The American Robin: Harbinger of Spring

Webster defines harbinger as “a person or thing that comes before to announce or give indication of what follows.” The American Robin’s presents indicates the arrival of spring.

For those of us living in Boundary county one of the most obvious harbingers announcing that spring is upon us is the robin. American Robins are now filtering into North Idaho to announce spring with their beautiful red breasts and songs of the season. Although I am always amazed and excited to witness these magnificent forerunner of spring, I am also thrilled to see all the birds of migration and most important the arrival of spring itself.

Most of us don’t have to wander far to bird watch if you’re happy to watch the American Robin. They’re one of the first to arrive in spring and happily hop along on front lawns searching for a meal of worms.

The American Robin is a member of the Bluebird and Thrush family. It’s called the American robin because it was named after a similar (though smaller) bird found in Great Britain.

I am reasonably sure that most people will agree the robin is America’s favorite songbird. Claimed to be one of the most widely recognized birds in North America, even little children are familiar with the robin’s discernible red-orange breast and cheerful song. Although being classified as a migratory bird, occasionally robins are known to stay the winter in many areas. However, rarely, if ever, have I seen robins in our yard on the North Hill through the winter months. Where they migrate for the winter is beyond me, but I am always thrilled when they return, and I spot my first robin, which I did last week, for me they are the true harbingers of spring and this year they brought a welcome introduction of a long overdue spring season.

But there is more. Now that robins have returned, warmer weather will certainly follow. I look forward to the day when Debbie and I can once again return early in the morning to our deck. There, we will visit and enjoy our first cup of coffee for the day while listening to the robin’s rich caroling, often heard just before the first light of day.

I also excitedly a-wait the day when we will once again see robins foraging in our yard, because that also introduces one of our favorite summer events, barbequing! So interesting is their method. When foraging, a robin often runs a few steps, then stops abruptly. With its head cocked to one side, it searches for earthworms by staring motionless at the ground. It’s somewhat humorous and entertaining to watch a robin attempt to pull a worm from the soil particularly if the worm is putting up a strong resistance.

Following mating, it’s fascinating to watch the female robin build her nest, usually in the lower branches of a tree and sometimes in other places. The female robin builds the nest from the inside out. First, she presses dead grass and twigs into a cup shape, about 6 inches across and 6 inches high. Once formed, she reinforces the nest with mud. She then lines the nest with fine, dry grass. Shortly thereafter, she lays her beautiful blue eggs, usually numbering 4-7 without markings.

Again, it becomes mom’s job to incubate the eggs, which typically takes 12-14 days. Once the eggs hatch, it becomes a full-time job for both parents to protect and feed the clamoring babies during the 10-16 days they spend in the nest. The main diet of the robin is berries. This is supplemented by insects, larva and worms. The reason we see so many robins searching out worms is that worms and cutworms are the main diet of the chicks in the nest—both parents are kept hopping to feed their hungry babies up to 100 meals each day.

The robins have officially arrived. Not only are they true harbingers, foretelling what is to come, but they themselves are fascinating creatures to study, and enjoy.

Now that spring is here, take a walk in the out-of-doors and enjoy the beauty of Boundary County.

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