Robins in Sweden
When the Robin (Erithacus rubecula) is present in Sweden, when it nests, and which native Sweden plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Sweden
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 16–22 g
- Nest box
- Open-fronted box, 1–2 m high, well hidden in climbers
When to expect robins in Sweden
The Robin arrives in Sweden in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Short, intense summers with very long days.
Most leave; a few overwinter in the south at feeders.
Temperate in the south, boreal across most of the country and subarctic in the far north.
Nesting in Sweden
In Sweden the Robin usually nests April–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 Sweden plants for robins
Of the native plants we track for Sweden, 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.
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.
Pink-orange fruit eaten by Robins and thrushes.
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 Sweden all year?
No. The Robin is a summer visitor to Sweden, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn. Most leave; a few overwinter in the south at feeders.
When do robins nest in Sweden?
Typically April–July. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help robins in Sweden?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose, Spindle are native to Sweden 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 Sweden
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.