American Robin Turdus Migratorius American Robins Leave No Doubt

SPECIES PROFILE

FOOD HABITS. Robins mainly consume invertebrates and fruit. They generally feed on the ground and they use either a roaming foraging or a sit-and-wait strategy.7 Much of their spring diet consists of soft-bodied invertebrates, such as earthworms.10

LIFE HISTORY. American Robins are mostly monoga- mous.10 Males stay close to their mate and initiate aggressive interactions with rival males.1,3 Robin territories be- come smaller when pair densities increase and areas range from approximately 0.1–2.0 acres.2,8,14 Nest site locations vary widely, but most include sturdy support in a sheltered location.12 Males may bring some nesting material, but females build the nest.5 Females construct the nest from the inside using dead grass and twigs, and sometimes add paper, rootlets, feathers, and moss to the outside. A female will

9 carry mud in her bill, knead the mud into the nest cup using her body, and lastly line the cup with fine, dead grass.2 Rob- American Robin ins do not use mud in wet regions such as the Pacific North- Turdus migratorius west.13 Females lay 3–4 eggs.2 Only females incubate the eggs.10 Incubation lasts 12–14 days.2,5 Nestlings are altri- American Robins leave no doubt that they’ve arrived in cial.10 Both parents feed young by regurgitation at first,13 spring because they will hang like Christmas ornaments from then with soft insects (e.g., grubs), and finally whole insects the crabapple tree in the front yard until the fruit is gone. and fruit.2,10 Young fledge approximately 13 days after Robins were the most commonly observed bird in our sur- hatching2 and parents continue to feed for another three vey. They’ll nest everywhere from the lilac bushes by the weeks.10 Double-clutching and even triple clutching in shed to the forgotten flower pots stacked beside the garage. southern areas is common.2,15 Males assume responsibility 10 IDENTIFICATION. American Robins exhibit slight sexu- for fledglings if the female starts another clutch. al dichromatism in that females are slightly duller than 6,10 STATUS. BBS data reveal that populations remained rela- males overall. Adults are gray-brown on the back, rump, tively stable in Minnesota, but increased in the Central Re- and wings, and have a darker head and tail. They have white gion and the U.S. from 1966–2006.11 We observed Ameri- crescents above and below the eyes, a streaked white chin, can Robins with breeding evidence at 77% (55) of sample and white lower belly. Males especially have a brick red units and this included 9% (6) Possible, 26% (18) Probable, breast, and yellow legs and bill. Robins are approximately 10 and 44% (31) Confirmed records. 10 inches long. The males’ song is often rendered as cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up. Females and CONSERVATION. No specific management is necessary males have several calls, and the most common is chirp, to conserve American Robins. They are common and readily 10 chuck, cuck often delivered as an alarm call. accept human-modified landscapes.

______MBW DISTRIBUTION. American Robins breed throughout Min- nesota and most of North America and into Mexico (see inset 1. Gowaty, P. A., and J. H. Plissner. 1987. Association of male and female American Robins (Turdus 10 migratorius) during the breeding season: paternity assurance by sexual access or mate- map, opposite page). Their breeding area has increased guarding. Wilson Bulletin 99:56–62. 2. Howell, J. C. 1942. Notes on the nesting habits of the American Robin (Turdus migratorius L.). with establishment of farmland, homesteads, and suburban American Midland Naturalist 28:529–603. areas.10 Their wintering range can extend as far north as 3. Hsu, Y. 1992. The function of aggressive interactions and singing behavior in the American 10 Robin (Turdus migratorius). Dissertation, State University of New York, New York, USA. most of the lower 48 U.S. states and into Mexico. Some 4. Janssen, R. B. 1987. Birds in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, USA. 6,10 5. Kendeigh, S. C. 1952. Parental care and its evolution in birds. Illinois Biological birds never move far from breeding areas. Monograph 22:1–356. 6. National Geographic Society. 2001. Field guide to the birds of North America. Third edition. National Geographic, Washington, D.C., USA. MIGRATION. The species name “migratorious” means 7. Paszkowski, C. A. 1982. Vegetation, ground, and frugivorous foraging of the American Robin. wandering as well as migratory,10 and robins live up to their Auk 99:701–709. 8. Pitts, T. D. 1984. Description of American Robin territories in northwest Tennessee. name. In spring, migrants arrive in early March through late Migrant 55:1–6. 4 9. Riggs, S. R. 1992. A Dakota-English Dictionary. Minnesota Historical Society Press, Saint Paul, May. Fall migration occurs late August through late No- Minnesota, USA. vember.4 Some birds never leave Minnesota depending on 10. Sallabanks, R., and F. C. James. 1999. American Robin (Turdus migratorius). Number 454 in A. 4 Poole and F. Gill, editors. The Birds of North America, The National Academy of Sciences, winter severity and the fruit crop. Stragglers stay in flocks Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C., USA. and wander throughout forested areas in search of wild 11. Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2008. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results fruit.6,10 Robins primarily migrate in flocks during the day.10 and Analysis 1966–2007. Version 5.15.2008. U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA. 12. Savard, J. P. L., and J. B. Falls. 1981. Influence of habitat structure on the nesting height of birds in urban areas. Canadian Journal of Zoology 59:924–932. HABITAT. American Robins frequent sparsely wooded and 13. Tyler, W. M. 1949. Eastern Robin. Pages 14–45 in A. C. Bent, editor. Life histories of North shrubby areas where they forage in lawns, short grass, and American thrushes, kinglets, and their allies. U.S. National Museum Bulletin 196. 6,10 14. Young, H. 1951. Territorial behavior in the eastern robin. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.Y. 58–62:1–37. bare areas. 15. Young, H. 1955. Breeding behavior and nesting of the eastern robin. American Midland Naturalist

53:329–352. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

17A1 17A2 17B1 17B2 16A1 16A2 16B1 16B2 15A1 15A2 15B1 15B2 14A1 14A2

17A3 17A4 17B3 17B4 16A3 16A4 16B3 16B4 15A3 15A4 15B3 15B4 14A3 14A4

17C1 17C2 17D1 17D2 16C1 16C2 16D1 16D2 15C1 15C2 15D1 15D2 14C1 14C2

17C3 17C4 17D3 17D4 16C3 16C4 16D3 16D4 15C3 15C4 15D3 15D4 14C3 14C4

20A1Range 20A2 20B1 20B2 21A1 21A2 21B1 21B2 22A1 22A2 22B1 22B2 23A1 23A2 Breeding Year Round 20A3 Wintering20A4 20B3 20B4 21A3 21A4 21B3 21B4 22A3 22A4 22B3 22B4 23A3 23A4

20C1 20C2 20D1 20D2 21C1 21C2 21D1 21D2 22C1 22C2 22D1 22D2 23C1 23C2

20C3 20C4 20D3 20D4 21C3 21C4 21D3 21D4 22C3 22C4 22D3 22D4 23C3 23C4

29A1 29A2 29B1 29B2 28A1 28A2 28B1 28B2 27A1 27A2 27B1 27B2 26A1 26A2

29A3 29A4 29B3 29B4 28A3 28A4 28B3 28B4 27A3 27A4 27B3 27B4 26A3 26A4

29C1 29C2 29D1 29D2 28C1 28C2 28D1 28D2 27C1 27C2 27D1 27D2 26C1 26C2

29C3 29C4 29D3 29D4 28C3 28C4 28D3 28D4 27C3 27C4 27D3 27D4 26C3 26C4

32A1 32A2 32B1 32B2 33A1 33A2 33B1 33B2 34A1 34A2 34B1 34B2 35A1 35A2

32A3 32A4 32B3 32B4 33A3 33A4 33B3 33B4 34A3 34A4 34B3 34B4 35A3 35A4

32C1 32C2 32D1 32D2 33C1 33C2 33D1 33D2 34C1 34C2 34D1 SMSC34D2 Property35C1 Boundary35C2 Breeding Status 32C3 32C4 32D3 32D4 33C3 33C4 33D3 33D4 34C3 34C4 34D3 Not34D4 surveyed35C3 35C4 Not observed Observed as non-breeding - Species observed but not believed to be breeding in the sample unit. Possibly breeding - Male (singing or not) or female observed in suitable nesting habitat during its breeding season. Observed as non-breeding Probably breeding - Three or more territorial males; a pair observed in suitable nesting habitat during the species breeding season; territorial behavior in the same location over a span of a week; courtship; copulation; visiting probable nest Possibly breeding (6) site; agitated behavior; nest building by wrens or woodpeckers. Confirmed breeding - Nest building or nest material carried by birds other than wrens or woodpeckers; distraction display; used Probably breeding (18) nest; recently fledged young; occupied nest; fecal sac transportation; nest with eggs; nest with young. 00.510.25 Confirmed breeding (31) Source: SMSC Faunal Atlas, NatureServ Explorer Miles "