How often to feed a baby robin

What Do Baby Robins Eat? and How to Feed One! a How-To Guide

Either you found a baby robin that’s fallen from its nest, or perhaps you’re just curious and asking what do baby robins eat?

Well, here’s the guide on what baby robins eat, and if the need arises then how to feed one. So first let’s give you the quick answers, then we’ll get into more details…

How do baby robins eat? During the first week, the parents regurgitate partly digested food into the baby’s mouth. As they grow they eat a variety of food from earthworms, to whole worms and large insects, and even berries until they fledge to finally fend for themselves.

How do you feed a baby Robin? To feed a baby robin you can use a dropper, clean hands, or let the babies feed themselves when they become independent enough. Once released they will naturally be able to hunt for food and feed themselves.

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What do baby robins eat and when

Baby robins are just that – babies, at first, and depend wholly on their parents for food.

However, what baby robins eat during the very first few days and onward changes as time goes by – and fairly quickly too.

Here’s the list of what baby robins eat at each growth stage. But if you’re looking to protect your baby robin, then be sure to check what eats robins to know what might want to prey on them. You might also be interested to know if it’s legal to keep a robin as a pet?

1 – 7 Days – baby robins eat…

When baby robins are with their parents, the parent robins forage for food for themselves, but also gather enough to feed their young.

The parent regurgitates this partly digested food into the baby’s mouth. This is the only way that baby robins eat and are fed during the first week from birth.

This includes partly digested insects, beetles, worms, berries, and seeds

7-14 days – baby robins eat…

Around this time, the parents pass larger portions of food or break up larger ones such as earthworms and deliver into the baby robin’s mouth.

From here onwards the baby robins start eating more with each passing day.

Whole versions of insects, beetles, worms, berries and seeds.

After a period of this, the parents begin to let the baby robins eat the whole worm and other large insects on their own.

By this time a baby robin will be able to eat the equivalent of 14 feet of earthworms during its two-week nest life.

14 days plus – baby robins eat…

From this point, more often than not baby robins are able to eat food provided to them by the parents that are just placed in the nest. The baby robin is old enough to find and eat the food themselves within the nest.

In general, baby robins depend on the parents fully for their daily dose of food, until they are independent enough and can fledge the nest and fly away.

On average, the parent robins can make up to 100 visits a day to feed their young ones – that just shows how often the baby robins eat to grow up.

This is also why robins are very picky in choosing a territory to create their nest. They need to ensure they live close to adequate food sources to make the hunt for food and feeding visits often and easy.chicks in a nest

How to feed a baby robin?

If you’re in the situation where you have a baby robin you need to take care of and hand rear, perhaps one that fell from the nest or lost its parents. Then naturally, there are plenty of things you will have to know about feeding baby robins – let us give you some guidance.

There are, thankfully, many ways and methods that have worked to feed baby robins, below are three safe methods to feed a baby robin.

1. Using a syringe to feed a baby robin

You can use a syringe, like this one, or an eyedropper to feed baby robins. For this method, the best food would be to get a baby bird formula mix.

With this formula, use the syringe and simply follow the instructions for feeding.

Alternatives to baby bird formula

Instead of a bird formula mix, you could even use baby formula or wheat cereal like farina. Or at a push, you might be able to soak dried dog food which has been known to feed baby robins quite well.

However, when feeding these products be sure to still use the syringe or dropper. Try to make sure the products are mushed down enough to pass through the dropper without getting blocked.

At first, one or two full droppers will almost certainly fill the baby robin, but as they grow they’ll likely need more of it – and potentially more often. Being a robin parent is a demanding job!

The baby robin will let you know when it’s full, usually when it’s hungry or wants more food it opens its mouth automatically.

Be aware of this too, do not try to feed the robin when it is not asking, as you can easily overfeed them, which is just as risky as not feeding them.

So it’s important to observe if the bird is full or not before trying to encourage them to eat further.

2. Using your hands to feed a baby robin

Hands can also be used to feed baby robins. Moistened duck or chicken feed that are processed well with an even texture can also make some good reasonable food baby robin food.

When using the hands it’s important to be hygienic. Not only when feeding but also while making the food using the hands or when handling the bird.

To feed a baby robin using your hands, take a tiny pinch of food and stick it to the tip of the finger and all you have to do is touch the corner of the bird’s mouth.

The baby robins will automatically open their mouth and you shouldn’t have any trouble passing it into their beaks.

Another great thing about using hands to feed baby robins is that you will get a good sense of when to stop because the baby robin will stop opening their mouth when they feel full, unlike droppers which can be inserted into the mouth anyway – even if the bird is already full.

3. Allow the baby robin to feed on its own

If you get to this point then congratulations, or if the bird already has some plumage and appears to be an older chick.

This method works mostly when the baby robin is a little more grown-up and can handle the food on their own.

This is a method that allows the baby robins to feed themselves by placing the food on the ground next to them.

For this, offering small berries, or using mealworms, earthworms, or grubs near the ground next to where they rest will work fine.

This will also allow the birds to come and feed whenever they feel hungry. On average baby, robins may have to be fed every 5-10 minutes at peak times.

When feeding baby robins, make sure that…

The food is at room temperature. Even if the food is refrigerated, it’s important to make sure the food is at room temperature when feeding the baby robins.
Make sure the food is not spoilt, has no fungus or bacteria when feeding.
The food should have a fine texture and even toward slushy, but smooth enough to get through the delicate throats of baby robins.
Up to three weeks old, the baby robins will be grown up enough to find their food. So by this time, it’s good to allow the baby robins to eat of its own accord and just make sure food is available.

Then one day, they will fledge and fly away. And you can smile in the knowledge you probably just saved a wild bird’s life. If the baby robin does not survive, then it was never meant to be, and at least you provided it with some comfort and the best chance of survival.

So finally…

We hope this has been useful in answering the question – what do baby robins eat? And hope you’ve been able to put the help on how to feed one to good use.

How to Care for Baby Robin Redbreasts

By Katherine Barrington | Updated September 26, 2017

Things You'll Need

Soft towel
Cardboard box
Hot water bottle
Canned cat or dog food
Toothpick or chopstick

During the spring time, robin redbreasts are a common sight as they care for their nests, eggs, and fledglings. Robin fledglings sometimes end up on the ground as they attempt to learn to fly. If you come across a baby robin, determine that the baby bird has been orphaned or injured before taking any action to capture and care for it. Provide basic care for a fledgling after rescuing it, but contact your local wild bird care center as soon as possible to turn the bird over to qualified professionals.

Determine the baby robin redbreast needs help. Both male and female robins take part in the care of their young, so if you find a baby bird on the ground it is likely just learning to fly and and its parents are nearby. Watch from a safe distance for 30 minutes to see if the parents return. If not, or if the baby bird shows signs of injury, you may need to take action.

Capture the baby bird either with your hands or by tossing a very lightweight towel over it. This may not be necessary and can injure the bird so do this only if you feel it is an important safety issue. Once the bird is immobilized, hold it with its wings flat against its body and lift it carefully up from the ground.

Place the baby bird in a cardboard box lined with a soft towel underneath; cover. Punch holes in the sides of the box to allow for air circulation and keep the lid on the box except for feeding times. Darkness calms birds, so the baby robin will be less likely to injure itself fluttering around in this contained space.

Keep the baby bird warm by placing a hot water bottle under the towel or by filling two plastic water bottles with warm water and placing them under the towel on either side of the bird. Do not place the cardboard box in the sun or in front of a heater; too much direct heat can cause overheating and dehydration.

Call your local bird or wild animal care shelter to let them know you have rescued a baby bird. Ask the shelter whether they will be able to pick up the animal or if you need to deliver it. Makes the necessary plans for the transfer of the bird; the sooner the better.

Feed the robin often until it can be transferred to the shelter. Fledgling robins need to be fed every hour; featherless babies, every half hour. Unlike some birds, robins eat worms and insects rather than seeds. Offer bits of canned cat or dog food, preferably one with high protein, to the robin via a toothpick, rounded chopstick or tweezer and follow each bite of food with a few drops of water off the end of your finger. Note baby birds do not require a lot of water. If you have dry cat or dog kibble, try soaking it in warm water and offering it to the baby bird with a tweezer, being careful not to injure the bird. The water in the kibble should suffice for the fledgling's hydration needs.

According to the Wild Bird Care Centre of Ontario, and contrary to popular myth, a robin will not abandon her young if she smells the scent of a human on them. In other words, if you find a baby robin you may handle it for as long as it takes to return it to the nest; but be quick so the mother can continue feeding her ravenous offspring.

If you are unsure whether the baby is indeed abandoned, place the baby in a basket and place the basket on a high branch of a nearby tree and then keep an eye out for the parents. Only when you are certain the parents are not coming back should you take action.

Warnings

Use caution when feeding the baby robin and do not hold the bird when giving it food or water. When offering water to the baby bird, do not squirt the water directly down the bird's throat or allow it to get into the bird's nostrils, which can force fluid into the lungs and cause pneumonia.

References

Wild Bird Care Center; Rescuer Info
Journey North; American Robin

Photo Credits

Writer Bio

Katherine Barrington has written on a variety of topics, from arts and crafts to pets, health and do-it-yourself projects. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a creative writing concentration from Marietta College.

description of the bird, characteristics and habitat, species

The robin is a small bird of the flycatcher family of the passerine order. It has several names - it is often called a robin, sometimes a dawn or an alder. Malinovka is known for her beautiful voice. Birds live near water bodies in mixed and broad-leaved forests, overgrown parks and gardens. They live in the northwestern part of Africa, on the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in Scandinavia, western Eurasia. The name of the bird was due to its bright sign - an orange speck on the breast. nine0003 Bright color is a feature of the robin

Appearance and behavior of the bird

The bird is 15 cm long and has a short sharp beak, black eyes and thin paws. Young robins are pale in color with white and brown spots. Adults look more bright:

vertex and dorsum are grey-brown;
breast and underside are orange;
belly - light grey.

Large black eyes allow birds to navigate through dense vegetation. Females and males do not visually differ from each other. Individuals living in the southern regions have a more saturated plumage color. nine0003

Scientists say that robins living in warm countries are less mobile than those living in cold regions.

Bird activity peaks in the morning and before bedtime, but there are exceptions.

You can hear the singing of robins in the spring, when their mating season begins. Unlike nightingales, in which only the male sings, in robins, both the male and the female participate in the trills. The male individual by singing notifies competitors that the territory is occupied, the female one reports that she is looking for a mate. nine0003

FUN FACT . The robin is one of the first to sing, just before sunrise. Birds also actively sing at sunset, and sometimes at night.

On the video you can listen to the wonderful singing of the robin.

There are more male robins in nature than females, so not everyone manages to find a mate. Males that have not found a partner do not guard their territory. In addition, single males gather in flocks and live in groups until they start a family.

A male robin that has a pair behaves much more aggressively towards other males and even other types of small birds. The male without much thought attacks the stranger. In such civil strife, about 10% of robins die.

Robins live for about 2-3 years. In captivity or under favorable weather conditions, birds live up to 10 years. Their numbers are negatively affected by cold winters and a reduction in the volume of food supply.

INTERESTING FACT. Robins living in England and Ireland are not at all afraid of people, since no one touches them. Birds can easily be approached at close range. nine0003 A robin sits on a branch with berries

Robins love water treatments. In the mornings, on the banks of reservoirs, you can see flocks of birds splashing in the water with pleasure. If there is no pond or river nearby, the birds use drops of morning dew to bathe.

To clean their feathers from parasites, robins fly to the anthill and bathe in it. After that, they go out into the sun and sunbathe. In winter, birds bathe in the snow.

Migratory or settled

In warm regions, the European Robin does not fly south for the winter. Individuals living in cold climates are migratory. For example, the British robin stays wintering in the same place where it lives. However, some females still fly to Italy and Spain. Birds living in Russia and in the Scandinavian countries fly to Western Europe or the British Isles. In Kazakhstan, part of the robin does not fly away, but remains to winter in the area of the Alakol basin. The European robin prefers to settle in spruce forests, while the British robin prefers to settle in gardens and parks. In the Tobolsk region, nesting robins were found in birch groves with dense undergrowth. Attempts have been made to settle the robin in Australia and North America, but they have not been successful. nine0003

Most of the robins migrate from the Leningrad Region to Europe for the winter, but winterings of some individuals have been recorded, especially during warm mild winters. So, for example, there was a case when a robin nailed to a flock of sparrows. People fed the birds with bread crumbs, sunflower seeds, and millet. The robin came down with the sparrows to peck at the food. During severe frosts, the robin ate only what fell on a warm sewer manhole. She also tried to taste the mountain ash, but to no avail - the frozen berries did not succumb to her short beak. nine0003

FUN FACT . Outside the city, robins try to winter near a non-freezing reservoir or stream. Throughout the day, the birds hide in the bushes, but twice a day they appear near the water and spend about an hour there in search of food. Along the shores, birds find dry seeds of herbs and plants.

What is included in the diet of the robin

The diet of robins consists of various insects, worms, fruits and berries. Sometimes she enjoys hunting snails. In the presence of sufficient lighting, robins continue to hunt for insects at night. With the onset of cold weather, the diet of birds becomes poorer. They switch to plant foods: seeds, crumbs, grains. Sometimes robins follow wild boars in search of food in winter, as they know that animals often dig the ground. It may contain seeds or grains. Robins are not afraid of water and in search of food they fly to the shores of non-freezing lakes. nine0003 Robin on the bank of a stream

During nesting in Russia and CIS countries, the diet of the robin consists of 92% of food of animal origin: eggs of aphids, centipedes, weevils and other arthropods. From food of plant origin, raspberry seeds predominate. In early - mid-autumn, insects make up 87% of the bird's menu, the rest is elderberry, blueberry, weed seeds.

If robins live near the dwelling, in the cold season it is worth helping the birds and feeding them. Feeders can be filled with:

grated carrots;
small plant seeds;
millet groats;
dried or fresh berries.

Natural enemies

There are many natural enemies of robins - these are owls, falcons. Small predatory animals destroy their nests, eating both eggs and chicks. Also, hungry crows and magpies are not averse to eating eggs. Since robins often run on the ground, here they can become prey for cats. Humans negatively affect the habitat of birds by reducing the area of wild forests. nine0003

Reproduction and offspring

The robin can raise 2 offspring per year. If one of them dies, the birds may lay eggs a third time. The female is looking for a partner. She flies into the territory of the male, which usually behaves aggressively. The female begins to sing, the male answers her with frightening sounds. The female flies away from him, and then returns again. She demonstrates humility, trembles, clings to the ground. In the end, the male, feeling a sense of superiority, accepts her into his territory. nine0003 A robin's nest with offspring

After fertilization, the female starts building a nest out of twigs, grass and mud. In it, the bird lays 5-6 green-blue eggs. In the second clutch, the number of eggs may be less. One pair of robins usually covers an area of 60-120 m². Sometimes nests of different families are found at a distance of 50 m from each other. Robins are quite conservative and rarely change their habitat. Change of territory is possible in case of ruin of their nests or death of chicks. Then the parents fly away from their usual place and look for a safer nest for the device. nine0003

Incubation of eggs lasts 2-3 weeks. During this period, the male feeds the female. Both parents take care of the born chicks. Babies are born completely naked. So that they do not freeze, the female sits in the nest for some time and warms them. Parents actively feed their babies for about 16-20 days. Soon the female makes the next clutch.

Chicks show their first attempts to fly three weeks after birth. After a month, they fully fledge and leave the nest.

INTERESTING FACT. Young robins are very curious and fearless. Sometimes they can run after a person.

There are rare cases of robins capturing the nests of smaller birds along with other people's eggs. For example, a situation was recorded when a pair of robins settled in the nest of a rattlesnake warbler. At first, they incubated their own and others' masonry, but in the end, the parents removed the eggs of the warbler. There were cases when robins could not distinguish other people's eggs from their own, and raised the chicks of other birds. This is actively used by cuckoos. They often lay their eggs on robins. Usually, the cuckoo leaves only 1 egg in one nest, otherwise the caregiver birds will not be able to feed two chicks. In the Zhelezo tract, Leningrad Region, ornithologists observed a robin's nest, where there was a cuckoo. He was younger than the robin chicks, and at first his parents brought him food less often than their chicks. When the cuckoo grew up, the situation changed. The older the foundling became, the more often the robins brought him food. nine0003

The activity of caring for the robin's offspring does not depend on the weather: both in rainy and sunny weather, ornithologists observed long and short periods of feeding. During the white nights, the duration of feeding the chicks increased to 19 hours a day. Drizzling rain does not significantly affect bird activity. Only a heavy downpour can become a hindrance.

Unusual robin nests

Robins usually hide their nests under cover, even if they are close to the ground. In villages or city limits, robins may build a nest near human habitation, for example, on the roof of a house or barn. There was a case when a robin's nest was found, which was arranged on an old bag and a coil of wire hanging on the wall of an abandoned house. Ornithologists were surprised that the "house" was in the open. It had a solid base of dry grass and synthetic material, the bowl was made of dry leaves and moss, and the bottom was lined with grass and hair. The nest contained a clutch of 7 eggs. nine0003 Robin built a nest in a hollow tree

Rarely, robins settle in artificial plank structures without covers. For example, in the Moscow region, four such nests were found at a height of 3.5-4 m above the ground. The robins liked only houses with an area of about 200 cm² and a wide notch with a diameter of 6-7 cm. All the boxes hung in the forest for about 4-5 years, the boards were darkened from time to time. The following year, the observers decided to hang new boxes of the same size, but the birds did not settle in them. Maybe they didn't like the fresh board designs. There were also cases when robins made a nest in a titmouse-hollow. nine0003

How chicks change their plumage

Robin chicks are covered with feathers on average in 12 days. However, its cover is significantly different from the plumage of an adult bird. On the 20th day, flight feathers appear. The helmsmen grow after another 6-7 days. Then the down-feather cover appears in the lower part of the wing. The change of nestling plumage can be divided into five stages:

the first includes the renewal of feathers on the chest, then in the center of the back, on the hips, shoulders, neck, wings; nine0010
the second is characterized by the change of feathers on the head, then on the small upper covert feather lines of the wings;
at the third stage, all feathers on the body are replaced, except for the near-eye part; by the end of the molt, the young bird already looks like an adult;
the fourth stage includes the change of cover on the periorbital part of the head, the renewal of vibrissae and the stratum corneum of the skin;
the fifth stage is the growth of feathers on the abdomen, back, thighs and head of the bird.

When capturing young robins from different broods, ornithologists concluded that the timing of molting of early and late chicks is significantly different. They depend on the length of daylight hours. Nestlings born at the beginning of summer took longer to change plumage than those of later broods. With a reduction in daylight hours, a decrease in the duration of molting was noted, and the change of feathers accelerated. nine0003

Cases of polygyny in robins

Although robins are considered monogamous birds, cases of polygyny have been noted by ornithologists in Karelia. Moreover, males and their first females were 1-2 years old, and their second partners were older than 2 years. Scientists examined all the robins that were nearby to understand what caused the polygyny. They found that mating with the second females took place while the first ones were busy incubating the eggs.

Robin Hatching Chicks

Male robins actively feed their chosen ones before mating. Females hatching eggs receive food from males 1 time in 45-60 minutes. At this time, the males have enough time to look after another female. It is also interesting that the first females nested in more convenient places - spruce forests and thorny bushes, while the second ones built nests in pine groves less popular with robins. The second nest was always built at a considerable distance from the first, and habitats for other pairs of robins were often located between them. Since the second females started building nests later than the rest, the scientists concluded that the best places were already occupied by that time. It should be noted that the first females managed to breed two offspring during the season, while the second ones were able to feed only one brood. As for the care of the chicks on the part of the males, their priority was the broods of the first females. They fed the offspring from the second partners much less frequently. The scientists also noted that in the second clutch of the first females there was an average of 1 egg less than in monogamous couples. In addition, the eggs were laid two weeks later than in normal pairs. Usually the second clutch appears in the nest even before the departure of the first chicks from the brood. nine0003

Ornithologists have made a logical conclusion that the male does not have time to properly provide food for both females and all offspring. This subsequently reduces the reproductive capacity of both the first female and the second.

Types of robins

Consider what varieties of robins exist. They differ not only in habitat, but also in plumage color.

Javanese - body length 17 cm, weight 20 g. Prefers to build nests near water bodies.
Blue-blue mountain robin - a bird with bright blue plumage, lives in Asia, Indonesia, Africa. The body has a length of 17 cm, weight 19-20 g.
Japanese - inhabits the islands of Japan, the Kuriles and Sakhalin. It has a traditional color, but the back and tail are distinguished by a rich brown tint. The length of her body is 15 cm, weight is 18 g. The male and female are not similar in plumage colors.
Black-throated Robin - distinguished by a black spot in front and red plumage on the back and tail. Lives in forest areas. nine0010
The white-tailed mountain robin is a bird with rich blue plumage and white tail feathers. Lives in the Caucasus and Siberia.

The robin living in the Far East is distinguished by the color of its tail

Traditions and legends about the robin

Ancient Celts and Germans associated robins with their gods. The bird was considered the messenger of the Sun, and later the messenger of the storm and thunder god Thor. If a robin made a nest, it was considered a good sign. The destruction of robin nests was a great sin and severely punished. nine0003

Over time, robins have become very popular. They were bred as pets by wealthy Europeans and Egyptians. In the 19th century, stamps and postcards depicting the robin became widespread in Europe. At the same time, a legend appeared that the birds tried to save Jesus Christ and extract the thorny thorn from his body. Therefore, on the front of the head and chest, they left a scarlet speck, symbolizing the blood of Christ.

The robin is often mentioned in the works of famous writers and poets, for example, in the lullaby of the Isle of Man "Ushag veg ruy", the novel "Redneck" by Y. Nesbo. There is a whole cycle of paintings about the robin and fabulous creatures by the artist John Anster Fitzgerald. The most famous song about the robin in Russia is the work of VIA "Verasy" "Robins having heard a voice ...". nine0003

Keeping the robin at home

Due to its beautiful voice, the robin is often chosen for keeping at home. This bird is unpretentious to food and quickly gets used to the person. The robin will feel quite comfortable in a medium-sized cage made of wood or metal. In order for the bird to please with singing more often, you need to put the cage in a well-lit place, but direct sunlight or drafts should not constantly fall on it. In the warm season, you can keep robins on the balcony. The cage should have several perches, containers for food, drink and bathing. Robins are very fond of taking baths, so the water in the bath will often have to be changed. It would be advisable to pour river sand on the floor of the cage, which the birds will use for proper digestion. Cleaning in the cage should be done every day, and complete disinfection once every 7-10 days. nine0003 Well-fed robin near the feeder

In captivity, the robin is fed:

mealworms;
grated carrots;
hemp seeds;
porridge;
ant eggs.

It is enough to give an adult bird 6-8 worms per day. In autumn and winter, it is useful to feed robins with berries.

Robins do not coexist well with other bird species and do not get along in a large group. It is best if you get a couple of robins. If you organize a nest for them, they can lay eggs and breed. An ordinary small box with a hole is suitable for this. It is desirable that it be made of wood and have a sufficiently large entrance not less than 6 cm in diameter. nine0003

INTERESTING FACT. Robins are excellent parents and can even feed other people's chicks, in nature this is used by cuckoos.

How to catch a robin

Bird markets or pet stores sell robins very rarely. To get yourself this bird, you can catch it with a special trap with a slamming door. It is necessary to find a place where robins live, set 2-3 traps with worms or mountain ash and wait for the bird to get there. Robins are very trusting and are not afraid of humans. Noticing the food, the bird will jump on the door and fall into the trap. nine0003

Despite high mortality and a large number of enemies, the number of robins remains stable and nothing threatens the species. Active breeding 2-3 times a year and breeding in captivity allow you to save their population. It has about 200 thousand individuals, most of which live in Europe. However, people should think about preserving the habitat of these sociable birds, so as not to put the species on the brink of extinction.

Robins (robins) in the Moscow region

One autumn, my relative called me and said: “A tame bird appeared in my garden. Does not fly away from me, sits at arm's length and waits for something. I have the same bird. And many other gardeners. This is a pretty little bird, the robin, which is also called the robin. More often, a gullible first year “attaches” to a person, who looks older due to the habit of fluffing plumage. He has not yet learned all the dangers that lie in wait for curious birds. Carefully observes a person, follows him on his heels. Often at the end of summer - beginning of autumn, I was forced to drive away a robin sitting nearby so as not to accidentally injure it with a shovel or rake. nine0003

Robin

European robin

The European robin is well known in Western Europe and the British Isles. There are not only local robins, but also robins arriving for the winter. These birds also fly to more southern countries. The robin is one of the first to return to its home. In the Moscow region, you can hear her beautiful and sonorous songs already in March, when the first thawed patches appear. Not only the male, but also the female sings. Their ringing song, in which short whistles and long melodies alternate, falls silent for a while in the middle of the day and late at night. At dawn, the singing of robins drowns out the voices of other birds. Isn't that where the bird's name came from? Each melody ends with a trill, reminiscent of the chime of bells. These melodies will sound until mid-July, then they will be replaced by quieter singing, which can be heard until autumn. nine0003

What does the robin look like

You can easily recognize the robin by its bright orange breast and part of the head. The top of the head, neck (back), back and wings are gray-olive in color. On the abdomen there is a grayish-white part of the soft plumage. Older birds have a bright red spot on their throats. Juveniles are not so intensely colored. Their belly is yellowish-ocher with dark speckles. The robin needs proportionally long legs, as most of the time it jumps on the ground, grass and jumps from branch to branch in the bushes. The wings of this migratory bird are short, only 7 cm long, and not very strong. The size of a robin is slightly smaller than a sparrow: body length 14 - 16 cm, and weight 16 - 18 g. Robins live on average about 5 years. nine0003

Family life of the robin

The robin has a reputation as an individualistic bird. You rarely see her in the company of relatives. The male usually arrives first at the nesting site. And he begins to defend his territory. He does not let other males on her, fights with them to the death. It often hits females, who are mistaken for males.

Nest building is the responsibility of the female. It takes about a week to build. By mid-May, a cup-shaped or slightly oval nest of robins is ready. Often it fits between the roots of old stumps or in the bases of shrubs. In clutch there are 5 - 7 light pink eggs with brown speckles, from which naked chicks hatch after 13 - 14 days of incubation. Their parents feed them for two weeks. Chicks that have grown up, but have not yet learned to fly well, leave the nest. At first, they live on the territory of their parents, who continue to feed the brood. Adult birds look after the chicks, warn them of the danger with a drawn out "shhh ...". Chicks deftly run and jump in high grass, freezing at any danger. It will take quite a bit of time, and the robin-parents will prepare for the second clutch. They do not yet drive the chicks out of their territory, since the young birds have not yet appeared on the chest plumage of orange color. For a male robin, this is the identification mark of an opponent. As soon as the plumage of the grown chicks becomes bright, they will be forbidden to be in the "house" of their parents. nine0003

Robin

What the Robin eats

The Robin eats what he can find in the lower layer of the forest. She jumps on the ground and forest floor, looking for beetles, their larvae, caterpillars, flies, forest bugs, spiders, centipedes, land snails and worms. Numerous garden pests are also included in the diet of robins. These birds guard gardeners with a shovel in their hands. They know that they can find something tasty in the freshly dug up land. At the end of summer and autumn, the robin pecks seeds and berries with pleasure. Often robins appear near the feeders. But it is easier for them to find food on the ground than in special facilities for feeding birds. nine0003

Robin in captivity

Robins are kept in cages as active songbirds. They quickly get used to the person who cares for them. They are not afraid of him, they take food from their hands. And they sing their songs all year round, with a short break for summer molting. But even here the individualism of this bird is manifested. Males that are in the same cage fight so zealously that they can seriously injure each other. The diet of indoor robins includes berries (you should add elderberries), insects, and special mixtures of seeds and grains. The merry robin pleases with singing even in winter.