James Harcourt
Why robins need a hand in winter
Robins are with us all year, but the colder months test them. They are insectivores by nature, and when the ground freezes hard or stays wet and cold for days, their natural larder of worms, beetles and grubs becomes difficult to reach. A robin's territory is small and fiercely defended, so the bird you see in your garden in December is likely the same one that will be there in March — if it survives. That is where you come in. A reliable supply of food, a source of fresh water and a safe place to shelter can make the difference between a robin merely passing through and a robin making your garden its winter home.
Robins are also famously curious. They will follow a spade, investigate a compost heap and perch close by whilst you work. That boldness means they are quick to take advantage of whatever you provide — but only if you offer it in the right way.
Mealworms first, then a little variety
If you offer robins just one thing, make it mealworms. Live mealworms are the gold standard, especially during a cold snap, because they provide both food and moisture. Dried mealworms are a useful standby, but they should be soaked in warm water for twenty to thirty minutes before you put them out. Dry mealworms can swell inside a bird's gut and cause problems, so never skip this step.
Presentation matters. Robins are not acrobatic feeders like blue tits; they prefer to drop down onto a flat surface, grab a beakful and retreat to a perch to eat. Use a ground feeder tray, a shallow dish or a simple saucer placed in a quiet corner with a clear view. Avoid hanging feeders unless they have a large tray attached. Put out small amounts twice a day — once in the morning and again in the early afternoon — and remove any leftovers before they go mouldy. A handful at a time is plenty.
- Live mealworms: offer them in a shallow, smooth-sided dish so they cannot crawl away.
- Dried mealworms: soak first, then drain well.
- Suet: insect-rich suet balls or cakes are a good winter supplement, but crumble them onto a tray rather than hanging them.
- Avoid: bread, milk, and salty or processed foods. These do more harm than good.
Fresh water matters more than you think
Robins need water every day, for drinking and for bathing. In winter, natural sources are often frozen or hidden, and a bird that cannot bathe cannot keep its feathers in good insulating condition. A shallow bird bath — no more than five centimetres deep, with a gently sloping side — is ideal. Place it near a dense shrub or hedge so the robin has somewhere to retreat to if it feels exposed.
Keep the water ice-free. Pour on a little warm water each morning, or float a small clean object that moves in the breeze to stop a solid sheet forming. Never use antifreeze or salt. Change the water daily, and scrub the bath once a week with a bird-safe cleaner or a diluted pet-safe disinfectant, rinsing thoroughly afterwards. A clean bath is a healthy bath.
Don't tidy the shrubs they sleep in
Robins roost in dense cover — ivy, thick hedges, evergreen shrubs and sometimes open-fronted nest boxes. A winter roost site is a matter of life and death on a frosty night, so avoid cutting hedges or pruning dense shrubs between November and February. If you must trim, do it lightly and leave the centre of the bush undisturbed. A pile of leaves, a log stack or a corner of long grass will also be welcomed.
If you have a nest box, resist the urge to open it during cold weather. Robins often use boxes as winter bedrooms, and disturbing one can cost the bird precious energy. Clean and check boxes in late autumn instead, before the worst of the frost arrives.
A few extra touches for a robin-friendly patch
Planting for insects is planting for robins. A garden with a range of native shrubs, berry-bearing plants and seed heads will support the invertebrates that robins eat. Avoid pesticides entirely — a robin needs a healthy larder, not a poisoned one. If you have a compost heap, turn it occasionally in mild weather; robins will be there within minutes.
- Keep cats away: fit a quick-release collar with a bell, or keep cats indoors at dawn and dusk when robins are most active.
- Leave a wild corner: a patch of leaf litter or a small log pile provides both food and shelter.
- Feed little and often: a steady supply is better than a feast followed by famine.
Keeping a winter nature journal
Nature journaling is the perfect companion to feeding and watching. All you need is a notebook and a pencil. Each time you see your robin, jot down the date, the weather, the time and what the bird is doing. Is it singing? Robins sing in winter, both males and females, to hold territory. Is it chasing off another robin, or tolerating a dunnock? Note the food it takes, how long it stays and where it retreats to.
Sketching the bird, even roughly, forces you to look more closely. You will start to notice the subtle differences between individuals — a paler breast, a more confident manner, a particular perch it favours. Over a winter, your notes will build into a record of behaviour that is genuinely useful, and deeply satisfying. A robin's curiosity means it may even come close whilst you write. Put down your pencil, stay still, and enjoy the moment.
