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Robin

Robin ©Neil Aldridge

Immature robin

©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Robin

©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Robin

The much-loved robin is a garden favourite and one of our most familiar birds, adorning Christmas cards every year. It is very territorial, however, and will defend its post with surprising ferocity.

Scientific name

Erithacus rubecula

When to see

January to December

Species information

Statistics

Length: 14cm
Wingspan: 21cm
Weight: 18g
Average lifespan: 2 years
Common. Classified in the UK as Green under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).

About

The robin is one of the most familiar birds of the UK, regularly visiting gardens. Robins are also common in parks, scrub and woodland, making their presence known with a loud, territorial song. They sing from prominent perches right through the winter, when both males and females hold territories; indeed, they are fiercely territorial, driving off intruders and even fighting. During the breeding season, the female is allowed into the male's territory where she sets up a nest of dead leaves, moss and hair. Nests often crop up in the oddest of places, such as plant pots, old wellies and shelves, but Ivy and other shrubs are their natural choice.

How to identify

The robin really is unmistakeable: brown above, with a white belly and a famously red breast. Young robins are mottled gold and brown, and do not have a red breast.

Distribution

Widespread.

In our area

Robins can be spotted anywhere in Shropshire; they are very adaptable and will live in a wide variety of places as long as they have safe places to nest and plenty of food. They are also very bold compared to other small song birds and become accustomed to human activity, even taking meal worms from the hand in some cases.

Often seen as a symbol of Christmas due to their popularity on festive greeting cards, robins are actually around our gardens for the whole year. They are very territorial and will defend their feeding sites by fighting off invading robins...so it is likely that the robin you see in your garden throughout the year might hang around for most of life, which is usually up to 3 years.

Did you know?

Robins have been associated with Christmas ever since Victorian times; Victorian postmen, who were known as 'robin red-breasts' because of their red waistcoats, are thought to be the inspiration for so many robins appearing on our Christmas cards. Whether it's the case or not, robins certainly make themselves known in winter with their loud, aggressive song!

Watch

Robin (https://vimeo.com/292102445)

Robin ©John Bridges

Robins can be spotted anywhere in Shropshire; they are very adaptable and will live in a wide variety of places as long as they have safe places to nest and plenty of food. They are also very bold compared to other small song birds and become accustomed to human activity, even taking meal worms from the hand in some cases.

Often seen as a symbol of Christmas due to their popularity on festive greeting cards, robins are actually around our gardens for the whole year. They are very territorial and will defend their feeding sites by fighting off invading robins...so it is likely that the robin you see in your garden throughout the year might hang around for most of life, which is usually up to 3 years.