Robin

Erithacus rubecula

European Robin

Visit Discover Wildlife from BBC Wildlife Magazine to learn more European robin guide: diet, habitat and species factsThe robin is, without doubt, one of our favourite garden birds. It seems to trust us, staying close when we're in the garden and even taking food...Discover Wildlife

How do you identify a robin? These birds have a distinctive body shape and colors that make them easy to identify. The head is round and the neck is thick, giving the bird a stocky appearance, and the short, straight bill is evenly black. Males and females are similar with orange face, throat, and upper breast may be faintly bordered by a blue-gray wash, particularly around the face. The robin’s red breast is part of what endears it to us, providing a welcome flash of color on a winter’s day. But its evolutionary purpose is for a more serious role, with male robins using it to settle territorial disputes, especially during the breeding season. Red breasts in female robins don’t seem to serve the same competitive purpose as they do in males, but they haven’t evolved to look significantly different from each other.

Robin's SongThe European Robin´s typical call is a dry "tic", repeated and uttered in short series, "tic-tic-tic…". They sing mainly to attract the female and to establish their territory. Mostly in the early morning, perched on exposed pole. The robin is one of the few birds that sings all year round. This is due to the importance of holding winter territories.

Habitat and distribution The robin occurs 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. Irish and British robins are largely resident but a small minority, usually female, migrate to southern Europe during winter, a few as far as Spain. Scandinavian and Russian robins migrate to Britain and western Europe to escape the harsher winters.

What do robins eat? Robins eat a wide variety of food, including worms, seeds, nuts, suet, invertebrates and fruit. They will readily come to garden bird tables, especially in winter, and a combination of suet, mealworms and seeds will go down particularly well.

Fun facts

• The European robin is perhaps the best known of all British birds. It is a common visitor to gardens and once attracted to food put out on a bird table, it will return to it all winter through.
• Every continent has its own robins, but only the Japanese and Ryukyu robins are closely related.
• The best way to see a robin in your garden is to dig. Within minutes one may perch on a fence or branch nearby waiting to inspect the newly-turned soil for earthworms.
• Robins are fiercely territorial over food supply. Not more than one robin will occupy a small garden, unless it is his mate.
• In winter, the robin puffs up its plumage to insulate its body against cold winds.
• Did you know robins are associated with Christmas and appear in many Christmas cards?

Robin Bird by Vaptor-Studio on Sketchfab