The name “American Robin” dates back to the early 1600s when English settlers to the USA began giving names to the plants and animals in their new home. Their method of choosing names often referred back to things that reminded them of what they knew from England, therefore birds with an orange breasts were robins - e.g. Spotted Towhees were “Ground Robins” and Baltimore Orioles were “ Golden Robins.”
None of these birds actually resembled the European Robin, aside from the orange breast. Why then did we make the effort to change the name of the “Ground Robin” to Spotted Towhee and “Golden Robin” to Baltimore Oriole, but not “American Robin” to say American Thrush? It is after all a thrush and not a robin!
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| European Robin, São Miguel, Portugal 2025 5-5.5” long |
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| American Robin, Seattle, WA 2024 9-11” long |
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| Song Thrush, Coimbra, Portugal 2025 8-9” long |
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| Wood Thrush, New York 2022 7-8.5” long |
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| Spotted Towhee, Seattle, WA. |
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