Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

The Robin, known formerly as Erithacus rubecula, is arguably the first bird anyone is likely to learn as a child in the UK. In fact, so popular is the Robin that it was voted Britain’s favourite bird in the 2015 National Bird Vote, taking no less than 34% of the vote. Think of Christmas, and you’ll probably have a Robin somewhere in mind sitting on a snow-covered branch. However, despite the Robin’s friendly façade and unassuming manner, it is in fact a fiercely territorial creature and highly effective at driving away intruders, even larger ones. It’s no secret the Robin can punch above its own weight.

A relatively plump bird, the Robin features a bright orange-red breast with brown upper parts. Both male and female are similar in appearance and are hard to distinguish apart. Some suggest that females develop a more prominent “V” shape on the forehead while males are more “U” shaped; this, however, is barely noticeable, with some saying it’s negligible.

The sole evolutionary purpose of the orange-red breast is for territorial defence, not courtship. The posturing and prominence of colour is often enough to deter intruders, otherwise the Robin could resort to more direct intervention to defend its territory.

The Robin is a year-round, sedentary and resident bird, maintaining a specific area of territory, which it defends well. Over winter, native UK variants are joined by immigrants from Scandinavia, whose appearance is slightly paler, with a duller breast, than UK varieties. You’ll find Robins all over the UK, all year round. They generally occupy a breeding territory the size of 1/6 the size of a football pitch, or 0.55 ha in size. But all this is, of course, dependent upon the local environment. Given enough space, such as the Scottish pinewoods, there can be as few as 10 pairs per sq km.

The Robin has an incredibly interesting visual system, which has been extensively studied. Using a process known as “magnetoreception”, Robins are purportedly able to visualise the earth’s magnetic field, allowing them to navigate effectively. Despite this, the full details are not understood completely, and it is still an active area of current research.

Territory Number: breeding pairs
Europe United Kingdom
Circa 60,000,000 6,700,000

 

Europe forms 75 – 94% of the global population. *The UK contains around 10% of the global population of Robins.

One interesting fact about the Robin is its keenness to rise early and be one of the first to tune up to Dawn Chorus with its fluting, warbling sound. Interestingly, Robins vocalise differently through the year, with a much more melancholy sound over winter, which become progressively chirpier towards the breeding period in spring.

If you’re lucky enough to have Robins visit your garden frequently, be aware they love to eat worms, seeds, fruit and insects. A favourite bird food is suet balls or one of our specially formulated premium mixes such as the Robin & Blackbird No Mess Mix.

Try our Interactive Robin

Simply hover over the image to learn more about the Robin.

Popular Robin food

Robin & Blackbird No Mess Seed Mix

Specially formulated for Robins and Blackbirds, this excellent all year round mix has been de-husked to reduce the mess underneath your feeders and keep garden birds coming back for more.

Wild Bird Dried Mealworms - a favourite among Robins

Dried Mealworms

Birds really love these dried mealworms. They have all the protein of live mealworms with less wastage, and an extra long shelf life. Use the mealworms alone, or mix with your favourite seed. No special storage conditions required.

Premium Suet Balls

Suet is absolutely essential for birds, providing instant energy which is just what they need. Our premium suet fat balls each contain over 90g of high grade, quality beef suet, blended with wheat, peanuts and dried mealworms. We guarantee your garden birds will love this energy-rich recipe.

Premium Insect Suet Pellets

Thrushes, Robins and Blackbirds will love these suet pellets containing a mixture of real insects. Extremely nutritious, they’re packed with energy, protein, vitamins and minerals which also makes them ideal for feeding during the breeding season.