Feeding Robins: What Do They Eat?

Robins are omnivores, feeding on a mix of insects, worms, fruit, and seeds. In the wild, they spend most of their time foraging on the ground, picking at anything that wriggles or grows. Their diet changes with the seasons, but robins are especially fond of mealworms, soft fruits, and suet in the winter months.

In gardens across the UK, robins are frequent visitors and will happily accept food put out for them — especially if it’s on a flat feeder or low surface.

What Do Robins Eat in the Wild?

In nature, robins feed on:

• Earthworms

• Beetles, larvae, and grubs

• Spiders and small insects

• Caterpillars

• Slugs and snails

• Berries (such as blackberries, hawthorn, and elderberries)

• Seeds and soft fruit

They’re incredibly adaptable and will change their diet depending on the time of year and what’s available.

What Can You Feed Robins in Your Garden?

If you want to attract robins to your garden, offer them some of their favourite foods:

• Mealworms (live or dried) – their top pick

• Suet pellets or suet blocks – high-energy, especially for winter

• Crushed peanuts – easy to eat and full of protein

• Sunflower hearts – softer than whole seeds

• Mild grated cheese – great in cold weather

• Chopped raisins or soaked sultanas

• Fruit pieces – apple or pear works well

Scatter these on the ground or a low feeding table. Robins prefer feeding on flat surfaces or directly from the soil — they usually avoid hanging feeders.

Feeding Robins by Season

Spring & Summer
Robins need protein to feed themselves and their chicks. Insects and mealworms are ideal.

Autumn
Natural food like berries and seeds are more abundant. Supplement with chopped fruits or sunflower hearts.

Winter
Robins burn more energy staying warm. Offer high-fat foods like suet and crushed peanuts. Keep water available too, especially if it’s freezing.

Can Robins Eat Bread?

Try to avoid feeding bread. It has little nutritional value and fills birds up without providing the energy or nutrients they need, especially in winter or during nesting.

Where Do Robins Nest?

Robins usually build their nests in dense shrubs, hedges, ivy, sheds, or even in plant pots or old boots left in the garden. They’re not fussy — just secretive and low to the ground.

• Nesting season starts around March to July

• They often have 2–3 broods a year

• Nests are made from grass, moss, and feathers

• Only the female builds the nest and incubates the eggs

Why Do Robins Come Close to You?

Unlike many birds, robins are quite bold around humans. This behaviour is partly instinctual and partly learned:

• In the wild, robins follow wild boar and large animals to find disturbed insects

• In gardens, they've learned to associate gardeners with digging and worms

• They’re naturally territorial and will often stand their ground

So that curious robin watching you dig up your borders? He’s not being cute — he’s hunting dinner.

Robin Life Expectancy

In the wild, robins have an average lifespan of around 1–2 years, but they can live up to 5 or 6 years if they survive their first winter. Sadly, many young robins don’t make it past their first year due to predators and harsh conditions.

Fun Facts About Robins

• The robin is the UK’s national bird, voted in by the public in 1960

• Male and female robins look identical — only behaviour and song distinguish them

• Robins are fiercely territorial, even outside of breeding season

• They sing year-round — including winter — to protect their patch

• Robins have been known to nest in boots, kettles, hanging baskets, and even inside sheds

• Their red breast isn’t just for show — it’s used to intimidate rivals

Final Thought

Robins eat a wide variety of insects, worms, fruit, and seeds, adapting their diet with the seasons. In your garden, they’ll appreciate mealworms, suet, fruit, and sunflower hearts — especially if you put them somewhere low and sheltered. Robins are bold, fascinating birds that offer charm and song all year round, so why not give them a reason to call your garden home?