In some ways, we are probably more familiar with American Robins than with any other backyard bird species. But how much do we really know about our wildlife neighbours? Here are seven facts about robins that may surprise you.
1. Robins are not Robins
American Robins are not actually robins. They are the largest members of thrush family in North America. However, because our birds reminded European settlers of robins from the Old Country, they called them robins – and the name stuck.
2. Robins Die Young
The average lifespan for an American Robin is two years. More than 75 per cent die before turning one. The oldest banded, wild American Robin ever caught was nearly 14 years old. The oldest captive robin lived more than 17 years.
3. Baby Robins Grow Up Quickly
Baby Robins leave the nest just 13 days after hatching. Their parents take care of them together for a few days after that — until the mother has more eggs to incubate. Once that happens, the father takes care of them by himself. By the time the next clutch of eggs hatch, the older babies are completely on their own.
4. Robins Do Not Listen for Worms
Contrary to popular belief, Robins hunt with their eyes, not their ears. They watch for movement in the grass and immediately beneath the surface of the soil. When they tip their heads to the side, they do so to focus their downward eye on their prey. Meanwhile, their other eye watches the sky for attacking hawks.
5. Robins are Clean
Unlike pigeons, who allow feces, egg shells, dead nestlings and other garbage to build up around their nesting sites, American Robins are relatively clean. In fact, the parents carry feces and other materials away from the nest and deposit them elsewhere. This helps to hide the nest from scent detecting predators, like cats.
6. Robins Mate Seasonally
Although some bird species mate for life, robins are not among them. Robins mate seasonally. If one of the pair is killed, the remaining partner will attempt to find a replacement as quickly as possible.
7. People Now Outnumber Robins
Recently, for the first time in history, the combined human populations of Canada and the United States surpassed the total number of American Robins living here. Canada and the United States currently have a combined population of 340 million people while the total number of robins is estimated at about 320 million.
Brent Johner has been writing about urban wildlife since 1998. Many of the articles here first appeared in the Calgary Herald, Calgary Gardening magazine or on Talk About Wildlife. Brent has also done dozens of radio, television, newspaper and magazine interviews on the subject of urban wildlife.