The American Robin
The robin is a member of the thrush family and is familiar to almost everyone, with its brick red breast, dark grey back and yellow bill as distinguishing features.The female robin is paler and a bit more dull than the male.The young have pale streaks on the back and black spots on the breast, but otherwise look very similar to the adults. The American Robin was named by the early settlers who were reminded of the European Robin by the reddish breast. It is however, a much larger bird.
The robin arrives in most parts of Canada in the early spring eagerly seeking earthworms in open grassy areas or lawns. Although Robins have a varied diet it mainly consists of insects, worms and fruit. Robins usually nest in bushes or trees although they can frequently be found building their nests in building nooks and ledges of porches etc.The nest is constructed with grass and twigs with base and walls of mud with the inside lined with softer grasses and weed stems. The robin lays an average of 4 eggs which are a pale blue in color. The eggs hatch after 14 days. The chicks then leave the nest 2 weeks after they hatch. It is typical for the robin to have 2 or 3 broods from April to July. It is active during day light hours but for protection from predators (cats, hawks and larger snakes) assembles into large flocks over night.
