Tags:   British wildlife British birds garden birds wildlife bird birds Robin

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Juvenile European Robin with its famous Red breast just starting to develop…..

The Robin is a year round resident in the UK, but a small minority of female Robins migrate to southern Europe during winter, a few as far as Spain. Both the male and female feature similar plumage, both with the distinctive red breast. The male bird is extremely territorial and will aggressively defend his territory, attacking any similar sized birds that try to muscle in on their patch.

The adult European robin is 12cm long and weighs between 15 to 22 g with a wingspan of 20–22 cm . The male and female bear similar plumage; an orange breast and face lined by a bluish grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish, or olive-tinged in British birds, and the belly whitish, while the legs and feet are brown. The bill and eyes are black.

Juveniles are a spotted brown and white in colouration, with patches of orange gradually appearing. Male robins are noted for their highly aggressive territorial behaviour. They will fiercely attack other males and competitors that stray into their territories and have been observed attacking other small birds without apparent provocation. There are instances of robins attacking their own reflection. Territorial disputes sometimes lead to fatalities, accounting for up to 10% of adult robin deaths in some areas

The Robin is a member of the thrush family , a distant relative of the Blackbird and Nightingale.

In the 1960s, in a vote publicised by The Times, the robin was adopted as the unofficial national bird of the UK. The bird also is associated with several British sporting clubs including the professional football clubs Bristol City, Crewe Alexandra, Swindon Town, Cheltenham Town and Wrexham FC, as well as the English rugby league team Hull Kingston Rovers.

Tags:   bird birding birds birds wildlife British birds British wildlife canon European #gardenbirds #lovenature #lovewildlife nature Peter Robin wild wild-birds Wildlife #wildlifenature #wildlifephotography Wildonline Wildonline.blog European robin #justrobins Robin red Robin redbreast Robins

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Juvenile Robin

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European robin, taken at the meadow hide

Tags:   birds wildlife Robin European robin

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