American Robins in California

American Robins live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward holly, juniper, sumac and crabapple fruit.

Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.

Across California, American typically nest from March–July. Nest site: mud-lined cup on a branch fork or ledge; uses open-front nest shelves. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 13 days.

Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.

• American Robins don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover American use:

Robins rarely eat seed. They come for water, lawn worms and winter fruit; many stay north all winter in flocks.

• Best foods: Mealworms, Chopped apple and berries, Suet nuggets.
• In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.

Full diet breakdown for American · Best feeder for American