American Robins are a common sight on lawns eating earthworms. They have black heads and backs with red or orange breasts. They tend to roost in trees in winter, so you are more likely to see them in your backyard in spring.
- Turdus migratorius
- Length: 7.9 – 11.0 in (20 – 28 cm)
- Weight: 2.7 – 3.0 oz (77 – 85 g)
- Wingspan: 12.2 – 15.8 in (31 – 40 cm)
Range
American Robins are residents in the lower 48 and the coast of Western Canada and Alaska. Those that breed in Canada and inland Alaska move south for the winter.
Habitat And Diet
American Robins can be found in many habitats, from woodlands, forests, and mountains to fields, parks, and lawns. They eat earthworms, insects, snails, and fruit.
American Robin Song:
American Robin Call:
Nests
Nests of American Robins are chosen by the female and she may build them on branches of trees, hidden by a thick layer of leaves. American Robins may also build their nests in man-made locations like gutters, eaves, buildings, and even on outdoor light fixtures.
The female builds the nest from the inside out. She will use dead grass and twigs to form the cup and may add paper, moss, feathers, and rootlets depending on which material is available. She will line the insides with fine dry grass to make it soft.
After, she will lay three to five eggs which she will incubate for twelve to fourteen days.
Attract American Robins
Attract them to your backyard with sunflower seeds, suet and peanut hearts, fruit, and mealworms. Platform feeders are best or food scattered on the ground. Also, try planting some native plants that produce berries, such as juniper, sumac, hawthorn, and dogwood.
Fun Fact:
American Robins feast on fruit during the winter. When they eat honeysuckle berries, they sometimes become intoxicated.
