Why are robins shy of my bird feeder?

[NewspaperTaxis]

It holds peanut-size things, in particular those pink gubbins sold at my local flower shop. Starlings are big on them of course but also gold finches and so on. However, despite two robins being in our garden, I don't see them get the hang of it. They kind of hover sometimes around it but have trouble docking, or don't attempt it. Why is that?

They seem to shy away from the other birds which I find odd because they are the ones that come out and keep me company on a winter dig or leaf raking. I know that's said to be not out of affection but because they are bullies marking their territory but it seems odd they are like that with a human when other birds scatter at the sight of one, but they don't stomp around marking their territory when other, even fairly small birds, are out and about.

I do scatter seed on the ground so robins can get to it but I don't see them taking full advantage of that, either.

Aren't robins primarily ground feeders? I don't think I've ever seen one at a hanging feeder.

I put mealworms on the ground for robins and blackbirds. They seem to eat them quite readily.

I have a flat mesh tray attached to my bird feeder pole - the robins are quite happy feeding from it. It's also close enough to the sunflower heart feeder that they can get some of those too by standing a bit closer...

Robins tend to be ground feeders which is why they'd be less likely to visit a hanging bird feeder than other species.

Yep robins are ground feeders. Or in our garden also they like to perch on the fence to eat berries from my neighbours bush 🥰

Mine use the hanging feeder (not the mesh one, the plastic tube with perches at the bottom), and the bird table. I got a seed mix sold as Robin Mix, can't remember what's in it but they like it. They're "assertive" little birds so seem to not be put off by other birds using it.

I think calling them bullies is very anthropomorphic of that person OP. They naturally feed on the ground and when we disturb it by digging it means they have access to some juicy delights. Lovely to have the gardening accompanied by their friendly presence. That’s why they’re known as the gardener’s best friend😀. Our robins do also eat mealworms from our windowpane tray feeder and wait outside to let me know they need feeding. Gorgeous birds.

I am really keen to entice Robins. into my garden. We live across from a park and I see them there regularly. My garden is bird friendly with a bird table, bushes and a bird bath. I know Robins are mainly ground feeders so I put Robin feed mixture on the grass too but I still can't attract Robins. Any tips on attracting them or birds in general much appreciated!

I know that's said to be not out of affection but because they are bullies marking their territory but it seems odd they are like that with a human when other birds scatter at the sight of one. When you are digging or raking, they like to stick around to see if any worms or other food is revealed.

As others say they are happiest feeding at ground level. Mine aren’t hugely into seeds but love mealworms, smashed up nuts and if I’ve got the time/patience, tiny bits of raisins and grated apple. I’d try different food to seeds if you can and see if they will go for that. Oh and you could make your own fat balls with suet. Unless I buy mega expensive ones, they won’t touch the cheaper ones, but will eat the ones I make and mix with smashed nuts, mealworms and bits of raisins in.

We get robins on our hanging feeder. Although it is one with a cage around the feeding area where only small birds can enter. They used to get terrorised by starlings.

Before humans took to agriculture, it’s thought that robins followed wild boar and other rooting creatures, eating the invertebrates that appeared when the soil turned over.

Robins feed on the ground. Scatter some mealworms out seed for them there.

Food amongst grass wouldn’t be readily visible to an overflying robin. You could try putting out dishes of dried mealworms. Expect to take at least 3 weeks.

As has been said they prefer to feed from the ground, but we do have one robin that manages the feeder and we went for one with heavier wire / larger holes to encourage this and located close to a wall, so the bits dropped sit on hard landscape and not grass. Robins tend to wander under the feeder to pick up the bits dropped. They also like turned over ground, so if you are ever in the garden weeding, they will often fly over when you've moved away to take advantage of your efforts.

Haven't RTFT but robins won't cling on to eat like tits do. They need a flat solid surface to pick stuff up from.

Robins find the tit feeder difficult, because their claws are not in quite the right position to hang on while pecking.

However, we have a Robin who has mastered it. He has to flutter rather like a humming bird for a few seconds until he gets into the right position, then he can land and feed. We saw him feeding some chicks on the ground under the feeder last year, so maybe he will train them to follow his example.

we seem to have very adaptable birds, though. The so called ‘shy’ jay started to try to use the feeder this summer. It hangs from an arch so has good perching places but they still need to get into the feeder to use it. By yesterday morning we have three jays who can use the feeder. Definitely three individuals, because one is one the feeder, one is on the arch and the third is on the pot below, waiting his turn.

Do some gardening. Digging, weeding, anything that disturbs the soil.
Your robin will appear.

It’s like a Labrador and the fridge door.

like PPs, I put out mealworms for robins and one now waits for me every morning . I put them on a hard patio surface and cover with a cage that i got on sale last year to stop the magpies scoffing the lot!

I've nearly stepped on robins sometimes while digging, they get so close.

Many thanks for these responses, which make excellent sense and explain why these usually feisty creatures don't take advantage of my bird feeder!

Re them being bullies, or rudely assertive, I read it in a book on robins released and reviewed for the Christmas market some years ago - however, I couldn't find it on amazon. In it they also explained that they are called Robin red-breast because the word orange didn't exist then, as the fruit had not been imported to England by that time, so red was the nearest to their orange colour! I suppose the bullying smear may have been put about by starling lobbyists.

Anyway, I will get some mealworms for them, to put on the ground or some place else. Robins do seem to hang out in my open garage, when I walk in they sometimes dive bomb me a bit, the pair of them - there has been an old nest there for years. One time it had chicks in but I don't see them every year.

In it they also explained that they are called Robin red-breast because the word orange didn't exist then, as the fruit had not been imported to England by that time, so red was the nearest to their orange colour! Similarly pink. So we have, for example, Red Campion

One of our robins has also mastered the fastball cages!

Mine also loves the meal worms and waits for them every morning. Never seen it on the hanging feeder but eats them from flat table top like bird table (old broken thing) and off the ground. He also absolutely sees off the other (small) birds in a flurry of wings while he's eating. Even gives the corvids a side eye.