Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Robins are the UK's national bird, made so after being voted most popular bird by public ballot in the 1960s. They are notoriously aggressive towards each other. Both males and females are territorial and will even attack a bundle of red feathers or their own reflection, mistaking it for another individual.
What do they sound like?
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City robins night chorus
The Nature of Britain
City robins sing their hearts out - even in the middle of a cold, winter night.
About the Robin
The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), also known as a ruddock, robinet, or (in Anglophone Europe) simply robin, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family (Turdidae), but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher (Muscicapidae). Around 12.5–14.0 cm (5.0–5.5 in) in length, the male and female are similar in colouration, with an orange breast and face lined with grey, brown upperparts and a whitish belly. It is found across Europe, east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa; it is sedentary in most of its range except the far north.
The term Robin is also applied to some unrelated birds with red breasts. These include the American Robin (Turdus migratorius), which is a thrush, and the Australian red robins of the genus Petroica, which are more closely related to crows.
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Scientific Classification
Order: Passerine (Passeriformes)
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Erithacus
Species: European Robin (rubecula)
Common Names
European robin
The Robin is
Adaptation data provided by Animal Diversity Web
Where can I see them?
This region contains the following habitats:
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder
Conservation Status
The Robin is Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
- EX - Extinct
- EW
- CR - Threatened
- EN - Threatened
- VU - Threatened
- NT
- LC - Least concern
Year assessed: 2008
Elsewhere on the web
- Robin - Erithacus rubecula (arkive.org)
- Erithacus rubecula (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- Bird Guides: fact file and sightings (birdguides.com)
- Natural England: fact file (plantpress.com)
- RSPB: fact file (rspb.org.uk)
- European Robin (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
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