What Do Baby Robins Eat Besides Worms?

The phrase, "The early bird gets the worm" may have resulted in the misconception that a mother or father robin only feeds their young worms. In reality, a baby robin's diet is balanced with a variety of foods.

  1. Feeding Routine

    • Both the mother and father robins feed their babies. They venture from the nest to find food for their babies that they carry back to the nest in their mouths. Upon arrival, they drop food into one of the baby mouths then leave the nest to find more food. They repeat the feeding process until all their babies have been fed.

    Insects

    • In addition to worms, robins feed their young small insects, such as crickets, grasshoppers and beetles.

    Fruits

    • Baby robins also feast on several fruits, including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and grapes.

    Post-Nursing

    • Baby robins develop fairly quickly and only stay in the nest for about two weeks - 14 to 16 days - before they are ready to venture out themselves. From there, mother robins shadow their babies as they begin the process of learning how to fly.