American robin

noun

plural American robins

: a large North American thrush (Turdus migratorius) with brownish-gray upperparts, a blackish head and tail, a black and whitish streaked throat, a dull reddish breast, and dull reddish underparts : robin sense 1

The American robin is one of the most common migratory birds in North America. They are most frequently found in grassy, suburban landscapes, but also find themselves at home in diverse habitats all over North America and Mexico.

—The Daily Leader (Brookhaven, Mississippi)

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above