Unusual Nesting Behavior Observed in St. Thomas, Ont.

Finding a robin’s nest on her front porch isn’t new for Debra Copeland from St. Thomas, Ont., but discovering a nest shared by two bickering female robins, eight eggs, and a couple of visiting male birds was something else entirely.

Typically, Copeland mentioned that she usually sees no more than five light blue eggs in a robin’s nest during spring. That’s why she was taken aback when she found more nestled in a brand new nest above her porch light at the end of April, prompting her to set up a camera for closer observation.

“I was shocked and amazed that by nightfall, there were two females incubating the nest simultaneously,” she said, adding that their initial relationship was strained.

“At first, you could tell they were very unhappy with one another … They would bite each other’s beaks, peck at each other, and even jump on top of each other to make the other fly away; sometimes it worked.”

“But I think these might just be the most stubborn and dedicated robin mamas ever because neither was willing to give up,” Copeland remarked.

The bird’s nest on a St. Thomas front porch begins to overflow as baby robins continue to grow. (Submitted by Debra Copeland)

After three days of conflict, the two female birds ultimately chose to cooperate in raising their eggs within the shared nest; they now take turns watching over and feeding the newly hatched babies.

“They rarely argue now. It almost seems like they’re really bonded and love each other since they snuggle together in the nest,” she noted.

This behavior is rare among robins but not completely unheard of, according to Ontario Nature executive director Andres Jimenez.

“If you consider this from the perspective of having an attractive male in prime territory where few safe nesting spots exist, it makes sense that females would be inclined to share a nest,” Jimenez explained. “I call it a housing crisis.”

While the mother birds on Copeland’s porch share parenting responsibilities, Jimenez added that “helpers” – which refers to birds assisting in raising chicks that aren’t necessarily their own – can behave differently depending on various relationships.

Debra Copeland (second from left) and her children Berea, Emmaus and Canaan (from left to right) stand on the porch where adult robins are caring for their young ones in a shared nest. (Submitted by Debra Copeland)

“There are instances where some birds help without laying eggs themselves; sometimes doves and robins lay eggs in the same nest and care for all chicks … there are also cases where some birds delay their reproduction to aid their parents with rearing other chicks upon returning from migration,” he stated. “Anything is possible.”

“[Robins] adapt easily; they’re flexible problem-solvers in ways we still can’t fully comprehend,” Jimenez pointed out.

How many dads?

On Copeland’s porch, six of the eggs eventually hatched; however, one fledgling got pushed out of the nest during the long weekend and didn’t survive, leaving five chicks for both moms to raise.

“It’s quite cramped inside there. They’re packed tight … you can see them flapping wings trying to shove each other around for space,” Copeland explained while mentioning she created a soft landing pad below the nest and regularly checks so no others fall out.

A male robin visits two female robins sharing a nest perched on a porch light at a St. Thomas home. (Submitted by Debra Copeland)

There’s also one or two male birds involved here too according to Copeland. While she’s unsure how many males are present exactly, she’s spotted at least one bringing food back for his cohabiting females.

“I have strong feelings that there are actually two pairs involved which adds another layer because it’s not just one male fathering babies with both females; somehow those females decided they needed to share this nesting spot,” she said. “It’s like one big family living under one roof.”

The story has gained popularity among birdwatching groups on Facebook as hundreds engage with daily photos, videos, and updates from her family’s nesting experience.

“I think it’s so unique and odd that people want to figure it out,” said Copeland about all interest surrounding her avian guests. “We want them to succeed despite facing challenges; everyone is cheering them on.”

LISTEN | Hear what it’s like to house this large robin family:

Metro Morning7:28Drama in a birdnest.

Coming up next: The real-life tale behind St. Thomas ‘Avian Sister Wives’. It’s captivating bird enthusiasts as well as casual observers alike! We’ll chat with both homeowners along with an expert about this rare throuple.

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