The American robin, also known as the red-breasted robin, is Michigan’s state bird. It is a migratory songbird with a cheerful singing voice and bright orange-red chest. Both sexes have the same coloration, but become more subdued in winter. The male robin starts singing very early in the morning and can often be seen pulling worms from the ground. They are larger than many other songbirds and have a short yellow beak. Female robins build nests out of twigs, feathers, paper, mud, and grass. The American robin was designated the state bird of Michigan in 1931 and still holds the title.
Michigan’s state bird is the American robin, also known as the red-breasted robin. Its scientific name is turdus migratorius. Common throughout North America, the American robin is a member of the thrush family. This bird is so popular that both Wisconsin and Connecticut have even made the robin their state bird.
Its popularity is probably due to its cheerful singing and the bright orange-red color of its chest. Both sexes display the same colouration, but the female’s shades are slightly paler and the colors of both sexes become more subdued in winter. The Michigan state bird is a migratory songbird and heads south when temperatures drop. It is one of the first birds to return at the end of winter.
The male robin starts singing very early in the morning. He has a variety of happy calls that he keeps repeating. Robins can often be seen pulling worms from the ground in residential areas, parks, golf courses and pastures. These habits may have made the Michigan state bird the inspiration for the adage “The early bird gets the worm.”
American robins are larger than many other songbirds, reaching a length of 8.5 inches (21.5 centimeters) at maturity. Their average life span is six years, but some robins have been known to live up to 14 years. Large snakes, cats and hawks are their natural predators.
Male and female robins are the same size. They have short yellow beaks and eat fruit, berries and larvae. Their backs and wings are brownish-gray and they have a white rump.
Female robins build nests out of twigs, feathers, paper, mud, and grass. These nests are found anywhere between 5 to 25 feet (1.52 to 7.62 m) off the ground and are usually protected from rain. The bowl-shaped nests are about 6 inches (15 centimeters) in diameter and often filled with soft materials, such as grass and feathers. Robin eggs are quarter-sized and pale aqua in color. The nestlings hatch around 11-14 days after spawning and exhibit pink coloration with tiny tufts of feathers.
The American robin was designated the state bird of Michigan in 1931. This went unchallenged until 2003, when some elementary school students lobbied for the Kirtland warbler to become the official state bird. The attempt was unsuccessful, so the American robin still claims the title of Michigan state bird.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
