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Birds: Behavior
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Winter Robins


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Tradition places the appearance of the American Robin as a harbinger of spring. This may be why each winter the Massachusetts Audubon Society receives hundreds of reports of robin sightings, sometimes numbering hundreds of birds. Actually, robins have been known to overwinter in Massachusetts since at least the early 1900s. The number of wintering robins depends largely on the severity of the weather and the abundance of food.

Winter RobinOverall, the number of robins in Massachusetts has increased greatly throughout this century. Suburban landscapes are very beneficial to robins, both ornamental plantings and open green lawns provide an abundance of feeding and nesting habitat.

RANGE
In general, the nesting, or summer, range of robins extends from the tree limit in northern North America to southern Mexico, and the winter range covers southern Canada to Guatemala. Although many robins do spend the winter in Massachusetts, they are not necessarily the same robins that are here in the summer. It is likely that robins wintering in Massachusetts migrate to northern New England or Canada. Most of the robins that breed in Massachusetts migrate to the southern states with the onset of cold weather in the fall.

SURVIVING COLD WEATHER
Most birds that regularly winter in New England are well suited to withstand cold temperatures. In the fall, many birds grow additional feathers for insulation. To keep warm while roosting, birds fluff their feathers. Because of the way their feathers are layered, this behavior traps pockets of warm air next to the skin.

During winter days, many birds feed almost continually, storing up fat which they burn off at night to keep warm.

Winter RobinFOOD
During the warm months, a robin with an earthworm in its beak is a familiar sight. In addition to worms, they eat many insects and ground-dwelling larvae, as well as caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles.

In winter, robins are nomadic, flying in flocks and eating the berries of trees and shrubs that hold their fruit through the winter: Red Cedar, American Holly, Hawthorn, and certain dogwood and crab apple species are favorites. As they deplete the food sources in one location they move on in search of a new supply.

FEEDING ROBINS
There isn't much one can feed robins in the winter. They are very adept at finding their preferred food and rarely visit feeding stations. During severe weather, robins may eat bread, raisins, and pieces of apples placed on the ground; but it is more likely that squirrels will find these treats first.


Participate in a Related Program
Penikese Island Tour, Long Pasture - 8/1/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 8/2/10
Herons at Hemenway, Wellfleet Bay - 8/2/10
Just Shorebirds, Wellfleet Bay - 8/2/10
Monomoy Tour-North Island, Wellfleet Bay - 8/3/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/3/10
Wednesday Evening Shorebirding, Joppa Flats - 8/4/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 8/4/10
Junior Bird Club, Allens Pond - 8/4/10
Birding for Beginners, Wellfleet Bay - 8/5/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 8/5/10
What's that Bird?, Long Pasture - 8/5/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/6/10
Paddle to Thacher Island, Ipswich River - 8/7/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 8/7/10
Canoeing on Eagle Lake, Wachusett Meadow - 8/8/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 8/9/10
Seabirds and Whales, Joppa Flats - 8/9/10
Just Shorebirds, Wellfleet Bay - 8/9/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 8/10/10
Wednesday Evening Shorebirding, Joppa Flats - 8/11/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 8/11/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/11/10
Birding for Beginners, Wellfleet Bay - 8/12/10
What's that Bird?, Long Pasture - 8/12/10
Summer Stars and Meteors, Broadmoor - 8/12/10
Monomoy Tour for Birders, Wellfleet Bay - 8/12/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/13/10
Shorebirds and Swallows at Sunset, Drumlin Farm - 8/14/10
Birder's Certificate Program, Joppa Flats - 8/14/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 8/14/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 8/16/10
Herons at Hemenway, Wellfleet Bay - 8/16/10
Monomoy Tour-North Island, Wellfleet Bay - 8/17/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/17/10
Wednesday Evening Shorebirding, Joppa Flats - 8/18/10
Lecture: Birding in Hawai'i, Joppa Flats - 8/18/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 8/18/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/18/10
Birding for Beginners, Wellfleet Bay - 8/19/10
What's that Bird?, Long Pasture - 8/19/10
Monomoy Tour-North Island, Wellfleet Bay - 8/19/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/20/10
Turtle Trekkers, Stony Brook - 8/21/10
Seabirds and Whales, Joppa Flats - 8/21/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 8/21/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 8/23/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 8/24/10
Nighthawk Watch, Habitat - 8/25/10
Wednesday Evening Shorebirding, Joppa Flats - 8/25/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 8/25/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/25/10
North Beach Island, Wellfleet Bay - 8/25/10
Birding for Beginners, Wellfleet Bay - 8/26/10
What's that Bird?, Long Pasture - 8/26/10
Monomoy Tour for Birders, Wellfleet Bay - 8/26/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 8/27/10
Banding Station Visit for Birders, Joppa Flats - 8/28/10
Kayak Scorton Creek In Sandwich, Long Pasture - 8/28/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 8/28/10
Herons at Hemenway, Wellfleet Bay - 8/30/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 8/31/10
Birding Paddle of Sandy Neck, Long Pasture - 9/1/10
Junior Bird Club, Allens Pond - 9/1/10
Monomoy Tour-North Island, Wellfleet Bay - 9/1/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 9/1/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/1/10
Birding for Beginners, Wellfleet Bay - 9/2/10
What's that Bird?, Long Pasture - 9/2/10
Birding South Beach, Wellfleet Bay - 9/3/10
Bird Walks at Canoe Meadows, Pleasant Valley - 9/3/10
Monomoy Tour-North Island, Wellfleet Bay - 9/4/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/4/10
Nauset Marsh Cruise, Wellfleet Bay - 9/5/10
Introduction to Birdwatching, Joppa Flats - 9/5/10
Seabirds and Whales, Joppa Flats - 9/7/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/8/10
Fall Birding at Massachusetts IBAs, Broad Meadow Brook - 9/8/10
Bird Walks at Canoe Meadows, Pleasant Valley - 9/10/10
Friday Morning Birds and More, Broad Meadow Brook - 9/10/10
South Beach Late Shorebird Migration, Drumlin Farm - 9/11/10
Saturday-Morning Bird Walks, Arcadia - 9/11/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/11/10
Discovery Day at Ipswich River, Ipswich River - 9/11/10
Cotuit Bay Kayak Trip, Long Pasture - 9/14/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/15/10
Friday Morning Birds and More, Broad Meadow Brook - 9/17/10
Turtle Trekkers, Stony Brook - 9/18/10
Hawk Migration at Chickatawbut Hill, Blue Hills Trailside Museum - 9/18/10
Saturday-Morning Bird Walks, Arcadia - 9/18/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/18/10
Banding Station Visit for Birders, Joppa Flats - 9/18/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/22/10
Friday Morning Birds and More, Broad Meadow Brook - 9/24/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/25/10
Hawk Watch at Mount Watatic, Broad Meadow Brook - 9/25/10
Birds and Brewery Tour - Wachusett, Broad Meadow Brook - 9/26/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 9/29/10
California: Fall Coastal Birding, Drumlin Farm - 10/1/10
Friday Morning Birds and More, Broad Meadow Brook - 10/1/10
Fall Migration at Canoe Meadows, Pleasant Valley - 10/2/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/2/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/6/10
Friday Morning Birds and More, Broad Meadow Brook - 10/8/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/9/10
Birds by Bike, Broad Meadow Brook - 10/9/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/13/10
Friday Morning Birds and More, Broad Meadow Brook - 10/15/10
The Wonder and the Wow: Tide Pools, Joppa Flats - 10/16/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/16/10
Wachusett Reservoir Duck Watch, Broad Meadow Brook - 10/16/10
Banding Station Visit for Birders, Joppa Flats - 10/17/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/20/10
Friday Morning Birds and More, Broad Meadow Brook - 10/22/10
Discovery Day - Wildlife in Winter, Blue Hills Trailside Museum - 10/23/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/23/10
Banding Station Visit for Birders, Joppa Flats - 10/24/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/27/10
Friday Morning Birds and More, Broad Meadow Brook - 10/29/10
Kenya Birding and Big Game, Mass Audubon Tours - 10/30/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 10/30/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 11/3/10
Bald Eagle Update, Broad Meadow Brook - 11/6/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 11/6/10
Fall Birding on Cape Ann, Joppa Flats - 11/6/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 11/10/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 11/13/10
Birding Field Trip for Beginners, Joppa Flats - 11/13/10
Wachusett Reservoir Duck Watch, Broad Meadow Brook - 11/13/10
Birding from Nahant to East Boston, Joppa Flats - 11/14/10
Birding the Maine Coast, Joppa Flats - 11/14/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 11/17/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 11/20/10
Wednesday Morning Birding - Cape Ann, Joppa Flats - 11/24/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 11/27/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 12/1/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 12/4/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 12/8/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 12/11/10
Wachusett Reservoir Duck Watch, Broad Meadow Brook - 12/11/10
Wednesday Morning Birding - Cape Ann, Joppa Flats - 12/15/10
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 12/18/10
Solstice Celebration, Arcadia - 12/21/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 12/22/10
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 12/29/10
New Year's Madness, Joppa Flats - 1/1/11
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 1/5/11
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 1/8/11
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 1/12/11
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 1/15/11
Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 1/22/11
Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats - 1/26/11
Superbowl of Birding VIII, Joppa Flats - 1/29/11
Belize Optimal Birding program, Mass Audubon Tours - 2/27/11
Panama, Mass Audubon Tours - 3/5/11
Costa Rica Birding, Mass Audubon Tours - 3/11/11
River of Cranes, Pleasant Valley - 3/29/11
Birding Big Bend and West Texas, Joppa Flats - 5/3/11
Mongolia: Natural History Exploration, Mass Audubon Tours - 5/28/11
Alaska, Drumlin Farm - 6/1/11

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