The American Robin is the most easily recognized backyard bird since it has a brick red chest. Its call, often heard after rain or in the morning when it sits on a telephone wire or other perch has nine syllables and sounds like a cereal. "Cheery-up, Cheery-O, Cheery-Up." This is easier to remember if you look for the white eye ring that looks like a Cheerio surrounding its eye.

Males use this call to defend their territory from other males. If another male intrudes into their territory, they will fly at them to try to scare them away. If that fails, they will dive bomb them and try to hit chest to chest. This is often seen when a male robin mistakes his image in a window for an opponent and he will beat himself silly against the glass.

It is often seen pulling worms from the ground. It also eats berries off trees and will readily learn to take dried currents, raisins and small pieces dates from a feeder.

by Donna Hill B.Sc. B.Ed. 1998