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I don't know about yours, but my yard has been bombarded by an inordinate number of baby robins this year! It seems like every few weeks I've spotted another batch of the speckled cuties running across my lawn.

Robin nest.

My husband first noticed the nest on the window ledge of my studio bathroom as he was working in the yard. I immediately positioned a step stool inside (the window is quite high) in order to peek into the nest. I was careful and quick to avoid frightening the nestlings.

May 2, 2023

Egg Description: Sky blue or blue-green and unmarked.*

May 5, 2023

Condition at Hatching: Helpless at birth, mostly naked with spare whitish down.*

Baby American robins are born featherless, with a small covering of fluffy white down. They are blind at birth and their skin is nearly transparent. At this stage, there are no visual clues that these tiny, near-naked chicks will develop into the red-breasted songbird we all know so well. ~Birdfact

 

May 14, 2023

I got the idea to set up my tripod in the guest room where I had a great view of the nest. I used my remote shutter release (and held very still) so I could stay out of mama's view.

?Brain break.
Click the arrow below to watch a one-minute video of the nest and enjoy one of the little ones preening.

May 15, 2023

Nestling Period: 13 days.

These nestlings were gone the next time I looked. I'm glad I took the time for the photo shoot on the 14th!

May 25, 2023

I was thrilled to happen upon this scene outside my bedroom window several days after the fledge!

June 5, 2023

My guess is this is one of the original three fledglings - thriving!

According to Birdfact: By the time they gain independence, juvenile American robins have started to clearly resemble the adults of the species, although the spotted markings persist on their bellies, throats and throughout their wings. The distinctive orange-red belly and breast are starting to show through, although the mottled brown markings and pale breast feathers remain until they reach maturity.

 

Towards the end of their first year, it becomes harder to distinguish juvenile American robins from adult birds. Some streaky plumage remains in yearlings and younger birds tend not to be as bright in color.

 

July 26, 2023

Almost two months later: could this be a chick from a second nest?

As I wrote in my 2021 blog Frigid Temps, Fat Robins, an American Robin can produce three successful broods in one year.

August 8, 2023

Another sighting.

August 21, 2023

And another.

September 12, 2023.
The reference photo for my painting, Little Emperor (top of page), was my most recent baby robin sighting. This chick looks pretty young. Possibly from a third nest? I don't know for sure, but it's been fun watching these young robins follow each other around the yard, search for worms, and bathe in my water feature!

"I would like to paint the way a bird sings."
~ Claude Monet

Paint Love. Repeat.

*All About Birds

If you enjoyed this bird story, you may also be interested in my blog An American Robin Success Story.