Connecticut State Bird: American Robin
Fact-checked • Updated November 24, 2025
Connecticut State Bird – American Robin
Connecticut named the American Robin its official state bird in 1943. The Connecticut General Assembly acted after students across the state supported the choice in a public vote. Populations appear in towns and rural areas. Adults show an orange breast and dark head. Connecticut shares this species with Michigan and Wisconsin.
Why Connecticut Chose the American Robin
Connecticut schoolchildren picked the American Robin in a 1943 statewide vote. Students from elementary schools across the state cast ballots for their favorite bird, and the robin won by a clear majority.
Governor Raymond Baldwin signed the bill on March 18, 1943. The Connecticut General Assembly made the robin official state bird that year. Connecticut became the second state to designate the American Robin, following Michigan in 1931.
Why did Connecticut students pick this bird? The robin lives in every Connecticut community. Its orange-red breast stands out against green lawns, and its clear song fills Connecticut neighborhoods from March through October.
The robin appears in early spring when Connecticut residents need a sign of warmer weather. In 1943, during World War II, its return offered comfort and optimism. This timing made the robin's selection especially meaningful.
Connecticut shares the American Robin with Michigan and Wisconsin. The bird's broad range covers the eastern and central United States, allowing several states to value it without conflict.
History of Adoption
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Pre-1943 — No Official Bird
Connecticut had no state bird before 1943. Many states began adopting state birds in the 1920s and 1930s, and Connecticut joined the trend during World War II.
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1943 School Vote
Connecticut schools held votes in classrooms across the state. The American Robin competed against other familiar birds. Students wrote essays explaining their choices, and teachers submitted results to the legislature.
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March 18, 1943 — Legislative Action
The Connecticut General Assembly approved the designation, and Governor Raymond E. Baldwin signed it the same day. The American Robin officially became Connecticut’s state bird.
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Why 1943 Mattered
Connecticut faced wartime rationing and uncertainty in 1943. The state bird vote gave students a positive project that connected them with nature and community.
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Current Law
State law designates the American Robin as Connecticut’s official state bird. The designation has remained unchanged since 1943.
What the Robin Means to Connecticut
Herald of Spring
Connecticut residents watch for the first robin each March. The bird signals the end of winter and the approach of warmer weather, making it a symbol of hope and renewal.
Backyard Companion
American Robins live in every Connecticut neighborhood. They nest in yards, parks, and farms. This daily familiarity creates strong emotional connections for Connecticut families.
Agricultural Helper
Robins eat insects that damage Connecticut crops and gardens, including beetles and caterpillars. Farmers historically welcomed robins as natural pest control.
Educational Symbol
Connecticut teachers use robins to teach ecology and seasonal change. Students often observe robin nests and feeding behavior in schoolyard science projects.
How to Identify American Robins in Connecticut
Adult Males
Dark gray-brown back and wings with a bright orange-red breast. Black head with white eye crescents and a yellow bill. Males show the strongest coloration.
Adult Females
Paler gray-brown back and a softer orange breast compared to males. Similar bill and eye markings but with less contrast overall.
Juvenile Robins
Spotted breasts instead of solid orange. Brown and buff overall coloring. Juveniles appear in Connecticut yards from May through July and lose their spots during the fall molt.
Connecticut Seasonal Changes
Some robins stay in Connecticut year-round, while others migrate south. Winter robins form flocks and eat berries instead of earthworms. Spring robins return to territories and resume singing.
Robin Behavior in Connecticut
Famous Song
Male robins sing 'cheerily, cheer-up, cheerio.' They begin singing before dawn. Connecticut residents often hear robin songs early in the morning during spring and summer.
Feeding on Connecticut Lawns
Robins run and stop while searching for earthworms. They rely on sight and sound to detect movement in grass. Connecticut lawns and parks provide ideal feeding grounds.
Nesting Habits
Female robins build cup-shaped nests from grass and mud. Common nest sites include tree branches, porch lights, and building ledges. Connecticut robins raise 2–3 broods per season, with 3–5 blue eggs per nest.
Territorial Behavior
Male robins defend territories in spring. They chase other males and may attack their reflections in windows, mistaking them for rivals.
Winter Flocking
Connecticut robins form large flocks in fall and winter. Flocks roost together at night and feed on berry trees during the day. Winter behavior differs sharply from spring territoriality.
Where Robins Live in Connecticut
Urban and Suburban Areas
Robins thrive in Connecticut cities and suburbs. They prefer short grass for hunting and frequent parks, golf courses, and lawns. Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport support large robin populations.
Connecticut Forests
Robins nest along woodland edges throughout Connecticut. They avoid dense forest interiors. Mixed hardwood forests with clearings provide ideal conditions.
Agricultural Land
Connecticut farmland offers excellent robin habitat. Open fields with scattered trees and orchards attract robins seeking fruit and insects.
Connecticut Population Status
American Robin populations in Connecticut remain stable. The species adapts well to human development. The Connecticut Audubon Society reports healthy numbers, though climate change may shift migration timing.
How Connecticut Residents Can Help Robins
- Keep cats indoors during nesting season (April–July)
- Avoid pesticides on lawns—robins may eat poisoned insects
- Plant native berry shrubs like dogwood and serviceberry
- Provide shallow water or mud for nest building
- Leave grass clippings for nesting material
- Install window decals to reduce collisions
- Report unusual robin behavior to Connecticut Audubon Society
Connecticut Robin Facts
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Connecticut schoolchildren chose the robin during World War II in 1943
American Robin Songs & Calls
Hear the clear whistles and sharp calls of the American Robin. These field recordings capture their distinctive voice in natural habitat.
Audio licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and scientific databases.
Official state statute designating the American Robin as Connecticut's state bird. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Comprehensive scientific information on American Robin identification, behavior, and natural history. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
General encyclopedic overview of the American Robin, including taxonomy, diet, range, and behavior. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
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