Robin
The European Robin, known simply as the Robin in the UK, is a small insectivorous passerine bird.
The adult Robin is around 5 to 5.5 inches long with a wingspan of 8 to 9 inches. The male and female have similar plumage: an orange breast and face (more strongly coloured in the UK subspecies), lined by a bluish grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish, or olive-tinged in UK birds, and the belly is whitish. The legs and feet are brown and the bill and eyes are black. Juveniles are a spotted brown and white in colouration with patches of orange gradually appearing.
The Robin can be found in Eurasia east to western Siberia, south to Algeria and on the Atlantic islands as far west as the Azores and Madeira. It is a vagrant in Iceland. In the south-east, it reaches the Caucasus range. In the UK and Ireland, the Robin is largely resident but a small minority, usually females, migrate to southern Europe during winter. In Scandinavia and Russia, the Robin is a summer visitor with birds migrating to the UK and western Europe to escape the harsher winters. These migrants can be recognised by the greyer tone of the upper parts of their bodies and duller orange breast. The Robin prefers coniferous woodland in northern Europe, contrasting with its preference for deciduous woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens in Ireland and the UK.
The male Robin is noted for its highly aggressive territorial behaviour. It will attack other males that stray into its territory. Such attacks sometimes lead to fatalities, accounting for up to 10% of adult Robin deaths in some areas. Because of high mortality in the first year of life, a Robin has an average life expectancy of 1.1 years. However, once past its first year it can expect to live longer and one bird has been recorded as reaching 19 years of age.
The Robin may choose a wide variety of sites for building a nest and anything which can offer some shelter may be considered. As well as the usual crevices or sheltered banks, odder objects include pieces of machinery, barbecues, bicycle handlebars, bristles on upturned brooms, discarded kettles, watering cans, flower pots and even hats. The nest is composed of moss, leaves and grass with fine grass, hair and feathers for lining. The Robin lays 2 or 3 clutches of 5 or 6 eggs throughout the breeding season which commences in March in the UK. The eggs are a cream, buff or white speckled or blotched with reddish-brown colour.
The Robin produces a fluting, warbling song during the breeding season. Both the male and female sing during the winter when they hold separate territories, the song then sounding more plaintive than the summer version. The female Robin moves a short distance from the summer nesting territory to a nearby area that is more suitable for winter feeding. The male Robin keeps the same territory throughout the year. During the breeding season, the male Robin usually initiate their morning song an hour before sunrise and usually terminate their daily singing around 30 minutes after sunset. However, nocturnal singing can also occur, especially in urban areas that are artificially lighted during the night.
The Robin features prominently in UK folklore, and that of north west France, but much less so in other parts of Europe. More recently, the Robin has become strongly associated with Christmas and is depicted on greetings cards and postage stamps. In the 1960s, in a vote publicised by The Times newspaper, the Robin was adopted as the unofficial national bird of the UK. In 2015, the Robin was again voted the UK's national bird in a poll organised by birdwatcher David Lindo, taking 34% of the final vote.
Date: 31st October 2010
Location: Leighton Moss RSPB reserve, Lancashire
The adult Robin is around 5 to 5.5 inches long with a wingspan of 8 to 9 inches. The male and female have similar plumage: an orange breast and face (more strongly coloured in the UK subspecies), lined by a bluish grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish, or olive-tinged in UK birds, and the belly is whitish. The legs and feet are brown and the bill and eyes are black. Juveniles are a spotted brown and white in colouration with patches of orange gradually appearing.
The Robin can be found in Eurasia east to western Siberia, south to Algeria and on the Atlantic islands as far west as the Azores and Madeira. It is a vagrant in Iceland. In the south-east, it reaches the Caucasus range. In the UK and Ireland, the Robin is largely resident but a small minority, usually females, migrate to southern Europe during winter. In Scandinavia and Russia, the Robin is a summer visitor with birds migrating to the UK and western Europe to escape the harsher winters. These migrants can be recognised by the greyer tone of the upper parts of their bodies and duller orange breast. The Robin prefers coniferous woodland in northern Europe, contrasting with its preference for deciduous woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens in Ireland and the UK.
The male Robin is noted for its highly aggressive territorial behaviour. It will attack other males that stray into its territory. Such attacks sometimes lead to fatalities, accounting for up to 10% of adult Robin deaths in some areas. Because of high mortality in the first year of life, a Robin has an average life expectancy of 1.1 years. However, once past its first year it can expect to live longer and one bird has been recorded as reaching 19 years of age.
The Robin may choose a wide variety of sites for building a nest and anything which can offer some shelter may be considered. As well as the usual crevices or sheltered banks, odder objects include pieces of machinery, barbecues, bicycle handlebars, bristles on upturned brooms, discarded kettles, watering cans, flower pots and even hats. The nest is composed of moss, leaves and grass with fine grass, hair and feathers for lining. The Robin lays 2 or 3 clutches of 5 or 6 eggs throughout the breeding season which commences in March in the UK. The eggs are a cream, buff or white speckled or blotched with reddish-brown colour.
The Robin produces a fluting, warbling song during the breeding season. Both the male and female sing during the winter when they hold separate territories, the song then sounding more plaintive than the summer version. The female Robin moves a short distance from the summer nesting territory to a nearby area that is more suitable for winter feeding. The male Robin keeps the same territory throughout the year. During the breeding season, the male Robin usually initiate their morning song an hour before sunrise and usually terminate their daily singing around 30 minutes after sunset. However, nocturnal singing can also occur, especially in urban areas that are artificially lighted during the night.
The Robin features prominently in UK folklore, and that of north west France, but much less so in other parts of Europe. More recently, the Robin has become strongly associated with Christmas and is depicted on greetings cards and postage stamps. In the 1960s, in a vote publicised by The Times newspaper, the Robin was adopted as the unofficial national bird of the UK. In 2015, the Robin was again voted the UK's national bird in a poll organised by birdwatcher David Lindo, taking 34% of the final vote.
Date: 31st October 2010
Location: Leighton Moss RSPB reserve, Lancashire
|
Also in: Robins
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |