BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 171 



Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey, Henry W. Henshaw 

 February 5, 1915. 



(PROFESSIONAL PAPER.) 



FOOD OF THE ROBINS AND BLUEBIRDS OF THE 

 UNITED STATES. 



By F. E. L. Beal, Assistant Biologist. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Few native American birds are more universally cherished than 

 those well-known harbingers of spring, the robins and bluebirds. 

 On esthetic grounds alone they receive full protection, partly from 

 the romance that clusters about them in story and legend and partly 

 because of their graceful shape and movement, bright color and 

 pleasing song, and close association with man and his works. Quick 

 to realize their safety the birds nest and rear their young about 

 human abodes, and at times becomes very abundant, their numbers 

 frequently reaching such proportions that apprehension is felt that 

 they may become dangerous to agriculture and horticulture. A 

 study of their economic status therefore is of the utmost importance, 

 especially when it is considered that a bird's reputation is very often 

 affected one way or the other merely by hearsay evidence. 



Investigation discloses that in addition to their pleasing qualities 

 robins and bluebirds perform a very useful function in reducing the 

 hordes of insect life constantly preying upon the crops of the farmer. 

 In this work a large part of their food consists of insects and they 

 feed their young upon them almost exclusively. It is recognized 

 that birds are one of the necessary checks provided by nature upon 

 the increase of the vast number of insects produced each year; that 

 without them there would be a greater destruction of vegetation; 

 and that certain crops of the farmer now regularty matured would, 

 if raised at all. be raised only with increased difficult}^ and added 

 labor. Prominent among the insect eaters are the thrushes, the 

 group which includes the robins and bluebirds. 



In the thrush family of North America are 11 species, but passing 

 by the less familiar members, the thrushes proper {Myadestes and 



Note. — This bulletin discusses the value of robins and bluebirds as insect destroyers and 

 shows how the small damage done by the former may be reduced by supplying wild fruits 

 to meet their requirements. It is for general distribution. 

 72255°— Bull. 171—15 1 



