Photo Anne Cook

Q. What evidence in the photo suggests that this is a winter robin? Is it a male or a female? Why do you think so?

 

Journey North's robin expert, Laura Erickson, says:
"The robin looks big and fluffy, like it is trying to stay warm, so you can guess it's a winter robin. It looks bigger and fluffier partly because it actually has more down feathers than it does in the summer, and partly because it has those down feathers fluffed out for better insulation. The robin is sitting in a tree with no leaves but some fruit, which is a winter food source. This is a male robin; you can tell by the bright color of his breast feathers, the black head feathers, pronounced eye ring, and dark gray back feathers."

Back to Winter Robin Photo Studies