American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Y/M

RANGE: Breeds from western and northern Alaska, southern Keewatin, northern Quebec, Labrador, and Newfoundland south to southern California, central and southeastern Arizona, Mexico, southern Texas, and central Florida. Winters from southern Alaska, the northern United States and Newfoundland south to Baja California, southern Texas, and southern Florida, throughout Mexico to Central America.

STATUS: Abundant.

HABITAT: Found in nearly all habitats from tree limit in sparsely wooded barrens up to 12,000 feet in the mountains of the West, along forest borders, hedges, orchards, gardens, city parks, and in suburban yards.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Mud for nest building. Strongest nesting habitat in (1) Recently cutover or burned forest, (2) Urban and residential areas, and (3) Streamside wetland and shrubland.

NEST: Places nest, constructed of mud and vegetation, on almost any substantial support, usually in a fork or on a horizontal branch of a shrub or tree; rarely on the ground.

FOOD: Feeds mostly on the ground, searching for almost any edible substance; but also picks fruits from trees and shrubs. Consumes a diet that is about 42 percent animal and 58 percent vegetable.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Beal 1915b, Forbush and May 1955, Knupp, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004.