Robins in winter
Posted on December 4th, 2008 – 3:01 PMBy Jim Williams
Someone called today to tell me of a flock of American Robins in the Lake Hiawatha neighborhood.Is it unusual to see robins here in winter? Nope. Robins will skip their fall migration. Availability of food probably is the determining factor. Last winter, a flock of robins could be seen here and there in the Wayzata area.The one reliable place to look for them was the Wayzata bait shop, east of town. Every morning the bait guys would clean the dead minnows from their holding tanks, tossing them into the snow near the building.Robins came routinely to eat the fish. Ornithological literature says that robins eat fish, along with snakes and shrews, when their usual diet of invertebrates and fruit is not readily available. One of the fishy robins is pictured here.
37 Responses to "Robins in winter"
I thought robins were a sign of spring? Why would they stay here all winter?
They stay because they can. If they can successfully find food there is much less reason to leave. It might also be that milder winters are a factor.
So it’s not dangerous for them to hang around? Our harsh winter weather won’t do them in?
Well, apparently they have more tolerance for the cold weather than some of us do. Me, for instance.
If the birds get sufficient energy from their food, they seem able to withstand the cold. Minnows must do the job.
Live in the Hiawatha area and saw a couple in my yard this morning when I let the dog out. Thought it was a little strange.
There’s a few in Loring Park this winter also, lived in this neighborhood for 20 years, first ever - sure made me do a double take!
I’ve seen a flock of robins the past 2 weeks ravaging some hackberry trees at the College of St. Catherine Minneapolis campus near Fairview-Riverside hospital. Anybody parked under those trees knows they’re around, too! I’ve also known robins to stay the winter here around large compost piles.
We had a flock of robins in the Merriam Park neighborhood in January last year. It was so weird to see/hear them so early/late. They were cleaning all of the crabapples off of my neighbors’ tree, but left mine alone. As far as I can tell, no one will eat mine until March. I’ve also heard robins recently this year, but haven’t seen any flocks yet.
I often chuckle when I hear or read about someone spotting a robin in March or April and proclaiming, “It must be Spring! I saw the first robin in my yard!”
Along with my many years of interest, I’ve counted birds for Operation Feeder Watch for at least the last 20 winters. We’ve seen Robins here in the SW part of Bloomington, in the Minnesota River valley, during most of those winters. They often appear near sunset in flocks ranging from 5 to as many as 21, searching for food under any exposed leaf piles rather than coming to the feeders.
Last weekend the total was 7.
Hi, it’s 12/5 10:30 a.m. and this is the second day that about 40 robins are feeding and flying about in my yard and three other yards in Livonia, MI. I was surprised to see them after first spotting them yesterday.
I think this is the same flock that came by in Feb. 2008 for one day then left. Didn’t really see my “first robin” until March, they stayed.
Thanks for an opportunity to share!
There’s another kind of bird we saw with the robins at Lake Hiawatha: dark gray backs with mottled gray bellies, longer beaks, about the same size as the robins. Hundreds of them were flying through the neighborhood yesterday afternoon, landing on one or two open lawns to feed for a few minutes, then all flying away at the same time. Any idea what they could be?
Susan — I think you are seeing European Starlings. They over-winter, and they move in large flocks. Starlings have very pointed bills, a pointed tail, and pointed wings. They are non-native birds.
Curt mentions Operation Feeder Watch. It’s easy and it’s fun, and it helps scientists keep track of bird populations. You’ll find info on the web site of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I’ll post again in two minutes with the web address.
OK. The address for the Cornell Lab and Project Feeder Watch is
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/
This is citizen science, a worthy effort and fun, too.
Jim
What can I do in terms of feeder food….we have a heated bird bath….
Thanks!
December 14th, 2008 4:00pm, getting colder and blustery snow, I spot one robing sitting on my deck, then two more. I am 55yrs old and have never spotted a Robin in the winter. They all looked fat and healthy. I put out bread and raisins, they did look a bit frantic in the snow, hope they find plenty of food. It was something to observe
I forgot to mention that I am in Burnsville Minnesota, today it did hit 35 but dropping rapidly to zero forcast. Can the Robins take the very very cold, does anyone have suggestions on feeding? Thank you
In SW Bloomington near the MN River we also have seen 7-8 robins for the last few days in the trees & this morning under the dripping water drain from the roof. One was even trying to take a little bath in the puddle below. They were all drinking alot. Now this afternoon late they are still around - in the snow by the house & pecking at the ground. Hope they can survive the severe cold coming. I also want suggestions for food. Thanks.
We have about 6 robins that are taying around and drinking our of our heated birdbath. It was 8 below out there today! Will they be all right? What do they eat?
I live in Hulbert Okla Home of Bigfoot,I just looked out my window and ther was a Robin just blew me away,I through they left okla in the winter,I always look for this bird close to spring,as my grandmother always said when you see a robin,it met spring was on its way.I hate winter.
How about a winter Eastern Bluebird? We had one at our water dish about 3:30pm, today, 12-23-08. He appeared to be hanging with a group of juncos and returned to the water several times.
we have a small group - 4-7 - of robins here today in alma, wi (across the river from wabasha) and i think this may be the latest i have seen them here?
I live in Virginia, 50 miles west of Washington D.C. and have been reading your comments. I looked up Robins in winter, on google, because my sister living by the Zoo in St.Paul, emailed me pictures of the Robins in her yard and she wanted to know what to feed them and strange for them to be so far North. But they can survive the winters. Fruit is the main diet during winter.Interesting!
I live in Eden Prairie, MN, next to a golf course, and saw a robin in a tree outside my window this afternoon. I had to do a double-take on it. It was definitely a robin. A pleasant surprise!
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We have a tree that has small berries in it, and we’ve had tons of robins. The tree is mostly picked bare and they don’t seem interested in the berries that have fallen. I’d also like some food suggestions. It’s nice to have them around.
We live in Oak Park, IL and we saw a flock of robins when we were walking the dog Sunday morning. I have never seen them wintering here before. In fact, some years I don’t see any robins until late in March. This will take some of the fun out of looking for signs of spring in February when you really need a little boost!
We have had a flock of at least 100 robins in my yard in rural Minnesota (40 miles west of Minneapolis) since the winter solstice. We have several crabapple and plum trees with fruit, and they roost in the large Norway spruce.
Since Dec. 1 it has been very cold, below “normal” on many days (below zero at night) and there is about 7 inches of snow on the ground.
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I also recently had robins in my yard here in south Minneapolis. On January 3 in the afternoon, 2 of them were busy digging through a pile of snow and leaves which I had mounded up around a shrub rose. They were so determined to get at whatever was in there that they didn’t fly off even though I was only 2 feet away from them. This is the first time I can recall ever seeing robins in winter.
I keep a bird journal and have routinely noted Robins through the winter months. I live north of the Cities in Lino Lakes. There has been a robin at my neighbors crabapple tree for most of the last week. I only wish they would sing this time of year! That cheery song would certainly perk up the winter days.
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The flock found my yard last Saturday. About 50 Robins in my front apple tree.
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I personally agree with your comments, but there will always be some people who may not feel the same.
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