American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Orange-breasted thrush with slate-gray back and speckled throat. Year-round Bay Area resident; forages on ground for insects, snails, and berries. Disperses seeds of native plants and controls garden pests.
Plants that support American Robin
41 plants
American Black
Solanum americanum
perennial herb
Important migrant staging food, critical late summer-fall
Andrew's Clintonia
Clintonia andrewsiana
geophyte
berries consumed during breeding season and post-fledgling period
Bearberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii
shrub
Fall-winter berry resource in California
Bitter-berry
Prunus virginiana var. demissa
tree
Fruits consumed during breeding season and fall migration; peak availability Aug-Sep
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
tree
Peak consumption Jun-Sep; critical for fledgling nutrition and migration preparation
Blue Witch
Solanum umbelliferum
shrub
Berries consumed year-round, especially important summer-fall
Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens
fern
Forages among fronds for invertebrates; year-round California resident
Brittle Bladder Fern
Cystopteris fragilis
fern
Dense fern fronds provide ground cover and nesting shelter in riparian and shaded forest habitats
California Grape
Vitis californica
vine
Critical fall migration fuel source; grapes consumed heavily during September-October staging
California Wild Rose
Rosa californica
shrub
Rose hips critical winter food source Dec-Feb when other fruits scarce
California blackberry
Rubus ursinus
shrub
Breeding season food Aug-Sep, critical for fledgling provisioning
Cascara Sagrada
Frangula purshiana
shrub
Critical fall migration fuel source; fruit consumption peaks September-October
Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceum
shrub
Winter berry consumption when other fruit sources scarce
Coast Black Gooseberry
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum
shrub
Berries important for breeding season and pre-migration fattening Aug-Sep
Common Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus
shrub
Critical fall migration fuel source; berries consumed heavily Sept-Nov during southbound migration
Common Viburnum
Viburnum ellipticum
shrub
fruit consumption during fall migration and winter staging; important seasonal food source
Creeping Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium var. repens
shrub
Fall and winter fruit consumption, supports resident and migratory populations
Eastwood's Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. glandulosa
shrub
Important winter food source; fruits persist on evergreen plant
Fragrant sumac
Rhus aromatica
shrub
Critical fall migration fuel source, September-October staging
Giant Wakerobin
Trillium chloropetalum
perennial herb
Consumes fleshy berries during spring migration and nesting season
Holly-leaf Buckthorn
Rhamnus ilicifolia
shrub
forages on drupes during fall migration and winter
Hooker's Fairybells
Prosartes hookeri
perennial herb
consume berries during fall migration and winter months
Kings Mountain Manzanita
Arctostaphylos regismontana
perennial herb
Nests in manzanita shrubs during breeding season April-June
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum
fern
Forages in moist woodland understory; uses fronds for nesting material
Large-Flowered Fairybells
Prosartes smithii
perennial herb
Primary fruit consumer; berries consumed throughout year in California, especially important winter food source
Madrone
Arbutus menziesii
tree
Important fall/winter diet component; supports overwintering populations
Mexican Elder
Sambucus mexicana
shrub
Primary fruit consumer Jul-Sep during breeding and pre-migration
Mount Diablo Manzanita
Arctostaphylos auriculata
shrub
Fall migration and wintering populations exploit berry resources
Oak Gooseberry
Ribes quercetorum
shrub
Summer breeding season; feeds berries to nestlings
Pacific Dogwood
Cornus nuttallii
perennial herb
Important fruit source for fall migrants and wintering populations; drupes consumed Aug-Oct
Red elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
shrub
Critical fall migration fuel source; berries consumed Aug-Oct during southward migration
Red-Osier Dogwood*
Cornus sericea subsp. sericea
shrub
Important late-season fruit source for migrating populations; also consumed by wintering birds
Salmonberry
Rubus spectabilis
perennial herb
Critical breeding season fruit source, feeds young on berries June-July
Smooth Dogwood
Cornus glabrata
shrub
White berry fruit consumed during fall migration and winter; important food source
Spice Bush (Silk Tassel)
Garrya elliptica
shrub
Female plants produce blue-black berries Jan-Mar, critical winter food source during breeding season preparation
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
tree
Important fall and winter berries, supports migration and overwintering populations Sep-Feb
Utah Serviceberry
Amelanchier utahensis
shrub
Spring/summer breeding season diet; nestlings fed berries Jun-Jul
Western Azalea
Rhododendron occidentale
shrub
Nesting and cover in dense deciduous growth, March-August breeding
Western Virgin's Bower
Clematis ligusticifolia
vine
Seeds consumed during fall migration and winter; feathery seeds highly attractive
Whitebark Raspberry
Rubus leucodermis
perennial herb
Late summer fruit consumption for pre-migratory fuel; supports breeding season diet