4 AUGUST 2019

What do Robins eat

Robins eat many thinks, and its for this reason you'd see them frequenting your feeders around the garden.

What Robins will eat depends on if we're talking about from nature or by you. If we're talking from there natural inhabitants, they're ground feeding birds so will eat all insects; snails, spiders, earthworms or caterpillars. Robins will also eat fruit, dried mealworms or peanuts.

You'll not only see the occasional Robin eating from the bird feeding station with use of the peanut, seed or fat ball feeder, but they're primarily ground feeding birds.

What that means is out in the wild Robins will take to eating insects and bugs found in the grass, or buried deeper into shrubs or plantation.

Insects and bugs Robins eat include; spiders, caterpillars, moths, snails, worms, centipedes, termites and millipedes.

...or any bug or insect that may be within reach, though those above are most common.

On a less yucky note, Robins are fruit eating wild birds that will take to eating berries such as cherries or raspberries, so may take to fruit you offer them in the garden.

When Robins use the feeders hanging up, watch as they mostly feed on the peanuts, followed by seeds then the suet blocks or fat balls - depending on the time of the year.

Well they will take to eating peanuts more often, they like peanuts crush so will make a mess in the process.

Robins are quite bold around people, so with a little time and patience you may be able to feed Robins from your hand - with use of crushed up peanuts we might add.

All insects found on the ground

Robins are one of several ground feeding birds that will take to eating off your lawn if in good supply of insects.

They'd mostly take to eating insects or bugs that are readily available on the ground all year round, so spiders are one of the most consumed insect by Robins.

That's followed by snails or worms - also known as invertebrates - who are likely to be eating by Robins during the damp or wet conditions only.

Off the soil, earthworms make there way up to the surface as to avoid drowning well it rains, so Robins will use these conditions to feed off them through the grass.

Its also the wet weather that brings out the snail, so the slow movers are likely to be picked up by a passing Robin.

And well we've only talked about insects or bugs found in nature, its also possible to feed Robins food offered by you... that includes live or dried mealworms.

Dried or live mealworms from you

Well Robins are ground feeding birds, you'd likely to see them feeding off you lawn or soil throughout the year.

Its these insects that will keep them glued to the ground through the year, so it only makes sense to feed them what they're looking for, in a location where they search.

With that is mind Robins love live mealworms, and will enjoy them more so if you were to scatter them over the lawn for Robins to help themselves.

Live or dried mealworms it really doesn't matter, though take your cue from nature by offering live mealworms if you can.

If you insist on using dried mealworms it would be probably best to thrown a handful over the lawn, well insert mealworms in the feeder for the Tits or Sparrows to try.

Peanuts, preferably crushed

They may be ground feeding birds but you're likely to see Robins feeding off the hanging bird feeding station more often than other small garden birds.

And well its possible for Robins to feed from the suet, fat balls or seed feeder; Robins just love peanuts, so setup a peanut feeder for the Robins.

Preferably, the peanuts should be crushed, but in reality all wild birds will crush up the peanuts into smaller pieces before swallowing.

Hence the reason why you see bird food flying all over the place as they feed...

For that reason, it may be possible to crush up a small amount of peanuts well tempting to feed Robins from your hand.

Again, as Robins are ground feeding birds, there's certainly no harm scattering nuts over the lawn, well likewise throwing peanuts into the ground bird feeding tray.

Fruits found in nature

There's nothing out in nature that Robins won't eat, and that goes for the fruit not safe for people, but also those berries we humans eat ourselves.

Britain has a blooming berry tree population so Robins are not short of juicy berries over the spring, summer months.

Though berried in plantation or bushes in and amongst the tree's are blackberries, raspberries to cherries that Robins eat.

As Robins eat all types of fruit found out in the wild, it may also be possible to offer fruit to birds, with Robins likely to take up your offer over all other species.

So well you're at it, why not cut up apples for birds, well trying all types of berries such as strawberries, grapes Robins will eat or any other types of fresh fruits.

Fat balls or suet

Well you're likely to see Robins on the hanging bird feeders, pay close attention as they will eat from all feeders available.

One that they will eat from, especially during the winter months for fat build up needs, it the fat ball feeder containing anything from seeds to nut, bonded with lard.

Less seen hanging up off the bird feeding station is a suet feeder, and Robins will take to this also has they contain lots of valuable nutrients.

Suet also has food groups Robins are known to eat from nature or close to; seeds or mealworms, amongst others feed which depends on the manufacturer's ingredients.

Summary

Robins are primarily ground feeding birds who scavenge off the lawn or wait until worms or snails become available during the wet weather.

When its dryer Robins are likely to be seen feeding from spiders - that will make a lot of you happy - caterpillars or any other insects they can get hold of.

Well scavenging off the garden lawn, they will take to the ground in and amongst the bushes, hedgerow or plants where insects are likely to live and breed.

Much as they feed off the ground, Robins's are incredibly bold, so will take to eating from bird feeders, dishes or trays, or on occasions - take to eating from your hand.

If leaving out peanuts, seeds or especially mealworms, scatter a handful over the lawn as to make sure exclusive ground feeders have a meal.

Its vital you at least keep a generous supply of peanuts, seeds or suet/fat ball feeders setup as it will not only accommodate Robins, but all common garden birds.