Robin is the name for two common birds with reddish breasts. The American robin lives throughout North America, while the European robin inhabits most of Europe and parts of northern Africa and western Asia. The name robin also refers to a number of other, less common birds.
An American robin grows 9 to 11 inches (23 to 28 centimeters) long. The male has a brick-red breast, a brownish-gray back, and a black head and tail. Its white throat is streaked with black and its outer tail feathers are tipped with white. Its bill is yellow. The female robin grows slightly smaller than the male and has paler coloring. The American robin is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
American robins breed from North America, from northern Canada and Alaska to central Mexico. They are among the last birds to migrate south from northern regions in autumn. They also are among the first birds to return north in spring. The first robin of spring remains a popular sign that winter will soon be over.
From April to July, male American robins sing together for long periods at dawn and dusk and for shorter periods during the day. Their cheerful song consists of repeated short notes that alternately rise and fall. The song sounds as if the robins were singing “cheerily cheery.”
American robins frequently return to the same place each year to build nests. They prefer to nest in trees, but they will also nest on a shelf or ledge on a barn or house. The female robin forms a cup-shaped nest from such materials as grass stems, roots, twigs, rags, string, and paper. The male robin often accompanies the female on trips to and from the nest, and he may help bring nest-building materials. A female typically lays 3 to 5 blue eggs that hatch after about 13 days. Both parents feed the newly hatched birds. The young leave the nest about 13 days after they hatch. The male robin then cares for the young for another 10 to 15 days. American robins may raise two or three broods in spring and summer.
During the warmer months, American robins typically consume beetles, cutworms, earthworms, and wireworms. In the fall and winter, they eat chiefly fruit.
The European robin breeds in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. Robins from the northern parts of this range migrate south during winter. A European robin grows about 5 inches (13 centimeters) long. It has an orange-red forehead, throat, and breast. Its back, wings, and tail are olive-brown, and its belly is grayish-white. Males and females look alike.
European robins eat insects, snails, and worms. The birds often nest in and around buildings. Females typically lay 4 to 6 white or light-bluish eggs, which hatch after 15 days. The European robin’s song varies depending on the individual. A typical song begins with a few long, high notes followed by a series of short, rapid, lower notes.
