In this blog post we are excited to be Introducing the American Robin to our readers.
Personally, I feel these birds are extremely undervalued members of the bird community. They have a TON of personality, play games, chase each other often, and their fledglings are absolutely adorable! It is hard to drive down any residential street in the Southeast United States without seeing at least a few of these beneficial birds, hopping around in lawns and gardens, pecking at worms or insects.
What do American Robins typically eat?
We find that American Robins (members of the Thrush Family of birds) generally prefer live insects and worms for much of the year, however, in the Fall and Winter months when insects are not (usually) very active, they will eat the Dried Mealworms we put out for the other songbirds. But when there is a lot of crowding going on, some of the Robins will then begin to eat Suet Cakes or Suet Nuggets. (I'll add links to the end of this blog for those brands that we recommend based on our succesful experiences). In addition to the insects and suet, American Robins can also be found eating wild berries including Blackberries, Raspberries, Dogwood Tree berries and more. Here is a short video of a flock of Robins in the woods I captured at nearby Allatoona Creek Park.
In Spring, the rapid, cheery calls of the Robins can be heard from dawn until dusk. You'll seldom find them at the feeders as there are so many insects, spiders and worms around. It seems that anyone with a Sprinkler running in their lawn will also find flocks of American Robins as they will gather to eat any earthworms that come to the surface while the sprinkler runs, and the water penetrates the soil's surface. They will hop along the edges of driveways, curbs and streets and pause, waiting for any motion from the worms before immediately jumping on top of their location and pulling them out of the soil like spaghetti noodles! It's pretty entertaining to watch!
How can you tell the male American Robin and the female American Robin apart?
How can you tell a male from a female American Robin? The male bird in most species of birds is going to have brighter colors, or deeper color, or more contrasting colors. Female birds will typically look similar in coloration & pattern however this is not always the case. Robins however, are very similar and it can be tough to tell them apart at times but the male does still have darker feathers. Even the fledglings have more pronounced dark feathers on their heads and more bright, rich orange on their breast and undersides of their shoulders. In the image below, You can see pretty clearly the differences in the male and female American Robin coloration between the males and female. (If you are having trouble still, the female is the one in the Top-Center, and the males are on both sides of her.)
Are American Robins very territorial?
Yes, American Robins can be quite territorial when it comes to (certain) other birds, and even other American Robins. In the Winter months they seem to flock together well and for the most part, and play quite nicely. However, in Spring when they are breeding, or if a nest is nearby, a pair of Robins will often chase off any birds that compete for the same food. There are some exceptions of course, as they don't seem to bully any birds that are larger than themselves. We have seen them chase (temporarily) Eastern Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, Carolina Wrens and a few species of Warbler (Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tennessee Warblers). However, Eastern Blue Jays, Brown Thrashers, Common Grackles have no issue standing firm and don't seem to be intimidated much, if at all.
Do American Robins East Berries?
Take a look at the short video below, which shows a flock of Wintering American Robins feasting on berries that are growing in a forested area a Allatoona Creek Park.
Where do American Robins typically Nest
American Robins most frequently nest in small or mid-size trees, with nests 5 feed above the ground or higher. We've seen them 30 feet or higher as well! Sometimes they will be found in mature Crepe Myrtles or Dogwood Trees which can be found all across the Southeast!
What is a Robin's nest made of?
The American Robins seem to prefer using Pine Straw for the bulk of their construction materials. There may be a few tiny twigs mixed in for support.
<photo coming soon>
When do you typically see the first American Robin Fledglings?
We find that American Robins have already built their nests at the end of March or early April, and after another 6-7 weeks the babies are ready to leave the nest and follow the parents around for food and water needs. Just last week we were lucky enough to spot the first fledglings, visiting our water bowls and "shadowing" their parents when digging through our flower beds and lawn. Here is a photo and a video of "little Richard", as we like to call him.
What does a fledgling American Robin look like?
With the image above, as well as the short video clip below, you can see a very recently fledged American Robin, visiting a plate of mealworms and then grabbing a sip of water from one of our tiny bird "pools". He's still figuring it out, as he is both cautious and inquisitive!
Thanks for reading our Birds of West Cobb blog! We hope you enjoyed this topic an you value these wonderfully beneficial garden guardians as much as we do! Below we have shared a few links to the products mentioned above or pictured in the images that we captured.
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