American Robin

Scientific name: Turdus migratorius

Common and widespread, the American Robin is often used as a point of reference, whether as a sign of spring, a size comparison for another species seen by a birder, or as a color called “robin’s-egg blue”. Territorial during the breeding season, American Robins sometimes gather in enormous flocks during the winter months.

During the 1800s, American Robins were considered delicious and were often sold in markets. Much later, mortality of robins was an early indicator of the dangers of the pesticide DDT. Other pesticides have since caused large-scale die-offs in robins.

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