Robins in England
When the Robin (Erithacus rubecula) is present in England, when it nests, and which native England plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in England
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 16–22 g
- Nest box
- Open-fronted box, 1–2 m high, well hidden in climbers
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect robins in England
The Robin lives in England all year round. Frosts are frequent but prolonged snow is rare in the south; garden feeders carry tits and finches through January and February, and Continental thrushes arrive in hard weather.
Temperate maritime: mild, damp and changeable, drier and sunnier in the south-east than the north-west.
Nesting in England
In England the Robin usually nests March–July. Nest site: cup in a hollow, ivy or open-fronted box, usually low down. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days; chicks fledge after 13–14 days, and pairs raise 2–3 per year.
- Nest box: Open-fronted box, 1–2 m high, well hidden in climbers. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native England plants for robins
Of the native plants we track for England, these 8 provide food the Robin uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Evergreen roosting cover and winter berries on female plants.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Feeding in the garden
Worms, beetles and other invertebrates; berries and seed in winter.
- Best foods: Mealworms, Suet pellets, Sunflower hearts, Grated cheese.
- Feeders: Ground tray, Open table.
- Robins are fiercely territorial; a second feeding spot out of sight of the first reduces fights.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are robins in England all year?
Yes — the Robin is resident in England all year.
When do robins nest in England?
Typically March–July. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help robins in England?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose are native to England and provide food or cover the Robin uses.
What nest box does the Robin use?
Open-fronted box, 1–2 m high, well hidden in climbers.
Robins in other countries
Other garden birds in England
Sources
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.