One of the great symbols of spring is the American Robin. This beautiful bird is a member of the thrush family, which includes such birds as: the veery, hermit thrush, wood thrush, and Swainson's thrush.
The American robin is named after the European robin. They both have darker backs with red-orange breasts, but are not actually related to each other. The European robin is smaller, and the red-orange color extends to the bottom of their faces. Interestingly enough, the American robin is related to the European blackbird, and the European robin is related to the American blackbird.
