The female Robins are similar to the males, but have a gray head and a
duller colored chest.
Distribution
This bird breeds throughout
Canada and the
United States.
While Robins occasionally over winter in the northern part of the United
States and southern Canada, most winter in the southern parts of the
breeding range and beyond, from the southern U.S.A. to
Guatemala. Most
depart south by the end of August and begin to return north in February and
March. (Exact dates vary with latitude and climate, of course.)
Habitat
The American Robin's habitat includes farmland, forests, cities and
towns.
Food
Food is the typical thrush mixture consisting largely of
insects and
earthworms.
Robins are also fond of some
berries,
including those of the black cherry tree; they will fly in
especially to feed on them during the period when they ripen.
Robins are frequently seen running across lawns, picking up
earthworms by sight. In fact, the running and stopping
behavior is a distinguishing characteristic.
Song and calls
The American Robin, like many thrushes, has a beautiful and
complex song, and in contrast to other thrushes, its song is almost
continuous. Its song is commonly described as a cheerily
carol song. The song is made of discrete units, often repeated, and
spliced together into a string with brief pauses in between. The
song varies regionally, and its style varies by time of day.
The Robins will often be one of the last songbirds you will hear
singing at dusk and they will be one of the first birds you will
hear singing in the mornings throughout the spring and summer. They
will often start singing just before day light.
In addition to its song, the American Robin has a number of calls
used for communicating specific information. When a ground predator
approaches but does not directly threaten, Robins will make a
PEEK!! tut tut tut tut... warning call. When a nest or Robin is
being directly threatened, another call is used, which sounds like a
horse's whinny. Even during nesting season, when Robins exhibit
mostly competitive and territorial behavior, they may still band
together to drive away a predator. Robins also make a very
high-pitched sound when a hawk or other bird of prey is seen; other
robins will repeat the sound, seek cover, and stop moving. During
the colder parts of the year, the American Robin gathers in flocks
around food sources, and there is yet another call that is heard in
such flocks.
Nesting
