What do robins eat when there’s snow on the ground? Find out more about food for robins in cold weather.
We know that we have long warm summer days ahead of us, however, autumn and winter are already on the horizon. However, time flies very fast, and believe it or not, the white stuff will be flying any day now. In the meantime, relax and enjoy all the benefits that summer brings.
Have you ever noticed a bird that is supposed to migrate south in the winter, but failed to do so? Sometimes it seems to us there are a few birds that didn’t get the memo that it was time to go. Robins are one of them. What interests us most is: what do robins eat when there’s snow on the ground? If you also want to know the answer to this question, keep reading this article and find out.
Table of Contents
Why Do Some Robins Stay Over The Winter?
In short, the wintering range of the American robin is greatly influenced by the weather as well as the food supply. Namely, these birds can survive frigid temperatures as long as they have a reliable source of food. Did you know that Robins has the ability to maintain a body temperature of around 104 ℉ regardless of the outside temperature?
During cold winter days, they raise the temperature by shivering and fluffing their feathers, the combination of the two protects them from cold, wind, and snow. It is not difficult to conclude that this way of temperature regulation requires a lot of energy, which they actually get from food.
According to some research, it has been proven that more Robins overwinter than people actually realize, so instead of migrating, they simply change their behavior. How is that even possible?
When the summer days pass and the harsh winter sets in, these birds suddenly become non-territorial and begin to gather in nomadic flocks to feed on berries. This behavior is maintained until the first signs of spring when all flocks disperse in search of suitable nesting territory.
Finally, to round it off, although a good portion of them migrate south, there are still individuals who choose to stay. Stay with us and find out what do robins eat when there’s snow on the ground?
What Do Robins Eat When There’s Snow On The Ground?
You’ve probably wondered this question because you may have noticed that they ignore that bird feeder you set up. This is because these beautiful and unique bird species have adapted to winter survival and accordingly have a food source that is sufficient for them during the winter months.
So, what do robins eat when there’s snow on the ground? As we have already mentioned, these birds are nomads, which actually means that they look for bushes and trees rich in fruits, and then continue the search further after the fruit is eaten.
Furthermore, just like most other bird species, Robins prefer to eat worms. However, as temperatures get lower and lower, the worms hide deep underground to hide from the cold, so Robins sometimes can’t get to them at all. That is why they use different types of berries as an alternative.
Did you know that these birds are quite picky regarding food? When it is abundant, they will carefully select and choose only the best and tastiest, but towards the end of winter, they are forced to settle for whatever remaining fruit they can find.
Click here to learn more about the diet of this beautiful bird.
Why Do Robins Refuse To Visit Your Feeder?
No wonder people often wonder, “what do robins eat when there’s snow on the ground,” given that they refuse to eat from bird feeders.
We believe the answer might surprise you, namely, their beaks are not strong enough to break nuts or bird seeds. In addition, even when they manage to crack open nuts or birdseed, they cannot digest them. A little cruel, isn’t it?
Finally, we have to mention that Robins learn at a young age that food comes from trees, which actually means they probably won’t even look into a bird feeder while on a food procurement mission.
Can We Make It Easier For Them To Overwinter?
Of course, we can, moreover, there is probably a no better thing than helping an animal. Accordingly, try to put different types of fruit on the ground outside, such as apple slices, blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries. Trust us, these birds will really appreciate it.
In addition, you can provide the robins with a source of water; you can even place a birdbath in your yard somewhere. Removing water only when temperatures become too low and threaten to freeze is important.
Final Thoughts On What Do Robins Eat When There’s Snow On The Ground
Robins are such beautiful birds and it is obvious to us why most people want to help them. Truth be told, it’s not hard to conclude that they have a hard time during the winter due to lack of food. That’s why they live nomadically, moving from place to place in search of food, and will check the trees, bushes, and vines for berries and other less and more delicious fruits.
We hope you found this article useful, and if you have any questions, feel free to let us know in the section below.
FAQ’s
Can Robins Survive In The Snow?
Yes, thanks to Mother Nature who took care of it, these birds are fully capable of surviving the harsh winter and all the adversities it brings with it. How? They simply raise their body temperature by shivering and fluffing their feathers, the combination of the two protects them from cold, wind, and snow.
How Do You Feed Robins In The Snow?
If you want to help them and feed them to more easily withstand difficult and adverse weather conditions, you can offer them some frozen or fresh fruit such as apple slices, raisins, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or cherries.
Do Robins Eat Snow?
In the absence of unfrozen, fresh water, Robins are forced to eat snow. That's why experts suggest that you help them by offering them some of our unfrozen water for drinking and bathing.
