American Robins are common backyard birds found across North America. While often associated with pulling earthworms from the ground, their diet is quite diverse, adapting significantly throughout the year. Understanding the various foods robins consume, including fruits, provides insight into their foraging behaviors and ecological role.
Fruits Robins Prefer
Robins frequently consume a variety of fruits, particularly berries, which become a significant part of their diet when insects are less abundant. They eat cherries, plums, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and even apple slices and grapes. These birds also favor berries from native plants such as serviceberries, hawthorn, elderberries, holly, and juniper. The appeal of these fruits stems from their high sugar content and ease of digestion, offering a valuable energy source, especially during colder months. Some berries, like those from hawthorn, holly, and sumac, persist on branches into winter, providing a consistent food supply.
Fruits Robins Should Not Eat
While many fruits are beneficial, certain types or parts of fruits can be harmful to robins. Avocados, for instance, contain persin, a phytochemical that can be toxic to birds and lead to heart problems. Fruit pits and seeds from apples, cherries, peaches, and plums should also be avoided. These contain small amounts of cyanide, which can be detrimental if ingested, particularly if the seeds or pits are crushed.
Processed or sugary human foods are also unsuitable for robins. Items like bread, chocolate, and salty snacks offer little nutritional value and can lead to health issues. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to birds and can cause severe problems. Similarly, milk and dairy products are not digestible for birds and can cause stomach upset.
Beyond Fruit: Other Foods Robins Eat
Beyond fruits, American Robins have a diverse diet that shifts seasonally. During spring and summer, their primary food source consists of invertebrates, particularly earthworms and various insects. They actively forage on lawns, seeking out beetles, caterpillars, grubs, flies, sowbugs, and spiders. This protein-rich diet is especially important during breeding season for nourishing their young.
However, they will still seek out protein-rich insects when possible. Occasionally, robins may also consume other small invertebrates like snails and slugs, and in rare instances, small amphibians or reptiles. Their adaptable foraging habits allow them to thrive in varied environments throughout the year.