The Living Landscape: The iconic American robin
- Kathleen Scavone
- Posted On
"The sound of birds stops the noise in my mind." – Carly Simon
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Nature is the quintessential storyteller. Through her recurrent procession of seasons she tells us of the sagas of predator and prey, the succession of breeding and fruition.
Her ever-present themes of planetary progression, star-shine, moon phases and meteor showers are all daily or nightly dramas unfolding whether we choose to observe or not.
Within this bounty of stories that silently play all around us, we are most fortunate here in Lake County to witness a multitude of avian species that either make their homes here, or grace us with a fleeting observation during their annual migration.
The American robin (Turdus migratorius), although a common bird, is, nonetheless a striking sight to behold.
Often seen after a rain, yanking up a juicy worm on the lawn, robins can be found around berry bushes as well.
These resourceful songbirds can be sighted dining on the bright red berries of the toyon bush. Toyon, native perennial shrub decorates the winter landscape with bright berries against leafy green leaves.
In fact, the toyon plant makes a good addition to gardens due to its drought tolerance. During summertime it displays delicate, white blooms. The toyon berry is a favorite of many berry loving birds, such as the varied thrush, turkey and pileated woodpecker.
The American robin definitely dominated the busy toyon bush when I was observing the comings and goings of the various birds in the vicinity of the bush.
Since the birds consume the berries whole and excrete the seeds unharmed in the process, they are great distributors of the plant. American robins wear a feather-coat of reddish-orange on their breast and grayish-brown heads and backs.
They are anywhere from 9 to 11 inches in length, with a wingspan of roughly a foot. They can be spotted hopping across the lawn, and then standing upright, looking proud.
They are found most everywhere, from yards, forests and woodlands to shrublands. They are active most of the day, with a diet of berries, bugs, grubs, earthworms and fruit. Their predators include snakes, hawks and cats.
These beautiful birds breed across North America all the way up to Alaska, and south to Mexico as well as Florida.
This popular songbird who sings both before and after a storm, is the state bird of three states: Wisconsin, Connecticut and Michigan.
Ornithologists have determined that the American robin has a number of calls, or songs which are quite complex. These vocalizations communicate calls to announce the presence of predators to the flock, to defend their nest during nesting season and at dawn when they arise.
Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Web site to hear the American robin’s songs at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also formerly wrote for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.