Get the Word Out About Robins

The American Robin is a long-time icon of the spring season, known for its bright orange belly and beautiful song! Here are a few interesting facts you can share with your customers about this harbinger of spring!

Say Hello to the American Robin

Here are ten fascinating facts about the robin, the bird that many of us associate with the arrival of spring.

1. Robins are very popular birds both here in North America, as well as in Europe. In fact, it is the national bird of Great Britain. However, in England, they’re talking about completely a different bird! They’re in love with the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) and we have the American Robin (Turdus migratorius).
2. The male American Robin sings the most beautiful tune … he is often the last bird heard as the sun sets. After dark, he generally sings faster and more intricate versions of his daytime tune. These evening songs help to establish boundaries and to defend his territory.
3. The American Robin is the state bird for Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These birds can be found in every state but Hawaii. In the summer, they can be found in every Canadian province. In the winter, every Mexican state hosts those that migrate.
4. Robins have a sweet tooth! Fruits, berries, sweet cakes, and even pastry dough are among their favorites. They will even drink from Perky-Pet® Oriole feeders, and those feeders can help you attract them to your yard.
5. The male and female look surprisingly similar, although if you look closely, the female is a bit duller than the male. It seems female robins think that the brightest color males make better fathers!
6. In the past, Robins were killed for their meat, believe it or not. However, they are now protected in the U.S. thanks to the Migratory Bird Act. We’re guessing there is about a forkful of useable meat on the average robin, so it wouldn’t exactly be a filling meal.
7. The American Robin is a known carrier for the West Nile virus. The Robin is able to hold the virus longer than other species, which allows that disease to be spread to more mosquitoes! The insects that transmit the West Nile virus are among those targeted by Mosquito Magnet® mosquito traps.
8. Drunk Robins!? Yes, Robins will flock to fermented berries in the winter. By ingesting large quantities, they get drunk and exhibit intoxicated behaviors, including falling over while bounding along the ground and an inability to coordinate their wings.
9. Robins are known for their running and stopping behavior – it is one of their main characteristics! This is behavior helps them survey the ground as they hunt for worms, bugs and other edible items.
10. Although the comic-book superhero Robin was inspired by an illustration of Robin Hood from artist Bill Finger’s childhood, the origin story of the character had his mother nicknaming him Robin because he was born on the first day of spring! There isn’t just one Robin either, so far there have been five distinct characters who used the name Robin after becoming Batman’s sidekick.