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American Robin

The Suburban Bird

By Gregory Gough
Published: August 2005
Gray-headed songbird with red chest

The widespread American robin is one of our most familiar birds and its arrival in spring is eagerly anticipated. The red breast makes it instantly recognizable although early European settlers to North America confused it with the European robin, another bird with a red breast, but smaller and unrelated to our robin.

They are found all across North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland and from Florida to California.

Robins are not particularly common in natural habitats, such as grasslands and forests, but are especially abundant near human dwellings, primarily during the nesting season.

Their ability to exploit a food resource found in the ubiquitous surburban lawns may account for their apparent fondness for humans.

Gray-backed songbird with red chest foraging on a lawn Robins love the short, manicured lawns that are so prevalent in urban and suburban areas. Here they forage on a favorite food, earthworms. A short run across the turf and then a brief wait, if a worm is detected, then there is a quick pounce and capture.

If not, the robin quicky runs to another promising spot on the green expanse and waits anew.

The plentiful worm harvest in lawns provides not just a sumptious repast for the adult robins, but necessary protein for their nestlings.

Robins, unlike most migratory birds, will nest several times during spring and summer, there is lots of wriggling food.

But life in suburbia is not without its costs, scientists have been studying suburban birds in their Neighborhood Nestwatch project and found hidden perils.

Lead, leftover from the days of leaded gasoline and paint, contaminates suburban soil, and soil often adheres to the slimy skin of worms.

Robin at nest feeding young Robins, both adults and nestlings, have lead levels in their blood that are roughly twice as high as robins from rural areas and the amount of lead in their blood suggest that some symptoms of lead poisoning are being manifested.

A more recent problem for robins is the spread of mosquito-born West Nile virus, a disease that can kill birds.

Researchers found that robins appear to be a favored target of mosquitoes and many have the antibodies to the virus in their blood, this means that they were infected but have survived.

Although many robins have succumbed to lead poisoning, viral infections, and the many other hazards of suburban life, such as predatory cats, flying into windows, and so forth, robin populations as a whole, monitored across North America for the last 40 years, have slowly increased.

The ability of the robin to adapt its lifestyle to match ours has allowed it to thrive, whereas many other migratory bird populations have declined.

View references

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Comments (89):

  1. Helpful. Family of robins nest in ivy on our front porch and have for years. This year they nested not once but are incubating second family of the season! I see now that is normal. There were four in first family also. I suppose this is the same parents....new brood. They tolerate our living here and if I'm quiet,will allow me to sit just feet away from them. I talk to her (him) and assure them it's okay for me to be there. We love our Robins. Would this be the same birds year after year or do they pass on "safe haven" info to babies? Or do babies come back "home" to nest?

    7/8/2007

  2. I love robins! How do they detect worms? Do you think they feel them moving under their feet, or do they smell them maybe?

    7/26/2007

  3. I believe they actually hear them. Watch for the tilting of the head.

    8/1/2007

  4. [Editor]
    This from the Birds of North American online: "When foraging for earthworms, uses a combination “Head-Cock” and “Bill-Pounce” behavior (Heppner 1965). In Head-Cocking, one eye points toward a spot on the ground, 3–5 cm directly in front of the bird, along the longitudinal axis of the body. After holding this position for a few seconds, the robin rotates and flexes its head to bring the other eye into a similar relationship with the ground. Bill-Pouncing then occurs, whereby the bill is thrust quickly into the ground, presumably at visually detected prey, at the spot where the eyes had been directed."

    Sallabanks, R., and F. C. James. 1999. American Robin (Turdus migratorius). In The Birds of North America, No. 462 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

    8/2/2007

  5. This is an awesome article!=)

    11/9/2007

  6. I think this article is amazing how it teaches you things about the robin.

    1/9/2008

  7. AWSOME!

    1/9/2008

  8. this article helped me a lot on my debate

    2/20/2008

  9. For our locale (Frederick County, MD), I find the statement about the Robin"s adaptibilty questionable. My neighbors and I have shared the concern that we have only seen one robin so far this spring.

    4/5/2008

  10. For 2 days I have had a robin repeatedly banging into a window in my dining room - trying very hard to get in. It hardly has a toe-hold on the window sill so I propped a long stick to the window so it could see in thinking that with a steady view it could see there IS no entrance. I'm talking every 10 to 15 seconds for hours. It must be exhausting. What is it trying to do? 4/22/08

    4/22/2008

  11. Regarding the window problem, it is probably seeing its own reflection and trying to attack it. Try putting up a piece of paper, or an image of an owl.

    5/2/2008

  12. This article has helped in determining why the Robin in my yard keeps banging into my window.I will try your method by putting something in the window. Thank you. I love watching the birds,they are surely God's creatures.

    5/24/2008

  13. A robin's nest is being built in a potted impatiens plant on our covered porch. Will watering the plant disturb the birds? If I don't water for the 14 days of nesting, then the plant will die! But I also don't want the mother to abandon the eggs (once she lays them!).

    6/2/2008

  14. it is awesome

    10/29/2008

  15. American robins are awsome! they are my favorite bird. This article has togut me so much about the american robins. This article is the best about robins.

    11/23/2008

  16. COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2/7/2009

  17. We have a robin striking our front windows for a week now, morning and evening and sometimes in between. He does not appear to be hurting himself at all and at other times, we see him hopping on the lawn, eating. He is getting plump and appears to be thriving. However, we would like to stop the window strikes and have tried Hawk Silhouettes, which he ignores. If I stand inside one window, he goes to the other, if I go to the other, he goes back to the first...I can't undertsand how he can see his reflection at this stage, as the windows are now soiled from the collisions. Also, entering these rooms seems to trigger a bout of striking. We do not see a mate anywhere. Tonight, I bought a fake owl. Hopefully this will scare him away from the windows. Any ideas would be appreciated. I will post an update after the owl trial.

    3/7/2009

  18. [Editor]
    In response to the robin/window collision posting: Read about the National Zoo's efforts to reduce bird collisions.

    3/9/2009

  19. Thank you for the link posted 3/9/09. The owl was a miserable failure as are several balloons with eyes painted on them (advise from an Audobon website). I will post when I find something works. Meantime, Robinho the striker appears to be thriving.

    3/9/2009

  20. I watched Robinho this morning; he is not striking the glass as much as trying to land on it - he goes in feet first, pauses a second or two, then tries again or drops to the windowsill and paces up and down, as if thinking what went wrong. It is hilarious! Also, another bird landed on his tree and was chased away without delay, with much twittering and fluttering.

    3/13/2009

  21. 04/13/09 Robinho has left us; he is probably busy with domestic chores by now. I have cleaned the windows. If he returns, he may be upset to find a spiffy dude staring at him and it may all begin again. But I will take my chances.

    4/15/2009

  22. Great Information! We have had two robins banging into our windows and front door (1/2 glass for several weeks. We finally realized they wanted to build a nest which they proceeded to do right on top of my artifical wreath on the side of our front door. We now have 4 blue eggs. Is Mom or Dad sitting on the eggs. Someone told me Dad sits on them? This is definitely a family that works together.

    4/22/2009

  23. I too can relate to the bird banging into our windows, it is not only scratching our windows rather badly but pooing all over the place in the meantime, including on our new hot tub cover which is leather and stains beleive it or not :-/ anyhow, I hear this is due to mating season and its the reflection problem. we tried closing the blinds, didn't work, closing the curtains, didn't work, put the bbq infront the window, didn't work, hanging a wind chyme, didn't work. I'm all outta suggestions and it's getting costly!!!!!!! I'm going insane!!!!!!! H E L P

    4/23/2009

  24. We're having this problem too. I'm surprised he doesn't kill himself. He perches about 2 or 3 feet away, lunges, then does it again - time after time, sometimes for twenty minutes. He does it early morning, sometimes during the day, and again in the evening. I was going to get a plastic owl, or two or three, but you all seem to be saying it doesn't work. Right now we've got a great blue tarp strung up in front of the window (on the outside) to stop him waking me at the crack of dawn every day. Did anyone find anything that worked?

    4/24/2009

  25. I have a robing nesting next to my mailbox and has laid 4 eggs! Wow! Can anyone please tell me how long before they will hatch? She seems to not mind when my husband and I get the mail. She trusts us now. I am happy someone took the time to write this article it was very informative for me.

    4/25/2009

  26. We have a Robin hitting the window,too.I'm pretty patient but this is driving me nuts...he/she starts at exactly 6:30 every morning and goes all day! Plus the fact that I have a bird phoebia,my entire life I have been afraid of birds when they get too close and this bird is too close! I hate to have it killed but I have tried everything this site has suggested.We have turkey vultures(150 of them)in our backyard and we have put up a bird repellier(sound box)it keeps them out of the yard but they still try to land! I tell people who say it's not a big deal that it would be (for them)like a snake trying to get in their house all day long! Help!!!!

    4/27/2009

  27. Love this article. We rescued a 4-day old last July, knocked out of her nest by gutters cleaners. 1 of 2 in the nest survived the 5 foot fall. dropper fed her with blend of egg, beef, blueberries, applesauce and peanut butter. taught her to hunt for bugs in the lawn. she stayed the winter in our sun room (window open with stick to outside during the day). switched her over to solid berries and freeze-dried worms and crickets in the Fall. She left us a few weeks ago, with a mate when the large flocks of robins returned (northern NJ). She had a slightly damaged wing and one toe. She was soo sweat, but pushy and independent-minded. We miss her, but know she is happy with her new life outside! It was an experience of a life-time having her with us for over 9 months.

    5/3/2009

  28. I watched a Robin build a nest in a Rodie just outside the window. It also kept banging into the windo while building the nest and I put a piece of paper on the window and the "banging" stopped! She has since laid 1 egg. Can't wait to see what happens next!

    5/11/2009

  29. We have nest just outside our window, on top of pergola, a very wise location, virtually hidden by the ivy growing all around, and shielded from the window. We discovered the nest on Mother's Day--how appropriate. When will the eggs hatch?

    5/11/2009

  30. I have a Robin nesting under our second story deck - a seemingly perfect, protected spot. Little does she know I have a perfect view from my office window - lucky me. Meanwhile there is another Robin banging on our dining room window. Interesting to see that this is so common. He/she doesn't look like they're getting hurt so I'll let it go for now. At least it isnt the bedroom, right? Now if the crows would just go away...

    5/12/2009

  31. article was very informative. we have a family of robins under our 2nd story deck also...was surprised to finally notice both mom and dad take care of feeding 4 babies. I've taken pictures every day or so when mom or dad are away...very fun for my daycare kids...except when they eat babies poo...ick!!

    5/24/2009

  32. Saw a Robin with a yellow crest on the back of it's head, that fanned out like a spreading bow like head dress. I have never seen this before. Also noticed a small area of yellow at its side on the wings front edge, otherwise it was colored like a typical robin. Any info on this. This was in Lincoln, NE.

    5/26/2009

  33. Wonderful information, We had a robin build a nest outside of our kitchen window slightly after easter - she used plastic easter grass that she found somewhere in thte building of the nest. It was a joy to watch - I am including a link to many photo's I took of the experience. Auburn, California http://gallery.me.com/tahoedanandpenn#100250

    5/28/2009

  34. We had a family of robins in a nest the parents built under our deck on top of one of the support posts, twice one of the babies flew out too soon and we put it back, today they all flew out of the nest, we are empty nesters for the second time now!

    5/28/2009

  35. I'm the lady with the robins nest whose babies flew today, I forgot to say we are in Saxapahaw, North Carolina, a small (very small) town some 20-25 minutes from Chapel Hill, there is a huge variety of wild life here, all kinds of birds, deer, frogs, and so on. We are enjoying our animal neighbors.

    5/28/2009

  36. Great Information!! We had an American Robin lay 4 beautiful eggs outside my bathroom window in a bush.. Only 2 birds hatch and it was so amazing. I was able to see her feed the babies she really trusted me watching her.. We do have annoying cats around our neighborhood that eat our garbage and peopole feed. Do cats really eat baby birds?? Then one day I noticed the babies were gone and the nest looked destroyed.. Does that happen is that normal??

    5/31/2009

  37. Great info & stories. I had just had a terrific & unique experience a few nights ago....had a baby robin in my hand! For a 3 or 4 days, mom [& maybe dad] robin had been training their 4 babies - now 3 weeks old - out in the lawns - chirping at them to follow & learn how to search for food. I was amazed at how fast the little ones, who are only about 3 weeks old I think, have matured & grown enough feathers already to fly. I took a few photos of one little guy - it shot came out pretty good; I'll have that printed some day. This is not "my" robin, but close to what he looked like: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/50/149802590_fed58186bf.jpg Anyway...it was 8:30pm, I was sitting here at the computer, & it was starting to get dark, & could heard a little peeping noise outside. I looked out & there was a baby robin on the patio, occasionally peeping, & sorta looking around - for mom? He flew onto the top of a patio chair & appeared to watching & listening for mom's answer, as she had been doing as she lead her kids around earlier, but no mom. It looked like he didn't know how to get back to the nest - which was built in an old antenna with clematis growing on it, so an excellent nest-hiding place, except it was right outside of my bedroom window; 1st discovered it when I happened look out to see 4 beautiful turquoise eggs. So, I went outside, slowly opening the garage door that leads onto the patio, talking softly to the baby. He eyed me but didn't seem to afraid & sat still. I walked up to him & put my palm to his belly & he climbed on! He was So Cute!! I then walked slowly, around the side of the house, to the nest, put baby birdie up to the nest till he hopped in. That was such a one-of-a-kind cool thing to happen! That was the last I saw of the babies. I'm almost positive they've all left the nest now. I've been searching websites trying to find out when & if I can remove the nest - or if mom will be back to raise another batch..? Anyone know?

    6/2/2009

  38. All the above information is greatly appreciated and it has answered some of my questions. The robins came back to Central Wisconsin the last of April and they got their tail feathers alittle white. In May 2009 a pair of robins built a nest on our garbage container next to my shed door opening. Every day I checked to see if she had laid any eggs and she got off the nest to let me see that it was empty. It wasn't long an I noticed that she had four blue eggs in her nest and she would be walking up and down the neighbors roof and chewing me out. I would talk to her everyday and tell her that I would be next to her nest everyday. We could look out our bedroom window to see who was sitting on the nest and who was out getting food. Then one day the male robin began to run into our bedroom window and then fall to the ground and look for somthing to eat. The eggs were still in the nest. On the third day, I took a picture of the robin and then went to check on the nest and we had four naked baby robins in the nest and the mother was doing her thing. The colliding into the bedroom window stopped that day and we think that maybe it was there way of telling us that her babies were hatched. Within three weeks all four of the new birds had learned to fly, catch worms and still stay around our yard. The mother robin has now started another nesting. Mike Stephen, 71, Viroqua, WI

    6/10/2009

  39. Robins have nested under our neighbor's deck. Everytime we sit out on our deck or walk to our garage, the robin dive bombs our head. Started carrying a broom for protection. One of these days he/she will get too close and whack! Just wish I knew the orgin of "kill two birds with one stone." Later bird brains...

    6/25/2009

  40. This was a great article. I had a robin build a nest in a small tree in my yard. There were three babies in the next yesterday, and today, I noticed two of them were dead by the curb in front of my house. The parent was fluttering around them and sitting on them. It made me so sad, I cried. They were so cute, and the parents were so attentive. I don't know what happened to the third one. I don't think they were old enough to fly yet. I hope the parents come back and fill the nest again.

    6/26/2009

  41. We had a robin fly up on a plant ledge under our gazebo tarp and it was less than 2 feet from our patio door. I was just inside the open door and was so thrill he let me observe him so close. He didnt stick around to build a nest but did land on some hanging plants later and seemed to be gathering the coconut shell threads from the liner. Later a little wren was at the plant hanging next to it doing the same. My husband was worried they were eating our plants and I said, 'let them' :), what a treat to be less than 2 feet away observing them gathering supplies for their nest. To be able to provide anything for their little homes is such an honor!

    6/27/2009

  42. I was watching a young robin (spots still appeared on the chest) bounce around the bench that was built around the base of tree in the village of Elizabeth, IL. Talking to him and praying that a kitty cat wouldn't get him. Turning my attention away for a moment I was startled to see that the baby robin had flown over and landed on my heart. I looked down at him and began petting his soft head ever so slightly he closed his eyes and rested there for a few moments. It was the most moving moment with nature I can remember. I gently picked him up and set him on the back of the bench once again. I had to return to my home with family.

    6/29/2009

  43. I LOVED reading about the encounter, with the young robin landing on you, being able to pet the still-unafraid little thing. What a moment, huh?! ( it is similar to the one I had - above - #37).

    7/9/2009

  44. This is a great article and I loved reading all the comments but I would like to know if mom and dad abandon baby robins. We have one that has been chirping all day long and no sign of parents and I know they were feeding at least two babies up until yesterday in the nest. My husband and I are very concerned about this one little one and we tried to give it food and it would not take any worms or blue berries. All I want to know is this normal and a ritual that they go through once the babies leave the nest. In the past we have noticed that the adults are constantly feeding them but we did not observe this today. One thing when I tried to care for the little one and as soon as he started screaming a robin appeared in the top of the tree but she never came down to attack me. Any ideas??????

    7/13/2009

  45. I have 2 Robins that just built a nest in my entry way on my bannister coming up the stairs and they have worked hard for 2 days. They now have the perfect nest. Does anyone know about how long it takes for eggs to appear?

    7/18/2009

  46. People have asked a lot of questions, but I haven't seen answer. I'm here because I have a nest of Robins by my garage. They are here every year. I got concerned today when the tree man sprayed that bush. I checked the nest and found two just hatched naked tiny birds and one egg. I've been watching to see if mom is still coming and only saw her once. Does Dad come too? I have a lot of questions.

    7/18/2009

  47. Good article. Wondering if anyone else has had their lawn ripped out badly -- even 10" across sections removed -- from a mother robin looking for worms ???

    7/25/2009

  48. as to the parent robins eating the babies poo.... i don't think so. i read somewhere about the poo, and keeping the nest clean. i have also observed our robins. if you watch...the parent will bring food for babies, then wait at the nest a little bit. the babies poo comes out in a sack the mom or dad picks up and carries away from the nest...dropping it well away from the nest. wouldn't want to be standing under where she drops it! :-)

    7/28/2009

  49. wonderful

    11/12/2009

  50. Great! Really helpful!! i <3 robins!

    4/8/2010

  51. This was a great article! I really love robins. They are so beautiful!

    4/10/2010

  52. This is a worthy blog with rich information and keen experience.Therefore it is my fortune and good luck to visit your blog.Thanks you for sharing with us.May you a great mood.

    5/11/2010

  53. great its amazing

    5/11/2010

  54. AMSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    5/14/2010

  55. Can't find answer to any questions--how long before eggs hatch? does mom bird&dad both sit on eggs? does the same bird come back year after year?? whats up???

    5/18/2010

  56. Lol.. I have a Robin making a nest above my outdoor light as we speak. flying back and forth, gathering twigs, grass, and mulch off all sorts for me to clean up when shes done.. lol Im wondering about the poor mail man, who has to deliver the mail just a few feet below. What a great present for us to see a female robin forming her nest so close to us to see. A true pleasure, and we will take it as a bit of good luck - and a wonderful start to our spring. Thanks for the great article - a true pleasure to read. We better buy some earplugs for sleeping - 'cause i believe those little birdlings will be wide awake so early in the morning.. haha.

    5/19/2010

  57. love it .Have a question tho,,It seems after the babies eat they spit back up what looks like a white ball. What is it? Also both mom and dad are feeding the four babies, how do the make sure all are getting their fair share? When they come back all you see is four heads in a feeding frenzy.

    5/30/2010

  58. Every Spring since I've lived in my house, some 20 years, I get a robin's nest at exact the same spot under my deck. Does anyone know the likelihood of this being a robin returning to the spot it was born or is it more likely that it's just a good spot?

    6/2/2010

  59. So useful information to me, thank you for provide these to me.

    6/5/2010

  60. do Robins always nest in spots such as under decks and such, I think there are 2 robins trying to build a nest in our birch tree next to our second floor balcony. How do I know if this is so, they are both a very common site everyday atop that tree, there are many robins in area but these two " Romeo & Juliet" do not stray very far. I live in Merrimack, NH. thank you

    6/5/2010

  61. fantastic----robins are awesome! We've been putting grapes on our patio and then watching as the robins feast on them. One robin we were able to throw the grape right to her---it's been much fun to watch!

    6/26/2010

  62. We have a robin pair in the process of laying their third batch of eggs this year. The nest (made with ribbons in the twigs) is on top of a post under our 2nd story deck. The birds fly to the deck railing to pause prior to going under to the nest and the male was constantly flying into a window until I covered it with a piece of cloth on the outside. The eggs appear 1 each day take about 3 weeks to hatch and the babies are flying and gone less than 3 weeks after hatching. Once the babies hatch I put assorted food stuff nearby so the parents don't have to forage very far from the nest. It will be interesting to see if they lay a fourth batch or return again next year.

    7/27/2010

  63. To #47, we find these birds to a big nuisance too. They keep making holes in the lawn and mulch looking for food, and their incessant loud noise (I hardly call it a song) from before dawn to dusk is maddening. They seemed to have scared away the song sparrows which deliver a much more pleasant song and do not make a mess out of our yard.

    7/27/2010

  64. Today, 8/1/10, my husband and I saw two robins that appeared to be sunning themselves. We don't think they were sick because from time to time they would stand up and reposition their bodies. They lay flat on the ground, belly down with wings spread -or- on one side with a wing flopped back exposing the 'belly'. We are puzzled by this behavior. Anyone know what this is about?

    8/1/2010

  65. Did I do a bad. A robin nested on our arbor at our gate to the larger part of the yard. I thought maybe it was abandoned so all I did was tilt it a bit and I mean a bit, oops, discovered that it wasn't. A baby popped its little head up peeping. oh! so sorry! Do you think the parents will not come back if they sense that someone touched the nest? I hope not. I feel bad. I can't stand the thought that they would leave the babies. Now I will watch.

    8/6/2010

  66. Robins also love red grapes. There is a robin that has trained me! It will chirp until I come outside, when I appear with the bowl of grapes, it will come close to the patio and wait for me to throw grapes. It will eat as many as it can and then fly off with a whole grape.

    8/6/2010

  67. My wife looked out the window and told me we had a dead bird in our yard. about 10 minutes (guessing about 10 minutes) I looked out the window and saw a robin on the ground wings spread, head up, beak open, perfectly still like rigor mortis had set in. Later when I went out to move the bird it was gone. I couldn't imagine that another bird could have picked it up and flew away. For a squirrel to take it, it would have had to drag it over a fence. Could it have been alive and sunning itself like stated in above comment? Inquiring mind needs to know.

    8/8/2010

  68. I live in MD and we have a robin who made a nest in the Hibiscus tree on our deck. The three eggs hatched and the babies are getting larger now (about 2 weeks old)and this morning we found them on the ground in various places on the lawn near the nest. Mom and dad seem to know where they are and we observed them feeding tow of them. My kids are panicked. Do I put them back in the nest or are they trying to fly away? I am afraid they'll be eaten if they stay on the ground. They look scared. What to do????

    8/11/2010

  69. How long are babies in the nest? Just 2 days ago I was watching them pop thier heads up and down and they didn't seeml big enough to fly out or bound on the ground. I fear a cat got to them. I have been watching since yesterday and haven't seen any movement. So, went out and nest is empty. Nothing on the ground either. Oh my! My husband said I worry too much. He thinks they are ok . I don't know. I am not optimistic about it. Well, hopefully they are fine. We have another nest on the rain spout , haven't seen anything there either. There is always next year.

    8/15/2010

  70. I live in Manhattan (by the Riverside Park) and about 3 weeks ago I had one little robin struck my window and fell between the window and the flower plant. I took him in and kept him since then. He is OK. I let him out of the cage most of the time, he flies around, walks around, comes close to me picking on my toes sometimes. I have been feeding him, but he also eats by himself for about one week. When should I let him go? He still acts like a baby. I have been looking for other robins in the park, but have not seen one. Keeping him in longer is most likely not good for him. Should I take him somewhere upstate and release hi there? I have a weekend house upstate NY (Margaretville). I let him out there once, but he returned a few hours later and let me catch him. What to do?

    8/25/2010

  71. very interesting, We live in Michigan and for the last few weeks we haven't seen our robins. Could you tell me where they might have gone? We miss them..........

    8/25/2010

  72. What are the little red and partially yellow balls in and out of the nest? Seeds?

    9/2/2010

  73. 10/23/2010 This afternoon we observed what we think was a robin foraging our back lawn with a flock of robins, but this bird's head was mainly white with a black cap, dark brown back and wings with a few white feathers, and the usual deep rusty orange breast. Has anybody ever seen such coloration in a robin? Marilyn Andresen, Little Falls, NY

    10/23/2010

  74. My Robin friend showed up in the coldest & snowiest part of our winter, hopping out of a dense evegreen to within 6 feet of me and stood there as I asked him 'why are you here now?" This has happened twice and it is as though he/she is waiting for me to come outdoors. Now Spring and warm breezes are upon us and this a.m. my robin friend was perched on a branch of a Hopa Crab Apple tree near my front door for 30 minutes. He seemed to be observing the neighborhood. Isn't that unusual for a bird to stay in one spot so long? Then I remembered that there had been a nest in that area last year that winds had blown down in the summer. Could this bird be waiting for its mate? Do Robins mate for life? Could he/she be waiting or grieving? The Hopa Crab tree has been a delight to me and to migrating robins who fill its branches while devouring its berries in September & October. Seven berries are eaten by the hungriest but most seen satisfied with 3 or 4. Sometimes 15 to 24 birds will hit the tree at one time. I really enjoy watching them. A 87 year old lady in Overland MO.

    2/18/2011

  75. I live in the North East, It's still cold here and the Robin's are back, They cant find nothing to eat. I want to help them but dont know where to start. I know they love worms & Berries...none avalible right now

    3/25/2011

  76. An informative read. What do robins eat when there is a snow storm in the spring? 27/03/2011

    3/27/2011

  77. A robin has begun to build a nest on our balcony. We love robins, but don't want it (okay, my husband is afraid of birds, and since we pay the mortgage, we decide who/what gets to sit on the balcony). What can we do to get rid of the bird? Is there something we can wash the wood with, so that it repels the robin?

    4/12/2011

  78. I have a robin under my deck who is building 6 nests, none of them completed though, she just brings pieces of straw to each of them and sometimes to just one of them... the wind knocks some of them down, but she keeps building and building. Is this normal behavior? why is she building so many incomplete nests?

    5/13/2011

  79. I'm in an argument with a guy who thinks he knows everything about Robins. He says that after the baby robins get wings and learn to fly,..that they do return to the nest for a period possibly lasting up to three weeks. i say that after the babies are developed enough to fly from the nest,...that they DO NOT return to the nest. Simply because there isn't enough room. YET, i do understand that the young robins will follow there parents around begging for food..which they do recieve help until they can eventually fend for themselves. can anyone help me? do robin babies return to the nest?

    5/16/2011

  80. Great Article !I have a American Robin for the past three days has been coming to my kitchen window the same time each morning and pretty much all day flies and hits my window with it's beak!! I don't know why it's doing this can you please help me? Thank you

    5/18/2011

  81. that is awsome

    5/20/2011

  82. I understand that robbins chase and attack other birds nests. Can you confirm?

    5/29/2011

  83. I had an American Robin nesting in a tree next to my door. She laid 4 blue eggs, they hatched and they get bigger but the eyes were not open yet. It's been a great experience for the family. This morning when I get out i looked to the nest as always and the birds were not there and i saw a lot of feathers in the floor and around the nest. What happen? Could they be attack and eaten by another animal or they just go? My 6yrs old is crying!!!! what should i do with the nest, can other bird use it? 6/06/11

    6/6/2011

  84. so the other day a robin had 4 new babies that hatched. Yesterday I went out to the tree to see the new babies and they are all gone. The mother can't move them can she? or did an animal get them? There are no feathers in the nest I am just puzzled by this. Could you please let me know.

    6/26/2011

  85. Great article. We found a blind robin in our yard. We brought it into our house so predators wouldn't get it. We have been giving it raisin water and bought some worms for it. It has survived the night, but we don't know if there is anything else we can do. It doesn't seem to eat or drink on its own. Does anyone have experience nursing a blind robin?

    7/6/2011

  86. i found i little robin and i couldnt fly so i picked it up with socks on and put it out of harms way hope it will be ok

    7/9/2011

  87. I rescued a little robin form the mouth of a cat. It has been with me three days already. It eats well and is growing but has one leg broken. Do they survive even if one leg is not working well? Will it learn how to fly?

    7/12/2011

  88. i think that this article is AMASING it really helped me on my research for robins!!!!!!!!!

    11/4/2011

  89. The above information is very nice it is very useful information and also i like the bird American robin.

    11/21/2011

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