If you want to see more robins in your garden, there’s a very simple thing you can do to encourage them to visit, and it might not be what you’d expect. You just need a simple fruit
12:17, 24 Nov 2025Updated 12:45, 24 Nov 2025
Attracting robins can be easier than you think (stock image)(Image: Cris Cantón via Getty Images)
Robins are regarded as one of the most iconic symbols of the festive period, and spotting these birds in your garden during the lead-up to Christmas is always a delight; however, if you’re keen to attract them but find they rarely appear, there’s a straightforward method to entice them to visit. What many people don’t realise is that these birds are drawn to a particular type of food, so placing it in your garden can encourage visits, particularly throughout November and December when natural food sources become limited.
Providing nourishment helps maintain their health through the colder months, and specialists suggest that leaving one straightforward item outdoors can lure them in. There’s an easy way to welcome them and ensure they return repeatedly.
This works because robins are fond of several straightforward items readily available in gardens. Little you may know, certain things can also make them stay away too.
In a social media post, bird seed producers Coles Wild Bird stated: “How do you attract robins? Give them what they love. We’ve all seen robins eating worms.
“They eat a variety of worms, insects and berries. You can attract them using suet cakes, mealworms or sunflower meats. What is working best for you?”
What do robins like to eat?
Many might not realise that robins have a fondness for berries. Fruit serves as a vital food source for them throughout the autumn and winter months.
Their diet generally features a lot of fruit such as holly, hawthorn and mountain ash berries, but they also have a penchant for cultivated fruits like strawberries, blueberries and grapes. This means leaving fruit outside can be a sure-fire way to attract them.
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In gardens, robins are partial to fruits like apples, raisins and dried cranberries, so you’re spoilt for choice. If you’ve got a bird feeder, they’re also fans of suet and suet pellets.
Suet is typically high in fat, making it an excellent food source for robins, particularly during the chilly winter months. If you’re keen on leaving fruit outside for robins, it’s generally recommended to opt for apples and raisins.
It’s crucial that these are chopped into bite-sized pieces, and dried fruit should be soaked in water before being offered to our feathered friends. This helps to make the fruit plump and soft, which is easier for robins’ small, soft bills to handle and digest.
Why you should feed robins in November
Robins become much more visible throughout the winter months because natural food sources dwindle, meaning they’re far more likely to appear in gardens and at bird tables whilst foraging for something to eat.
There isn’t a lot of dense foliage on trees and bushes at this time of year, which makes them much easier to spot. On top of this, some robins from continental Europe actually migrate to the UK for the winter, boosting local numbers.
As the chill sets in, their natural food supplies start to shrink, and they begin to carve out new winter territories. This might explain why you’ve already spotted them flitting about, and you may even hear their unique “autumn song” echoing.
You might be wondering why these birds are synonymous with Christmas. The tradition actually harks back to the Victorian era when postmen donned bright red uniforms, earning them the nickname “robins”.
Ever since, these charming little creatures have been linked with the Yuletide season. Nowadays, it’s always a treat to spot them in our gardens during the frosty months. Brits might even get more sightings of them now, thanks to this handy feeding tip.
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