the christmas robin

The humble robin is a traditional symbol of Christmas in the UK, the colorful bird often depicted on our festive greeting cards and Christmas gift wrapping. We also use robin ornaments to decorate our Christmas trees and our Christmas cakes or chocolate logs. It is no wonder that we appreciate this beautiful and cheerful little bird as part of our Christmas festivities because it is so colorful and most other birds have migrated to warmer climates. And during our long, bleak winters, we are uplifted by hearing the joyful song of the festive robin.

However, there’s more to this jolly fellow than just cute Christmas cards of him posing in snow-covered mailboxes and nesting in old copper watering cans.

Robins live throughout Europe (except in the far north) and Western Siberia. We notice an increase in the number of robins in the UK during the winter months, as robins from colder climates move to warmer gathering areas for the winter during the autumn.

Robins that live in close proximity to people can become quite tame, especially to avid gardeners. Some cheeky robins have learned to take advantage of unearthed worms caused by gardeners digging and turning up the soil.

Robins have also been found to be able to fish. However, not for large fish, as the robin is only 14 cm long and weighs between 14 and 21 grams. Robins can float and dive for fish in shallow water.

Male robins are highly territorial and sing to proclaim their territory, what sounds to us like a cheery winter song is actually an occupancy warning to other robins in the area. Robins will fight to defend their territory.

Robins mate and nest in late March. The female robin builds a nest of dry dead leaves and moss in tree crevices, wall cavities, or undergrowth.

Because robins don’t build traditional nests out of twigs and sticks, but simply line holes and cracks, that’s why we hear stories of robins nesting in old watering cans and wellies.

The female lays 4-6 small white to slightly blue speckled eggs which she incubates for 2 weeks.

At two weeks of age, robin chicks can fly. At this time, the parent robin feeds her offspring for another 3 weeks until the chicks become independent at around five weeks of age, meanwhile the female broods her second young.

Chicks are not born with the trademark vibrant red chest feathers. They shed their chick feathers to make way for their touch of red on their breasts.

Not many robin chicks get to show off their new red feathers with photo poses atop mailboxes or snow-covered pine trees because more than half of the chicks die in their first year.

However, robins can live to the ripe old age of 5 years, which is something to sing about.

So think of this festive little bird this Christmas because he works hard for a living. Maybe leave them some tasty Christmas treats at their bird table, some bacon rind, and a ball of stuffing. And maybe leave some old terracotta pots for a homeless female robin looking for a place to build her nest.

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