Robin
Characteristics
The robin’s association with Christmas is appropriate, for it is during the winter months that its colours are most marked, with it’s red breast at its reddest and it’s back a rich brown, both contrasting brilliantly with its whitish under parts. Young birds have speckled plumage and look like young nightingales.
Habitat
The Robin is often seen in town and city gardens, and often accompanies gardeners to search for insects and larvae as the ground is dug over. Away from habitation, it is a shy and retiring, inhabiting woodland hedges.
Behaviour
The robin is tame and likes to come close when anyone is digging the soil, in order to look out for earthworms and other food freshly turned up; when the gardener stops for a break the robin might use the handle of the spade as a lookout point.
Robins often approach large wild animals, which disturb the ground, to look for any food that might be brought to the surface.
Males are aggressive and guard their territory possessively.
The song is a high, pleasant warble and the loud alarm call is a penetrating ‘tic-tic’.
B.A.B.
