Robins are often scared away from gardens by magpies, but there is an easy trick to keep the larger birds awayKatherine McPhillips and Sam Dimmer East Midlands Head of Brand
06:55, 21 Dec 2025
Keep robin birdfeeder nearer the ground and they will not be affected by the CDs at all(Image: UK)
Robins can add cheer to a winter’s day as Christmas draws near, but despite food being available for them, they’ll steer clear of gardens where magpies are present.
Magpies, being considerably larger than robins, display hostile behaviour near food sources, frequently intimidating smaller British birds.
Consequently, robins can find it difficult to secure adequate nutrition during winter, particularly when their usual food like worms becomes inaccessible beneath frozen soil. Fortunately, Nelly, a gardening specialist from She Grows Veg, has shared a simple method to deter magpies from bird feeders using just old CDs or tin foil.
Nelly explained: “We hang CDs, foil strips, or even reflective wind chimes around beds. To keep birds from getting used to them, change the placement every few days. Novelty is key!”.
Displaying reflective items in your garden proves effective at deterring magpies, as they perceive the flickering movements as threatening.
The light bouncing off CDs or tin foil can resemble a rapidly moving predator, causing them alarm due to the unpredictable nature of the flashes and their unknown origin, reports the Express.
Robins remain relatively unbothered by CDs as they’re intelligent birds that typically adjust swiftly to their surroundings and are more inclined to recognise that the reflected light poses no danger.
How to use CDs to keep magpies away from robins
To start, you’ll require some unwanted CDs or alternatively, use crumpled tin foil. Attach your reflective item to a piece of string and suspend it high in your garden from tree branches, fences or tall washing lines.
Robins prefer feeding in sheltered areas closer to the ground, so they’re less likely to spot the CDs.
Magpies will stop bullying robins from birdfeeders if you hang 1 simple item in the garden(Image: Getty)
On the other hand, magpies favour open and elevated spaces, so any reflective movement at height will quickly unsettle them.
Ensure the CDs are spread out and not clustered together, allowing the reflections to cover a broader area of your garden.
Position your birdfeeder for robins in a secluded spot, such as next to a bush, hedge or near dense plants like a flowerbed.
To prevent magpies from realising the reflective objects pose no threat, shift their positions every few months. This way, your garden should remain a safe sanctuary for robins this winter.
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