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will robins destroy other nest to take over space?

12 years ago

for many years we have had robins nest in a tree next to garage. this year there was a dove. she had 2 eggs. after about 2 weeks we found the eggs broken on the ground, the nest upside down halfway down the tree. (there were no weather problems) the next day a robin had built her nest in the same spot. Are robins aggressive / territorial enough to destroy anothe bird's nest to claim the space?

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catherinet

12 years ago

I can't give you a definitive answer woodsidetrader, but in my experience, robins aren't aggressive like that. I've seen them build on an old nest (with no other birds using it this season). In fact, I've seen them build pretty tall nests on top of old nests, but I really don't think they are aggressive to over-take an already occupied nest. I think maybe something else may have disturbed the dove's nest and the robin found an empty nest to build on top of. I could be wrong........but that's my thought.

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Comments (8)

renee_2006
12 years ago
It could have been a squirrel or grackles.
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Yea, but I fully understand how hard she worked. Cute little fledgling yesterday. She's really very calm when we come out the door and even when we stand on the deck and talk. Heck, sometimes, we forget she's up there. I'm thrilled to have birds and even help them out. I'm just ready to get it down when she's done. I'll be watching for signs that she's done. Not before she's done. ;)
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kendra2003
12 years ago
Plus Mourning doves build very flimsy nests. It could be that the nest just fell apart enough for the eggs to fall out. I've never known Robins to be aggressive at all.
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surya55_gw
12 years ago
So sad to here but robins are not known for destroying other birds' nests. Perhaps a large gust of wind simply blew the nest off or enough for the eggs to fall out. If it were squirrels or blue jays etc., the eggs would've been eaten. Doves are known for building very flimsy nests.
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Joy Galloway
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I'm new here, so this is actually a question rather than comment. Last year, a Robin built a nest in iron basket on my front porch. About 3 weeks ago a dove built there and laid her eggs. Yesterday, a large piece from a plastic shopping bag was on top of the nest. The eggs were still there, but one has rolled away from the nest. The dove/s didn't return all day. This morning a Robin was working on building on top of the plastic and eggs. I am wondering what could have happened. Did the dove abandon because the eggs weren't going to hatch or something else.
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Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
5 years ago
Perhaps the Dove seen the bag as a possible danger/predator and abandoned nest.
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HU-178268166
2 years ago
I also had the same thing happen. last year robins built a nest on top of the fan in my gazebo. This year doves build on there. i went out one day and it was a mess. part of thr

e nest was all over the table, feathers and bird poop all over the place. sitting in what was left of the nest was a robin. they soon repaird the nest and had their family.
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mommaj85
last year
I had an active swallow bird with her eggs freshly made in last 4 weeks at best and this morning all her eggs were on the ground and a Robin is adding it's own nesting materials to the other mom's nest!!! I'm so sad.
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