American Robins Habits

Actually, these birds spend the winter in much of their breeding range. However, because they spend less time in yards and congregate in large feeding flocks during winter, you're much less likely to see them.

During milder winters, it's more common to see them in backyards.

These birds are often used as the standard to which other birds sizes are compared; one of the most common native birds of the East, and the largest of the Thrush Family.

Hardly a garden in North America has not been visited by this bird. Often referred to as the Red Robin.

Description

Nesting Shelf

Sometimes during nesting season you'll see mud on the breast of a female, since she is the one that lines the nest with mud. The average size of this bird is 9-11 inches long.

Often, you'll see these birds hoping on lawns, meadows, and golf courses looking for earthworms. They also eat insects, fruit, and berries.

Nesting - Breeding Habits

The female builds the nest which is made of grasses, a middle layer of mud, then lined with fine grasses. The nest is usually placed in the crotch of a tree or shrub 5-20 feet above ground. The availability of mud at nesting time may entice these birds to nest nearby. They will also make use of wool, string and hair.

They can produce up to three successful broods in one year. On average though, two are raised with less than half of all nests being successful. Only a quarter of those that do fledge survive to November. From that point on, about half of the birds alive in any year will make it to the next.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the whole population turns over on average, every six years. The female lays 3-7 light blue eggs that are incubated for 12-14 days and the young leave the nest in about 14-16 days.

These birds will return to the same territories from season to season. Sometimes they build a new nest on top of their old one. I've seen as many as three on top of one another. It's a good idea to remove old nest in baskets and off of downspouts and rafters in fall so that parasites don't overwinter.

Removing the nest protects future broods should they return to the same nest site. This way they'll be no parasites to travel from the old nest to the new nest. Sometimes a single female will build several nest close to one another. She will eventually select one to raise her young in. No one knows why they do this from time to time.

It's not uncommon to find Doves reusing a Robins nest to lay their eggs and raise their young. Up to 3 broods are raised with 2 broods being the most common.

Feeding Habits - What They Eat

Because they forage largely on lawns, they are vulnerable to pesticide poisoning and can be an important indicator of chemical pollution.

Habitat

After the breeding season, Robins flock together and go to large communal roosts at night. This habit continues from fall through winter.

Baby Robins

You see, when baby robins first leave the nest, they are unable to fly. Some jump to higher branches in the nest tree and some take a tumble to the ground but landing softly. These baby birds are fine, the adults will continue to care for them. Leave Them Be!

If you're worried they may be in harms way, help them to a nearby shurb for protection and so that the adults will find and continue feeding them. The adult birds can see you a block away. So don't think because you don't see any adult birds that there are none around. Adults are listening for their young and will find them if you keep them close to where you found them.

Please share this information with others who may think they're helping these young birds. Keep your cats indoors during the nesting season and that will help a lot also. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Enjoy The Videos

This one is building a nest on one of our a Nesting Shelf

Watch As This One Eats A Whole Worm

More

Watch Video Of Our Nest Experience

Attracting Robins To Your Backyard

Back to List of Birds

Have A Great Story About Robins Around Your Home?

Use The Contact Us Page For Questions - This Form Is For Stories Only

We would love to read your story about Robins in your yard. Don't forget to add a picture, Our visitors love the pictures!

To begin just enter the information asked for and your story will soon appear on this website.

See What Other Visitors Have Said.

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...