13 Birds That Look Like Robins But Aren’t (with Photos)

Birds That Look Like Robins But Aren't

Have you ever seen a bird and thought it was a robin, only to be told by a friend or family member that it wasn’t? Don’t worry; you’re not alone. 

There are several birds that look like robins, making them easy to mistake. However, there are some key differences that can help you identify these birds that resemble robins.

Here are 13 birds that look like robins but aren’t: The next time you see birds that look similar to robins, take a closer look and see if you can tell the difference.

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13 Birds That Look Like Robins But Aren’t

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Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

A rose-breasted grosbeak is often mistaken for a robin. Its triangular bill and broad chest make it look like a robin. However, it belongs to the family Cardinalidae

Blackhead, tail, wings, and white belly with rose-red breasts distinguish the male of this bird. In contrast, female birds have bold white stripes above their eyes.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks have a distinctive sound and eat sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, raw peanuts, and insects. Unlike robins, they do not prefer fruits.

Where To Spot Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks

Woodlands or wooded residential areas.


Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

The Spotted Towhee is a bird that looks like a robin with white spots. It belongs to the same family as robins, and their size and color are very similar. However, the Spotted Towhee is larger than a robin with a longer bill and legs.

There are white spots on the back of the male Spotted Towhee and a white belly with red flanks. Unlike male Spotted Towhees, females have a greyish-brown pattern rather than black. 

They’re one of the easiest birds to spot in the West because they don’t migrate. What do Spotted Towhees eat?

In the summer, the Spotted Towhee eats insects like beetles, caterpillars, true bugs, and grasshoppers, while in the winter, they eat berries, seeds, and acorns. Also, like robins, the Spotted Towhee enjoys being close to the ground.

Where To Spot Spotted Towhees

Thickets, overgrown fields, or forest edges.


American Redstart

American Redstart

American Redstart birds look like robins because they are closely related. This family of birds is known for its active nature. The American Redstart is a small songbird with beautiful white and black plumage.

The female has a long tail, while a male has a long tail and a flat, wide bill, like a Robin. These birds have all black tails, while Robins have dark tails with white tips.

Most of these birds live in North and Central America and feed on moths, caterpillars, midges, and beetles. Even so, they enjoy the occasional seed or berry. 

If you’re ever unsure whether you’re looking at a Robin or an American Redstart, simply observe the tail; if it is all black, you are most likely looking at an American Redstart.

Where To Spot American Redstarts

Lowland woods, along rivers or ponds.


Orchard Oriole

Orchard Oriole

The orchard oriole belongs to the Icteridae family, which includes other songbirds. It has a round head, a straight, pointed bill, and a relatively lean body. Orchard orioles are slightly smaller than robins.

The orchard oriole is a beautiful bird with yellow-green plumage and a black head, back, and tail. Also, the male orchard oriole has a red chest, similar to the robin species. 

Both orchard orioles and robins primarily feed on insects such as beetles, caterpillars, wasps, and fruits like berries and oranges. Consequently, the orchard oriole bears many similarities to the robin, although there are still some key differences between the two species.

Where To Spot Orchard Orioles

Orchards, open woods, or parks.


Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

The Baltimore Oriole bird, a member of the Icteridae family, is known for its sweet singing and is often found on tree tops. This is a bird that looks like a robin but is a bit smaller, with a long tail and pointed bill.

Females are characterized by orange or yellow underparts and blackheads, while males have orange or blackheads and white wing bars. It feeds mostly on insects and fruits, but it prefers dark-colored fruits. 

As opposed to robins and other birds that eat fruit, they consume the reddest cherries and the darkest mulberries instead of fruits that are brightly colored. The Baltimore bird also ignores ripe, brightly-colored fruits in favor of darker ones.

Where To Spot Baltimore Orioles

Parks or backyards with trees.


Varied Thrush

Varied Thrush

It can be challenging to distinguish a varied thrush from an American robin since they both belong to the Turdidae family. In spite of this, the two birds differ physically in several key ways.  

For starters, the varied thrush is slightly larger than the American robin with a longer tail. It also has a slimmer body and a smaller head. It also has a dark blue-grey head with an orange line above its eyes, unlike a robin with a black head with white markings around its eyes. 

The patterning on the wings of a varied thrush differs slightly from that of a robin, even though both birds have black wings with white and/or orange markings. 

The primary diet of varied thrushes is insects. Unlike robins, varied thrushes are more likely to catch their prey in midair rather than foraging on the ground.

Where To Spot Varied Thrushes

Pine forests, usually near water.


Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Like the spotted towhee, the Eastern towhee belongs to the Passerellidae family.

The plumage of an Eastern towhee is black on the back and head, with rufous coloring on the wings and tail. The underparts are white with some brown streaking. Unlike the spotted towhee, it does not have wing bars or white spots on its back. 

The eastern towhee is seen on the ground, using its feet to scratch leaves. The bird’s feeding habits vary with season and region; it eats insects like ants, millipedes, and true bugs in the summer and eats seeds and fruits in winter.

Where To Spot Eastern Towhees

Forest edges or thickets.


Red-Winged Blackbird

Red-Winged Blackbird

The red-winged blackbird is another member of the Icteridae family that looks similar to a robin. It is a little bit smaller than a robin with a shorter tail. The bird has black plumage with distinctive red and yellow markings on its wings.

It is one of the most polygamous bird species and is an attention seeker, especially the male species, which perches on the top of trees, belting out its song throughout the day.

The male bird is shiny black with red and yellow shoulder bands, while the females are colored dark brown and paler around the chest area. It feeds mostly on insects, including butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies; in winter, it prefers to feed on seeds and grains.

Where To Spot Red-Winged Blackbirds

Marshes or golf course ponds.


Black-Headed Grosbeak

Black-Headed Grosbeak

Black-headed grosbeaks are birds similar to robins in coloration, which may lead some people to mistake them for robins.

Despite its short tail, the grosbeak is more slender and compact than the robin. 

A male black-headed grosbeak’s upper body is brown and has orange-colored breasts, while a female has a brown upper body and black head. 

Males sing in a whistled lilt from the top of trees, and these birds are very loud singers. Seeds and fruits, such as apples, peaches, berries, and plums, are their favorite foods.

Where To Spot Black-Headed Grosbeaks

Mixed woodlands near rivers.


Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian warblers belong to the Parulidae family. The males of this species are known for their orange throats, faces, breasts, black triangular cheek patches, and irregularly shaped white wing patches. 

There is a distinct yellowish throat color on females and younger blackburnian warblers. It has a slim body and a medium-length tail and is smaller than a robin. 

As Blackburnian warblers prefer to nest in trees high up, they are less frequently seen than robins. With high-pitched voices, they sing sonorously and feed on fruits, insects, and spiders.

Where To Spot Blackburnian Warblers

Mixed or coniferous forests.


Bullock’s Oriole

Bullock’s Oriole

Bullock’s oriole belongs to the family Icteridae and looks like a robin but is much larger. In order to reach their prey, they often hang upside down or stretch.

In males, the body is black, the wings are white, and the eye is orange with a black line over it. Compared to males and younger species, females have gray backs and yellowish-orange heads and tails. 

Birds of this species feed on insects, and wild grapes and drink nectar.

Where To Spot Bullock’s Orioles

Open woods, orchards, or parks.


 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Redstart

Common Redstart

Redstarts, also known as common redstarts, belong to the Muscicapidae family.

Female redstart songbirds have duller coloring with brown bodies and blue-grey backs and wings. A male bird sings a sweet two-phrase song, while a female usually does not sing at all.

The species feed on invertebrates, mollusks, berries, and a variety of other fruit.

Where To Spot Common Redstarts

Oak woods, hedgerows, or parks.


Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

The cedar waxwing is a member of the family Bombycillidae; it is closely related to the robin, which spends most of its time close to the ground.

It is extremely rare to see one alone, as they’re social birds, and prefer being in the company of other birds. 

With broad wings, short necks, and large heads, these social birds are medium-sized, sleek birds. They feed primarily on bugs and berries, with pale brown heads and yellow bellies.

Where To Spot Cedar Waxwings

Open woods, parks, or backyard trees.


Conclusion:

So, there you have it! 13 birds that look like robins but aren’t. Although they share some physical characteristics, each of these birds has its own unique plumage, song, and behavior. 

Now you know what birds look like robins, the next time you think you see one in your backyard, take a closer look to see if it’s actually a robin! You might be surprised by what you find.

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