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All About Robins

By Lilly Louden-Mosio

The Robin finds a welcome home in our back yards - nesting in our deciduous and evergreen trees or under our windowsill; year round we've grown accustomed to their musical conversations pouring through the trees. They are one of the most widely distributed songbirds in Washington.

They usually only migrate short distances in the spring or fall, so we are able to watch for their brick-red bellies, gray backs and black tails all year-round.

One of the more unique qualities of the Robin are the vibrant blue eggs they lay. When the female and male birds mate, they build a cup-shaped nest of mud and grass. The female then lays as many as four blue eggs that will take around 12 to 14 days to hatch. The baby birds are born without feathers and with their eyes closed, and the parents feed their babies until they are ready to leave the nest; which is usually in about 14 to 16 days or until they are able to feed themselves.

The first few days after the baby robins jump from the nest they cannot fly. Their parents lead them around through a variety of shrubs and trees and gradually they learn how to jump and climb. Within the next couple days the babies' wings grow strong enough so they can take short flights. When the babies are independent enough, the parents generally nest again.

Robins like to eat lots of different insects, you'll see them scampering around searching for earthworms, beetles, weevils, grasshoppers, ants, termites, cutworms, caterpillars, butterflies and even moths.  They also enjoy fruits such as bayberries, grapes, mistletoe berries, and chokecherries.

If you ever happen to find a baby robin on the ground you should put it back in the nest.  It is a myth that the parents will reject it if it's been handled by humans.

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Below: Pictures of baby robins that have been treated at the Shelter.