Can't worm away from a robin!
- osstewardship
- Mar 10, 2023
- 1 min read
Did you know that robins might listen for earthworms as well as look for them?
Most of a robin's hunting is done visually. As they hop around the lawn and cock their heads back and forth, they are looking for the tiny movements of soil and grass that worms make as they move beneath the surface. Biologists also think that robins may be able to hear the worms under the surface as well! Underground critters make tiny noises when they move, both from them moving against soil particles and soil particles rubbing against each other. It's thought that these noises (plus the visual cues) help robins pinpoint exactly where to poke into the soil to grab lunch!
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American Robin photo by Yann Kemper
That’s such a cool detail about robins—I never realized they might actually hear worms moving underground! On a lighter note, when I’m looking for something fun to do in my free time, I’ve been playing Rocket Goal lately, and it’s surprisingly relaxing. Definitely a nice little game to unwind with after learning random facts like this.