American Robin

Beautiful shot!

Lovely bird.

Isn't he gorgeous , he's saying "look at me aren't I smart " :o)

He is. I'll bet that's why he ate some of zinnia seedlings - because he could!

Lol :o)

Oh dear, but he is a beautiful bird. So different from our native Robin.

Very handsome!

He's in the Thrush family. I think your Robin is a Fly Catcher.

Ours is more like a worm catcher its a ground feeder her in the UK?
He is lovely a lot bigger than our Robin.

Our robins like grubs and worms - I don't think they catch flies.

I meant your robin belongs to the "Fly Catcher" family of birds while the US robin is in the "Thrush" family. This would account for the vast difference in size and appearance.

This bird was named "Robin" by the first settlers that came over from England.

I can see why they named it so Robin Redbreast ?

Collins book of British birds says our robin belongs to the thrush family - he has a beautiful clear song too,as yours does, (I just listened to a recording of the American robin on YouTube) but its a bit more varied and very clear and sweet. There are apparently six different bird families called flycatchers, which is very confusing for international correspondence!

Collins classifies The American Robin as a rare British bird. That would confuse anybody.
:)
https://www.bto.org/research-data-services/publications/bto-books-and-guides/2015/collins-bto-guide-rare-british-birds

All I know Bathgate is he Looks lovely ! Robins are my favourite bird here in England! But your one there is super handsome! Looks like he knows he is too. ? Lol

Thanks for your nice comments Maggie. I always look for the Robins' return from migration. They are such charmers with their bright colors and brilliant songs. The UK Robin is also very striking

Do they migrate where you are then bath gate. I didn't realise that. I think our robins don't as I seem them all through winter.
Talking of migrating birds though I have two pairs of swifts that nest in my roof at the back garden. They have been returning to the nests for literally years! They usually arrive march/April time and then leave end of august or start of September time. I think they arrive and then fly back to Africa, amazing, and to think they know the way back to the very same nests is unbelievable! They never land though, they sleep and eat I'm mid flight!!! They fly round and round the garden in the evenings constantly calling out, right above head height for ages, then they swoop right past my head and go straight back into their nests. Really lovely to see! ?

LOL you just reminded me of a certain Mockingbird that loves to sit outside my bedroom and sing with gusto all night long. They sing like Rock stars, very load all night, every night.

Yes, our robins migrate down south to the warmer states for the winter - anywhere south of Virginia. I don't think they could survive the brutal winters here in New York. They couldn't access their main food supply worms & ground dwelling bugs. They usually fly to the Carolinas, Georgia or Florida for Winter. They seem to be on the same migration schedule as your "Swifts" I've had the same robin return to me for several years. She has a couple broods of chicks each summer. She loves my black spruce tree. It has strong sturdy branches, keeps her nest hidden from predators, it keeps her cool in summer and offers protection from storms. I suppose you're right though.

How lovely she returns each year! They are such lovey birds, I can't help but smile to myself when I see them, they are so cheery! And I can see why they leave New York in the winter now, makes complete sense really , lol.
And a mocking bird ah...... well all I can say is you are so so lucky...... I've never ever seen one and would love too....wouldn't fancy him keeping me awake all night though. Lol ?

Sometimes I feel like migrating myself for the winter, lol. Welcome to GrowsonYou by the way. You'll make lots of friends and get some sound gardening advice. I will keep a look out for the mockingbird and take some pics for you.

I know what you mean! Lol.....and thankyou.
And please do, will look forward to seeing your pictures of him/her.?

The harbinger of spring! I saw our first robin when it was below zero C... he was sitting near the feeder in the cedar tree looking wet and cold..poor thing. I love their song. Robins and Cardinals have the prettiest calls. In the warmth of the last few days the outdoors has become all a twitter... isn't it wonderful? I hope that horrid winter is gone for good.
Speaking of rock stars, I had a lovely little lady toad in my pond (town garden 7 yrs ago) and she used to trill all night long. Odd thing was it was actually a soothing sound. Another harbinger of spring are the spring peepers. At dusk they holler their little throats raw!

LOL toads calls all night long? That would be distracting.

that was my point... it was not intrusive or distracting, and it's for such a short period of time. Early spring is anything but silent. It was like a lullaby.