Robins will keep coming back to gardens if fed one common food in October: mealworms. According to Sue Morgan, CEO of SongBird Survival, “Mealworms are a favourite for robins, they absolutely love them.”
Seasonal Feeding Guidance
The RSPB recommends that “birds need high-energy, high-fat foods during cold weather.” However, the charity has updated its bird-feeding guidance, urging people to “feed seasonally.” It advises cutting back on feeding from May 1 to October 31 and limiting what is put out during those months to “small amounts of mealworms, fat balls or suet.”
Overcrowded bird feeders can become “hotspots for disease,” the RSPB warns. From November 1 through to the end of April, people can return to offering a full range of bird foods.
Best Foods for Robins
High-energy and high-fat foods that birds love include suet, peanuts, sunflower seeds and mealworms. “I reckon if you offered sunflower hearts and mealworms... robins would really enjoy those,” adds Morgan.
When feeding birds, hygiene and disease prevention are important. The RSPB advises removing old feed, watching for signs of illness, and keeping bird baths thoroughly clean on a regular basis. Last year, the RSPB halted sales of its flat bird tables amid concerns they could contribute to the spread of deadly diseases among finches.
Why Fewer Birds in Autumn
Fewer birds in autumn can be explained by several natural shifts. Following the breeding season, adult birds undergo a complete feather renewal. This moulting process is energy-intensive, leaving birds less willing to spend time in the open. “Moulting is a physically demanding time for birds,” the RSPB explains. “They need to conserve energy, so they become much quieter and spend more time hidden amongst vegetation, making them less conspicuous.”
Autumn also brings an abundance of natural food. Berries mature, plants are heavy with seeds, and insects thrive. “Wild food sources like berries, nuts, and fallen fruits are at their peak in autumn,” explains the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), “Meaning birds don't have to rely as heavily on supplementary feeding.”
Juvenile birds are also establishing themselves, exploring new territories and dispersing from the gardens where they were born. Summer visitors such as swallows and house martins prepare for their journey southwards, while resident birds settle down and focus on survival.
How to Help Birds Safely
To help birds safely, feed seasonally: stop filling feeders with seeds or peanuts from May 1 to October 31, but continue providing small amounts of high-energy foods like mealworms, fatballs or suet. Clean feeders and water baths at least once weekly, avoid flat-surface feeders, and change bird bath water daily.
Plant bird-friendly species such as sunflowers, teasels and ivy to supply natural food sources. Resist the temptation for a perfectly manicured garden—piles of leaves, seed heads and undisturbed shrubs offer essential shelter and food.
