Wing and tail feathers will also be different. Male robins tend to have darker black wings and tail feathers while females typically have a charcoal tone to their plumage. There is less contrast between the head and back feathers in females (where they are typically a blackish gray color) than among males. [2] X Trustworthy Source The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Research lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth’s biological diversity through research and education about birds Go to source
If you see two robins in a nest with hatchlings and one flies away to obtain food, the one left in the nest is likely the female. [9] X Research source
In male robins in their second year of life, the gray fringe around the red breast, continues to widen. The breast itself tends to be larger than that of females. [11] X Research source While the fringe around the breast of the female robins does not widen significantly as they age, the female’s red breast itself does continue to grow with age. Knowing the robin’s age is important when utilizing breast characteristics to determine the sex of European robins.