American Robins are common visitors to yards all across the country. While they don't visit birdfeeders with great frequency, you might have some success offering them mealworms, sunflower chips (no shells), or fruit from an open feeder.
I mostly see them searching for earthworms, eating fruit on trees and shrubs, or visiting my birdbath. So before you fertilize or use pesticides, think about our robins and all the other birds that could be impacted by lawn and garden chemical use.
The robin pictured above is enjoying sumac berries which are widely available here in the northeast. And the robin below was in my yard most of the winter, here visiting my heated bath in late March.
I have a robin, I live in Upstate NY and thought that robin's fly south. He is eating the berries in my bush. Can he survive the winter.
Posted by: Annette Lange | December 28, 2016 at 06:41 PM
Robins love raisins! Whenever the cup on our feeder is empty of raisins, the robins fly close to us on the patio or sit on the feeder by our window and look in - really! Then I put out raisins, and I can stand there as they fly to the feeder and fill up!
Posted by: Joy | May 30, 2016 at 11:59 AM
Ingrid, please search on line for a local wildlife rehabilitation group. They have the expertise to help raise the young bird with the proper diet and care.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | August 14, 2015 at 12:09 PM
Last night a young robin came and landed on my husband's knee in our yard after I called it not realizing this would happen! I have been it's surrogate mother since...feeding it worms into its open beak and earwigs beneath my pots...however it has decided to stay and follows us everywhere..it's not even intimidated by our dog...what to do??
Posted by: Ingrid ross | August 13, 2015 at 07:36 AM
John, I'm sorry I don't know that answer to your question. I recommend that you contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for an answer: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1098
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | July 22, 2015 at 05:01 PM
how many worms does baby robin eat a day
Posted by: john | July 16, 2015 at 11:02 PM
Lynda, how interesting! Especially to hear that they are opening seeds, since their beak is not really designed to open hard-shelled seeds! Keep observing and enjoying the birds and thanks for sharing your observation.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | July 06, 2015 at 07:57 PM
We have a robin who visits our bird feeder daily, and it eats seeds! We have a mini habitat in our back yard and enjoy many varieties of birds( doves, finches, cowbirds, cardinals, red winged blackbirds, grackles +) and they all bring their families to our feeder. I think perhaps what attracted the Robin was the blend of feed that we used which had raisins in it. But on observation I see the robin breaking seeds and eating them. The other birds aren't sure what to do about this! So much fun. Add the squirrels and chipmunks into the mix and it is a hoot!
Posted by: lynda rekasi | July 02, 2015 at 09:15 AM
Dana, some birds (especially inexperienced birds) may build their nest in unusual places, sometimes not the safest or secure! In fact, Cornell Lab of Ornithology celebrates this on their Celebrate Urban Birds page by running Funky Nests contests! Check it out http://celebrateurbanbirds.org/community/challenges/funky-nests-2014/
Good luck with your funky robin!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | June 03, 2015 at 11:16 AM
I seem to have blue robins eggs in my empty bird feeder... We hadn't put food in but we had a hunch and when we looked inside the feeder the mom flew out and my husband saw blue eggs... Has anyone had this?
Posted by: Dana Trudeau | June 01, 2015 at 11:03 PM
Audrey, I'm glad we helped with your robin mystery! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | May 03, 2015 at 10:52 AM
Thought it was unusual to see a Robin at our fruit, nut, seed feeder in central PA. Now I understand! She was busy digging out the chunks of cranberries.
Posted by: Audrey | May 01, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Linda, how cool to have a robin eating your suet. Not an everyday occurrence! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | April 29, 2015 at 05:29 PM
I've had the female Robin more than two weeks at our suet feeder several times a day. She lets me right up to rtf he window to take pictures. I love watching her
Posted by: Linda | April 26, 2015 at 08:34 PM
Duck, it's best for licensed rehabbers to raise true orphan birds since they know what best to feed them and how best to release them.
You might try searching for a wildlife rehabilitator in your area so they can decide when and where is best for releasing your robin.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | July 29, 2014 at 10:23 AM
Crows attacked a robin nest and we rescued one of the chicks. We tried to find the nest to but the little guy back but couldn't find it so now we have a feathered house guest. Its doing well and really learning how to fly. How well do robin fare in the wild after a situation like this. Its been outside with us and we hope he can go free but we worry about it.
Posted by: Duck | July 26, 2014 at 05:33 PM
Kat, as you've found, robins may visit feeders if they have the right foods for them. Their beak is not good for opening hard-shelled seeds, so they may visit a birdfeeder with a no-mess blend. They'll also eat fruits at a feeder, as well as mealworms.
Thanks for taking good care of those robins!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | April 02, 2014 at 12:09 PM
I've read that robins will not visit a bird feeder, but I find that is not entirely true. I think much depends on the food offered. I feed the birds a great mix of fruit, seeds, and nuts, and the robins have been visiting my feeders every day. They actually sit on them and seem to be 'guarding' their meal! I offer food on the ground as well, but they seem to prefer my feeders. I have also started to mix in some mealworms. They really gobble those up! They are such a welcoming site here in New Hampshire after a very long, COLD winter!
Posted by: Kat | March 15, 2014 at 01:20 PM
Michael - You're so lucky to be able to observe those behaviors around the nest!
LNMP - mine still just feed on the ground. Interesting.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | May 26, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Last year was the first time we had robins visiting regularly to feed on sunflower hearts/chips that had fallen to the ground. They are now fairly frequent visitors to our feeding area.
Posted by: LNMP | May 26, 2009 at 08:31 AM
We have a robins nest in a shrub next to our front porch. Last friday the female was carrying out egg shells and both parents started non stop feeding the hatchlings.
The female is much more cautious approaching the nest than the male. She lands on a branch, then hops through 3-4 more before jumping into the nest. Where the male lands then jumps right into the nest.
Michael
Posted by: Michael Trattles | May 25, 2009 at 01:02 PM