Page 297 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

CHATS AND THRUSHES
Order Passeriformes Family Turdidae Species Erithacus rubecula
Robin

mottled
big black eye
small, fine brown
dark bill body
bluish grey
sides of neck
and chest
red
orange-red blotches
breast appear
soft, warm- to
olive-brown
upperparts
ADULT
olive-buff JUVENILE
IN FLIGHT
underside
pale orange-red to
washed-out orange
spindly face and breast
brown legs

ADULT (SPRING)

his is a typical forest or woodland-edge species in most of its ADULT (WINTER)
Trange, adapted to follow foraging animals such as wild boar: it
picks up food from the earth overturned by the animals. In the UK,
it follows gardeners turning the soil, and has become remarkably FLIGHT: short, flitting darts into cover; longer
tame. In most of continental Europe, Robins are much shyer birds. flights weak, flitting, with bursts of wingbeats.
Robins are easily identified (although juveniles have
no red at first) and have a distinctive song. IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT
In some lights, the white breast
VOICE Sharp, short, abrupt tik, series of quick tik-ik- spot below the red bib may be
ik-ik-ik, high, thin seeep; song rich, full, varied very obvious.
warbling in long, musical series, some phrases like
Garden Warbler’s (see p.314); in autumn/winter more
mellow, melancholy.
NESTING Domed nest of leaves and grass in bank,
dense bush or hedge, or thick ivy; 4–6 eggs; 2 broods;
April–August.
FEEDING Mostly on ground, hopping and flitting
in search of spiders, insects, worms, berries, and seeds;
comes to feeders and bird-tables for seed mixtures.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread, but absent from
DUNNOCK NIGHTINGALE REDSTART 2; Iceland; summer visitor in N and
see p.292 redder see p.296 see p.298
on tail E Europe. In all kinds of forest,
especially more open woodland,
as well as on bushy heaths, in
much greyer gardens with hedges and
below shrubberies, and in town parks.
redder
on tail Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 14cm (5 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 20–22cm (8–9in) Weight 16–22g ( 9 ⁄16 – 13 ⁄16oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan 3–5 years Status Secure
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