Ahhh, the Robin. Industrious, cheery, energetic; frequently found by listening for their bright, clear song.  Their early appearance at the end of winter signifies the seasons WILL change, spring IS coming, and all is in order.

The American Robin can be found in towns, cities, mountain forests, Alaskan wilderness…. pretty much everywhere. Watch for their habit of landing and flicking their tail downward several times; they also like to stand erect with their beak tilted upward to survey the area.  They are not drawn to most feeders partially because they don’t eat seed. But they eat plenty else:  beetles, grasshoppers, ants, caterpillars, spiders, earthworms, insects, some snails, aquatic insects (rarely), as well as fruits including chokecherries, hawthorn, dogwood, sumac, crab apples, juniper berries, raisins, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Robins tend to eat earthworms in the morning and fruit later in the day; earthworms and insects more primarily during nesting season; and in the fall and winter they switch to fruits and berries all day.

To draw robins to your yard, try offering fruit (dried, fresh, or frozen) or mealworms on a platform feeder or open flat surface. It may take them a while to find your offering; they’ve been taught that their food is in the dirt or growing off branches, so it may take some patience.  And remember, they really ARE a sign of spring, so hang in there!

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