The American robin belongs to the family of thrushes and is considered to be abundant and widespread. Because it is such a familiar sight, any decrease in sightings can serve as an early warning sign of environmental problems, such as overuse of pesticides.
A migratory songbird, the American robin is easily identified by its brown back and reddish-orange breast. It is recognized as the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The ultimate “early bird,” the American robin is commonly seen on lawns across North America tugging earthworms out of the ground. Robins are extremely popular birds because of their cheery songs, warm orange breasts, and their early appearance at the end of winter. Even though they are familiar sights in towns and cities, the American robin is also comfortable in mountain forests and wilderness areas.
The males arrive before females on nesting grounds and defend their potential territory by singing and, sometimes, fighting. When it is time to nest, the female chooses the nest site and builds the nest from the inside out, pressing dead grass and twigs into a cup shape using the wrist of one wing. the ground, in gutters, on outdoor light fixtures, or any structure they determine safe for nesting.
The American robin typically lays between 3 to 7 pale blue eggs (the color known as “robin’s egg blue”). The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days, but both parents participate in the feeding. Both parents will aggressively defend their nest. The young leave the nest 14 to 16 days after hatching. Often, the male will tend the fledged young while the female begins the second nesting attempt as they have two broods per season, sometimes three.
If you are interested in attracting this bird to your yard, the species often comes to bird feeders. Therefore, consider erecting a nest structure to attract a breeding pair, making sure to have it in place well before the breeding season. Several plans for building appropriate-sized nest structures are available online.
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. The website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
