A quick post for our Robin friends.
Robins do not eat bird seed. With very little fruit remaining on the branch and the ground once again covered in snow, I made a quick trip to Essex Bird Shop yesterday to pick up a tub of mealworms. Our resident Robins quickly found the little tray we had set out and it was clear that they were very hungry.
Oftentimes you’ll see a robin cocking its head, as if it were listening for earthworms. Robins have what is called monocular vision, which means their eyes are on the sides of their heads and that the eyes can work independently of each other. The robin is not hearing the worm, but seeing it! Worms make up about 20 percent of the American Robin’s diet.
American Robin Flock Halibut Point
The Robin is the One
That interrupt the Morn
With hurried — few — express Reports
When March is scarcely on –
The Robin is the One
That overflow the Noon
With her cherubic quantity –
An April but begun –
The Robin is the One
That speechless from her Nest
Submit that Home — and Certainty
And Sanctity, are best – Emily Dickinson
More about the American Robin:
Good Morning Gloucester 
Thank you, Kim, for the photos, and the info about the feeding habits of the robin. Here in Seattle they have it good enough that they do not have to go south, but the winter berries here sometimes run out early. Now that I know to put out mealworms, they will come around, along with the flickers, juncoes and hummers we get to feed all year.
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Always remember these robins hopping around the law worming it…sit there and watch them all day and thanks for the nice background on them very good 🙂
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You are welcome Dave. Very entertaining birds to watch–and very territorial of their mealworms and fresh fruit. My favorite is their beautiful bird song.
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Very welcome Bill. So wonderful you have hummingbirds all year round in Seattle, and juncoes and flickers! I have read that in areas in the south, around the Gulf states, some hummingbirds stay year round now primarily because of people’s hummingbird feeders and gardens. When you plant (or provide) they will come!
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Kim, dried or live worms? Does it matter? I guess if they’re alive they wont be for long in the cold…
.
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Hi Lauren, The mealworms pictured here are dead, and that is what i typically purchase.
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love it Kim, was thinking of your yesterday when my husband Howie and I were in the butterfly exhibit at the Museum of Science, they were awesome.
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Oh Patti what a sweet thing to say. Tremendous exhibit there at the Museum of Science. After seeing the Monarchs in Mexico last month, I am longing for warm weather even more so!
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Robins were huge and puffed up this morning ~ snow is about to start any minute ~ have not seen a single bird this afternoon!
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So pretty all puffed up!
Our resident Robins love the fruit of the crabapple at this time of year, which makes me think it doesn’t taste that good as it is always the very last to go.
How many inches Mary-looks like another jackpot on the news!
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This morning my deck measures 8 inches ~ drifting to more or less ~ just started a light snow again. It was beautiful last week ~ went to the spring show at the local nursery ~ my daffodils are 6 inches up and other bulbs popping. However ~ I do love the snow 😉
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Oh Mary, I hope your spring beauties survive!!
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