american robin american robin migratory family named european robin reddish orange breast species closely related european robin belonging family american robin widely distributed north_america southern canada central mexico pacific_coast state bird connecticut michigan wisconsin according sources american robin ranks red winged ahead introduced european naturally occurring house abundant extant land bird north_america seven subspecies baja california sur particularly distinctive pale gray brown american robin active day large flocks night diet consists invertebrates beetle fruits earliest bird species lay eggs beginning breed shortly returning summer range winter range nest consists long coarse grass twigs paper feathers mud grass soft materials birds sing dawn song consists units repeated adult robin preyed hawks cats larger snakes feeding flocks watch birds reactions predators brown headed lay eggs robin nests brood parasite usually reject eggs taxonomy species described twelfth edition derives latin words term robin species recorded species medium large genus characterized rounded heads pointed wings usually songs study mitochondrial gene indicates american robin clade instead shows genetic similarities olive african species conflicts dna study species places american robin closest relative robin central_america having distinct plumage species similar behavior lies small group species central american distribution suggesting recently spread northwards north_america seven subspecies american robin recognized subspecies weakly defined nominate subspecies breeds canada west coast edge alaska northern canada east new_england south maryland northwest virginia north_carolina winters southern coastal alaska southern canada bermuda bahamas eastern mexico breeds coastal northern quebec newfoundland winters southern newfoundland south eastern states southern louisiana southern mississippi northern georgia uniformly darker head dark gray slightly red nominate subspecies breeds southern oklahoma east maryland western virginia south northern florida gulf states winters southern breeding range smaller nominate subspecies black feathers forehead crown pale gray tips paler nominate subspecies breeds southeast alaska coastal british_columbia washington northwest oregon winters southwest british_columbia south central southern california east northern idaho slightly smaller nominate subspecies dark headed white tips outer tail feathers restricted breeds southeast british_columbia southern alberta southwest south southern california northern baja california winters southern breeding range south baja california size slightly larger nominate paler tinged heavily brownish gray little white tip tail feather birds probably females lack red males usually darker pale whitish sides head breeds highlands southern baja california form particularly distinctive pale gray brown relatively small subspecies uniform pale gray brown head face usually lacks white spots tips outer tail feathers white edges classed separate species robin regards subspecies albeit different group races resident mexico south central slightly smaller larger bill male brick red nominate subspecies tone description nominate subspecies american robin long wingspan ranging similar size ranges races species averages weight males ranging females ranging standard measurements wing chord head varies jet black gray white eye arcs white throat white black streaks belly white robin brown reddish orange breast varying rich red orange bill mainly yellow dark tip area extensive winter legs feet brown sexes similar female tends male brown head brown bright birds safely plumage juvenile paler color adult male dark spots breast whitish wing year birds easily distinguishable adults tend small percentage retains juvenile wing feathers distribution habitat bird breeds north_america alaska canada southward northern florida mexico occasionally northern united_states southern canada migrate winter south canada florida gulf_coast central mexico pacific_coast depart south end august begin return north february march exact dates vary latitude climate despite depicted film nest london species actually rare western europe majority records britain autumn migration displaced eastwards leading massive movements eastern presumably led fewer american found britain attempting taken recent sighting britain occurred january species occurred greenland jamaica hispaniola puerto_rico belize europe identified subspecies nominate greenland birds included southern american robin breeding habitat woodland open farmland urban areas common southernmost united_states prefers large shade trees winter habitat similar includes open areas conservation status american robin extensive range estimated km2 large population million individuals species believed approach population decline criterion declining years generations evaluated concern point bird killed meat protected range united_states migratory bird act birds central california subspecies considered increasing range probably case disease american robin known reservoir carrier virus noticed deaths area virus american robin suspected key host holds larger responsibility transmission virus humans die quickly virus american robin survives virus longer spreading transmit virus humans species behavior american robin active day winter grounds large flocks night trees swamps dense vegetation flocks break day birds feed fruits smaller groups summer american robin defends breeding territory social diet american robin diet generally consists percent small invertebrates mainly insects beetle percent wild cultivated fruits ability switch allows winter farther north north american flock eating sufficient quantities exhibit behavior falling walking forage primarily ground soft bodied invertebrates find worms sight pulling fed mainly worms soft bodied animal prey areas particularly coastal race feed beaches taking insects small robin uses visual possibly cues prey vision predominant mode prey detection frequently seen running picking running stopping behavior distinguishing characteristic addition hunting visually ability hunt hearing experiments discovered find worms underground simply listening skills typically short head left right forward detect movement prey urban areas gather numbers soon use attracted turned earth gardens worms abundant targets occasionally visit bird animal fat offered threats juvenile eggs preyed snakes birds blue jay common american common adults primarily taken hawks cats dogs larger snakes especially rat snakes taken nearly variety north american smallest sharp hawk largest golden eagle north american falcon smallest american largest owl species northern snowy overall bird species known hunt adult vulnerable distracted breeding activities attacked ground flight feeding flocks american robin able remain watch flock members reactions predators american robin known eggs brood brown headed rare occurs parasite chick normally survive study juvenile infected species species commonly encountered found birds breeding american robin begins breed shortly returning summer range north american bird species lay eggs normally breeding season lasts april july nest commonly located ground dense bush fork tree branches built female outer foundation consists long coarse grass twigs paper feathers lined mud fine grass soft materials new nest built brood northern areas clutch usually placed tree later placed deciduous trees american robin shy away nesting close human frequently construct nests human homes locations provide adequate shelter cavity generally use bird house advantage artificial nesting platforms provided clutch consists light blue eggs female eggs hatch days chicks leave nest weeks later chicks naked eyes closed days hatching chicks young mother continuously older mother brood night bad weather chicks fed worms insects waste accumulation occur nest adults collect away chicks fed raise tails elimination waste solid white collected parent prior flying chicks brood leave nest days leaving nest juveniles follow parents food juveniles capable sustained flight weeks adult male female active protecting feeding fledged chicks learn forage adult robin gives alarm calls threatening manner creatures considers potential predators approaching cats dogs humans able fly short distances leaving nest wings juvenile birds develop rapidly takes couple weeks proficient flying colored young birds perch bushes trees protection predators bird found young survive year longest known lifespan wild american robin years average lifespan years male american robin complex continuous song song commonly described carol units repeated string brief song varies style varies time day song period early march california late july early august birds particularly east sing occasionally september later american robin singing dawn rises hours evening sets usually sings high perch tree song weaker nominate subspecies lacks clear notes robin sings storms approach storms passed addition song american robin number calls communicating specific information ground predator approaches nest robin directly threatened nesting season exhibit competitive territorial behavior band drive away predator culture american robin state bird connecticut michigan wisconsin depicted birds canada series canadian note note withdrawn robin egg blue color named bird eggs american robin place native american mythology story robin got red breast dying flames save native american man boy similar surround european robin people held culture hero created raven people song houses raven tribe nation holds robin house crest family american attracted minor publicity mid-1930s prominent nest canadian peace bridge connecting buffalo new_york ontario robin considered symbol spring known example poem robin 19th century poems robin spring robin according author wife based quebec sees robin spring good luck spring borne fact tend follow north spring south fall american popular songs featuring bird include red red robin bob written hit robin written hit bobby day comic book superhero robin inspired illustration later version mother robin born day spring red shirt suggests bird red breast
American robin