When the Red, Red Robin comes bob, bob, bobbin' along

Little Robin Redbreast

Sat upon a rail;

Niddle, naddle, went his head,

Wiggle, waggle, went his tail.

American Robins, with their distinctive reddish breast, are synonymous with spring. Robins, which are common in our yards in warmer months, begin reappearing from late February through early March to herald Spring's imminent arrival.

Interesting Robin Insights:

• Despite it's name, Robins are members of the Thrush family. Nostalgic for European Robins, early English Colonists named our American Robins after their similarly colored, yet smaller cousin.


• Although considered a harbinger of spring, Robins often winter in the northern states. By the end of August, most Robins have flown a bit south towards their winter homes; to return in February and March.


• Their winter roosts are mostly unseen, in evergreens in cedar bogs and swamps. They gather in large roosts up to thousands of Robins where they feast on seasonal berries.

• A true early bird: Robins are one of the first North American bird species to lay eggs, breeding shortly after returning to their summer home.


• Most of us have seen Robins bobbing across a lawn, pausing, cocking their heads, then munching on their next morsel. I have always thought they were listening for worms and grubs. The truth is that Robins' keen eyesight detects its prey's miniscule movements before pouncing and pulling them out of the ground.


• In addition to these delicacies, more than half of the American Robins' balanced diet consists of seasonal fruits and berries.


• Unfortunately, Robins carry West Nile Virus. Since they live with the virus longer than crows and jays, they spread it to more mosquitoes who then share it with us.


• Their territory covers an estimated 6 million square miles throughout North America.
  
• Hatchlings, thanks to quickly developing wings, gain their flight license in just weeks.
  
• Sadly, only about 25 percent of robin fledglings survive the first years.

• The oldest known wild Robin lived 14 years. Their average lifespan is just two years.
  

Habitat
Robins live in gardens, open woodlands, and agricultural land adjacent to grassy areas where they forage on the ground for invertebrates.

Breeding
American Robin's will breed in woodlands, open farmland as well as urban and suburban areas.

Robin nests are cup-like and made of long coarse grass, twigs, paper, and feathers. The female singlehandedly builds a new nest for each of her broods, then she smears it with mud and even cushions it with grass and other soft materials. In northern areas where the leaves are slow to appear, the first clutch is usually raised in an evergreen tree or shrub.

A clutch consists of three to five light blue eggs which the female incubates singlehandedly. The eggs hatch after 14 days, and chicks leave the nest a further two weeks later. All chicks in the brood leave the nest within two days of each other. Robins normally produce two to three broods during their breeding season, which lasts from April to July.

During summer, while the females sleep on their nests, the males gather in roosts. As the young robins grow and become independent, they too join the other males in the roost. The female adult robins will join them only after completing their nesting duties. Robins usually have two broods a season; but, in a single year, American Robins can produce three successful broods.

PREDATORS and Problems

The adult robin is preyed upon by hawks, cats and larger snakes, but when feeding in flocks, it is able to be vigilant and watch other birds for reactions to predators.

Brown-headed cowbirds lay eggs in robin nests, but robins usually reject the cowbird eggs.

Plummage
Both the male and female Robins proudly display their bright red orange breast, brown bill and legs. Female plummage is slightly less bright. Young robins are speckled brown which changes, once they molt during their second or third month.

Diet
Robins forage on the ground for soft-bodied invertebrates, such as beetle grubs, caterpillars and grasshoppers.

Although they won't enjoy birdseed or eating from a bird feeder. With patience, you may be able to lure Robins to a shallow container offering earthworms, meal worms, dried fruits and berries.

When the red, red robin
comes bob, bob, bobbing along,
there’ll be no more sobbing
when he starts singing his old sweet song…
~ Harry Woods

Their lovely song is sung by the male robins. They change their cheery carol throughout the day as they communicate, such as a warning when a predator nears. They also have a different song when a predator approaches their nest and another during winter.

Robins are among the first birds to sing at dawn, and often the last at night, too.

He rocks in the tree-top all a day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and a-singin' the song
All the little birds on J-Bird St.
Love to hear the robin goin' tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin (tweet tweet tweet)
Oh rockin' robin well you really gonna rock tonight

"Rockin' Robin" was written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas
and first recorded by Bobby Day in 1958.

Because they often build nests that are easily seen, robins are loved by bird watchers and children. Robins are cherished symbols of spring as reflected in poetry and numerous songs.

Sources:

• http://www.birdhouses101.com/robin-facts.asp
• http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote-transcript.cfm?id=77
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Robin
• http://enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?allSpecies=y&searchText=robin&curGroupID=1&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=2
• eNature.com (request a free ringtone of the American Robin or other birds or beasts.
• http://birdsbybent.com/ch31-40/robin.html
  

Article compiled by Renee C. Brannigan