American Robins become visibly common across Ontario again in late February through March, as thawing ground opens up the earthworms and other soil insects they feed on. Many of the robins seen this early never actually left the province, since a portion of the population overwinters nearby rather than migrating south.
Why Do Robins Seem to "Return" If Some Never Truly Leave?
Robins that overwinter in Ontario shelter in dense conifer stands or swampy woodlots, where they're hard to spot against a snowy, food-scarce landscape. Their sudden reappearance on open lawns each spring reads as a return, even for robins that never left the area.
Staying in the region while shifting habitat and diet with the seasons is called facultative migration, and it's a large part of why "the first robin of spring" is more a change in visibility than a true arrival for many individual birds.
What Triggers Robins to Become Visible on Lawns Again?
Thawing ground is the main trigger, since it lets robins reach earthworms and soil insects that stay frozen out of reach all winter. As daytime temperatures climb through late February and March, more ground opens up across a yard, pulling robins out of sheltered cover and onto open lawns where they're easy to notice again.
How Does a Robin's Diet Change Between Winter and Spring?
In winter, a robin's diet shifts almost entirely to fruit, since frozen ground makes earthworms and soil insects impossible to reach. Crabapple, sumac, and buckthorn berries carry many robins through the coldest months, often in flocks that strip a single fruiting tree bare over a few days. Once the ground softens in spring, robins switch back to earthworms, beetle larvae, and other soil insects, which make up the bulk of their diet for the rest of the year.
What Can Be Put Out to Help Early-Arriving Robins Find Food?
Crickets, mealworms, and Canadian beef suet make up the Mill Creek Robin Food Suet Cake, while a Mealworms 7oz. Standup Pouch offers loose mealworms as a simpler alternative; either gives early-arriving robins a protein source on days when the ground is still too frozen for worms.
Both work best on a ground-level surface rather than a hanging feeder, since robins are reluctant to perch at a feeding port. A Deck & Ground Tray Feeder, a 7.25 inch steel mesh tray that sits close to the ground, gives robins and other ground-foraging birds a stable surface to feed from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do robins eat from hanging bird feeders?
Rarely. Robins forage on the ground and are reluctant to use a hanging feeder's perch, so food placed on a tray or scattered on the ground works far better.
How much does the Mill Creek Robin Food Suet Cake cost?
$6.75 CAD for the Mill Creek Robin Food Suet Cake, which weighs about 333 grams (4-1/2 by 5 inches) and combines crickets, mealworms, and Canadian beef suet.
What size mealworm pouch is available for feeding robins?
7 oz. The Mealworms 7oz. Standup Pouch costs $9.95 CAD and comes in a re-sealable bag.
Is there a minimum order for free shipping?
Yes. Most Canadian orders over $125 ship free, and anything below that is charged shipping at checkout.
Can robin food and feeders be picked up in-store instead of shipped?
Yes. A pickup location can be chosen at checkout, and orders are typically ready within about three hours of purchase.
