I had fallen into the trap of “Oh it’s just a Robin”. Then a new birding friend asked me if I could tell the difference between a male and female robin. Picture me eating humble pie. I can still remember the embarrassment of that moment, which was 40+ years ago. From that day forward, I truly enjoy looking at every robin making that distinction. Thanks for this reminder to look at, think about, and appreciate every bird. 🪶
That’s a great story to keep you interested in Robins! When I feel myself thinking the word “just” about a bird I kick myself. Aren’t male and female robins not the most straightforward to tell apart? I’ll eat my humble pie and say I haven’t really ever thought to try.
This is a really informative post to scroll through, James. Excellent field guide on many levels, but I'm especially impressed with the Robins. I didn't realize how many subspecies there are. They are always a welcome sight in Spring.
Absolutely stunning photos. I don't know when I went from indifferent about Robins to deeply in love with them, but I think it was around when I got my big zoom lens and was testing it out. I had already developed an appreciation for them by then, but when I first took a look at those photos, I was floored by how beautiful the bird is. Like eye-poppingly beautiful. Why did it take so long? I guess that's the trap of seeing a bird almost every day of your life.
Thank you Nate! I will confess I didn’t fall so deeply in love with them until this year, really. The fact I can see and take photos of these birds every time I go out lets me have a great collection of individuals to compare. They aren’t only common—chickadees are common but not like robins—they’re flat out easy to find and see. They aren’t small or shy. They’re the Golden Retriever of birds. Sure, not uncommon, but who doesn’t love a Golden Retriever?
Do American Robins have the white ring around their eye all year long? It seems like the ones around here only got them for Spring, but maybe I wasn't watching closely enough. I appreciate the Robin song in the morning and evening; they often sing around suppertime, and it's very pleasant. They're a bird we can overlook, but we'd miss them if they were gone. They are very active and easy to observe. Hop, hop, hop. Look left, look right. They aren't solitary, but they don't hunt through the grass in lines like Starlings, who resemble a posse on a manhunt for a missing person...
I’ve never learned of the eye ring being seasonal. I believe spring birds are paler, and there’s a fair bit of variation in the eye ring—degrees of unbrokenness and boldness. That’s fascinating if the plumage does lead to the eye ring appearing or not!
Even non-birders would miss these little beauties if they disappeared.
James, I am very impressed with your diligence in capturing such a variety of robins, in size, color, position, and location. This isn’t just a one-off exercise, you offer variety and opportunity to get to know a bit about each specific robin variety.
Thank you, Tom! The Robin’s accessibility makes it a good candidate for such an exercise—capturing different birds in different poses and different types of light. Sidenote: I was going through all my books and came across a copy of one of yours I bought years ago! I was happy to see it.
James, I have always enjoyed watching and listening to Robins. I never realized there were multiple subspecies. I really enjoyed learning so much about them. Thank you for this great bird post.
Robins are one of our favorites, we love to watch them hop about in the yard after a rain storm, tilting their heads to listen for the earthworms. They truly have one of the most beautiful songs.
I have taken it a step further in my birding journey and that is in accepting the birds that most people dislike. One example is the Grackles. A lot of people complain about them but I love their blue heads that reflect the light and their funny little strut and the way they puff out their feathers to impress potential mates.
Great information on the American Robin, James. I did not know about the different regional varieties either. I do like their cheery call and that song early in the morning. I like watching them do their mini sprints on the ground and sudden pause in search of food. Then mini sprint again. Thanks for sharing.
I love these photos because the detail, especially on the wings, makes me realize how much I've overlooked robins. They're easy to identify, so I don't look too closely at them. But I love the subtle color variation that is too often written off as "just" brown and they have such interesting expressions, perhaps because they are used to humans wandering around their environments, so they give some side-eye instead of just flying off!
Thank you Alice! There is so much to Robins if we just look a little closer. Them being accustomed to us definitely makes for fun interaction and expressions.
I had fallen into the trap of “Oh it’s just a Robin”. Then a new birding friend asked me if I could tell the difference between a male and female robin. Picture me eating humble pie. I can still remember the embarrassment of that moment, which was 40+ years ago. From that day forward, I truly enjoy looking at every robin making that distinction. Thanks for this reminder to look at, think about, and appreciate every bird. 🪶
That’s a great story to keep you interested in Robins! When I feel myself thinking the word “just” about a bird I kick myself. Aren’t male and female robins not the most straightforward to tell apart? I’ll eat my humble pie and say I haven’t really ever thought to try.
This is a really informative post to scroll through, James. Excellent field guide on many levels, but I'm especially impressed with the Robins. I didn't realize how many subspecies there are. They are always a welcome sight in Spring.
Glad you enjoyed it Heidi. Robins, like chickadees, gulls, and ducks, offer so much more than meets the eye.
Great point, James. They offer us resilience.
Thank you, James, for stacking all these lovely things in one post! I could spend days with you and your birds.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Sharron! Happy to have you here as a reader.
Absolutely stunning photos. I don't know when I went from indifferent about Robins to deeply in love with them, but I think it was around when I got my big zoom lens and was testing it out. I had already developed an appreciation for them by then, but when I first took a look at those photos, I was floored by how beautiful the bird is. Like eye-poppingly beautiful. Why did it take so long? I guess that's the trap of seeing a bird almost every day of your life.
Thank you Nate! I will confess I didn’t fall so deeply in love with them until this year, really. The fact I can see and take photos of these birds every time I go out lets me have a great collection of individuals to compare. They aren’t only common—chickadees are common but not like robins—they’re flat out easy to find and see. They aren’t small or shy. They’re the Golden Retriever of birds. Sure, not uncommon, but who doesn’t love a Golden Retriever?
Do American Robins have the white ring around their eye all year long? It seems like the ones around here only got them for Spring, but maybe I wasn't watching closely enough. I appreciate the Robin song in the morning and evening; they often sing around suppertime, and it's very pleasant. They're a bird we can overlook, but we'd miss them if they were gone. They are very active and easy to observe. Hop, hop, hop. Look left, look right. They aren't solitary, but they don't hunt through the grass in lines like Starlings, who resemble a posse on a manhunt for a missing person...
I’ve never learned of the eye ring being seasonal. I believe spring birds are paler, and there’s a fair bit of variation in the eye ring—degrees of unbrokenness and boldness. That’s fascinating if the plumage does lead to the eye ring appearing or not!
Even non-birders would miss these little beauties if they disappeared.
I love birds (outside only please.. the ones people keep inside give me the heebie jeebies).
Chubby Robins in the spring, brave chickadees and black headed juncos are my favorites out here.. thanks for all the great photos
Glad you enjoyed the photos, Teyani! Robins are chubby little wellsprings of joy.
I love how you feature the common birds with such love and respect, James. Thank you!
Thank you, Kelly! The common birds are too worthy of love and respect that they don’t often get enough of
I was having my morning coffee on the front porch when two robins got into a loud and violent fight under the rose bushes beside the porch.
A few minutes later one robin emerged on the walkway, looked around for a bit, then flew off.
I have no idea if he was the victor or the loser.
While it’s unclear if the bird was winner or loser, it was clearly a win for you that you witnessed the birds going at it!
I love the robin
There is so much about them to love.
Hard agree on the robin, the gull however... they're little demons, rejected by hell because they were too annoying even for hell.
That’s how so many feel about gulls, so I can’t blame you. However I do not agree. I’m a self-proclaimed gull guy, I love ‘em.
I'm being perhaps a little harsh, but I used to live on the coast and got regularily woken before dawn by them fighting over food... Bustards!
The American Robin is a very handsome bird, and very different from the equally lovely European Robin (which is a chat rather than a thrush).
I did not know that about European Robins! Very interesting difference among birds that share a name.
I think the British colonists just named every bird they found that had an orange breast a robin!
James, I am very impressed with your diligence in capturing such a variety of robins, in size, color, position, and location. This isn’t just a one-off exercise, you offer variety and opportunity to get to know a bit about each specific robin variety.
Very well done!
Thank you, Tom! The Robin’s accessibility makes it a good candidate for such an exercise—capturing different birds in different poses and different types of light. Sidenote: I was going through all my books and came across a copy of one of yours I bought years ago! I was happy to see it.
James, I have always enjoyed watching and listening to Robins. I never realized there were multiple subspecies. I really enjoyed learning so much about them. Thank you for this great bird post.
Thank you for reading, Pamela! A couple of these photos were at the Refuge!
I thought I sensed a little Refuge in there!
Robins are one of our favorites, we love to watch them hop about in the yard after a rain storm, tilting their heads to listen for the earthworms. They truly have one of the most beautiful songs.
I have taken it a step further in my birding journey and that is in accepting the birds that most people dislike. One example is the Grackles. A lot of people complain about them but I love their blue heads that reflect the light and their funny little strut and the way they puff out their feathers to impress potential mates.
Robins, Grackles, there are so many amazing birds people just write off for no real reason. If we look a little further, as you do, we learn not to.
Great information on the American Robin, James. I did not know about the different regional varieties either. I do like their cheery call and that song early in the morning. I like watching them do their mini sprints on the ground and sudden pause in search of food. Then mini sprint again. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Neil. There’s nothing better to wake up to than a cheerful song from a Robin. Mini sprint is a good way to describe their motions.
I love these photos because the detail, especially on the wings, makes me realize how much I've overlooked robins. They're easy to identify, so I don't look too closely at them. But I love the subtle color variation that is too often written off as "just" brown and they have such interesting expressions, perhaps because they are used to humans wandering around their environments, so they give some side-eye instead of just flying off!
Thank you Alice! There is so much to Robins if we just look a little closer. Them being accustomed to us definitely makes for fun interaction and expressions.