American robins are not considered threatened or endangered, and they are very adaptable to areas under development, such as suburban communities and housing developments. American Robin pairs remain together for that year's nesting. During the winter, birds may congregate in large flocks. In late winter, male American Robins begin to sing their cheerful, caroling song (cheerily cheer-up cheerio…), a sure harbinger of springtime for many. BIRD OF THE WEEK: July 5, 2019 SCIENTIFIC NAME: Turdus migratorius POPULATION: 380 million TREND: Increasing HABITAT: Suburban and agricultural areas, open woodlands. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). The American Robin has a very large breeding range, encompassing a wide variety of open woods and edge habitats from northern Alaska, across Canada, down through the lower 48 United States, and into mountainous areas of Mexico. Birders often use the robin's loud, musical song as a reference when learning other bird songs. Female is duller. American robins readily visit backyards, often foraging for worms and insects in the grass. It is very scarce in winter in Cuba and the Bahamas and has occurred as a rare vagrant to other parts of the West Indies, as well as Europe. The back is gray or brown-gray and the chest and abdomen are red or red-orange. Because they are so common and widespread, American robins are not difficult to find. Watch for these birds pausing and running across grassy areas such as athletic fields, golf courses, and school playgrounds. Check out all our detailed bird profiles to learn even more about all your favorite birds! Scientific name: Turdus migratorius Common name: American Robin (Information for this Species Page was compiled by Sarah Allison for Biology 220W at Penn State New Kensington in Spring 2000) The American robin is one of the most widely recognized birds in North America. Unlike many other birds, the American Robin seems to have benefited from urbanization and agricultural development. In addition, this species has a variety of distinctive calls, including a shrill cheep alarm call and a low tuktuktuk when disturbed. They can be found throughout the continental United States and central Mexico year-round in urban, suburban, and forest habitats. Juveniles look similar to adults but show pale whitish spotting or short streaks on the upperparts and gray or gray-black spotting on the underparts. Distinctive Markings: Male has orange breast, black head and tail, yellow bill, white around eyes and on throat. Since American Robins forage and feed on the ground, they are especially vulnerable to predation by outdoor cats. Length: 10 inches. The Turdidae bird family includes more than 175 species, including different thrushes, bluebirds, and solitaires. Many of ABC's policy programs help to reduce the impacts of these hazards. Robins are popular birds for their warm orange breast, cheery song, and early appearance at the end of winter. Wingspan: 17 inches. American robins are frequently found in open areas, including gardens, parks, yards, and golf courses. Nest: Three to four pastel-blue eggs are laid in a neat deep cup made of mud and grass. In a mild year, they may migrate very little, or not at all. The American robin's nest is a deep, sturdy cup of twigs, grasses, and mud, usually positioned in the crotch of a tree or a branch fork, though these birds will also readily use nesting shelves. The quintessential early bird, American Robins are common sights on lawns across North America, where you often see them tugging earthworms out of the ground. The American Robin is one of the species that is clearly showing northward shifts in its distribution as a result of global warming. During the breeding season, American robins are largely solitary or may stay in pairs. These are omnivorous birds that eat a wide range of foods. Migratory populations spend the winter from extreme southern Canada south to central Mexico. During short winter days, smaller groups break off to forage for food, rejoining the roost in the evening. While these birds will stay year-round where food sources are abundant, populations in southern Canada and the extreme southern United States do migrate seasonally. Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius. The robin’s song is familiar to many birders with its high, varied pitch warble. Although originally a bird of forest clearings, this species adapted particularly well to the widespread settlement and clearing of forest and grassland that occurred over the last few centuries. With distinct colors and interesting behavior, these members of the Turdidae bird family are one of the most beloved wild birds, and they are recognized as the state birds of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Birders interested in learning more about related birds should investigate the eastern bluebird, as well as take steps to attract more thrushes to their yard. Pairs of robins will produce 2-3 broods of 3-8 pale blue eggs each during their annual breeding season. The American Robin is a thrush, related to the Wood Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, and Varied Thrush, while the European Robin is an Old World flycatcher. Nests are most often built 5 to 15 feet off the ground in a tree fork, in a densely foliated shrub, or on a window ledge or other sheltered structure. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. This fact sheet explores all that makes American robins distinctive and interesting. Our Cats Indoors and Bird-Smart Glass programs in particular offer solutions for making backyards safer. The American Robin is a thrush, related to the Wood Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, and Varied Thrush, while the European Robin is an Old World flycatcher. This fact sheet explores all that makes American robins distinctive and interesting. Another similar bird, though in a different family, is the eastern towhee, and learning more about that bird can help birders better recognize American robins and just how different they can be. In general, however, American robins only migrate as far as necessary to meet their needs, so their migration extent can vary from year to year. While feeding, robins run forward before pausing and turning their heads to look for worms and insects with their keen eyesight. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Top 15 Most Popular Bird Species in North America. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. (Audio of American Robin by Antonio Xeira XC383961, accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/383961; audio of Scarlet Tanager by Daniel Lane XC101898, accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/101898; audio of Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Todd Wilson XC43406, accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/43406). Seven American Robin subspecies are recognized, based on differences in body size and plumage color. The lower abdomen and undertail coverts are white with some blurry black or gray spotting under the tail. This species has a wide-ranging diet. While robins are best known for their worm-loving appetite, they also eat many other types of insects. Often believed to be the “first bird of spring,” the American robin is actually one of the most common and familiar backyard birds all year long. They may also nest in the crooks of gutter downspouts, on top of sheltered birdhouses, or in other unusual locations. If conditions allow, a robin pair will raise two or three broods per season. American robins are frequent contributors to the dawn chorus in spring and early summer and will sing even before the sun rises as they seek out mates and advertise their mating readiness. American Robins are social birds, especially during the winter, when they gather in large night roosts of up to 250,000 birds. The legs and feet are dark. Northern populations are short- to medium-distance migrants, and two nonmigratory subspecies are resident in Mexico. The female chooses the nest site and builds the cup-shaped nest, making a new one for each clutch of three to four sky-blue eggs. Male robins are very territorial near their nests and feeding areas and will chase away other robins or even attack their own reflections in glass windows or chrome car bumpers. It is one of the first birds to sing in the morning, often beginning well before dawn, and one of the last to be heard at night. Often believed to be the first bird of spring, the American robin is actually one of the most common and familiar backyard birds all year long. In winter, when insects are absent from many areas, they will switch to eating fruits, berries, and nuts. Robins are especially attracted to bird baths and dust bath areas and may visit open sunny spots for sunbathing.