Do robins reuse their nests?

Question

A robin built a nest under my deck. The babys are gone. My wife wants to give it to her friend. I don't want to touch it if the bird will use it next spring.

Answer 1

Usually robins hatches once a year and they do not reuse a year-old nest. There are reasons explained by some experts:
>>1. Old nests become crumbly during winter, and won't be sturdy the next year.
>>2.Some parasite eggs or larvae may overwinter in a nest and attack nestlings.
>>3. Female robins have an overpowering impulse to build a new nest each year.

Sometimes if a robin pair has had great success on a porch light or window shelf, they build a new nest over an old one, but because of the possibility of parasites, it's better to remove old nests at the end of each breeding season.

Answer 2

When Do Robins Build Nests

Answer 3

Indeed, robins do re-use nests. There is a nest situated outside of my apartment building that was used twice in 2013, once in 2014, and twice in 2015. Most of the time there were two or three chicks but once I observed a very healthy single chick. Both parents attend to the chicks and to the nest. The nest gets periodically refurbished.

If you do a few searches, you might read that robins do not re-use nests. Don't believe what you read. I think that birds are much more adaptable than we give them credit for. The Wikipedia article makes no statement on nest re-use.

Answer 4

I want to know if other robins will use a nest already built. We had robins build a nest on a window ledge. About 1 weeks after the babies flew away, we saw another egg in the nest, which turned to 4 in just a few days.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Do robins reuse their nests?
A robin built a nest under my deck. The babys are gone. My wife wants to give it to her friend. I don't want to touch it if the bird will use it next spring.

Answer 6

I agree with lani s....birds DO NOT typically reuse the same nest. Only some species of owls and some birds of prey such as hawks and eagles do this. Even if you read the website "wren" sites...its says NOTHING of the birds using the same nest...it only states that they can have more than one brood per year. (which they build a nest for each brood)

Answer 7

Yes, when I lived in Mass we had a few trees and there were robins nests. They came back year after year and reused it. It was right outside my brothers bedroom window so we were able to watch the babies grow, it was really neat!

Answer 8

Robins do reuse a nest or claim another's. This summer we had a Robin lay 4 eggs, tend to her young and they flew away. Within a week, another Robin laid eggs in the same nest and as I type is feeding her young!!!

Answer 9

Robins can produce up to three broods in the same nest in one year.

Answer 10

Even if the birds do not reuse it, you should not take it and give it to anyone. It is illegal.

"All native birds are protected by the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is illegal for any person to possess nesting material, egg(s), feathers, bones or a live bird without the proper permits from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service."