American Robin
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Common Name: American
Robin
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Species:
Turdus migratorius
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P hoto: M. Noonan |
TAXONOMY
The American Robin is part of the Turdidae family that
includes thrushes like the Hermit Thrush, Swainson's
Thrush and Eastern Bluebird. Like many thrushes the
robin has a broad body and strong legs for
walking/jumping. This bird has a black/grey back, black
head with a red breast and they also have a long yellow
bill to assist in foraging and also a conspicuous broken
eyering. Females generally are duller in color than the
male although some are dark enough to be
indistinguishable from males. Immature American Robins
lack a full red breast and instead have streaks, making
them look like other thrushes.
Photo: M. Noonan
HABITAT/DIET
American Robins are mostly
seen in open grassy habitats with little vegetation,
preferring tended lawns where it is easy for them to
forage. They are also occasionally seen near bodies of
water. American Robins are migratory in Western New York
generally migrating down to Mexico or the southern
United States where they will spend the winter. Although
many of them leave it is possible to still see robins in
western New York during the winter when some
individuals did not leave for the south. To forage for food, robins
are routinely seen hopping along on the ground and
cocking their head to stare at the ground in front of
them to locate their prey. They mainly consume
earthworms and also eat large insects and small fruits.
Photo: M. Noonan
BEHAVIOR
American Robins are one of
the easiest birds to observe because their
habitats are near our homes. These birds are generally found
to be gregarious, meaning they travel in groups,
especially late in the breeding season when there are
many fledglings. During the breeding season however,
they do not tolerate other robins in their territory,
especially male robins. Males will intimidate one
another by running toward their opponent repeatedly, to
make them leave the area. Also, robins maintain
territory during the year commonly by singing for long
periods of time especially during daybreak and dusk.
After male and female robins have pair bonded the female
will slowly start to make the nest which may take up to
a week to construct depending on the availability of
mud, twigs and dry grass. Eggs are laid shortly after
the finishing the construction of the nest and the
female will stay on the eggs to incubate them. Young are
hatched in about 12 days and they are atricial meaning
they have no feathers, they cannot use their eyes and
they cannot move very well except their head to accept
food from parents. The young birds will fledge 13 days
after hatching and their parents will accompany them for
around three weeks after fledging.
American Robins are
aggressive birds especially when predators are
threatening them or their young. They will usually mob
animals like Blue Jays and snakes that come close to
their nest. With larger predators, like the Screech Owl
their behaviors are more varied. The robin will
occasionally mob a small owl but it may also silently or
loudly approach the owl. It has been seen that there is
an increased chance of a robin mobbing and attacking a
predator when the predator is found in it's territory or
they are near the robin's chicks.
Photo: M. Noonan
