American Robin

Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 (0, 29)

Photo © George Gay - North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 16 October 2024

STATUS

North America. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

Scotland has had nine individuals and Wales one but the southwest has had the lions share with twelve. Remarkably, three have occurred in the Surrey/Greater London area, with one each in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire on the east coast.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1952 Devon Lundy, first-winter, 25th October to 8th November, trapped 27th October.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (9) : 13-14; P. E. Davis, British Birds 46: 364-369, plate 59; P. E. Davis, British Birds 46: 437; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 10; BOURC (1956), Ibis 98: 154; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 56: 204-217).

2). 1961 Orkney Grimsetter Aerodrome, 27th May.

(C. M. Swaine and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 55: 577; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 56: 212; D. G. Andrew, Scottish Birds 2: 343).

3). 1962 Devon Lundy, 7th November.

(I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 56: 204-217; D. D. Harber & C. M. Swaine and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 56: 403).

4). 1963 Isles of Scilly Gugh and St Agnes, two, a day or two prior to 20th December; one trapped, 20th December and found dead on Gugh on 28th December.

(D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 58: 371; J. L. F. Parslow, British Birds 59: 41-42).

6). 1966 Dorset Brand's Bay, Poole Harbour, 15th to 16th January; probably same, Canford Cliffs, c. 18th January to 10th March.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 60: 324).

7). 1966 Surrey Wick Pond, Windsor Great Park, 12th February to 5th March.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 61: 363).

8). 1966 Dumfries & Galloway Woodhall Loch, Kirkcudbrightshire, 12th May.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 60: 324; E. Hales, Scottish Birds 4: 376-377).

9). 1967 Shetland Foula, 11th to 16th November.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 61: 349; J. R. Gear, Scottish Birds 5: 220).

10). 1975 Outer Hebrides St Kilda, 14th January to 15th February.

(J. N. Dymond and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 69: 345; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 71: 518, corr.).

11). 1976 Isles of Scilly Near Fruit Cage, St Agnes, 17th to 30th October, photo.

(J. O'Sullivan and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 70: 430; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 118).

12). 1981 Caithness Achins, Reay, adult, 5th November.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 509).

13). 1982 Shetland Foula, male, 3rd to 16th November.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 509).

14). 1982 Devon Lundy, 14th to 18th November.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 509).

15). 1984 Surrey Haslemere, first-winter, 12th October, possibly taken by Magpie Pica pica.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 78: 573).

16). 1988 North-East Scotland Inverbervie, first-winter male, 24th to 29th December, photo.

(Birding World 1 (12): 413, photo; M. S. Scott, Birding World 2 (1): 13-14, photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 82: 542, plates 157, 335; Phillips, 1997: plate 25; Birding Scotland 5 (1): plate 11).

17). 1998 Isles of Scilly Gugh and Cove Vean, St Agnes, probably first-winter, 26th to 28th October, photo.

(Birding World 11 (10): 373, photo; Birding World 11 (12): 469, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 92: 594, plate 259; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 119).

18). 2003 Caernarfonshire Bardsey, age/sex uncertain, 11th to 12th November, probably since 9th November, photo.

(S. Stansfield, Birding World 16 (11): 462-463, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 602).

19). 2003 Cornwall Godrevy, first-winter female, 14th December to 2nd February 2004, photo.

(Birding World 16 (12): 486, photo; P. Gainey, Birding World 16 (12): 500-502, plates 1-5; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 602, plates 57 & 355; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 98: 675; British Birds 101: plate 229; Birds in Cornwall 2003: photo).

20). 2004 Lincolnshire Grimsby, first-winter female, 1st January to 8th March when killed by Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, photo.

(Birding World 17 (1): 2, photo; S. Smith & T. Moore, Birding World 17 (1): 12-13, plates 1-4; Birding World 17 (2): 52, photo; Birding World 17 (12): 518, photo; British Birds 97: plates 58, 59 & 79; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 98: 675, plate 439; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 82).

21). 2006 Greater London/Surrey Peckham, mid-January to 28th March, photo.

(Birding World 19 (3): 99, photo; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 735; Wheatley, 2007).

22). 2006 Highland Glenmore Forest Park, Badenoch & Strathspey, 4h May; presumed same, Boat of Garten, Badenoch & Strathspey, 6th May, photo.

(Birding World 19 (5): 189, photos; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 735; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo; M. Butters, Birding Scotland 9 (3): 106-108, plates 94-96).

23). 2006 Isles of Scilly Rowesfield, Tresco, first-winter male, 10th to 28th October, photo.

(Birding World 19 (10): 412, photo; British Birds 99: plate 371; Isles of Scilly Bird and Natural History Review 2006: plate 13; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 735, plate 355; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 119).

24). 2007 Yorkshire Bingley, first-winter, 5th January to 13th February, photo.

(Birding World 20 (1): 7, photo; British Birds 100: plate 83; Birding World 20 (2): 50, photo; Birding World 20 (12): 509, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 101: 561, plate 287; British Birds 107: plate 35).

25). 2010 Devon Turf, 10th to 18th November, photo.

(Birding World 23 (11): 465, photo; Birding World 23 (12): 539, photo; British Birds 104: plate 22; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 104: 610, plate 328).

26). 2013 Isles of Scilly Rowesfield, Tresco, first-winter, 29th October to 6th November, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 632).

27). 2013 Outer Hebrides South Locheynort, South Uist, first-winter male, 17th November to 16th December, photo.

(I. Thompson, Scottish Birds 34: 182-184, plates 186-188; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 632).

28). 2018 Devon Lundy, 1CY+, 26th October, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 607).

29). 2022 Sussex Eastbourne, 2CY, 8th to 15th February, photo.

(British Birds 115: plate 118;, L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 587, plate 118).

P). 2023 Caithness Locality withheld, 20th December.

(birding information services).

P). 2024 Orkney Parkhouse/Lenswick/Westness area, North Ronaldsay, 16th to 18th October, photo.

(birding information services).