skip to main content

Bluebirding Bird Watching

Bluebirds being bullied by robins?

7 years ago

Have a ”cage type bluebird feeder that I’ve kept dried mealworms in for 3 years, and we now have quite a few blues, however, lately, the chickadees, have started eating most of the worms, but the mystery, is that robins will allow the chickadees to go in and eat the worms, but will constantly chase all of the blues off when they try to come and eat, and they have young, whom they are trying to feed. It’s very frustrating, its crazy, the robins will leave the chickadees alone but will bully the bluebirds, any help??

Featured Answer

catherinet

7 years ago

Thanks Old Forester! It's good to know that they can rise to the occasion when necessary! :)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

catherinet
7 years ago
The only thing I can think of is that maybe the robins have learned that the chickadees aren't intimidated by them, but the bluebirds are. In my experience, bluebirds are very gentle and don't put up much of a fight. It's funny.....I've often wondered how various animals can be right next to certain other animals (even larger ones), and not be intimidated, but they might be scared off by other things. I guess that's part of animal instinct we might not understand.
Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
7 years ago
I wouldn't worry about the blue birds, they are tougher than you think. I have several pairs inhabiting my landscape. They are frequent users of the suet cakes and shelled sunflowers. They seem quite capable of holding their own. But, yes there is a pecking order among the species. The red headed woodpecker is the undisputed king, even the blue jays wont mess with him !

Last year, I had a bluebird pair raise their young in one of my houses. It wasn't long after they vacated the house before a chickadee and another bluebird squabbled over the same house. I witnessed the bluebird grabbing the chickadee by the head and pulling it out of the birdhouse !
Related Discussions
Bluebirds in Blizzard? Need Help.
Q
Comments (6)
Hi...Your blues will probably return to begin nestbuilding when the weather permits. In the meantime, you can order live mealworms. Several on the forum use NY Mealworms. My blues are currently eating the dried mealworms, but they do prefer the live ones. DO NOT place them in the nestbox. When I began feeding mealworms, I placed them in a dish close to where I would see them perch. Soon enough, other birds discovered them as well. I ordered a mealworm feeder which is a round jailhouse style. It still allows the smaller birds in, but keeps out the bullies. The cup is in the middle. Try using a shallow dish first and even if your blues are MIA for awhile, place it where you have seem them. Hope this helps and good luck! Donna
...See More
sudden death of our baby bluebirds
Q
Comments (27)
I had nearly the exact thing happen this year (2025). This box had crisis last year when I found the nestlings wet, their nest soaked and berry seeds abundant. What I was told was that the parents were feeding them non-native berries because there weren't enough insects! I took the nestlings out, cleaned the box, replaced with a dry nest and supplemented with mealworms. Two males and a female ran nearly 100 mealworms into that nestbox within the next 20 minutes! It was a rescue mission. The nestlings all survived and fledged three days later. But this year, that nestbox wasn't touched until way late in the season. I was glad to see they were back, better late than never. But maybe not. Four eggs, four nestlings, all looked well. I checked them a day ago, providing rehydrated mealworms. I noticed some dog doo near where I put the mealworms. I wonder if that could affect the nestlings by contamination. I took the bos down and it felt light. I wondered if they had fledged but it was too soon. All four melding together and decomposing! This park is chemical-free, the only one in Orange (CA). All the other nestlings in the other five boxes had a good run. This was a special box and had yet another disaster this year! No evidence of foul play, no insects, etc. Another seasoned monitor told me it might be due to the male not returning, maybe killed in a fight, and the female abandons the nest. The nest box is down, washed out and waiting for a thorough cleaning. I hope they return to this box next season. We'll see. Very sad.
...See More
Bluebirds have arrived
Q
Comments (4)
Being how rare you say they are in your area, I am sure you want to make sure the Bluebirds stay and successfully raise their young in your yard. To do this you need to remove that box from that tree immediately and get it at least 15 ft away from the tree mounted on a slick metal pole (electrical conduit works best) and preferrably with a predator baffle. Raccoons and squirrels can and will get into the nestbox where it is mounted now. A Raccoon will even eat the mother bird if she is in the nest when they make their raid. Check out sialis.org for lots of useful information on Bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. For the bluebirds sake I hope you take this advice. If they want this box, moving it will not interrupt their nesting. You can wait a few days until she is done making the nest but do move it before they eggs are laid if possible. Bluebirds will give you hours of enjoyment however if the nest fails they will leave your yard in search of a new nesting site. Good luck! Donna
...See More
Robins are vicious!
Q
Comments (4)
Yes that is good they harassed the Grackle, but I have noticed that Robins are quite bossy in my yard. Bordering on obnoxious. Last year they commandeered the back garden, including the bird baths and Elderberries. They wouldn't let the other birds use these, which greatly reduced the interesting variety I had observed in previous years. They also pulled up ALL the mammoth Sunflower seedlings which was very weird! This Spring, when it was really dry, they also took over the front bird baths. The female was collecting leaves and other organic debris, dunking them to get them wet, and then carrying them off to the nest site. They wouldn't let other birds use the bird baths. So I added another bird bath in the side yard. Figure they can't boss all of them at once!
...See More
Pat Z5or6 SEMich
7 years ago
I have been trying to keep Red-breasted Grosbeaks in my yard this Spring instead of disappearing like they did last Spring, so when a very small Hairy or Downy woodpecker attacked one of my male RBGs on a feeder I nearly passed out. The RBG never came back! But the Hairy or Downy comes all day long every day. Grrrrrr.
Rob Armstrong
7 years ago
I agree with Old Forester's comments above. I have been observing and photographing bluebirds (professionally) for over 20 year and I can confirm that they are very tough and very resourceful. Mealworms are almost always only a small portion of their diet (like a treat or a snack). They are constantly catching insects and worms all day long (literally hundreds of times each day!) And, if necessary, a Bluebird will hold it own. In fact, when they are nesting, I have seen them attacking and successfully chasing away Robins, Thrashers, Cardinals and a variety of smaller birds. They will even attack squirrels and cats.

Here is the link to my site. In case anyone likes bluebird pictures as much as I do! Link: BluebirdsPlus
HU-397890228
5 years ago
The aggressive robin? Shoot him.
onward03
last year
last modified: last year
I know this is an old thread but I have about 16 robins sometimes this winter (Febr 2025) while they're in winter flock mode in New Hampshire. They guard the feeding area but now 2 days using a bluebird feeder that excludes them. Today they are still chasing away bluebirds but not as many robins as before.

I think in this deeply snow covered winter, the robins will have to leave for their own survival soon.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES How to Bring the Joy of Bluebirds to Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Attract these beautiful songbirds with nesting habitat and food sources, including berry-producing trees and shrubs

FALL GARDENING 7 Reasons Not to Clean Up Your Fall Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you pluck and rake, consider wildlife, the health of your plants and your own right to relax

COMMUNITY Togetherness Take 2: Is a Cohousing Community for You?

By Jen Dalley //

Missing that sense of connection? Consider the new breed of neighborhood with a communal bent

GARDENING GUIDES 3 Ways to Revel in Summer Garden Sweetness

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Patiently observe what works and doesn’t work in your landscape

GARDENING FOR BIRDS What to Know About Birds Nesting in Your Yard

By Mitchell Parker

Learn how to observe, record data and help ornithologists with NestWatch’s citizen science project understand bird trends

BOOKS Can Tidying Up Result in Life-Changing Magic?

By Mary Jo Bowling

Organizing phenom Marie Kondo promises big results — if you embrace enormous changes and tough choices

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Is It Time to Consider Fake Grass?

By J. Peterson Garden Design

With more realistic-looking options than ever, synthetic turf can be a boon. Find the benefits and an installation how-to here

OUTDOOR PROJECTS Bring In the Birds With a Homemade Bubble Rock

By Mary Jo Bowling

An avian expert from Southern Indiana shows how to make a burbling fountain that migrating birds will love

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES 3 Ways Native Plants Make Gardening So Much Better

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

You probably know about the lower maintenance. But native plants' other benefits go far beyond a little less watering and weeding

Sponsored