Baby Robins – All you need to know

In the UK we’re used to seeing robins all year round, but what does a baby robin look like? (Also known as juvenile robin).

What does Baby Robin look like?

A common misconception is that female robins have red breasts, but they don’t. They are so similar to male robins that it is almost impossible to tell them apart.

If you happen to see a robin lacking a red breast, you are looking at a baby robin.

Young robins look similar to adults, but the main difference is the lack of a red bib. They have brown bodies and heads, and their underparts are lighter compared to older birds.

Robin chicks are born at night (not yet developed), so they need to be fed and cared for by their parents. Their eyes are closed from hatching until about 5 days old, then they start to open, usually fully open by 8 days old. They are also born without any feathers, are predominantly pink and take about 3 days to start feathering – although it takes about 10 days for most of the body to be feathered.

baby/juvenile robin

Robin feeding young in nest

How big is the little robin?

Recently full-winged robins are similar in size to adult birds, and the only real way to tell them apart is often the lack of a red bib.

Actual body weight and length data for juvenile fish are insufficient.

What do you call a little robin?

There is no specific term for baby robins, but follows the typical naming conventions of other baby birds:

• chicks or cubs
• fledgling
• juvenile
• aldult

When was the little robin born?

It varies depending on where the population is located around the world, but in the UK the breeding season usually runs from early April to mid June. In parts of Central Europe, this is usually from mid-May, while in other areas they can be born until July.

How many eggs did the robin lay?

Robins usually lay an average of 4-7 eggs. It is not uncommon for robins to have three litters a year, but two are most common.

What do robin eggs look like?

Robin eggs are predominantly white, but may also be bluish-white with small red spots. Eggs measure 20 x 15 mm and weigh approximately 2.4 grams (6% of this weight is the shell).

European robin nest with eggs

How long does it take for a robin egg to hatch?

Robin eggs need to incubate between 12 and 21 days before hatching, but the average time is about 14 days.

As soon as the chicks hatch, the female removes the eggshells from the nest. Sometimes, eggshells can be eaten for calcium.

Do robins reuse their nests?

The short answer to this is it depends. If a successful brood has been bred and raised, robins will likely use the same location to nest, however, they will primarily nest on top of the old nest and remove any unwanted material.

The best advice is to leave any nest you find alone during the breeding season, as robins are very sensitive and may not return to their nesting site if they feel it is disturbed or invaded.

If nest boxes were built in nest boxes, it’s usually a good idea to clean them out in October, as they’re usually used up by then.

When do baby robins leave the nest?

Usually between 14 and 16 days after hatching, the robin will fly from the nest. After leaving the nest, they stay nearby with their parents for up to three weeks.

In May, the chicks will leave their birthplace, but rarely move more than a few miles/km.

An adult robin is being fed

When do baby robins’ breasts turn red?

Until late summer, usually when the birds are 2 to 3 months old, until juvenile robins get red breasts. This happens because partial molting means they lose their speckled feathers.

Until then, however, they still have the same round body shape, long legs, and head posture as their adult counterparts. This is why it would be confusing if all robins had red breasts.

Robins are born without red breasts to avoid territorial conflicts with other robins. In some populations, territorial conflict is responsible for up to 10 percent of adult robin deaths.

What do little robins eat?

During the first few days, young robins mainly feed on the cud regurgitated by the adult birds. Since robins are omnivorous, this could include a variety of things. Their diet is mainly a mixture of invertebrates, seeds and fruit. After they’ve grown a bit, the chicks can be fed larger chunks of food – chicks are more demanding after a few days.

Robins are very clever when it comes to choosing nesting sites, as they will usually only nest where there is a good supply of food, which means there will be no shortage of food when the chicks hatch.

Where do robins nest?

The nest is built by the female, while the male defends the territory. Nests are built in many different places, including low shrubs, grass banks, hedges, walls, rock faces, tree cavities and nest boxes. The main requirement is to be low – usually below 5 meters – and in an enclosed and secure location.

The nest is a cup-shaped mixture of moss, twigs, leaves, and grass. They are usually lined with fine grass and hairs.

Robin sitting on the nest hatching eggs

When can the little robin fly?

Of all the feathers that need to grow, the flight feathers are the last to grow. Once baby robins leave the nest after about 14 days, they are usually unable to fly direct and may take a few more days to do so. During the first few days away from the nest, you may see the chicks jumping around and practicing flying.

How long does the baby robin stay with its parents?

Once young robins leave the nest, they stay with their parents for up to three weeks. During this time, the fledged chicks are primarily cared for by the male – this is because the female will start preparing for the next brood.