European Robin
Adult with a fly caught as prey (Erithacus rubecula rubecula)
Conservation status
Least Concern [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae Genus: Erithacus Species: E. rubecula
Binomial name
Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies
7-10, see text.

Photo by cortesy of COIAC (http://www.flickr.com/photos/coiac). Photo taken in Cardielos.

 

The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) or, in Anglophone Europe, simply Robin is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, but is now considered to belong to the Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae). The male and female are similar in colouration, with a orange breast and face lined with grey, brown upperparts and a whitish belly.

Contents 1 Taxonomy 1.1 Subspecies 1.2 Other robins 2 Description 2.1 Vocalisations 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 4.1 Reproduction 5 Cultural depictions 6 Notes and references 7 Further reading 8 External links

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Taxonomy

The European Robin was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae, under the name of Motacilla rubecula.^[2] Its specific epithet rubecula is a diminutive derived from the Latin ruber 'red'.^[3]

The distinctive red patch on the chest of both sexes led to the European Robin's original name of redbreast. In the fifteenth century, when it became popular to give human names to familiar species, the bird came to be known as Robin redbreast, which was eventually shortened to robin.^[4] The word is related to the Frisian robyntsje or robynderke, and a Dutch dialect word robijntjie 'Linnet.^[5] Its common name in Dutch is Roodborstje, and French is Rougegorge,^[6] both translating as 'redbreast.

The Robin belongs to a group of mainly insectivorous birds that have been assigned to the thrushes or "flycatchers", dependent on how these groups were perceived taxonomically through the years. Eventually, the flycatcher-thrush assemblage was separated and the genus Erithacus assigned to a group of thrush-like true flycatchers that also includes the nightingale and the Old World chats.

Two Eastern Palearctic species are usually placed in the genus Erithacus, the Japanese Robin, E. akahige, and the Ryūkyū Robin, E. komadori, the latter being a restricted-range island species. Biogeography and mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data indicate that these might better be classified with some Far Eastern "nightingales", leaving only the European species in Erithacus.^[7]

 

 Subspecies

In its large continental Eurasian range, robins vary somewhat, but do not form discrete populations that might be considered subspecies.^[8][9] Thus, robin subspecies are mainly distinguished by forming resident populations on islands and in mountainous areas.

As noted above, robins from the British Isles (Erithacus rubecula melophilus) differ from the mainland E. r. rubecula by having a more strongly colored breast and a greenish, not grey tinge to the upperside. It also occurs on the Continental side of the English channel and as a vagrant in adjacent regions. Similar birds from Northwestern Africa, Corsica, and Sardinia are named E. r. witherbyi. The northeasternmost birds, large and fairly washed-out in color are E. r. tataricus. In the SE, E. r. valens of the Crimean Peninsula, E. r. caucasicus of the Caucasus and N Transcaucasia, and E. r. hyrcanus southeastwards of the latter are generally accepted as significantly distinct.

On Madeira and the Azores, the local population has been described as E. r. microrhynchos, and although not distinct in morphology, its isolation seems to suggests the subspecies is valid (but see below). The most distinct birds are those of Tenerife and Gran Canaria (E. (r.) superbus), which may be a distinct species, the Tenerife Robin (as Erithacus superbus). It is readily distinguished by a white eye-ring, an intensely colored breast, and a grey line that separates the orange-red from the brown coloration. The belly is entirely white. Robins from the western Canary Islands – El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera – on the other hand are indistinguishable from European E. r. rubecula.

While cytochrome b sequence data and vocalisations^[10] indicate that the Tenerife/Gran Canaria robins are indeed very distinct and probably is derived from colonization by mainland birds some 2 mya,^[11] the W Canary Islands populations are younger (Middle Pleistocene) and only beginning to diverge genetically. In addition, Tenerife and Gran Canaria birds are well distinct genetically and the latter have been named E. (r.) marionae; a thorough comparison between superbus and marionae is pending. Initial results suggest that Gran Canaria birds have distinctly shorter (c.10%) wings than Tenerife superbus.^[8]

 

Other robins

The larger American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is named for its similarity to the European Robin, but the two birds are not closely related. The similarity lies largely in the orange chest patch in both species. This American species was incorrectly shown "feathering its nest" in London in the film Mary Poppins,^[12] but it only occurs in the UK as a very rare vagrant.^[13] Some Central and South American Turdus thrushes are also named as robins such as the Mountain Robin, T. plebejus^[14]

The Australian "robin redbreast", more correctly the Scarlet Robin, is more closely related to the crows and jays than it is to the European Robin. It belongs to the family Petroicidae, commonly called "Australasian robins".

The Red-billed Leiothrix is sometimes named "Pekin Robin" by aviculturalists.

 

 Description

The European Robin is 12.5 – 14.0 centimetres (5.0 – 5.5 in.) long and weighs 16-22 g (9/16-13/16 oz), with a wingspan of 20-22 cm (8-9 in) The male and female bear similar plumage; an orange-red breast and face, lined by a bluish grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish 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 red gradually appearing.^[15]

 

Vocalisations

Robins have a fluting, warbling song in the breeding season. Robins often sing into the evening, and sometimes into the night, leading some to confuse them with the Nightingale. Nocturnal singing in urban robins occurs in places that are noisy during the day, suggesting that they sing at night because it is quieter, and their message can propagate through the environment more clearly.^[16] Both males and females sing during the winter, when they hold separate territories, the song then sounding more plaintive than the summer version. The female Robins move a short distance from the summer nesting territory to a nearby territory that is more suitable for winter feeding. Male Robins keep the same territory throughout the year.

 

Distribution and habitat

It occurs all over Europe to Western Siberia, south to Algeria and on the Atlantic Ocean as far as the Azores and Madeira. In the south east, it reaches the Caucasus range. British Robins are largely resident but a small minority, usually female, migrate to southern Europe during winter and a few of these migrate as far as Spain. Scandinavian and Russian Robins migrate to Britain and western Europe to escape the harsher winters. These migrants can be recognised by the greyer tone of the upper parts of their bodies and duller orange breast.

 

 Behaviour

The Robin is well known to British and Irish gardeners: it is relatively unafraid of humans 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 in continental Europe are more wary. Robins also approach large wild animals, such as wild boar and other animals which disturb the ground, to look for any food that might be brought to the surface.

Male Robins are noted for their highly aggressive territorial behaviour. They will ruthlessly attack other males that stray into their territories, and have been observed attacking other small birds without apparent provocation. Such attacks sometimes lead to fatalities, an aspect of the birds' behaviour which is inconsistent with its wholesome, gentle public image.

Because of high mortality in the first year of life, a Robin has an average life expectancy of 1.1 years; however, once past its first year it can expect to live longer and one Robin has been recorded as reaching the age of 12 years.^[17]

 

 Reproduction

Robins may choose a wide variety of sites for building a nest, in fact anything which can offer some form of depression or hole may be considered. As well as the usual crevices, or sheltered banks, odder objects include pieces of machinery, bicycle handlebars, bristles on upturned brooms, discarded kettles, watering cans, flower pots and even hats. The nest is composed of moss, leaves and grass, with finer grass, hair and feathers for lining. Two or three clutches of five or six eggs are laid throughout the breeding season, which commences in March in the British Isles. The eggs are a cream, buff or white speckled or blotched with reddish-brown colour, often more heavily so at the larger end.^[18] When juvenile birds fly from the nests they are mottled brown in colour all over and do not have a red breast. After 2 to 3 months out of the nest, the juvenile birds grow some reddish feathers under their chins and over a further 2 to 3 months this patch gradually extends to complete the adult appearance.

 

 Cultural depictions

The "Robin Redbreast" has much folklore surrounding it and has become strongly associated with Christmas, taking a starring role on many a Christmas card since the mid-19th century.^[19] The Robin has also appeared on many Christmas postage stamps.

An old English folk tale seeks to explain the Robin's distinctive red breast. Legend has it that when Jesus was dying on the cross, the Robin, then simply brown in colour, flew to his side and sang into his ear in order to comfort him in his pain. The blood from his wounds stained the Robin's breast, and thereafter all Robins got the mark of Christ's blood upon them.^[20] An alternate legend has it that its breast was scorched fetching water for souls in Purgatory.^[19]

The association with Christmas, however, more probably arises from the fact that postmen in Victorian Britain wore red uniforms and were nicknamed "Robin"; the Robin featured on the Christmas card is an emblem of the postman delivering the card.^[21]

Robins also feature in the traditional children's tale, Babes in the Wood; the birds cover the dead bodies of the children.^[19]

The robin was held to be a storm-cloud bird and sacred to Thor, the god of thunder, in Norse mythology.^[20]

Britain does not have an official national bird. The Robin was the most popular bird according to readers of The Times in the early 1960s. Following this, despite some lobbying, the British government did not actively promote the concept of an official national bird. The Robin was used as a symbol of a Bird Protection Society for a few years only.^[22]

The word not only refers to the colour red, Robin red, but also robin's egg blue.^[5]

Two English professional football clubs are nicknamed "The Robins": Bristol City and Swindon Town. The nickname is derived from both club's home colours being red.

It is also the nickname of the English Rugby League team Hull Kingston Rovers. The nickname is derived from the club's home colours, of white with a red band, linking to the redbreast of the Robin

 

 Notes and references

• Fuller, R.A.; Warren, P.H. & Gaston, K.J. (2007): Daytime noise predicts nocturnal singing in urban robins. Biology Letters 3: 368–370. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0134

 

Further reading

• Lack, Andrew (2008). Redbreast: The Robin in Life and Literature. SMH Books. ISBN 9780955382727. 

 

External link

• ARKive: Robin (Erithacus rubecula) images and movies. Retrieved 2006-NOV-30.
• BBC Science and Nature: The Robin, Britain's national bird. Includes photos and song. Retrieved 2006-NOV-30.
• BBC: European Robin song. Streaming Real Audio. Retrieved 2006-NOV-30.
• Birds of Britain: Robin. Retrieved 2006-NOV-30.
• Digidylan: hand feeding the robins. Retrieved 2006-NOV-30.
• Internet Bird Collection: European Robin videos. Retrieved 2006-NOV-30.
• RSPB: Robin (Erithacus rubecula). Retrieved 2006-NOV-30.
• iMeleon photography: European robin photos
• Quality European Robin Photographs [1]
• Sveriges Radio P2: Song of the European Robin (Real Audio soundfile)