Why Does a Robin Cock Its Head to Listen?

The robin does not cock its head to listen. The robin cock its head to look for a worm poking out of its burrow.

Some people believe that robins are listening for worms when they turn their heads to one side. The robin’s eyes are on the sides of its head. It can see an object best when just one eye is focused on it.

Robin cock its head to watch the ground for the tiny movements that would indicate a worm is traveling close to the surface. So now we know that a robin does not cock its head to listen.

The best way to see a robin in your garden is to dig. Within minutes one may perch on a fence or branch nearby waiting to inspect the newly-turned soil for earthworms.

Robins, particularly in spring and summer eat large numbers of earthworms as well as insects and some snails. A worm has one advantage in its struggle to live.

If a robin tugs at a worm and breaks it in two, the worm may not die. The part that remains may grow a new part to replace the missing head or tail end. This is known as regeneration.

Content contributed by Erika Whitty, residing in Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California, United States