Robins through the seasons

Spring

Spring brings the robin's most active period. As temperatures rise, robins become highly territorial, with males establishing their domains through melodic song. You'll often see them hopping across freshly turned soil, searching for earthworms and insects that come with the warmer weather.

This is their primary breeding season. Robins typically build their nests in sheltered spots such as hollow trees, garden sheds, or even unusual places like old boots or letterboxes. The female constructs a cup-shaped nest using moss, leaves, and hair, where she'll lay 4-6 pale blue eggs speckled with reddish-brown. Both parents share the responsibility of feeding their young, making up to 100 trips per day with caterpillars and other small insects.

Caring for robins in spring - To support them, you can leave areas of bare ground where insects are easy to find, and avoid using pesticides, which reduce the natural food supply. Offering live mealworms or soft, insect-rich foods can also give them the vital extra nourishment needed for growing robin families.

Robins build nests during spring, providing a safe home for eggs and chicks.

Summer

Hungry robin chicks call from the nest, waiting to be fed with insects and larvae.

By summer, robins are focused on raising their young. Many pairs successfully rear two or even three broods, with fledglings leaving the nest after just a couple of weeks. Young robins don’t yet have the trademark red breast. Instead, their speckled brown feathers help them stay camouflaged as they learn to fend for themselves.

Robins can be quieter and harder to spot during summer, often retreating to shrubs and dense vegetation, though their soft song still carries in the early morning or evening. They feed mainly on insects, spiders, and larvae, helping to keep the garden in natural balance.

Caring for robins in summer - You can help robins in the summertime by allowing areas of your garden to grow a little wild. Nettles, brambles, and long grasses all harbour insects that give essential food. Providing a quiet, sheltered corner and avoiding disturbance near nesting sites will also give young birds the best chance to thrive.

Autumn

Autumn is a season of change for robins. Sometimes called the first singers of this season, their gentle ‘autumn song’ carries a softer, more wistful tone. Both males and females join in, using their voices to mark out new territories and strengthen pair bonds as the colder months draw near.

During this time, robins become more noticeable. They shed their old feathers in a full moult, which can leave them looking a little scruffy before their fresh plumage grows in, ready for winter. Their diet also shifts. Insects remain important, but fruits, berries, and seeds from plants such as rowan, hawthorn, and elder provide an abundant feast. Robins will often feed alone to guard their patch, but in some areas, you may see small flocks gathering to enjoy this seasonal bounty.

Caring for robins in autumn - One of the most important ways to help in autumn is by providing clean, fresh water. Natural supplies can quickly become clogged with leaves and algae, but a shallow bird bath, no deeper than 5cm, supports robins’ need to drink and bathe. Bathing helps keep their feathers in top condition, ensuring they remain waterproof and insulating, which are vital as winter approaches.

A refreshing bath helps keep the robin’s feathers in good condition for the colder months.

Winter

The robin fluffs up its feathers to stay warm while foraging in the winter snow.

Robins are one of the few birds to remain highly visible in the coldest months, their red breast standing out against bare branches or even snow. They fluff up their feathers to trap warmth and often become more confident, following gardeners in the hope of a meal. The robin’s winter song, though less frequent than in spring, carries beautifully through the crisp air.

Caring for robins in winter -  Winter is when robins need our help most. High-energy foods like suet, mealworms, sunflower hearts, and soft fruit can make the difference between survival and struggle. Scatter food on the ground or low tables, as robins are natural ground feeders. Keep water supplies from freezing by topping them up regularly or using a shallow heated bird bath. Clearing small patches of snow also makes foraging easier.

Robins are one of the few birds that stay visible in our gardens throughout the year. Each season brings a different challenge for them, from the hard work of raising young in spring and summer, to moulting and territory-setting in autumn, and finding enough food to survive the cold of winter.

By offering food, water, and safe spaces, we can make a real difference to their survival. In return, robins bring us moments of connection with nature every month of the year, staying a familiar presence through change and continuity alike.