American Robin: Wisconsin state bird

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus and Species: Turdus migratorius

American Robins are thrushes, a species characterized by flute-like songs and whistled calls. The American Robin, with its telltale orange breast and gray back, is common in most of the United States. Its playful song, which sounds like “cheerily, cheer up, cheer up,” signals spring for most of us that live in the northern United States, although the American Robin can spend most of the year in its entire breeding range. In addition to its cheery, complex song, the American Robin has a warning call, “PEEK, tut tut tut tut.” When directly threatened, the American Robin makes a call reminiscent of a horse whinny.

Listen to the song of the American Robin from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (opens in a new window).

Range: The American Robin can be found throughout the United States most of the year. Florida and southern regions of Texas, California, and Arizona typically house American Robins primarily in the winter months. Although present in Wisconsin during winter months, the American Robin congregates in large flocks, often numbering in the thousands, and is less likely to be seen in yards.

Reproduction: American Robins mate from April through July and produce up to three broods in one year. The female builds the nests, with some assistance from the male, in a tree or bush five to fifteen feet above the ground. The female lays three to five blue eggs, which she incubates for about two weeks, after which the eggs hatch. Fifteen days later, the young fledge. However, only 40 percent of nests successfully fledge young. Of these, only 25 percent survive to November. Of these, about half survive to the next year! A robin that beats these odds can live to be fourteen years old, but typically the entire population of American Robins turns over every six years. Females sleep on nests, while males congregate in roosts. Females return to the roosts after they have completed nesting.

Diet: American Robins eat both fruit and invertebrates, but what they choose to eat is dependent on time of day and time of year. In winter, fruit (berries) is the primary diet. During warmer months, robins eat earthworms early in the day and fruit later in the day. Robins hunt on lawns with their heads cocked to one side, as if they are listening for prey. Actually, they generally use sight to find their next meal. Because robins forage on lawns, they are vulnerable to pesticide poisoning.

Conservation status: Populations appear to be stable or increasing throughout its range.

Rescue & Rehabilitation: As with all wild creatures, baby birds are best reared by their parents in the wild. If you find a bird which has fallen out of its nest please make every attempt to replace it. It is a common myth that adult birds will not accept a baby which has been handled by humans, but in fact birds have a very poor sense of smell and will not regect their young for this reason.

If the nest has been destroyed, or you can not find it, you can easily make a substitute out of a berry basket or margarine tub with holes poked in the bottom for drainage. Fill the nest with tissues, grass and leaves and place it back in the tree. Keep an eye out (from a distance) to be sure that the parents return and resume care for their youngster.

Before a juvenile bird flies off on its own it will often spend a few days hopping around on the ground to get the lay of the land. During this time the adult birds continue to bring food to their fledgling. A fledgling bird does not need rescue unless it is visibly sick or injured. If the bird is temporarily in danger, you can pick it up and place it on a nearby bush or low branch to remove it from harms way. Also try to keep children and domestic pets away from the area, the fledgling will be gone soon.

If you find a sick or injured baby, fledgling, or adult bird, please contact FLWC.

Sources: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds.
Sibley, D.A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
American Robin. eNature.com

	Keep Current! Subscribe to FLWC's email list.
	Email:
	Browse Archives at groups.google.com