About the Robin - Rachel Robin's Signature Bird

Like the bluebird, the American robin is in the thrush family. The robin comes to our backyards during the warmer months to build a nest and raise their young. Often thirsty, they make frequent use of bird baths for drinking and bathing.  Robins are often one of the first birds to sing in the morning, singing long choruses of rhythmic paired phrases of two or three syllables that alternately rise and fall in pitch.

Robins are not seed-eating birds. They feed on earthworms, their favorite food. They will eat from a bird table or at feeders with trays offering cut up raisins soaked in water, suet, suet mixtures, peanut butter mixtures, peanut hearts, strawberries, cherries, cottage cheese, and pieces of American cheese. Robin's will also eat cooked plain spaghetti, doughnuts, white bread and cornbread. 

If you have robins in your area and a sudden snowstorm comes up, the best thing you can do for them is to take a shovel and dig up a section of earth, turning over the soil to allow the robins to get worms. Raw hamburg, American cheese, and cooked spaghetti can also be offered at this time. Mealworms, available at pet stores, are also appreciated. 

Robins will use a nesting shelf in which to build their nest. This shelf can be attached to the side of a barn, garage, or under the eaves of a house, etc., but should be near a garden area or place where the birds can get mud, as the female lines the nest with mud by smearing it on the inner bowl with her breast. They breed from April to July in the Northern areas. The number of robins at a roost peaks in late summer. Robin's will have two or three broods. Once breeding season is over, the sweet-singing and familiar robin of our backyards becomes more furtive and shy.