Female robins arrive a few days after the males and soon the ritual of mating begins followed by nest building. The nest consists of straw, coarse grass, twigs and mud, lined with some fine grass. Upon completion of the nest, egg laying will begin, one a day, until there are three or four. In a few rare instances five eggs are laid. In anywhere from 11 to 14 days the skinny young hatch.
Earthworms form a large part of their diet.
Especially after rains, when the ground is moist, the adult birds find worms near the surface. When, after 14-16 days the fledglings feather out and leave the nest, the father takes full charge of the brood and stays with his young for another week or two. It is at this stage in June and July when the young are newly fledged and unable to fly very well that they are vulnerable to predator attack. Without question in urban areas as well as on acreages and farms, many young robins fall prey to cats. Responsible cat owners could prevent this by keeping their pets inside during nesting season, or allowing them out only with a harness and leash.