Robins are among the most popular birds found in gardens and parks across the UK, not only because they look so cute but also because they’re very friendly and tend to stick together in small groups.
But, have you ever wondered — can robins move their eggs?
Red-breasted robins, also known as ‘tailor’ or ‘timber robins’, are medium-sized members of the thrush family.
Adults have red breasts with black barring, a grey head and a white chin.
The young robins are browner with yellowish feathers on their breast.
The adult males have a black rump and tail during summer but turn almost entirely olive-green in winter.
If you’ve been watching your local robin for a while now — whether you know it or not — you might be wondering if they can move their eggs from place to place.
So, can robins move their eggs?
Robins cannot move their eggs.
While some birds can move their eggs, not all birds (including robins) are capable of doing so.
So, the eggs are practically glued to the inside of their nests, and once they’re there, they’re not going anywhere.
Can Birds (In General) Move Their Eggs?
If we look at the bigger picture, many kinds of birds can move their eggs.
Smaller birds like finches and warblers can move their eggs from one place to another to keep them safe and warm.
Birds that build their nests on trees or in plant matter can move their eggs around to make sure they don’t get wet or moldy.
Similarly, birds that build their nests on the ground have to move their eggs if they want to protect them from predators.
If you’re wondering why birds bother to move their eggs at all, the answer is simple — to keep them safe and warm.
If a bird leaves its eggs in the same place for too long, it runs the risk of them getting too cold or wet and dying.
If a bird were to keep its eggs in one place and a predator was to find that place, it would be all too easy for the eggs to get destroyed.
Do Robins Rotate Their Eggs?
If you think you’ve spotted a robin rotating its eggs, don’t worry.
This is perfectly normal behavior for robin’s parents.
When a robin lays its eggs, it will put more effort into the first egg it lays.
While first-laid eggs typically take longer to hatch than those laid later in the clutch, they are often larger and more developed than later eggs.
Because of this, robin parents will rotate their eggs within their nest so that the first egg laid is always at the bottom of the nest.
In fact, the mum robin rotates the eggs several times a day to make sure they’re incubated at the right temperature.
Can You Move A Robins Egg?
No, you can’t move a robin’s eggs.
However, in case of an emergency, you could potentially move the entire nest with the eggs inside it.
Please do keep in mind that if you move the eggs or the nest, the parents are most likely to abandon the eggs, along with their young.
You shouldn’t move the nest until all the chicks have hatched and left.
You must only do so in case of imminent grave danger or emergency.
Do Robins Move Their Babies To Another Nest?
No, robins will not be able to move their babies to another nest.
Some birds can do this, but smaller birds like robins aren’t physically capable of moving their babies from one nest to another.
Final Thoughts
We hope that we covered everything you needed to know about the robin’s ability to move its nest in this article.
While some birds can move their eggs to keep them safe from moisture or the prying eyes of a predator, robins, unfortunately, aren’t able to do it.
In fact, robin eggs are even a delicacy in certain parts of the world.
It would be best if you didn’t move a robin’s nest until the chicks have fledged and left.
Please do leave a comment if you still have any questions, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
