How do Robins find Worms?

According to Dr. Bird, not all ornithologists agree upon how the bird with a burnt-orange-hued chest finds its prey. "Some experts adamantly claim that the robin appears to cock its head towards the grass just before picking up a worm, suggesting that it is positioning its ear hole towards the worm for better hearing."

Dr. Bird stresses that this is only one possibility. "On the other hand, birds are extremely visual and may be highly sensitive to movement. They could be cocking their heads towards their prey merely to gain a better focus of it on their fovea, an area on the retina with a high number of receptor cones."

While birds do have a better sense of smell than once believed, there is no proof that robins can smell worms. If the latter were the case, says Bird, "the robin would likely be holding its beak and hence its nostrils, closer to the ground. Eyesight is likely the best means for robins to catch worms, but I am not convinced that we can rule out hearing."