During the breeding season, the American robin is one of the first birds to sing in the morning and one of the last to stop singing in the evening.
Their upper side is dark gray with a darker head, and they have a rusty-orange breast and sides. They have white spots around their eyes and a dark tail. Adult males are darker than adult females and have a darker orange breast. Juveniles have a dark-spotted, orangish breast. Length: 25 cm (9.8 inches), wingspan: 43 cm (17 inches).
Their breeding range extends from western and northern Alaska eastward across northern Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland, and south to southern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, northwestern Mexico (Sonora), southern Mexico (Oaxaca and Veracruz), U.S. Gulf Coast, and (rarely) central Florida; also resident in the mountains of southern Baja California. The winter range extends from southern Alaska (rarely), southern Canada, and the northern contiguous United States south to Baja California, Guatemala, U.S. Gulf Coast, southern Florida, Bermuda, western Cuba, and (rarely the northern Bahamas).
American robins inhabit a wide range of habitats, including forest, woodland, scrub, parks, thickets, gardens, cultivated lands, savanna, swamps, and suburbs. They are attracted to areas with damp ground or small fruits. They typically build nests on tree or shrub branches, or building ledges, although they sometimes use fences, posts, or cliff ledges; they occasionally even build their nests on the ground. Most of the time, their nests are 1-6 meters (3-20 feet) above ground.
Most American robins that nest in Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States migrate south for the winter. Southward migrations may begin in August and usually peak in October and November, although the specific timing varies among locations and years. In the southern United States, northward migrations begin in February. The robins arrive in breeding areas in the northern United States in March and April and usually begin laying eggs in April or May; nesting may continue into July. They incubate their eggs for 11-14 days. Both parents tend to the young, who leave the nest 14-16 days after hatching.
<br />
Do you see...?
Active individuals One or more individuals are seen moving about or at rest.
Feeding One or more individuals are seen feeding. If possible, record the name of the species or substance being eaten or describe it in the comments field.
Fruit/seed consumption One or more individuals are seen eating the fleshy fruits, seeds, or cones of a plant. If possible, record the name of the plant or describe it in the comments field.
Insect consumption One or more individuals are seen eating insects. If possible, record the name of the insect or describe it in the comments field.
Do you hear...?
Calls or song One or more individuals are heard calling or singing.
Singing males One or more singing males are heard. Singing refers to stereotypical, simple or elaborate vocalizations used as part of a territorial proclamation or defense or mate attraction. It does not include relatively simple calls used for other forms of communication.
Mating A male and female are seen coupled in a mating position, usually with the male on top of the female.
Nest building One or more adults are seen constructing a nest or carrying nesting material.
Dead individuals One or more dead individuals are seen, including those found on roads.
Individuals at a feeding station One or more individuals are seen visiting a feeder, feeding station, or food placed by a person.
Acknowledgments
