American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

25 cm (10") Abundant throughout North America. State bird for Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin. Associated with spring and suburbia, this thrush is perhaps the best-known and loved bird.

Dark head and back. Partial eye ring. Yellow bill. White striping on throat. No wing bars. White undertail covers.

Male: dark rusty red breast.

Female: lighter orangish breast

Often seen on lawns with head cocked searching for worms. Nests in trees and shrubs but also on sheltered ledges such as windowsills or eaves.

Song: clear caroling, rising and falling "cheer-up, cheerily, cheer-up, cheerily"; rapid "tut tut tut" call.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

American Robins in the Snow

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

American Robin

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 9

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:719-american-robin:1:1 Source: 719 American Robin, row 1

Rule 2 5 criteria confidence 9

Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: Yes
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Turning over leaves · Running and stopping
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland

result:719-american-robin:2:1 Source: 719 American Robin, row 2

American Robin (Immature)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 9

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:720-american-robin-immature:1:1 Source: 720 American Robin (Immature), row 1