Robins are known for being friendly and energetic birds that love to spend time hanging out in vibrant gardens. These beautiful creatures are one of the most popular birds to have around and people love being graced with their fun songs. Since this is the case, it comes as no surprise that the majority of bird lovers are interested in catching the eye of the local robins with their gardens. Fortunately, robins are curious creatures that can absolutely be swayed, making it possible for you to draw them to you any time of the year. Read on to see how you can win the heart of the local robins!
What do Robins eat?
While some birds are known for spending time swooping through the air to gather up insects on the fly, robins are a little more relaxed about their hunting practices. These beautiful ruby-colored birds are known to spend time feeding on the ground munching up worms and beetles for fun. In fact, it is fairly common for these birds to hang out around freshly churned earth, so keep an eye out if you are gardening or handling any renovations on your property.
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In addition to ground-based insects, robins are known to enjoy a variety of treats. These birds love a good sampling of mealworms, a hearty helping of fruit, and even crushed peanuts. Though some birds are more worrisome about what they will and will not eat, robins love a little variety in their diet, so it is always fun to leave them little surprises behind.
Where can you find Robins?
Your friendly robins can be found year-round all over the United States. These adorable birds spend plenty of time working hard to explore local areas and when they find a good place, they generally don’t like to leave. Though some robins will head up north towards Canada for the breeding season and others fly south towards Mexico for winter, the majority of them can be found lounging in their typical hangouts around the United States. This is what makes it easy for you to not only spot these beautiful birds, but win over their interest any time of the year.
How many types of Robins are in the US?
As is the case with most types of birds, there are several different species of robin. The most common robin in North America is the American Robin, which is commonly seen throughout the country. This bird does venture off towards Mexico every once in a while, but for the most part, it merely spends its days flying happily through the United States from coast to coast.
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If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the Rufus-backed robin or the white-throated thrush. Though these two are more commonly seen in Mexico and Central America, they have been known to investigate southern parts of the United States from time to time.
How to Attract Robins to your yard?
1. Fruit
Robins are known for their interest in tasty foods, and one thing that they really love is fruit. When you feed a robin fruit, make sure that you break it up into pieces if possible. This will help them to eat it more easily and will save them time when it comes time to eat. These birds love a good hard fruit like apples, pears, and plums. They also enjoy good dried fruit like rains as well.
2. Tray Feeder
Since robins spend their time hunting on the ground, they prefer to enjoy their food from feeding trays rather than traditional feeders. They are not the type to cling or peck, so giving them a sturdy tray that they can land on to gather up the food you left behind for them as an incredibly effective approach to catch their interest.Â
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In fact, they especially love feeders that are placed on the ground. Since the ground is where they usually eat, this is a comfortable approach for them to take.
3. Mealworms
Insects can be harder to come by in winter, which is what makes mealworms such a special treat. Throwing these baby insects out in a tray during winter is the perfect treat to lure over friendly robins during the colder seasons. They will appreciate this delicious protein boost and that you saved them time on hunting.
4. Keep Critters
If you aren’t too squeamish about insects, gardening can give you full access to a robin’s favorite food. Gardening means churning through dirt, which means that you will inevitably find worms and beetles. Next time you are out in the garden, scoop up the worms and add them to your bird feeding tray. You will love watching how excited the local robins get when they find a big delicious bowl of worms waiting for them.
5. Water / Pond
Birds love water and robins are no exception. While these friends might be interested in dropping by for a sip of cool water or even to splash around, chances are you will really catch their interest if you are able to have a true pond. Since robins use mud to build up their nests, these birds are known to love a good mud supply. Robins will travel long distances with mud to build nests, so even if they aren’t nesting near you, you can still catch their interest with this technique.
6. Privacy
Robins eggs are some of the most beautiful eggs that birds have to offer, but it is important to avoid temptation. In the event that you are lucky enough to find a robin nest on your property, make sure that you leave it alone. Birds are aware of their nests and will know if you have touched anything, so help them to feel safe staying on your property is always a good idea, especially if you want them to return for future seasons to come.
7. Dead Grass
Many people rake up their dead grass to clear it out, but you don’t have to throw it out. Robins love to use dried grass for making their nests, so consider leaving out a pile for your robin friends to choose from. They will love to drop by snatching up their favorite pieces. If you are lucky, they might just build a nest nearby.
8. Small Trees
Robins like to use twigs when designing their nests, so if you want them to hang out, giving them the materials to do so will always catch their interest. Robins love a little convenience when it comes to designing a nest so making their job easier is a great way to boost yourself in their books. Smaller trees and bushes offer great twig options for nest designs, particularly in the colder seasons when they are more prone to breakage. You can even leave a pile of twigs out for their convenience!
How Do Robins Create Their Nest?
Robins are very particular about their nests, and seeing their beautiful blue eggs, it is easy to see why. These vibrant birds will take dried grass and twigs of very specific sizes to create a safe and sturdy nest. When the rains come in, they will gather up mud to patch their beautiful new nest together. This interesting practice can take a lot of effort from robins, but they always work to make the best nest.
Do Robins sing more at night?
Robins are known for having a passion for song, and these little guys do a great job of it. The majority of the time, when you hear a robin sing, you can safely assume that it is a male. Male robins will sing a song from their heart designed to attract the perfect mate. Male robins looking for a girl will project a song to attract the local ladies in the area. Sometimes they will also sing to show their territory to other birds as well.
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While robins don’t necessarily sing more at night, scientists believe that they might sing at night for a simple reason: it is quiet. In cities, robin songs don’t carry very far, so these little guys put in extra work to show off their songs.
Can Robins eat cheese?
Some birds are known for their love of strange things and the robin takes the cake with its passion for cheese. While you would not want to feed a robin too much cheese, robins do enjoy a hard and mild cheese from time to time. If you leave out grated cheese or tiny bits of cheese, your local robins will definitely be coming back for more. Just make sure that you don’t overdo it!
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We are avid bird-watchers who recently retired, allowing us more time to travel the world. Fortunately, we have managed to visit numerous countries around Europe, Asia, and America. Watching and photographing birds has been a passion for many years and we are making the most of the extra time on our hands!