Can anyone enlighten me on the migratory patterns/behavior of robins?
Honestly, I never thought much about it. All robins looked the same to me. How was I to know that they come and go? Until this partially albino robin started showing up in my yard about 6 years ago. She comes around about the same time every year, the first week in April and stays for about six weeks. Hangs out in a territory of about 4 suburban front yards, maybe a little more than an acre plus, though if she’s hanging out in the back yards too, I don’t know because I can’t see that so I can’t say for sure how big an area she “hangs out” in. Six years now she’s been coming back. Where might she go when she leaves here or where might she have been before she comes here? How long would she stay in one place?
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13 Answers
Thanks, Zen but I was hoping @gailcalled might answer. Isn’t she the one that knows about birds or am I just confused again?
I started to but the reference to an albino robin caught me short. Some robins migrate south; some hang around all winter.
She should, if the albinoism hasn’t affected her ability to mate and lay eggs, hang around for at least two series of eggs, babies and fledglings. Some oversexed robins have three litters (or whatever you call them.)
She ranges around in order to 1) find food for her babies, 2) feed herself while the husband sits on the eggs and then the chicks, and 3) to lure predators or would-be predators (like me) away from the nest.
I have several robins nesting here in inconvenient spots. When I go outside to weed, for example, the robin flies off the nest and scolds me from a distance, as a distraction, I guess.
Robins stay until all fledglings have fledged and are strong enough to survive on their own; then they either migrate (by the millions), or depending on the local winter food supply, hang out in large flocks. Apparently they like to forage on lawns…hence your albino’s forays to the neighbors.
Here’s another site, which repeats what I wrote, only more clearly.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/lifehistory
@zenele:: Lots of birders here; lots of different birding experiences. When I lived in Philadelphia, the robins had a slightly different carol than the robins here. Like a regional accent, I guess.
And I have never seen an albino robin, that I know of.
I was just checking to see if she was lurking around. She Pmed me that she’s taking a break for a week or two.
@gailcalled—Yes. I am talking about lilly – I knew she’d have to reply to my ~ comment.
Oh, good. That means I am still here. Sometimes I wonder.
Wait let me check. Yep. I’m here. By the way, want to know your future?
I knew you were still here. It was me I worried about.
“No” for knowing my future (but thanks for the offer.) I can barely deal with the present.
It’s a gift. The present.
Robins are year round residents here in California.
Although I don’t see many in the hills where I live, denser populations in the valley.
What really turns me on are the migratory Western Tanagers and Black headed Grosbeaks that fly up from Mexico & Central america for the breeding season.
I always get so stoked to see/hear the first arriving Tanagers in April that breed in the high foothills and mountains here!
And the Mountain Bluebirds…another fav. of mine!
Very cool..a partial albino Robin, that’s a rarity and one to add to your lifelist!
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