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Thrushes (Turdidae)

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

PasseriformesRobin-sized (25 cm)
Appearance
Brick-red breast contrasting sharply with a dark gray-black back and head. White eye-ring, yellow bill, and white tail spots visible in flight.
Habitat
Lawns, parks, open woodland edges, suburban gardens, and forest clearings. Frequently seen on short-grass lawns hunting earthworms.
Behaviour
Hops across lawns, pausing to cock its head and listen for earthworms. Males sing a rich caroling phrase — 'cheerily, cheer-up, cheerio' — from high perches at dawn and dusk.
Seasonality
Year-round across much of the continent; northern populations migrate south in winter. One of the first songbirds to appear in early spring.
Range
North America from Alaska to central Mexico. Moves in large flocks to fruiting trees in winter.

Field note

"A single robin can eat up to 14 feet of earthworms in a day, using both sight and sound to detect movement below the soil surface."

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