***Federal - MBTA***

    American Robins are the most commonly seen of the large group of thrushes found in the state.  They have adapted readily to human's prescence and are often seen in gardens, on front lawns, and they even nest on the ledges of houses.  Male Robins have a dark black head, while females are usually lighter.  The young are similar to adults, but show their thrush heritage in their speckled belly.  The egg of a robin is a brilliant sky blue, the purpose of which remains unknown.  Robins are often seen hunting for earthworms on wet lawns, where they show interesting behaviors.  They take a few hops, stop, cock their head, and more often than not catch the worm.  Whether they use their sight or hearing to find the worm is still a matter of debate although they probably use both senses in search of prey.  While the first robin of spring is usually seen as a sign of warm times ahead, Robins do winter in the state, spending time in thick woods and brushy wetlands.  They are much more shy in winter than spring and are easily overlooked.