American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

American Robins are famous for migrating early. Yesterday we noticed large flocks passing through our canyon; I checked out Holy Cross Cemetery where another large flock was assembled with some drinking from a puddle. Robins are unusual in that they migrate both day and night. Most songbirds migrate only at night to avoid being eaten by hawks. This large familiar member of the Thrush family has adapted well to settled areas where they often forage for earthworms on manicured lawns. They frequently cock their heads to one side as they forage leading to the idea that they find worms by hearing them. But the evidence suggests they actually find worms by seeing them. These individuals are rather pale with minimal white on their tail corners, features consistent with the subspecies "T. m. propinquis" which ranges throughout western North America.