Robin

About the Robin

The Robin is a small, roundish bird with an orange-red breast, throat and forehead. It has a large head with large, dark eyes and a plumage of olive-brown above. The Robin has white on its belly and under the tail. In comparison, young birds are brown on the top, beige underneath and lightly speckled. Due to their long legs and somewhat chubby-looking body, they are a beautiful and much-loved bird. But male Robins in particular can be quite mischievous and confrontational during the breeding season and winter months.

Have you spotted a Robin in your garden or on your balcony and would like to help where you can? Then one of the first things you should know is that Robins are ground eaters - they prefer to feed at ground level or on bird tables, and are only rarely, if at all, seen at feeders. Robins are soft feeders, which means they only consume very fine insects, berries and seeds. 

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Robin
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Robin

Specifications

Scientific name
Erithacus Rubecula
Family
Muscicapidae
Habitat
We find Robins in woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens. In some riparian forests they can reach settlement densities of up to 20 pairs per 10 ha. Along with the chaffinch, they are one of the most common birds in our forests. The Robin is a so-called "p
Food
The Robin’s diet consists of worms, snails, spiders, and insects, as well as berries, fruits, and grains. They also enjoy eating oat flakes and fat-based food at feeding stations.
Height
12,5 - 14cm
Weight
15 - 18g
Lifespan
1 - 10 years
Breeding time
April - July
Nest
Their nests are usually positioned on the ground or as low to the ground as possible. They can often be found in wall cracks, tree trunks, garden sheds and even in flower tubs in gardens and on balconies. If you choose to hang a half-open nest box, then it is recommended they are placed 1 to 1.5 metres above the ground and hidden between plants.
Sound
The Robin is one of the few birds in the UK that sing all year round. Its melodic pearly sound repeats every day at dawn and dusk. Its noise is a hard and short: 'tik' in repetitive series, with a very fine sound.
Characteristics
This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season. The adult Robin has an orange-red throat and chest, with large, dark eyes, whereas the juvenile Robin has a brown chest.
Children
2 clutches

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