American Robin or Spotted Towhee?

General appearance

The American Robin is about 10 inches (25 cm) in size, or the size of a robin. It has a brick-red chest and a gray back with streaks on the white chin. Additionally, small white spots are visible around its eyes, as well as usually on tail corners. The wings are pointed and the tail is rounded and square-tipped.

Male vs female

Males exhibit a slightly blacker head and richer colors compared to the females. Despite these differences, both genders feature the signature black, brown, orange, red, and yellow colors.

Juvenile

The juvenile American Robin can appear confusing, due to the heavy spotting below, mottling on the back, and pale marks on the face. However, a distinguishing feature to identify a juvenile is the reddish tinge visible on its chest.

Primary habitat

The American robin's preferred habitats range from cities, towns, lawns, farmlands, and forests. Nesting sites are typically in trees and materials used include mud.

Additional range

American robins are found across most continents in summer. In arid southwest, they are found in mountainous coniferous forests and rarely in lowland suburbs. Winters are spent in wooded areas with good berry crops.

Natural diet

The American robin's natural diet consists primarily of invertebrates and fruits. During spring and summer, they predominantly eat insects, earthworms, and caterpillars. Insects provide protein necessary for breeding and raising young. As the seasons turn to fall and winter, robins focus more on fruits and berries such as those from wild cherry, dogwood, sumac, serviceberry, and crabapple trees. Their adaptable feeding habits allow them to thrive in various environments throughout the year.

Bird feeders

American robins are not frequent visitors to traditional bird feeders, which often supply seeds. However, they may be attracted to feeders offering foods that mimic their natural diet such as mealworms, suet with berries, and chopped fruit including apples, raisins, and blueberries. Robins are ground feeders and are more likely to consume these foods when they are placed on low platforms or directly on the ground. Using these foods can help attract robins to garden spaces and provide additional nutrition, particularly during the winter months.