Robins
Click here to listen to robins (.wav file)
Brief Life History Information
- Migration Status: Summer breeding includes most of the United States and Canada. The robin has expanded its range into Great Plains and drier lowlands of west as trees have been planted, structures erected, and irrigation extended, creating suitable nesting sites and moist grasslands for foraging. In the winter robins can be found in areas of the United States where there is no snow and in Mexico, Bermuda and Guatemala.
- Song: a series of 6-10 whistled phrases of 3 or 4 notes
- Breeding Habitat: Urban
- Nest Location: Mid-story/canopy nesting
- Nest Type: Open-cup made mostly of grass & mud in orchard trees or shrubs. Clutch size is usually between 3 and 4 young.
- Number of Broods: 2, occasionally 3
- Diet: insects, worms & fruit. Experiments demonstrate that earthworms are located by sight, not sound.
- Other: The robin was once widely hunted for food.
Jeepers Peepers Activity
(1) Using the Internet (see Web Resources page) and bird books - teach the students to properly identify a robin.
Here are a few identification tips:
Dull red breast and belly
White undertail coverts
Gray upperparts
Black to dark gray head
Broken eye ring
Streaked throat
Thin yellow bill
Sexes similar-female somewhat paler
Winter plumage is somewhat paler than Summer plumage
Juveniles have spotted, whiter breasts
Common in residential areas where it often forages on lawns
Often sings very early in morning
Often found in large flocks outside of breeding season
(2) Starting February 27, each day inquire of your students if anyone has spotted a robin. Record the date. Once 3 students have seen at least one robin, submit the date of the third sighting to the DEP. Inquire of the class when they see a whole flock (5 or more robins at one time). Record the date. Once 3 students have spotted a flock of robins, submit the date of the third sighting to the DEP (note: it is possible that all 3 sighting to occur on the same date - especially if students all see them on school grounds.) The use of three sightings is an attempt to filter out any misidentifications.
