---
title: "What the sources say about the American Robin | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "40 claims from the American Robin profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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---

# What the sources say about the American Robin (*Turdus migratorius*)

> 40 claims from the American Robin profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [American Robin](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/american-robin/)

## Turdus migratorius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T103889499A139392811.

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2021-3.rlts.t103889499a139392811.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The Red List rates it Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Least Concern | Least Concern |

## American robin. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-robin

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A lawn hunter that weighs about as much as three AA batteries | They weigh 2.7-3 ounces (77-85 grams), about the same weight as three AA batteries. |
| Forest edges, pastures, farmland, parks and towns over most of North America | Robins live in forest edges, swampy areas, open clearings, pastures and farmland. They are also extremely common in human-dominated areas, like parks, gardens, backyards and urban areas. |
| An adult robin is 20 to 28 centimeters (7.9 to 11 inches) long, with a wingspan of 31 to 40 centimeters | Adults are between 7.9-11 inches (20-28 centimeters) long, and have a wingspan that ranges from 12.2-15.8 inches (31-40 centimeters) in length. |
| weighs 77 to 85 grams, about the same as three AA batteries | They weigh 2.7-3 ounces (77-85 grams), about the same weight as three AA batteries. |
| It lives in forest edges, pastures and farmland, and it is extremely common in parks, gardens, backyards and cities | Robins live in forest edges, swampy areas, open clearings, pastures and farmland. They are also extremely common in human-dominated areas, like parks, gardens, backyards and urban areas. |
| Some robins that breed in the northern United States and Canada fly south for the winter to the southern U.S., Mexico and Central America | Some populations breed in the northern United States and Canada and fly south for the winter to the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America. |
| Many others stay in colder areas year-round, traveling to wherever they can find food | many populations live in colder areas year-round, traveling based on wherever they can find food. |
| In the wild a robin typically lives one to two years, though the National Zoo says one can live up to 13 | American robins can live up to 13 years, but typically one to two years in the wild. |
| In some areas robins even keep a schedule, eating worms and insects in the morning and switching to fruit in the afternoon | In some areas, robins change their diets based on the time of day; they eat worms and insects in the morning and switch over to fruit in the afternoon. |
| Between 77 and 85 grams, which the National Zoo compares to three AA batteries | They weigh 2.7-3 ounces (77-85 grams), about the same weight as three AA batteries. |
| Adults are 20 to 28 centimeters long | Adults are between 7.9-11 inches (20-28 centimeters) long |
| Typically one to two years in the wild, but the National Zoo says they can reach 13 years | American robins can live up to 13 years, but typically one to two years in the wild. |
| Some northern breeders do head to the southern U.S., Mexico and Central America, but many populations stay in colder areas year-round and move around to wherever the food is | Some populations breed in the northern United States and Canada and fly south for the winter to the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America. However, many populations live in colder areas year-round, traveling based on wherever they can find food. |
| earthworms are on the menu | in search of earthworms and insects to eat |
| weightKg: 0.08 | They weigh 2.7-3 ounces (77-85 grams) (note: battleStats.weightKg, typical adult (#1117)) |

## American Robin. Audubon Guide to North American Birds.

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-robin

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A lawn hunter | running and hopping on lawns with an upright stance |
| Forest edges, pastures, farmland, parks and towns over most of North America | A very familiar bird over most of North America |
| Mostly insects, berries and earthworms | Mostly insects, berries, and earthworms. |
| A song that often starts just before first light | The American Robin's rich caroling is among the earliest bird songs heard at dawn in spring and summer, often beginning just before first light. |
| Audubon says the robin apparently locates earthworms by sight (not, as had been suggested, by hearing them move underground) | the American Robin apparently locates earthworms by sight (not, as had been suggested, by hearing them move underground) |
| When northerners see their "first robin of spring," it may be a bird that has wintered only a few miles away, not one that has just arrived from southern climates | when northerners see their "first robin of spring," it may be a bird that has wintered only a few miles away, not one that has just arrived from southern climates. |
| Audubon calls it a very familiar bird over most of North America | A very familiar bird over most of North America |
| In early summer, insects make up the majority of a robin's diet, and it also eats many earthworms, snails and spiders | In early summer, insects make up the majority of the American Robin's diet; it also feeds on many earthworms, snails, spiders, and other invertebrates. |
| It feeds heavily on fruit, especially in winter, when robin flocks gather in wooded areas where trees or shrubs carry good crops of berries | Feeds heavily on fruit, especially in winter |
| It feeds heavily on fruit, especially in winter, when robin flocks gather in wooded areas where trees or shrubs carry good crops of berries | In winter, American Robin flocks gather in wooded areas where trees or shrubs have good crops of berries. |
| Their rich caroling is among the earliest bird songs heard at dawn in spring and summer, often beginning just before first light | The American Robin's rich caroling is among the earliest bird songs heard at dawn in spring and summer, often beginning just before first light. |
| The nest is a cup of grasses and twigs worked into a solid foundation of mud | Nest is a cup of grasses, twigs, debris, worked into a solid foundation of mud |
| The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days | Incubation by female, 12-14 days. |
| the young leave the nest about 14 to 16 days after hatching | Young leave the nest about 14-16 days after hatching. |
| A pair raises 2 broods a season, sometimes 3 | 2 broods per season, sometimes 3. |
| Because it is so familiar and occurs around places where people live, the robin sometimes serves as an early warning of environmental problems, such as overuse of pesticides | Because it is so familiar and occurs around places where humans live, the American Robin sometimes serves as an early warning of environmental problems, such as overuse of pesticides. |
| Pale blue, or "robin's-egg blue" | Pale blue or "robin's-egg blue." |
| A nest usually holds 4 eggs, sometimes anywhere from 3 to 7 | Usually 4, sometimes 3-7. |
| A robin does much of its foraging on the ground, running and pausing on open lawns, and earthworms are on the menu | Does much foraging on the ground, running and pausing on open lawns |
| A robin's rich caroling is among the earliest bird songs heard at dawn, often beginning just before first light | The American Robin's rich caroling is among the earliest bird songs heard at dawn in spring and summer, often beginning just before first light. (note: vibe.reason) |

## Montgomerie & Weatherhead (1997). How robins find worms. Animal Behaviour.

https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1996.0411

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| four robins found buried mealworms even with sight, smell and vibration cues removed | four American robins, Turdus migratoriusfound buried mealworms in the absence of visual, olfactory and vibrotactile cues |
| their foraging success dropped significantly when white noise obscured sound | They also had significantly reduced foraging success when auditory cues were obscured by white noise. |
| The authors say that suggests robins can use hearing to find prey | suggesting that they could use auditory cues to locate the prey |