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TranslateRobin, (Erithacus rubecula)
Robin, Latin name: Erithacus rubecula
Length: 14cm Wingspan: 20 to 22cm Weight: 14 to 21g
Male and female Robins are very similar, both have a red breast and same colour plumage over rest of the body. Juvenile’s do not have a red breast until adult, instead they have a speckled light brown breast with blotches of red plumage appearing towards adulthood.
This is a well-loved species and is UK’s favourite bird, especially a favourite at Christmas time; with its image appearing on countless Christmas cards. The Robin can become very tame with people and will follow gardeners very close as the soil is turned. Most of the European Robins are much shyer birds.
Diet: They will flit across the ground ever searching for worms, insects, spiders, and when the time of year yields, berries, various seasonal fruits and seeds. Will also be a regular visitor to bird tables and seed feeders, especially over the winter months. In the winter months native UK variants are joined by other Robins from other parts of Europe especially from the Scandinavia countries. These Robins vary slightly different in appearance, as they do not have such a bright red breast and have a greyer tone plumage to their upper parts.
Widespread, but absent in Iceland and far north of Europe, the Robin can be seen in the UK all year round. It is estimated there are about 60,000,000 Robins world-wide, Europe accounts for between 75 to 94% and the UK contains around 10% of the global population of Robins.
Habitat: All kinds of forests, favouring open woodlands and gardens with hedges and shrubs, bushy heaths and hedgerows. This is a territorial bird and the red breast is used as a warning to deter intruders on its “patch”. Sometimes the Robin can and will be more aggressive, particularly towards another Robin! Far from cute, they are quick and relentless to drive intruders away.
Nests can be found in about anywhere, as they are frequently found in buildings, such as sheds and barns that have an opening. The nest consists of leaves and grass found mainly in dense bushes or hedgerows, especially where thick Ivy is growing. Nests consists of between 4 to 6 eggs, usually two broods between April and August.
The Robin is parasitised by the Moor-hen flea, Dasypsyllus gallinulae. (The moorhen flea is a large flea originating from South America. It is now a globally widespread).
The Robin song is a long and rich, full of musical phrasing sounds similar to the garden Warbler’s song. Also produces a short sharp abrupt sound, with a series of quick high “tik-ik-ik-ik-ik” as if used as a warning to an intruder. Robins are usually one of the first to start up the dawn chorus with its fluting, warbling sound. A robin’s song varies differently through the year, with a more prolonged melancholy sound over the winter months; becoming progressively chirpier towards the breeding months of spring. Robins migrate to Britain and Western Europe to escape the harsh winters, Irish and British Robins are usually resident throughout the entire year, a small minority, mainly females migrate to southern Europe; a few as far as Spain.
Read MoreLength: 14cm Wingspan: 20 to 22cm Weight: 14 to 21g
Male and female Robins are very similar, both have a red breast and same colour plumage over rest of the body. Juvenile’s do not have a red breast until adult, instead they have a speckled light brown breast with blotches of red plumage appearing towards adulthood.
This is a well-loved species and is UK’s favourite bird, especially a favourite at Christmas time; with its image appearing on countless Christmas cards. The Robin can become very tame with people and will follow gardeners very close as the soil is turned. Most of the European Robins are much shyer birds.
Diet: They will flit across the ground ever searching for worms, insects, spiders, and when the time of year yields, berries, various seasonal fruits and seeds. Will also be a regular visitor to bird tables and seed feeders, especially over the winter months. In the winter months native UK variants are joined by other Robins from other parts of Europe especially from the Scandinavia countries. These Robins vary slightly different in appearance, as they do not have such a bright red breast and have a greyer tone plumage to their upper parts.
Widespread, but absent in Iceland and far north of Europe, the Robin can be seen in the UK all year round. It is estimated there are about 60,000,000 Robins world-wide, Europe accounts for between 75 to 94% and the UK contains around 10% of the global population of Robins.
Habitat: All kinds of forests, favouring open woodlands and gardens with hedges and shrubs, bushy heaths and hedgerows. This is a territorial bird and the red breast is used as a warning to deter intruders on its “patch”. Sometimes the Robin can and will be more aggressive, particularly towards another Robin! Far from cute, they are quick and relentless to drive intruders away.
Nests can be found in about anywhere, as they are frequently found in buildings, such as sheds and barns that have an opening. The nest consists of leaves and grass found mainly in dense bushes or hedgerows, especially where thick Ivy is growing. Nests consists of between 4 to 6 eggs, usually two broods between April and August.
The Robin is parasitised by the Moor-hen flea, Dasypsyllus gallinulae. (The moorhen flea is a large flea originating from South America. It is now a globally widespread).
The Robin song is a long and rich, full of musical phrasing sounds similar to the garden Warbler’s song. Also produces a short sharp abrupt sound, with a series of quick high “tik-ik-ik-ik-ik” as if used as a warning to an intruder. Robins are usually one of the first to start up the dawn chorus with its fluting, warbling sound. A robin’s song varies differently through the year, with a more prolonged melancholy sound over the winter months; becoming progressively chirpier towards the breeding months of spring. Robins migrate to Britain and Western Europe to escape the harsh winters, Irish and British Robins are usually resident throughout the entire year, a small minority, mainly females migrate to southern Europe; a few as far as Spain.
