Robins are woven into the magic of Christmas, and when one of these red-breasted visitors appears in our gardens, it's hard not to feel a flicker of festive cheer.
If you'd like to encourage more of these avian holiday messengers to drop by, there's a simple and budget-friendly way to do it.
The key to reliable winter visits is offering the foods birds struggle to find as temperatures drop. "Birds need different nutrients as the seasons change," explains Richard Green, an animal-nutrition expert at Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies.
High-protein, high-fat snacks are especially important in the colder months – and birds will flock to them.
Robins will happily tuck into fruit, seeds, peanuts and suet (another strong source Richard recommends as a source of energy), but according to the Woodland Trust, there's one thing they won't be able to resist: mealworms.
Much like suet, mealworms are rich in fat and protein, delivering essential nutrients just when natural food sources are dwindling or dormant. "That extra energy helps birds stay warm, active and healthy as insects and berries become harder to find," Richard adds.
Unlike suet, however, mealworms very closely mimic what robins would find in nature, which explains why they won't be able to resist when they spot the squiggly shapes laid out for them.
This bird treat is widely available in pet shops, and while larger multi-kilo tubs offer great value, you may not want to commit to a bucket of worms straight away.
For an easy starting point, The Range sells a 75g pack for just 99p – ideal for initially tempting robins into the garden.
To boost your chances even more, the Woodland Trust suggests scattering the worms on a shallow dish or tray. This is because robins are natural ground feeders and prefer picking from a flat surface.
And if you find yourself delighted by your new visitors – which you likely will – investing in a larger tub will keep you well stocked through winter.
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Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
