When I was growing up in Massachusetts, I always looked considered the appearance of an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) to be a harbinger of spring. In my mind’s eye I think of robins pecking about in the grass, pulling fat little worms out of the ground.
In Northern Virginia, where I now live, I am likely to see robins throughout the entire year. This past Thursday I spotted a large flock of them at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Robins always seem warm and familiar to me and never fail to bring a smile to my face, in part because they bring to mind the song “When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin’ Along.” Check out this YouTube link to a wonderful version of that song by Al Jolson.
As we approach the start of winter, robins and many other birds start to eat increasingly larger amounts of fruits and sees, which is good, because it would be tough for them to find worms or insects. The robin featured in these photos was feasting on some berries. They kind of look like wild grapes, but I definitely do not know plants well enough to know if that is what they actually were. In any case, the robin seemed to be really enjoying them.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I love the Robins—they are some of my favourite birds. Growing up in England, they were always a symbol of Christmas and you regularly saw pictures of them on Christmas cards. Here in Canada, we’re always see them as a sign of spring.
Very nice series of Robin images Mike! Enjoyed seeing them!
I adore this little American robin.
Thanks, Tricia. I was thrilled a couple of years ago when I spotted a European Robin for the first time while I was visiting Paris. The two species of robins are quite different, but are equally beautiful. (https://michaelqpowell.com/2019/11/21/european-robin-in-paris/).
We’ve been having a little robin visit our garden over the last couple of weeks.
What a beautiful series of images. The cool, muted hues of the background really contrast with the warm tones of the robin’s plumage. It is interesting the way you associate American robins with seasons. In Britain, even though they are actually mostly year round birds, our rotund little robins are most definitely associated with Winter and often feature on Holiday cards as a result.
Excellent Robin photos, Mike. I’m in suburban Boston and always thought of Robins as harbingers of Spring, like you. Imagine my surprise when I came across a flock of a dozen Robins chowing down on berries in a snowy landscape one day in January 2005! Turns out some Robins now overwinter here. We have them year round. Who’d a thunk it!
I grew up in Medford, just outside of Boston. From what I have read, robins overwinter in many places–we just don’t see them as much because they hang out in the trees and not on the ground like they do in the spring.
Wonderful photos, Mike. This “Massachusetts woman” enjoyed them!
I always enjoy seeing the robins return. These are great photos, Mike.
Thanks, Dan.
These are wonderful shots, Mike! I, too, grew up seeing Robins as harbingers of spring on the front lawn in upstate New York. And now, when I see one here in Southeast Florida, I’m amazed!!
Thanks. It is interesting how views of certain species are imprinted on our memories, base in part on where we grew up.
Beautiful images, Mike. Yes, we see robins in MA now in winter. I suspect they are northern ones that migrate this far and are nomadic, finding the fruit of ubiquitous non-natives like bittersweet, tatarian honeysuckle, buckthorn and multiflora rose, creating a negative feedback loop. The vine in the photos could be VA creeper… the berries look similar to wild grapes.
Thanks, Eliza. I know that we have a lot of Virginia Creeper here and have looked at pictures of it now–I think you may well be right that the berries in the photos are from Virginia Creepers.
I love Robins. I count on them and they never let me down!
Beautiful. Where I grew up in northern NJ, we also saw American robins as harbingers of spring.
We stocked up on birdseed and suet today. Winter is coming, yo ho!
Winter is definitely coming, despite our occasional days of warmth. Pickings are certainly leaner for both birds and photographers, but I still try to get out as often as I can. A little snow will not deter me, thought black ice will definitely keep me at home.