American Robin, State Bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin

Jun 22, 2010
Bob Bowers

The American Robin, Turdus migratorius - Bob Bowers

Not as popular as the Cardinal, Meadowlark or Mockingbird, the American Robin shares fourth place among state birds with the American Goldfinch.

Probably the most familiar bird in the United States, the American Robin is found in all 49 of the continental states. A frequent visitor to residential yards, and popularized in songs, poetry and even restaurant names, it's not surprising that three states adopted the Robin as their official state bird.

Wisconsin's Official State Bird

Although the state of Wisconsin, through the state's Federated Women's Clubs (the organization instrumental in the selection of many state birds), chose the Robin as its preferred state bird before either of the other two states, Wisconsin was the last state to make the Robin official. A survey of the state's school children was conducted by the Federation of Women's Clubs during 1926 and 1927, and the Robin was an easy winner, with more than twice as many votes as the runner-up. This designation remained unofficial, however, for 22 years, until the legislature finally adopted the bird on June 4, 1949.

Michigan and the American Robin

Wisconsin's northern neighbor, Michigan, moved more expeditiously honoring the same bird. Michigan, which has the longest freshwater shoreline of any of the states, passed over a number of appropriate water birds, and selected the American Robin by a House Concurrent Resolution, agreed to by the state Senate, on April 8, 1931.

Connecticut's Choice for State Bird

Connecticut, with nearly four million residents in only 5,543 square miles of territory, is the fourth most densely populated of the fifty states. Connecticut, like Michigan, is a water-bordered state, and logically could have chosen a shore bird for state bird. However, the familiarity of the friendly Robin prevailed, and the state's legislature adopted the American Robin in 1943.

Fourth Most Popular State Bird

Having been named by seven states, the Northern Cardinal won the popularity contest for official state birds. Six states chose the Western Meadowlark, in second place, and five states adopted the third most popular bird, the Northern Mockingbird.

No single bird is shared by four states, but three states, Iowa, New Jersey and Washington, chose the American Goldfinch, consequently creating a tie for fourth most popular state bird with the American Robin.

The American Robin

The American Robin (Turdis migratorius) possibly is the most familiar of the approximately 600 species of birds found in the United States. Early settlers named the bird after an unrelated European bird, the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), due to that bird's similarly-colored reddish-orange breast. The scientific name is derived from the Latin words for "thrush" and "migratory". The Robin is, in fact, migratory, spending summers in Alaska and Canada, and wintering in Mexico, but it breeds and is found year-round throughout the lower 48 states.

Robins are about 10 inches in length with a wingspan of 17 inches. They are frequent and regular visitors to grassy lawns, where they hop, pause to look for prey, and then pluck earthworms and grubs. They build nests of grass-lined mud, and have two, sometimes three broods of 3-7 altricial chicks. Incubation and fledging require about two weeks each. Diet includes insects, fruit, worms and snails.

Robins like to sing, and their familiar loud and liquid "cheerily, cheer-up, cheerio" can seem to be repeated unendingly. With a range estimated at some 6 million square miles, and a population of more than 300 million birds, the Robin is not currently considered threatened. American Robins are known carriers of West Nile Virus.

The American Robin as State Bird

Well-known as a symbol of spring, and commonly recognized across the continental United States, the American Robin is an unsurprising choice for state bird. Perhaps the only surprise is that it was selected by just three states.

For information about other official state birds, see the following articles: