If you’ve ever spent time in a backyard or park, you’ve likely seen American Robins foraging for worms and insects on the lawn. But have you ever witnessed an American Robin with its beak buried deep inside a gopher mound?

Birds may stick their beaks in gopher mounds for a variety of reasons. One of the primary reasons is for foraging, as the mounds can provide access to a rich source of food, such as insects and larvae that live in the soil.

The second photo shows that it did find something to eat but not in the Gopher mound.

Robin With Beak In Gopher Mound
Robin With Beak In Gopher Mound
American Robin With A Meal
American Robin With A Meal

I was sitting in my pickup photographing Eastern Bluebirds bringing food to their young. This Robin came by and I got this photo. This is my setup for photographing Eastern Bluebird at one of my nesting box: My Eastern Bluebird Photography Setup

I had my camera and lens resting on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup.

Gear Used:

  • Camera: Canon EOS 7D
  • Lens: Canon EF 500 mm f/4L IS USM

Technical:

  • Location: My Yard (Arkansas)
  • Date Taken: August 15, 2014
  • Aperture Priority
  • Aperture: f5.0
  • Shutter speed: 1/500 sec. and 1/640 on second photo
  • ISO: 800
  • White Balance: Auto
  • Metering Mode: Evaluative
  • Exposure Compensation: -1/3 EV
  • Back-button Focus
  • Single Point Focus
  • Focal Length: 500 mm
  • Processed With Luminar 4