Day 62: American Robin

Everyone will recognize today's bird, the American Robin. I love robins; they have a striking red-orange breast that makes them stand out from the rest of the garden-variety yard birds. Robins have taken root in American culture, from songs and lyrics to the color "Robin's egg blue."

A robin's diet is highly variable, changing from earthworms in spring and summer to fruit in the colder months.

Fun fact: The American Robin is a known reservoir (carrier) for West Nile Virus. While crows and blue jays are often the first noticed deaths in an area with West Nile virus, the robin is thought to be a key host, and holds a larger responsibility for the transmission of the virus to humans. This is because while crows and jays die quickly from the virus, robins survive the virus longer, hence spreading it to more mosquitoes, which then transmit the virus to humans and other species.