The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a common songbird found throughout North America. The female American Robin has a distinctive appearance that sets it apart from the male of the species.
Size and Shape
The female American Robin has a plump, round body shape. It measures around 8.5-9.5 inches in length from the tip of its bill to the end of its tail. Its wingspan ranges from 12-16 inches across. The female robin has a full breast and belly which gives it a rounded profile.
In terms of size, the female robin is slightly smaller than the male. The male measures around 10 inches in length and has a wingspan of around 13-17 inches. While the size difference between males and females is not dramatic, it is noticeable when they are observed together.
Plumage
The most striking feature of the female robin is its coloration. While the male has bold black and orange plumage, the female is much more subdued in color.
The head of the female is grayish-brown, with a lighter throat. The back and wings are also a medium brown color, sometimes described as grayish-brown. The breast is a pale orange-brown hue, much lighter than the vivid orange breast of the male.
The belly and underside of the female robin is a light beige or cream color. This helps camouflage the bird when she is sitting on a nest. The beak and legs are yellow-orange in color.
Differences from male plumage
The muted, camouflaging tones of the female’s plumage differ dramatically from the male’s bold black head, wings, and tail and bright orange throat and breast. The male’s striking colors are thought to help attract a mate and defend his territory.
The female lacks the male’s black crown and black upperparts. The orange hue on her breast is much lighter and less vibrant. She has more overall brown in her coloring compared to the male.
Changes between seasons
The female robin’s plumage remains relatively consistent throughout the year. The colors do not change much between breeding season and winter.
The male’s plumage changes more significantly between seasons. In winter, the male loses the black crown and black upperparts, taking on a coloring similar to the female. This change makes the male less distinctive in the winter months.
Behaviors and activities
The female American Robin has some characteristic behaviors that contribute to her identity.
Nesting
The female robin builds the nest for her eggs. She uses grass, twigs, paper fibers, and feathers, forming them together into a sturdy cup shape. She lays blue-green eggs inside the nest and incubates them herself.
Foraging
The female robin forages for food on the ground. She runs across lawns and fields, stopping to dig up earthworms and insects with her bill. She also eats fruit and berries in trees and shrubs.
Singing
While the male robin is known for its beautiful singing, the female also sings frequently. Her song is a simple string of clear whistled phrases. She uses her song to communicate with her mate and delineate her territory.
Habitat
The female American Robin occupies a wide range of habitats across North America. She is very adaptable and can thrive in many environments.
Some typical habitats include:
- Backyards
- Parks and gardens
- Agricultural fields
- Orchards
- Forest edges
- Mountain shrublands
The female robin requires some trees or shrubs for nesting sites but can otherwise live very successfully among humans in developed areas.
Range
The female American Robin lives across the entire North American continent. The breeding range extends from Alaska and Canada down through the United States and into Mexico.
Some key details about the female robin’s wide range include:
- Year-round range includes the entire continental U.S. and parts of Mexico
- Summers throughout Canada and Alaska
- Winters along the U.S. Gulf Coast states
- Most northern birds migrate south for winter
- Found in urban and rural settings within range
Migration
Northern populations of female robins migrate south for the winter, while southern birds are year-round residents. Here are some key migration patterns:
- Canadian robins migrate throughout the eastern U.S. for winter
- Alaskan robins migrate down the West Coast to wintering grounds
- Southern U.S. robins may migrate short distances
- Migrations occur February-May and September-November
- Young robins migrate separately from adults
The female robin winters as far south as Florida, Mexico, and California’s Central Valley. Warm southern climates provide ample food during the colder months.
Diet
The female robin has an omnivorous diet consisting of:
- Earthworms
- Insects
- Berrys
- Fruit
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Snails
- Millipedes
- Spiders
- Other small invertebrates
She finds her food by scanning the ground as she runs across lawns or hopping along branches. She eats worms by pulling them from the soil and shaking them before swallowing. Fruit is plucked from trees and bushes.
The female has a strong instinct to seek protein sources like worms to feed her young. She can consume up to 40% of her weight in earthworms each day during nesting season.
Differences from males
While the female American Robin shares most attributes with the male, some subtle differences exist:
| Trait | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 8.5-9.5 inches long | Around 10 inches long |
| Wingspan | 12-16 inches | 13-17 inches |
| Weight | 77 grams | 96 grams |
| Plumage | Brown back, light orange breast | Black back, vivid orange breast |
| Migration | Migrates with males | Migrates with females |
The female is slightly smaller than the male, with more subdued plumage colors. She plays an equal role in migrating and other shared behaviors besides courtship displays.
Courtship
In early spring, the female robin begins seeking a mate. Here are some highlights of courtship behavior:
- Male sings loudly to attract female and defend territory
- Female flies toward preferred male
- Pair perches close together on branches
- Male chases female in flights to demonstrate stamina
- Mated pairs roost side-by-side at night
The male uses elaborate songs and chasing flights to impress the female. Once bonded, the pair remains monogamous for the breeding season and may reunite in subsequent years.
Nesting
After choosing a mate, the female robin begins building her nest. Fun facts about her nesting habits include:
- Builds nest in tree branches, eaves, ledges
- Constructs nest from grasses, twigs, paper, feathers
- Lays 3-5 light blue eggs
- Incubates eggs for 12-14 days
- Broods hatchlings for another 2 weeks
The female sits tightly on the nest while incubating and is very protective. She may attack intruders, including humans, who get too close.
Offspring
The female robin dedicates herself fully to raising her young after the eggs hatch. She:
- Feeds hatchlings up to 14 times per hour
- Regurgitates earthworms and insects to feed babies
- Removes fecal sacs from nest
- Keeps young warm for 8-12 days until fledged
- Continues feeding fledglings for 2 weeks
Both parents cooperate to find enough food for their demanding hatchlings. The abundant summer insect population helps fuel this exhausting period of child-rearing.
Population
The American Robin has an extremely large population across its vast North American range. Population estimates include:
- Global breeding population of around 320 million
- Around 45 million breeding in Alaska and Canada
- Over 270 million breeding in the continental U.S.
- 19 million wintering in Mexico
These widespread, abundant numbers mean the female American Robin maintains a thriving, stable population. She is not considered endangered or threatened at this time.
Threats
The female American Robin faces relatively few major threats due to her large numbers and ability to adapt to human landscapes. Some risks include:
- Habitat loss in boreal forests
- Climate change limiting ranges and food sources
- Pesticides reducing reproductive success
- Outdoor cats preying on fledglings
More research is needed into the long-term impacts of these threats on robin populations. For now, the female continues to thrive across urban and wild areas.
Interesting Facts
Here are a few fascinating tidbits to highlight the unique traits of the female American Robin:
- She can produce up to three broods per breeding season.
- Her eggs hatch in the same order they were laid.
- She can remember where mealworms were located and return directly to the spot.
- Her vision is several times sharper than a human’s.
- She fills important ecosystem roles distributing seeds and controlling pests.
The common, widespread female robin quietly lives out her days making vital contributions to her habitats. Just look and listen for her subtle beauty around us.
Conclusion
The medium-sized, round female American Robin flits through backyards and parks in drab brown, cream, and pale orange plumage. Despite her average appearance, she plays a central role in ecosystems and culture. This hardy songbird adapts readily to human settlement while maintaining complex behaviors and lifecycles.
The robin’s interactions with earthworms make her an intriguing case study in cooperation between species. Her melodious calls herald spring’s arrival and remind us that natural beauty comes in modest packages too. Learning about the oft-overlooked female illuminates the amazing diversity woven into each songbird.
