Wisconsin State Bird: American Robin
Fact-checked • Updated January 15, 2025
Wisconsin State Bird – American Robin
Wisconsin adopted the American Robin as its official state bird on June 4, 1949. School children voted during the 1926-27 academic year. Robins received twice as many votes as any competing species. The State Federation of Women's Clubs sponsored bird studies in public schools during this period. Mrs. Walter Bowman served as Conservation Chairperson for the Women's Clubs. She pushed legislators to formalize the designation. Twenty-two years separated the student vote from official legislative action.
Why Wisconsin Chose This Bird
School children drove the selection during the 1926-27 school year. Students across Wisconsin knew the American Robin well. Robins nested on porches and windowsills statewide. Their songs signaled spring arrival. The robin received double the votes of its nearest competitor.
Robins returned early each year. Dawn singing started before most other species became active. Lawn foraging made them easy to spot. Gardens and orchards supported nesting pairs throughout Wisconsin. Red-breasted birds appeared in backyards across all counties. Students picked a species they saw regularly.
Legislative History
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Student Vote Campaign
The State Federation of Women's Clubs sponsored bird studies during the 1926-27 school year. Wisconsin public school students participated in the statewide survey. American Robins won decisively with twice the votes of any other bird. The legislature took no immediate action on student preferences.
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Final Adoption
Mrs. Walter Bowman, Conservation Chairperson for the Women's Clubs, pursued legislative approval for 22 years. The legislature adopted the robin as official state bird on June 4, 1949. Wisconsin law now includes the designation in state statutes. Connecticut and Michigan also selected the American Robin as their state symbol.
What This Bird Represents
Spring Herald
Robins gained recognition as harbingers of spring. Early returns from winter grounds marked seasonal change. Males arrived on breeding territories in March and April. Song began before dawn. This timing connected the species to spring renewal across Wisconsin.
Suburban Presence
Residential areas provide ideal habitat. Short grass lawns offer foraging grounds. Scattered trees and shrubs support nesting. The species adapted to human-modified landscapes. Suburban and agricultural areas often host higher densities than wild habitats. This proximity shaped public perception.
Physical Characteristics
Size and Build
Adults measure 9.1 to 11 inches long. Wingspan ranges from 12 to 16 inches. Weight averages 2.7 ounces. Males grow slightly larger than females. Medium-length tails and long legs distinguish the build. Large bellies give robins distinctive silhouettes when standing upright.
Plumage Details
Gray-brown backs contrast with reddish-orange breasts. Color varies from rich red-maroon to peachy orange. Heads appear dark gray to jet black with white crescents above and below eyes. White throats show black streaking. Lower bellies and undertail coverts remain white. Males display darker heads and richer breast colors than females. Juvenile birds show dark spotting on breasts and pale spotting on backs.
Behavior and Song
Vocal Performance
Song consists of rich caroling notes rising and falling in pitch. Males sing 'cheerily cheer up cheerily cheer up' to establish territories. Dawn chorus begins before first light during spring and summer. Calls include rapid 'tut tut tut' and chuckling whinny sounds. Both sexes vocalize, though males sing more frequently.
Foraging Patterns
Running and stopping behavior marks robin foraging. Birds pause on lawns, then cock heads left, right, or forward. Vision locates earthworms underground. Hearing also detects worm movement. Morning brings worm hunting. Afternoon shifts to fruit consumption. Flocks form outside breeding season for winter feeding.
Habitat and Range
Wisconsin Distribution
Robins inhabit woodlands, gardens, orchards, lawns, and fields across Wisconsin. Forest edges provide nesting sites. Open ground with short grass offers foraging areas. Suburban neighborhoods create ideal conditions with interspersed trees and maintained lawns. The species needs dense shrubs and small trees for nest placement.
Migration Patterns
Most Wisconsin robins migrate south for winter. Departures occur in August with extensive movements during October and November. Winter range extends from Florida and the Gulf Coast to central Mexico. Northward migration begins in February. Arrivals in Wisconsin happen mostly during March and April. Some individuals winter locally when food supplies persist.
Diet and Feeding
Seasonal Foods
Diet splits roughly 40 percent insects and 60 percent fruits. Summer brings earthworms, beetle grubs, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. Snails and spiders supplement insect prey. Fall and winter shift to berries and fruits. This flexibility allows wintering farther north than most thrushes. Young receive mainly earthworms and soft-bodied prey.
Hunting Methods
Visual hunting dominates foraging strategy. Robins run across lawns, pause, then cock heads to detect prey. Underground worms become visible through movement detection. Hearing supplements sight for locating earthworms. Urban areas attract flocks to freshly mowed lawns and active sprinklers. Ground foraging exposes robins to lawn pesticides.
Reproduction
Nest Construction
Females build cup-shaped nests with male assistance. Outer foundation uses coarse grass, twigs, paper, and feathers. Mud smears onto the inner bowl, worked with the breast. Fine grass or soft material lines the interior. Nests sit 5 to 25 feet above ground on horizontal branches. Porches, windowsills, and building ledges also support nests.
Breeding Cycle
Breeding season extends from April through July. Females lay three to five pale blue eggs per clutch. Incubation lasts 12 to 14 days. Both parents feed young after hatching. Chicks leave nests about 14 to 16 days after hatching. Two broods occur per season, sometimes three. Males tend fledged young while females begin second nesting attempts. New nests get built for each clutch.
Conservation Status
Population Health
The species maintains Least Concern conservation status. Global population reaches approximately 370 million individuals, making it North America's most abundant landbird. Numbers remain stable or show slight increases. Human-modified landscapes often benefit robins through increased foraging habitat.
Environmental Indicators
Robins serve as early warning systems for environmental problems. Lawn foraging exposes them to pesticide applications. Vulnerability to chemical poisoning makes population changes visible. The species indicates pesticide overuse in residential areas. Most wild robins live about two years, though some reach 14 years.
Interesting Facts
Fact 1 of 6
The American Robin is North America's most abundant landbird with an estimated 370 million individuals across the continent
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
Also the State Bird of:
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.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources educational resource on state bird history and ecology • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Official state symbol information including adoption date and legislative history • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Comprehensive species guide with identification, behavior, habitat, and breeding information • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Detailed field guide information on physical characteristics, range, migration, and conservation • Accessed: November 30, 2025
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