American Robin

The American Robin is a migratory songbird known widely as a harbinger of spring. It features a dark gray back, a yellow bill, and a striking brick-red breast. The bird is roughly 9 to 11 inches long with a cheerful, caroling song.

Vibrant rust-orange or brick-red tip fading sharply into dark charcoal-gray or slate-gray fluff at the base, characteristic of the iconic reddish breast of the species

Pennaceous at the upper colored tip with interlocked barbicels, transitioning to a very plumulaceous, fluffy downy base with loose, separated barbs

Thin, flexible, central white-to-grayish rachis extending through the length of the feather with fine, branching barbs

Soft, silky, and pliable with a matte finish; fluffy and loose at the basal half and slightly firmer at the colored tip

Breast or underparts, determined by the distinctive rich orange-red coloration combined with a charcoal-gray fluffy base typical of robin ventral plumage

Distinctive bicolored feather showing vibrant rust-orange transitioning abruptly into dark slate-gray down

Woodlands, forests, suburban lawns, parks, gardens, and agricultural fields across North America

Widespread across North America, breeding from Alaska and Canada down to Mexico, wintering mainly in the southern US and Central America

Acts as an important seed disperser and soil health indicator through foraging on lawns and consuming forest fruits

Other thrushes such as the Varied Thrush, though American Robin breast feathers are uniquely identified by the specific bright rust-red meeting dark gray

American Robins can eat up to 14 percent of their body weight in earthworms and fruit daily, and they are known to occasionally become intoxicated from eating fermented berries

Symbol of spring and renewal in North American folklore and literature; protected by law so historical uses are limited to observation and study

Look on lawns or near wooded areas during spring and autumn molt seasons, often found around shrubbery or nesting sites

Good condition, intact structure with slight surface dust or particulate matter visible on the vane