Espanola, Ontario, Canada - fat robin? (1 Viewer)

[Bird Brainer]

Not sure what to make of this bird. It looks like an American Robin, but it much bigger! Middle image has a confirmed AMRO for size, and it seems so much bigger! And bluer! Many thanks again!!!!

 

[Butty]

All are American robins - so the bird in pic no. 1 is, in fact, the same size as every other American robin. You can't compare the sizes of birds in different photos without a comparative standard that's present in all the photos. Judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable.

 

[Bird Brainer]

All are American robins - so the bird in pic no. 1 is, in fact, the same size as every other American robin. You can't compare the sizes of birds in different photos without a comparative standard that's present in all the photos. Judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable.

thanks, it just seems soo fat!! I guess it is a male? I looked up Varied Thrush and it does not have the markings for that..

 

[Butty]

The apparent shape of any bird (and this certainly does affect thrushes) varies with lots of factors - primarily posture and degree of feather-ruffling. When a bird ruffles its feathers it looks instantly bigger than it did a moment ago.
I think the bird in pic 1 is a male, but that is not relevant to the fact that, at the moment the photo was taken, it looks fat. And looking fat, of course, has no relevance to how big it is.

 

[Butty]

Note also that birds' sizes are conventionally assessed by overall length - bill-tip to tail-tip - so this is unaffected by a bird ruffling its feathers (and thus looking fat).

 

[KC Foggin]

Definitely an American Robin

 

[Bird Brainer]

This bird is definitely bigger than other robins in my area. It looks almost bloated, compared to the more sleeker profile of the others. I am sure I have 10 or so in my yard, and have been watching them for months. Makes it all the more interesting - I will continue to photo this anomaly for my own interest!

 

[Bird Brainer]

All are American robins - so the bird in pic no. 1 is, in fact, the same size as every other American robin. You can't compare the sizes of birds in different photos without a comparative standard that's present in all the photos. Judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable.

It is the same bird in all pics.

 

[Butty]

This bird is definitely bigger than other robins in my area.

All American robins, once their feathers are full-grown, are - as far as would be noticeable in the field - the same overall length. This is just the way that the vast majority of bird species are - and will apply to all of the individuals of a given species in your area. As I've discussed, looking 'bigger' (if that means fatter, bulkier, heavier, etc) is a different issue.

 

[PYRTLE]

Image no.1 does show a blueish cast to the upperparts and is possibly a photographic artefact rather than it's true colour. Regarding size, look at how variable human beings are though for passerines the size range is quite small. As you said, a fat American Robin.