Bird guide · Erithacus rubecula
Robin
What the robin eats, where it lives, when it comes to feeders and how to recognise it – with sightings from across the UK.
- Season
- Year-round resident
- Size
- 5.5 in (14 cm)
- Eats
- mealworms, seed mixes, suet
- Feeds
- tray/platform (bird table), ground
- Most common
- Northern Ireland, Wales, England
Food
What do robins eat?
At feeders, robins take mealworms, seed mixes, suet.
Bold and territorial, chasing off intruders and following gardeners for worms.
Feeder that suits it
A low tray or platform feeder, or seed scattered on the ground below your feeder.
Range
Where do robins live?
Woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens across the country. By share of all bird sightings, robins are most common in Northern Ireland (3.3%).
Nations where robins are most common
- Northern Ireland3.3%
- Wales3.2%
- England3.0%
- Scotland2.7%
Share of all bird sightings in each nation that are robins, 2019–2024.
Season
Does the robin migrate?
Year-round resident. Across the UK it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in January.
Share of all bird sightings in the UK that are robins, by month.
Identification
How to identify the robin
Male: Red breast and brown back.
Female: Identical to male.
Young birds: Spotted golden brown, no red breast.
Size: 5.5 in (14 cm)
Nesting
Does the robin use nest boxes?
Yes. Open-fronted box (BTO).
On camera
Getting the robin on a feeder camera
Most visits happen on the ground or on low trays. A camera feeder with a wide tray, placed low near cover, catches far more than a hanging tube.
Questions
Robin: questions
What do robins eat?
At feeders, mealworms, seed mixes, suet.
Do robins migrate?
Year-round resident. Across the UK it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in January.
Where do robins live?
By share of all bird sightings, they are most common in Northern Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland.
What does a female robin look like?
Identical to male.
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