Feathered Friday: Mr. Robin Red Breast

This is a true story of a Robin who did not follow the norm and go south but stayed around all winter.

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I’ve mentioned the story of Mr. Robin Red Breast before and will touch on it again to show how birds have a sense of loyalty and can experience loneliness.

One year Mr. Robin Red Breast didn’t go South by the time the snow and cold weather set in, I noticed him because it was unusual to see a robin in the cold winter weather of P.E.I.

His pretty red breast stood out against the white of the snow. The other birds staying around my backyard for the winter were the Blue Jays, Crows, Ravens, Chickadees and Juncos. Those birds stayed year around but not Robins.

I wondered,

“Why was Mr. Robin Red Breast still here? Why didn’t he go Down South to the warmer climate before this cold weather?”

Here is Mr. Robin Redbreast waiting by the snow that winter. He is puffed up to keep warm.





Then POOF! a lightbulb went off in my head and I remembered earlier that summer, I had found a dead robin in the hedge. It was a mystery why she died - there wasn’t a mark on her tiny body.

I gently wrapped her lifeless body in some newspaper and placed it in the garbage bin.

I knew my cats hadn’t killed her as they are inside cats. On occasion there had been a stray cat coming around. If the robin was killed by a cat there wasn’t any sign on her tiny body.

Perhaps she had been electrocuted by the overhead hydro lines or ran into a window.

Whatever happened, Mrs. Robin was dead and poor Mr. Robin Red Breast was left no knowing what happened to his life-mate.

When Mr. Robin Red Breast didn’t leave, I knew then the dead robin was his mate . He did not know her tiny spirit had gone over the rainbow bridge that leads, when birds or animals pass, to an everlasting paradise.

Robins usually mate for life and Mr. Robin Red Breast was faithfully waiting for his mate to come back to him. He was willing to endure cold starving conditions to wait for her.

All winter long, it was heartbreaking watching him, covered with snow, patiently waiting in the trees, near the house.

Robins patrol lawns looking for worms, insects and grubs. Since it was winter, the ground was frozen and Mr. Robin Red Breast couldn’t peck into the soil for his food.

I didn’t know what to do to help him find food, short of finding worms - that wasn’t an option! I cut up apples and threw out homemade blueberry and raisin muffins. The Blue Jays liked this and I thought maybe the robin would eat some.

An obvious question, “What’s wrong with giving them bird seed?”

Bird seed had been given a bad rap that year as some birds were choking on it. I didn’t want to buy seeds until I was sure the matter was resolved.

Mr. Robin Red Breast ate the apples and food and survived that cold winter. He went South the next winter and has since returned each spring.

For the last seven years, Mr. Robin Red Breast has come back solo from the South to visit. He stays to himself and will often squabble with the Blue Jays over the food.

Here he is, in summer, patrolling the lawn for worms. He still likes the food I put out and comes by the back steps to let me know when he returns.





I don’t know how long a Robin can live but Mr. Robin Red Breast has been around for seven years.

I hope to see him many more years.

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Posted for #featheredfriday hosted by @keithboone.

Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada

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#thealliance