American Robin Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Varied Thrush
Adult male
Varied Thrushes of the Pacific Coast have an orange eyebrow, a black breastband, and orange wingbars that American Robins do not have.
© Nigel Voaden | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 05, 2015Similar Species
Varied Thrush
Female/immature
Female/immature Varied Thrushes have an orange eyebrow and wingbars unlike American Robins that do not have eyebrow marks or wingbars.
© John Reynolds | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, December 18, 2015Similar Species
Spotted Towhee
Adult male
Spotted Towhees are smaller with a stouter bill than American Robins. They have a black hood that extends down to their breast with the rusty color restricted to their sides, unlike American Robins which have a reddish breast and a complete reddish belly.
© John Reynolds | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, February 10, 2017Similar Species
Eastern Towhee
Adult male
Eastern Towhees are smaller with a stouter bill than American Robins. They have a black hood that extends down to their breast with the rusty color restricted to their sides, unlike American Robins which have a reddish breast and a complete reddish belly.
© Davey Walters | Macaulay LibraryVirginia, April 20, 2016Main Species
American Robin
Adult male
Large round-bellied thrush. Males have a dark head, yellow bill, black streaks on the throat, and a rusty belly.
© Alex Eberts | Macaulay LibraryOhio, April 11, 2020Adult
Eats berries in the winter. Some individuals not easily separated by sex.
© Joshua Covill | Macaulay LibraryMontana, January 01, 2017Adult
Calls with a cuck or tuk to communicate with each other or a sharp yeep or peek as an alarm call. They also make a repeated chirr that rises in volume and can sound like a laugh or chuckle.
© DAVID BROWN | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2004Female/immature male
Often seen tugging worms from yards.
© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 07, 2010Adult female
Females build the nest from the inside out, pressing dead grass and twigs into a cup shape using the wrist of one wing. Once the cup is formed, she reinforces the nest using soft mud gathered from worm castings to make a heavy, sturdy nest.
© Marie Read | Macaulay LibraryApril 14, 2010Female/immature male
Female/immature birds are paler than males and many birds in the West are paler than those in the East and Northwest.
© Shawn Loewen | Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, March 11, 2017Female/immature male
Female/immature birds are paler than males with more white on the belly and throat.
© Mike Cameron | Macaulay LibraryTexas, November 25, 2020Adult
Runs on the ground with short rapid steps, pausing frequently to scan for prey and/or predators. Uses its bill to probe the ground and pull out earthworms.
© Eric Liner | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 21, 2007Juvenile
Juveniles have spotting on the back and chest.
© Marlene Kraml | Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 25, 2020Adult male
Chubby thrush with grayish back and darker tail.
© Ceredig Roberts | Macaulay LibraryIdaho, June 20, 2019Adult
Pulls earthworms out of the ground by using its strong legs.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryArkansas, March 01, 2005Adult male
Builds nests of twigs and grasses held together with mud.
© Andrew Spencer | Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 18, 2014Adult male
During the winter, often found feasting on berries.
© Glenn Perricone | Macaulay LibraryIllinois, March 22, 2014Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Thrushes and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Turdidae)
More to Read
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.