Differences between Egret and Robin

Egret Egret
Robin Robin

Egret and Robin are two classes of birds that belong to the Ardeidae and Turdidae families respectively.

Egrets are birds that symbolise purity and strength. They belong to the species of Herons. These birds have white plumage that were used in earlier times for dress and trade. Egrets differ from other species of Herons by their mating displays and the pure white plumes they develop in the breeding season.

Robins are the largest of Thrush species. They are small song birds characterized by their running and stopping habit. The birds have yellow cone-shaped bills that they use for foraging food in the grass. Their legs are grey, thin, and long. The feet are adapted for perching. The birds also have a long tail. Robins have a round body. Their plumage depends on the species. The European Robin is known as the original Robin. It has a grey head, back, and belly. Its wings and tail are brownish grey, while its neck and breast are covered with a bright orange patch. The American Robin belongs to the Thrush family but is not related to the European Robin. It has a black head, greyish black back, and orangish yellow belly and neck. There are about 65 species of Robins across the world.

Where are Egret and Robin found?

Egrets live close to wetlands, be it fresh or salt. You can find them near seas, rivers, marshes, ponds, and thick forests. They were originally found in Europe, Asia, and Africa but have later spread across the world. As they cannot survive colder weather, they are not distributed in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Robins live in deciduous forests, woodlands, grasslands, parks, farms, agricultural lands, and even cities. The American Robins are found in Canada, North America, and parts of Alaska. The European Robins exist in Europe, north Africa, and western Asia.

What do Egret and Robin eat?

Egrets are carnivores that source their feeds generally from water systems. So, their diet mostly includes fish, water insects, frogs, snakes, and crustaceans. However, Egrets sometimes also hunt on land and eat insects, grasshoppers, and rodents.

Robins chiefly eat worms and insects. During summer and fall they also eat fruits, berries, seeds, peanuts, and raisins.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Egret and Robin

  • Egret do eat Fish while Robin may not eat Fish.
  • Egret do eat Frogs while Robin may not eat Frogs.
  • Both Egret and Robin eat Lizards.
  • Both Egret and Robin eat Snakes.
  • Egret do eat Turtles while Robin may not eat Turtles.
  • Egret do eat Squirrels while Robin may not eat Squirrels.
  • Gophers are commonly eaten by Egret while Robin do not eat Gophers.
  • Baby Ducks are commonly eaten by Egret while Robin do not eat Baby Ducks.
  • Egret do eat Mice while Robin may not eat Mice.

Size of Egret and Robin?

When it comes to size, Egrets are smaller than Herons. They are a little less than three feet tall and have wings that measure 1.3-1.7 metres.. The European Robin is 3.3-4.7 inches long with a wingspan of 8-8.5 inches. The American Robin is bigger. It measures 9-11 inches in length and has a wingspan of 12-16 inches.

An adult Egret usually weighs 1.1-3.3 pounds. while The European Robin weighs 0.56-0.77 ounces. The average weight of the American Robin is 2.7 ounces.

Where do Egret and Robin nest?

Egrets generally build large and messy nests in their colonies that even consist of birds of other species. The nests are usually constructed on shrubs or lowly trees, typically 10-40 feet from the ground. It is mostly the male egret that establishes the nesting area by creating a nest platform. Both the male and female egrets incubate the eggs for a period of around 24 days.

Robins build their nests in the crevices of trees, walls, rocks, and buildings. Sometimes, they are also placed in hidden branches of trees and shrubs. The nests are shaped like bowls and typically four to six inches wide. The female Robin chooses the nesting site and also constructs the nest by pressing dried grass, twigs, feathers, paper, and moss with her wings. She lays eggs that are blue, sometimes with brown spots. The female performs the entire incubation duties for about 13 days. The chicks will be fed by both the parents, who also provide them warmth and protection. They fledge when they are about two weeks old but remain dependent on the parents for another two weeks.

How long do Egret and Robin live?

Lifespan of an Egret is up to 15 years in the wild. The younger ones could face high mortality due to climate, migration, predators, and siblicide. The oldest Great Egret lived for almost 23 years in the state of Ohio.

The average lifespan of Robins is two years. Among the known birds, the oldest European Robin was 11 years and five months old, and the oldest American Robin was 14 years old.

Are Egret or Robin migratory birds?

Egrets become residents in warmer locations. However, in regions where they cannot withstand the cold, they tend to migrate after the breeding season. Migration usually happens from Europe to Africa and south Asia and from northern parts of the USA to central and southern America.

The migration of Robins depends on their location. European Robins living in Ireland and the UK rarely migrate or travel just about five miles in winters. The birds from Scandinavia and Russia relocate to the UK and western Europe. Robins from southern Europe also migrate during winters. American Robins are mostly residents. Some of them from North America and Canada may travel to the USA and Mexico in winters. Robin species in Asia are usually non-migratory.

Do Egret and Robin fly in flocks?

A group of Egrets is known by different names, such as colony, siege, skewer, wedge, and congregation. Egrets are sociable and hunt in flocks. But they can also remain isolated. They generally gather during sunsets and roost in colonies.

A group of Robins is known as a round. Robins are friendly and courageous birds that do not get intimidated by humans. They are generally gregarious amongst themselves, except in the breeding season when they prefer to be territorial. They forage and fly in flocks to safeguard themselves from predators.

Are Egret or Robin protected?

Governments across the world have taken measures to protect Egrets under wildlife conservation and migratory bird laws. Egrets are protected in various countries like the USA, UK, China, Taiwan, China, Russia, India, and France.

Robins are protected in the USA, Canada, UK, and many parts of Europe and Asia. In these countries, harming or hunting of the birds is a punishable offence.

Are Egret or Robin endangered?

The population of Egrets dwindled to near extinction in the 19th century owing to devious hunting of the birds for their plumes. However, introduction of protection and conservation laws have helped in resurgence of their population. Egrets can now be commonly found in wetlands and coasts across the world. They are not an endangered species.

European Robins as well as American Robins are listed as species of least concern. Robins are largely not threatened. However, a few Robins are marked as endangered. They include Black Robin, Seychelles Robin, and Norfolk Island Robin. Robins are short-lived birds. They also face threats from predators, infant mortality, and migration in winters.

Can Egret and Robin fly?

Egrets start flying when they are six to seven weeks old. They are dynamic flyers with an ability to cover 25 miles in an hour. They tuck their neck in and hold their legs freely in flight. They are capable of flying long distances during migration.

Robins are active birds that fly for several hours every day. They fly low while moving around casually in the neighbourhood. For long distance travel and migration, the birds fly higher. Their flight is typically direct and quick. The average flying speed of Robins is 30-36 miles an hour during migration. The birds fly in loose flocks on a daily basis. For migration, they form larger groups, sometimes consisting of tens of thousands of birds.

Can Egret and Robin swim?

Egrets are generally wading birds. They rarely swim to catch their preys. Further, they have non-webbed feet that makes swimming difficult for them.

Robins are not water birds. They cannot swim but can manage to stay afloat as they have hollow bones. The birds enjoy bathing in water, so they often enter ponds, puddles, and shallow waters.

Mating patterns among Egret and Robin

Egrets acquire heightened beauty during the breeding season – the reason for which bird watchers yearn to catch a glimpse of them during this time. The birds start mating when they are two or three years old. Each breeding season of the year, the male egret selects a nesting area where it builds a nest platform. It then displays its special long white plumes to find a mate for courtship. Egrets generally breed in their colonies and seldom in solitary pairs.

Robins attain sexual maturity when they are about a year old. Most of them start breeding in the spring or summer that follows their hatching. At the start of spring, the male sings loudly to attract the attention of the female. During courtship, both partners perch and sing. Once the pair is formed, the male and female Robins become aggressive to protect their nesting territory and keep a check that they do not lose their partner to another bird. The male fetches food for his partner to make sure that she gains enough weight to lay eggs and incubate them. Robins generally raise two broods a year. Each clutch usually contains about five to six eggs. The female does the incubation duties, while her partner gets food for her and guards the nesting territory. The partners involve equally in feeding and protecting the young ones after the eggs hatch.

When is the mating season for Egret and Robin ?

The mating season for Egrets is usually October-December in the southern hemisphere and March-May in the northern hemisphere. They breed only once a year.

The mating season for Robins occurs during March-July. The birds, however, may start their nesting activities in January.

Do Egret and Robin mate for life?

Egrets are monogamous during each breeding season. However, they may not stay with the same partner every year. They are known to have multiple partners in their lifetime.

Robins may or may not be monogamous. They usually stay with a single partner during each breeding season. Sometimes, they may also look for different partners in the same breeding season.

How do Egret and Robin sleep?

Egrets sleep at night while standing on one foot in water to sense vibrations from predators. They keep their heads retracted under a wing. They generally roost in flocks to stay safe from attacks.

Robins mostly sleep on crevices and branches of trees. They choose spots from where they can hear the approaching of predators and from where they can quickly flee. Except for the breeding season, when they sleep at nesting sites, Robins gather in large numbers to roost at night.

Can Egret and Robin be eaten?

Egrets used to be eaten in earlier times in some parts of Africa. However, they no longer can be hunted for their meat. It is illegal and will invite hefty fines.

Robin meat is edible. It was a cherished delicacy in North America. However, it is no longer eaten in the continent because of conservation rules. Some people in parts of Florida are known to still eat it though. Robin meat is popular in parts of Europe, especially France. Although there are rules against hunting of these birds, killing them for meat is tolerated in some places. The bird’s meat is also consumed in some oriental cuisines of Asia.

Can you hunt Egret or Robin?

Egrets were hunted ruthlessly until late 19th century for their plumes. This led to their near extinction. Nevertheless, new anti-hunting, conservation, and migratory laws adopted across the world have saved the species. Egrets are widespread and a common sight now.

Robins were widely hunted in the past for their meat. Modern conservation laws restrict the killing of these birds. However, despite having protected status, Robins continue to be hunted in many countries.

Can you feed Egret or Robin?

Feeding wild animals and birds in public places is not permitted in places like USA, Singapore, and Dubai. In captivity, Egrets can be fed with fish, eggs, insects, earthworms, and meat.

People commonly offer food for Robins at feeders in their backyard. Robins enjoy mealworms. They also like berries, fruits, peanuts, and seeds.