even as far north as the Anchorage area of Alaska) in years with good berry crops.<br />
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In the Western Palearctic recorded in Iceland (four records) and the British Isles, France and Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia and Austria, also recently in Spain.  
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'''Vagrant''' in the Western Palearctic, recorded in [[Iceland]] (four records) and the [[British Isles]], [[France]] and [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Denmark]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Czechoslovakia]] and [[Austria]], also recently in [[Spain]]. Most frequently seen in [[Britain]] and [[Ireland]] (>30), mostly September-February with occasional records April-June. The records are scattered from [[Shetland]] to [[Scilly]] but there is a distinct bias towards the Northen Isles and the south-west.  
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Most frequently seen in Britain and Ireland (>30) mostly September-February with occasional records April-June. The records are scattered from Shetland to Scilly but there is a distinct bias towards the Northen Isles and the south-west.  
 
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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 U.S.A. to Guatemala. Most depart south by the end of August and begin to return north in February and March. (Exact dates vary with latitude and climate.)
 
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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. Presumably this is what led to no fewer than three American Robins being found in Great Britain, with two attempting to overwinter in 2003-2004
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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[[Image:YoungRobinAA.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|1micalngelo|1micalngelo}}<br />Bridger Creek, [[Montana]], 10 July 2020]]
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====Subspecies====
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[[File:American_Robin_Flight2_SJ.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Brian Bachmann Park, College Station, [[Texas]], [[USA]], 1 May 2021]]
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There are 7 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''T. m. nigrideus'':
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:*Eastern [[Canada]] ([[Newfoundland]] and [[Labrador]]); winters along Atlantic coast of [[US]]
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*''T. m. migratorius'':
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:*Northern [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]] to central [[US]]; winters eastern [[Mexico]] and [[Cuba]]
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*''T. m. achrusterus'':
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:*South-central [[US]]; winters to south-eastern [[Mexico]]
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*''T. m. caurinus'':
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:*Southeastern [[Alaska]] and western [[Canada]] to northwestern [[Oregon]]; winters to [[California]]
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*''T. m. propinquus'':
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:*Eastern [[British Columbia]] to southwestern [[US]] and south-western [[Mexico]]; winters to [[Guatemala]]
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*''T. m. phillipsi'':
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:*Eastern [[Mexico]] (south-western [[Tamaulipas]] to [[Puebla]], [[Guerrero]] and [[Oaxaca]])
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*''T. m. confinis'': Pale buffy-brown underparts.
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:*Mountains of southern [[Baja California]] (Sierra de la Laguna)
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Open woodland and clearings in forest, farmland with copses and hedgerows, often in lowlands and frequently near water. In many areas has become an urban bird breeding in town parks and gardens.
 
Open woodland and clearings in forest, farmland with copses and hedgerows, often in lowlands and frequently near water. In many areas has become an urban bird breeding in town parks and gardens.
 +
==Behaviour==
 +
====Diet====
 +
Consists of about 40 percent invertebrates, such as beetle grubs, caterpillars and grasshoppers, and 60 percent fruit and berries (both wild and cultivated). Frequently seen running across lawns, running and stopping with an stiff erect posture, then stopping to pick up prey, which it locates by sight, not hearing.
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====Breeding====
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[[Image:Robin American 2018-01-28 008.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|ducbucln|ducbucln}}<br />Kelseyville, [[California]], 28 January 2018]]
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The female builds the nest and lays three or four blue eggs in the lined cup. The female does most of the incubation and it takes around a month for the chicks to fledge. There is often a second brood, the male caring for the fledglings whilst the female incubates the new clutch.
  
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The American Robin's habitat is all sorts of woodland and more open farmland and urban areas. Food is the typical thrush mixture consisting largely of insects and earthworms. Robins are also fond of some berries, including those of the black cherry tree; they will fly in especially to feed on them during the period when they ripen.
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Bird banders have found that only about 25% of young birds survive the first year.
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==Behaviour==
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==References==
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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, plumage, and territory quality. The females build the nest and lay three or four blue eggs in the lined cup. Incubation, almost entirely by the female is 11-14 days to hatching, with another 15–16 days to fledging. Two broods in a season are common. The adult male looks after the fledged chicks while female incubates her second clutch. Some people enjoy the Robin's presence, and want to protect the chicks; they do this by building nesting shelves for the Robin's use. Bird banders found that only 25% of young robins survive the first year.
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#[https://nestwatch.org/connect/participant-photo/robin-nest-cam/ Nestwatch]
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==Voice==
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#[http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/birds/robin.htm Robins - info and games]
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#[https://www.surfbirds.com/namericanbirds/american-robin.html American Robin, Kingbirds, Bluebirds and Chickadees of North America]
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#[http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/American_Robin American Robin - AbsoluteAstronomy.com]
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#Vanderhoff, N., P. Pyle, M. A. Patten, R. Sallabanks, and F. C. James (2020). American Robin (''Turdus migratorius''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.amerob.01
 +
#Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2019. American_Robin in: All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/ Accessed on  14May 2020.  
 +
{{ref}}
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Turdus+migratorius}}  
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{{GSearch|"Turdus migratorius" {{!}} "American Robin"}}
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[[Category:Birds]]
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<br />
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{{VSearch|"Turdus migratorius" {{!}} "American Robin"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Turdus]] [[Category:Videos]]

Latest revision as of 13:51, 26 June 2023

Male
Photo © by Saluki2
Saranac Lake, New York, 3 April 2018
Turdus migratorius

Identification

Length 9-11 inches (23–28 cm); weight 2.7 oz

  • Gray mantle.
  • Head black in summer male, dark gray in female and winter male; with white streaks on throat.
  • Brick-red breast in male, orange in female, with belly white and undertail coverts white with blackish streaks.
  • White eye-crescents, interrupted at front and back.
  • Bill yellow in males, dusky yellow in females; usually with a dark tip.
  • Legs reddish-brown.

Juvenile: scaly dark brown spots on orangey breast; mantle with whitish spots or streaks.

Similar species

Female
Photo © by GarryKirsch
Quinte West, Ontario, 19 April 2009

None in most of North America; in the mountains of Mexico Rufous-backed Thrush is similar, but readily distinguished by its back as well as breast being rufous-orange, and its lack of the white eye crescents.

Variations

The subspecies vary in intensity of color, with T. m. nigrideus the darkest and T. m. confinis the palest, and also slightly in size, with T. m. caurinus marginally the smallest.

Distribution

Juvenile
Photo © by KC Foggin
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, 4 August 2007

Most of North America.
Breeds over most of Canada, the United States, and Mexico; in the east as far as Labrador and Newfoundland, in the south to northern Florida, central Texas and southern California, with disjunct populations in the mountains of Mexico south to Chiapas; in the north absent from only the Arctic tundra in northernmost Canada and Alaska. Northern birds are migratory leaving breeding areas in September-October and eastern birds winter from Newfoundland southwards, returning late March-mid May.
Winters in southernmost Canada (southwest British Columbia and southernmost Ontario), throughout the United States except the nothern parts of the Great Plains states and northern New England, and throughout Mexico. The northern boundary of wintering is variable depending on the size of fruit crops, with birds remaining further north (even as far north as the Anchorage area of Alaska) in years with good berry crops.
Vagrant in the Western Palearctic, recorded in Iceland (four records) and the British Isles, France and Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia and Austria, also recently in Spain. Most frequently seen in Britain and Ireland (>30), mostly September-February with occasional records April-June. The records are scattered from Shetland to Scilly but there is a distinct bias towards the Northen Isles and the south-west.

Taxonomy

Juvenile
Photo © by 1micalngelo
Bridger Creek, Montana, 10 July 2020

Subspecies

Photo © by Stanley Jones
Brian Bachmann Park, College Station, Texas, USA, 1 May 2021

There are 7 subspecies[1]:

  • T. m. nigrideus:
  • T. m. migratorius:
  • T. m. achrusterus:
  • South-central US; winters to south-eastern Mexico
  • T. m. caurinus:
  • T. m. propinquus:
  • T. m. phillipsi:
  • T. m. confinis: Pale buffy-brown underparts.

Habitat

Open woodland and clearings in forest, farmland with copses and hedgerows, often in lowlands and frequently near water. In many areas has become an urban bird breeding in town parks and gardens.

Behaviour

Diet

Consists of about 40 percent invertebrates, such as beetle grubs, caterpillars and grasshoppers, and 60 percent fruit and berries (both wild and cultivated). Frequently seen running across lawns, running and stopping with an stiff erect posture, then stopping to pick up prey, which it locates by sight, not hearing.

Breeding

Photo © by ducbucln
Kelseyville, California, 28 January 2018

The female builds the nest and lays three or four blue eggs in the lined cup. The female does most of the incubation and it takes around a month for the chicks to fledge. There is often a second brood, the male caring for the fledglings whilst the female incubates the new clutch.

Bird banders have found that only about 25% of young birds survive the first year.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Nestwatch
  3. Robins - info and games
  4. American Robin, Kingbirds, Bluebirds and Chickadees of North America
  5. American Robin - AbsoluteAstronomy.com
  6. Vanderhoff, N., P. Pyle, M. A. Patten, R. Sallabanks, and F. C. James (2020). American Robin (Turdus migratorius), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.amerob.01
  7. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2019. American_Robin in: All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/ Accessed on 14May 2020.

Recommended Citation

External Links


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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