The best bird feeder and seed for robins
Robins eat worms, insects and fruit, not seed. A tray of mealworms, chopped fruit or softened raisins works. A heated bird bath in winter attracts more robins than any food.
Which feeder types do robins use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform or tray feeder | Anything | None at all | Draws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup. |
| Mealworm feeder | Mealworms | Low interest | Dish or enclosed box with bluebird-sized entry holes that keep larger birds out. |
Feeders robins use, budget to premium
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What seed do robins like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Mealworms | Dried mealworms are easy to store; soaking them briefly in warm water makes them more appealing. Live worms work best for bluebirds. | Dried keep for months; live need refrigeration |
| Fruit (oranges, apples, berries) | Orange halves on a spike are the standard oriole offer. Replace fruit before it ferments. | Fresh only |
| Suet and suet dough | Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. | Raw suet goes rancid above about 70 F; use no-melt dough in summer |
Food to buy for robins
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Where and when should you feed robins?
- Height and spot: Ground level or a low tray.
- When: Year round in much of the US; flocks move with fruit in winter.
- Range: All of North America.
- Feeding style: Comfortable feeding on the ground or a low tray, so clear spilled seed and keep cats away.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, bluebirds and wrens, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: Robins use nest boxes. See the American Robin house dimensions: 6 x 8 inch floor, None: open-sided shelf hole, mounted 6 to 15 ft up.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the robins feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for robins on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for robins?
A platform or tray feeder is the most reliable choice for robins. Robins eat worms, insects and fruit, not seed. A tray of mealworms, chopped fruit or softened raisins works. Pair it with mealworms, place it ground level or a low tray, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a mealworm feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do robins eat at feeders?
In order of preference: mealworms, fruit (oranges, apples, berries) and suet and suet dough. Dried mealworms are easy to store; soaking them briefly in warm water makes them more appealing. Live worms work best for bluebirds. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for robins?
Ground level or a low tray. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so robins can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do robins come to feeders?
Year round in much of the US; flocks move with fruit in winter. Range: All of North America. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season robins are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do robins use birdhouses?
Yes. Robins are cavity nesters and will use a nest box built to their dimensions: a 6 x 8 inch floor and a None: open-sided shelf entrance, mounted 6 to 15 feet up. See the dedicated box page for placement.