What is an American robin?

The American robin ( Turdus migratorius ) is a common migratory songbird in North America, recognized by its red-orange breast and distinctive "robin's egg blue" eggs. Though widespread, the species is of least concern. These birds are found in diverse habitats, from urban parks to forests and tundra, ranging from Alaska to Mexico. They measure 23 to 28 cm long and weigh about 76.5 grams. American robins eat worms, insects, berries, and fruit. They build cup-shaped nests in trees or on structures using grass, twigs, mud, and feathers. Females incubate the eggs for about two weeks, and both parents feed the chicks. Despite their stable population, American robins faced threats in the past, including being hunted for food and pesticide poisoning from DDT.

What does an American robin look like?

The American robin ( Turdus migratorius ) is a familiar songbird across North America, easily recognized by its reddish-orange breast, gray-brown upperparts, and a white lower belly and tail. Its eggs are a distinctive "robin's egg blue". These robins are relatively large songbirds, with a round body, long legs, and a long tail, measuring about 23 to 28 cm (9 to 11 inches) in length. The coloring of males and females is similar, though the female's head is paler. You'll find them in various environments, from urban parks and lawns to woodlands and forests. Early settlers named it robin because its breast resembled that of the European robin ( Erithacus rubecula ).

Where do American robins live?

The American robin ( Turdus migratorius ) is a common songbird recognizable by its red-orange breast. It is widespread throughout North America, ranging from northern Alaska and Canada south to Mexico and, on occasion, the northern islands of the Caribbean Sea. American robins can be found in various habitats, including urban areas like parks and lawns, as well as woodlands, mountains, forests, and tundra ecosystems. They are migratory birds, with some wintering in the southern United States and a few venturing as far north as southern Canada. The American robin is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

What do American robins eat?

American robins are known to eat worms, sometimes even fighting over them. They also consume insects, other invertebrates, and various types of wild berries. Some robins adjust their diet based on the time of day, eating worms in the morning and switching to fruit in the afternoon. Because they often feed on prey in lawns and environments treated with artificial chemicals, they are susceptible to pesticide poisoning. Adult robins can be preyed upon by snakes, domestic cats, and hawks, while chicks and eggs are vulnerable to snakes, squirrels, and other birds.

How do American robins build their nests?

American robins build cup-shaped nests primarily hidden in trees, dense brush, or on human-made structures. The female robin builds each nest using dead grass, twigs, moss, feathers, roots, and paper. She reinforces it with mud and lines it with dry grass. They form monogamous pairs that last through each breeding season and produce two to three broods a year, with each brood yielding three to six eggs.

Why are American robins important to their ecosystem?

American robins play a crucial role in their ecosystem through their feeding habits and as a food source for other animals. They consume earthworms , insects , berries , and other invertebrates , which helps control populations and disperse seeds. They also serve as a food source for snakes , hawks , and domestic cats , while their chicks and eggs are preyed upon by snakes , squirrels , and other birds . This makes them an integral part of the food web.

American robin

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Images

An American Robin with a reddish-orange breast, gray wings, and a yellow beak perched on a metal post against a blurred green background.

American robin (Turdus migratorius) in mid-flight with wings spread against a clear blue sky.

Male American robin perched on the edge of a nest containing four blue eggs, next to a tree trunk with green moss.

Closeup of an American Robin, Turdus migratorius, perched on the edge of its nest made of grass, with nestlings barely visible, in Ontario, Canada.

American robin (Turdus migratorius) eggs in a nest.

Illustration showing three different robin species: at the top, a scarlet robin with a black head and red chest; in the middle, a European robin with an orange face and breast; at the bottom, an American robin with a dark head and orange-red belly, standing among autumn leaves.

Quick Facts

Related Topics:: robin; Why are robin eggs blue?; Turdus

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American robin

bird

Also known as: Turdus migratorius

Written by

Frannie ComstockAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 15, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is an American robin?
The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a common migratory songbird in North America, recognized by its red-orange breast and distinctive "robin's egg blue" eggs. Though widespread, the species is of least concern.

These birds are found in diverse habitats, from urban parks to forests and tundra, ranging from Alaska to Mexico. They measure 23 to 28 cm long and weigh about 76.5 grams. American robins eat worms, insects, berries, and fruit. They build cup-shaped nests in trees or on structures using grass, twigs, mud, and feathers. Females incubate the eggs for about two weeks, and both parents feed the chicks.

Despite their stable population, American robins faced threats in the past, including being hunted for food and pesticide poisoning from DDT.
1 Britannica Source
1. American robin
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What does an American robin look like?
The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a familiar songbird across North America, easily recognized by its reddish-orange breast, gray-brown upperparts, and a white lower belly and tail. Its eggs are a distinctive "robin's egg blue".

These robins are relatively large songbirds, with a round body, long legs, and a long tail, measuring about 23 to 28 cm (9 to 11 inches) in length. The coloring of males and females is similar, though the female's head is paler. You'll find them in various environments, from urban parks and lawns to woodlands and forests. Early settlers named it robin because its breast resembled that of the European robin ( Erithacus rubecula).
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where do American robins live?
The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a common songbird recognizable by its red-orange breast. It is widespread throughout North America, ranging from northern Alaska and Canada south to Mexico and, on occasion, the northern islands of the Caribbean Sea.

American robins can be found in various habitats, including urban areas like parks and lawns, as well as woodlands, mountains, forests, and tundra ecosystems. They are migratory birds, with some wintering in the southern United States and a few venturing as far north as southern Canada. The American robin is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What do American robins eat?
American robins are known to eat worms, sometimes even fighting over them. They also consume insects, other invertebrates, and various types of wild berries. Some robins adjust their diet based on the time of day, eating worms in the morning and switching to fruit in the afternoon.

Because they often feed on prey in lawns and environments treated with artificial chemicals, they are susceptible to pesticide poisoning. Adult robins can be preyed upon by snakes, domestic cats, and hawks, while chicks and eggs are vulnerable to snakes, squirrels, and other birds.
1 Britannica Source
1. American robin: Natural history
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do American robins build their nests?
American robins build cup-shaped nests primarily hidden in trees, dense brush, or on human-made structures. The female robin builds each nest using dead grass, twigs, moss, feathers, roots, and paper. She reinforces it with mud and lines it with dry grass. They form monogamous pairs that last through each breeding season and produce two to three broods a year, with each brood yielding three to six eggs.
2 Britannica Sources
1. robin
2. American robin: Natural history
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why are American robins important to their ecosystem?
American robins play a crucial role in their ecosystem through their feeding habits and as a food source for other animals. They consume earthworms, insects, berries, and other invertebrates, which helps control populations and disperse seeds. They also serve as a food source for snakes, hawks, and domestic cats, while their chicks and eggs are preyed upon by snakes, squirrels, and other birds. This makes them an integral part of the food web.
2 Britannica Sources
1. robin
2. American robin: Natural history
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

American robin, (Turdus migratorius), common migratory North American songbird species known for its red-orange breast, joyful song, and distinctive “robin’s egg blue” shade of egg. American robins are widespread throughout North America—ranging from northern Alaska and Canada’s Northwest Territories and Nunavut south to Mexico and, more rarely, the northern islands of the Caribbean Sea. They inhabit urban ecosystems, including parks and lawns, as well as woodland, mountain, forest, and tundra ecosystems. The American robin is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The bird was named the American robin by English-speaking explorers and colonists because its coloring reminded them of the European robin (Erithacus rubecula). Despite sharing a moniker—and similar breast coloration—the two species are not closely related: the American robin is a thrush classified in the family Turdidae, whereas the European robin is related to the flycatchers in the family Muscicapidae. The American robin is made up of seven subspecies, the most common and widespread being T. migratorius migratorius.

Natural history

American robins are easily identifiable by their coloring: yellow beak, gray-brown upperparts, an orange or red breast, and a white lower belly and tail; the white on the tail can be seen during flight. Although females and males have similar coloration, the female possesses a paler head compared with that of the male (see also sexual dimorphism). Coloring also varies between subspecies. American robins are somewhat large songbirds, characterized by a round body and long legs and tails. Adults typically measure between 23 and 28 cm (9 and 11 inches) long and weigh about 76.5 grams (about 2.7 ounces), making them the largest thrushes in North America. Males are known for their song, which is heard most often around sunrise and is sometimes described as sounding like “cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up.”

A male cardinal perched in a tree (birds, redbirds).

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus

Species of Least Concern

While American robins have an affinity for worms, sometimes even fighting over them, they also eat insects and other invertebrates, and many types of wild berries. Some American robins change their diet depending on the time of day, eating worms in the morning and moving on to fruit in the afternoon. Since they often feed on prey that inhabit lawns and other environments managed with artificial chemicals, they are vulnerable to pesticide poisoning. Adults serve as a food source for snakes, domestic cats, and hawks, while chicks and eggs are eaten by snakes, squirrels, and a variety of other birds.

American robins form monogamous pairs that last through each breeding season. Pairs produce between two to three broods a year, each brood yielding between three to six eggs. Their eggs are known for their blue pigmentation, an adaptation that may have evolved to protect the eggs from sun exposure. For each clutch of eggs, the female robin builds a separate cup-shaped nest hidden in trees, dense brush, or on human structures (such as decks, ledges, and porches). Each nest is constructed using dead grass, twigs, moss, feathers, roots, and paper, which is reinforced with mud and lined with dry grass. Female robins incubate their eggs for about two weeks until they hatch. Both parents provide the chicks with food for the next two weeks until the chicks learn to fly and leave the nest. Both sexes become sexually mature by the end of their first year. Although there is evidence of individual robins living up to 14 years, most have a significantly reduced life spans that average only about two years.

Conservation status

The species has a vast geographic range and a stable population, which numbers between 310 million and about 370 million adult birds. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) rates the American robin as a species of least concern. During the 19th century, however, American robins were consumed as food, with American ornithologist, artist, and naturalist John Audubon noting that the birds are “fat and juicy, and afford excellent eating.” However, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918 made it illegal to hunt them in the U.S. American robins were also widely impacted by the use of the pesticide DDT in the mid-20th century, which American biologist Rachel Carson wrote about in her seminal book Silent Spring (1962).

Frannie Comstock John P. Rafferty

American robin

Natural history

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Conservation status