CLIPBOARD : BREEDING BIRD: AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorious)

Description: The robin is big and stocky with gray-brown above and white lower belly. It has a slender, yellow beak and strong yellow legs. Splashes of white encircle the eyes, complementing a white chin. Males have dark head and tail contrasting with brick red chest. Juveniles have speckled brown and cinnamon-colored breast. Length: 10 inches.

Habitat: Cities, farmland, shade trees, berry-bearing trees. Orange County represents the southern edge of the robin’s California range.

Diet: Earthworms, snails, insects and fruit.

Displays: Male struts around female with wings trembling, tail spread and throat inflated

Nest: Usually builds nest 10-20 feet above ground; foundation of twigs and grass, inner nest is cup of mud lined with fine grass.

Eggs: Pale blue, usually unmarked, sometimes flecked with brown. Length: 1.1 inches.

Call: Loud, fluid song of cheerily cheer-up cheerio or a rapid call of tut-tut-tut .

Notes: Often seen walking with an erect stance on lawns, head cocked as it searches for earthworms; when gleaning, will select and use a twig to sweep aside leaves.

Breeding bird atlas: To report bird breeding activity in your neighborhood, or to get information on the breeding bird atlas, call Sea and Sage Audubon Society members Sylvia Gallagher, (714) 962-8990, or Nancy Kenyon, (714) 786-3160.

Note: Map is divided into 5-kilometer squares so that Audubon Society volunteers can more easily survey areas on a regular basis.

Sources: Sea and Sage Audubon Society; “The Birder’s Handbook,” Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, Fireside Books (1988); “Field Guide to the Birds of North America,” National Geographic Society (1987); “Birds of Southern California: Status and Distribution,” Garrett and Dunn, Los Angeles Audubon Society (1981).

Indicates 5-kilometer-square areas where breeding activity has been confirmed.