Page 135 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 135
rican Robin
(Turdus migratorius)
Description
These are medium-sized songbirds
about 20 to 28 centimeters in length.
Males have a gray back and wings, red-orange breast, white rings around the
eyes and dark streaks on the throat. The males’ heads turn black in spring.
Females are brown with a rusty breast. Young birds have a spotted breast.
Song: a series of bright syllables repeated in an irregular pattern: Cheer,
cheery, cheerily, cheery, cheer up. Call: a series of notes (Erp…erp…erp), often
preceded by a Yeep! The American Robin is one of the earliest birds to nest
in spring. The female does most of the nest-building, incubating and feeding
of the chicks. Three to five blue-green eggs are laid that hatch in about two
weeks. They may rear up to three broods a year. Although their species name
is migratorious, many American Robins do not actually migrate: some remain
in their breeding territory year-round; others roost in large mixed flocks during
the winter and return to breeding ranges in spring.
Distribution and Habitat American Robins love sweet fruits
and berries and eat them even after
American Robins live year-round they ferment. If they eat too many,
in all five physiographic provinces. robins may become drunk!
They prefer open woodlands,
swamps, farms and pastures, and
suburban habitats such as parks
and lawns.
Role in Food Web
Robins eat a wide variety of
invertebrates such as earthworms,
grubs, caterpillars and insects as well as
fruits and berries. They are often seen
on the ground with their heads cocked
to the side, then pouncing on worms
and pulling them up. Eggs and young
are preyed upon by Gray Squirrels, snakes and some birds. Adults are taken
primarily by hawks, cats and snakes.
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(Turdus migratorius)
Description
These are medium-sized songbirds
about 20 to 28 centimeters in length.
Males have a gray back and wings, red-orange breast, white rings around the
eyes and dark streaks on the throat. The males’ heads turn black in spring.
Females are brown with a rusty breast. Young birds have a spotted breast.
Song: a series of bright syllables repeated in an irregular pattern: Cheer,
cheery, cheerily, cheery, cheer up. Call: a series of notes (Erp…erp…erp), often
preceded by a Yeep! The American Robin is one of the earliest birds to nest
in spring. The female does most of the nest-building, incubating and feeding
of the chicks. Three to five blue-green eggs are laid that hatch in about two
weeks. They may rear up to three broods a year. Although their species name
is migratorious, many American Robins do not actually migrate: some remain
in their breeding territory year-round; others roost in large mixed flocks during
the winter and return to breeding ranges in spring.
Distribution and Habitat American Robins love sweet fruits
and berries and eat them even after
American Robins live year-round they ferment. If they eat too many,
in all five physiographic provinces. robins may become drunk!
They prefer open woodlands,
swamps, farms and pastures, and
suburban habitats such as parks
and lawns.
Role in Food Web
Robins eat a wide variety of
invertebrates such as earthworms,
grubs, caterpillars and insects as well as
fruits and berries. They are often seen
on the ground with their heads cocked
to the side, then pouncing on worms
and pulling them up. Eggs and young
are preyed upon by Gray Squirrels, snakes and some birds. Adults are taken
primarily by hawks, cats and snakes.
r 131 r
