American Robins in the Fall
When we see our “first Robin of Spring”, hopping and running, foraging for insects and worms, we get excited; we tell others “they’re back!” We see it as one of the first signs that Spring is finally here. Then by summer’s end, the American Robin disappears from our yards and parks, as many birds do.
Were you aware that the American Robin doesn’t migrate huge distances as many others? They will spend their entire fall & winter in their breeding range throughout the U.S., maybe only just miles away from their nesting areas, flocking with other American Robins at places where there are trees & bushes laden with autumn and winter berries & seed to eat.
American Robin snacking on berries
Down the hatch!
American Robin – An Autumn Profile
So if you need a “Robin fix” and cannot wait until Spring, you can find them now if you look in the right berry-licious places!
(Photos recently taken at Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, Maryland)
Nice photography as always, Donna. I though these birds traveled much further south.
Thank you, John, me too for a long time! 🙂
That second photo is second to none!
Thank you, Hien! When it flashed on my laptop after download, I was happy! Always hoping for shots like those. 🙂
Nicely caught! You and the Robin.
Thank you, Brian!
Nice catch on the second image with the tongue and mouth open! Some even overwinter here in the ravines as evidenced by the Christmas Bird Count. I do enjoy seeing them today, especially since we have a fresh fall of snow.
Thank you, Jane, pure luck! 🙂 I love that some do stay around for you up in Canada! I know all birds have some that do stay as residents and have learned how to survive. I hope you can capture them with snow, I’d love to see that.
…or by looking for the result of their berry-rich diet: colorful splash marks here and there…😊
Nothing like a beautiful purple splash on the windshield… hee hee
😀
I just hope to see some of these guys in my backyard like every year. Great shots Donna! 🙂
Thank you, HJ, me for you too! 🙂
I wonder how far from here they go in winter. Their timing is always excellent.
Jane from Canada just commented that they have year-round Robins. How cool to see them in the snow! So Robins do seem to survive cold/snow, it’s the food supply they follow/chase.
Our front yard crabapple trees are full of robins right now. I’m happy to have them eat every last berry. I love that shot of the robin with the berry on its tongue! Amazing!
Thank you Susan! So nice to hear you have them visiting you now. Real neat to see and hear so many at once, unlike Spring!
Beautiful Donna! How lovely that we mark seasons by the arrival and presence of various birds. My wife and I do likewise. Our Robins are quite different to your American version. We have about 18 different species which makes it a challenge to find them as they usually are bush birds and not seen much around homes, though they are curious of humans and will often follow us along the track. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you, Ashley! Wow, 18 different Robin species! That’s like our sparrows, we have so many, they can be a challenge to ID as well. I do love a curious bird, they give such the cutest looks when studying us! 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend as well!
That’s a great series of images! Especially the one where the robin has the berry in its mouth getting ready to swallow it!
Thank you, Jerry! Lucky catch, him and me! 🙂
Nice photos, especially that “lucky” one. Today’s trivia: I always thought that despite being orange, robin red-breast got their name from from old nursery rhymes that originated in England and therefore in England they have red breast. Nope. Turns out that until some time in the 1500s there was no English word for the color orange. Sometime after the fruit orange was introduced the name of the fruit became the name for the color we now call orange.
Thank you David! Great trivia, thank you too for sharing. Now I know! 🙂
Nice catch Donna
Thank you, Alix!
While we never used to see robins in winter, it isn’t all that uncommon these past few years. Lots of multiflora rose hips for them around here.
Isn’t that wonderful! Food is the key and I’m sure they’re loving the rose hips!
AND perpetuating the species! 😉
Great action sequence, Donna!
Thank you Ellen!
Marvelous shots as always! The berry catch looks like a great reward for some patience. Seems my timing is much worse, generally giving up just before some ‘perfect’ moment! 😠
Thank you, Gunta! Since he didn’t move from that branch, I didn’t move and just kept hoping I’d get a berry in the mouth. The toss was a bonus shot! 🙂
Wonderful photos, especially Down the Hatch!🙂
Thank you, it sure looked berry-licious and was a lucky shot for me!
#02 is really… what’s the phrase… on the tip of my tongue…oh that’s it – excellent.
LMAO! Thank you RH! One of those lucky moments. 😊