Page 9 - Oundle Life December 2022

FESTIVE
BIRD
Erithacus rubecula
Feisty. Iconic. A Christmas-card favourite and a gardener’s best friend. It’s no wonder this fiery little fella is one of Britain’s most-loved birds, frequenting the UK’s gardens in search of worms.
What do robins look like?
With its signature bright-red breast, the robin
is immediately recognisable. It has a brown back and white belly, with the orange-red breast stretching up to its throat and face. Juvenile robins are brown all over with mottled golden flecks.
What do robins eat?
Robins enjoy eating fruits, seeds and insects, such as beetles. They also love feasting on earthworms and can often be seen in gardens on the lookout for juicy worms as they are dug up by gardeners.
How do robins breed?
The breeding season usually begins in March, although if the winter has been mild it can begin as early as January. The female robin builds a cup-shaped nest using moss, hair, grass and dead leaves, somewhere on or close to the ground. Robins begin laying their eggs between mid-April and mid-August, and a clutch is made up of around 4–6 eggs. Chicks hatch after around 13 days. The chicks fledge approximately two weeks later.
Where do robins live?
Robins are found across the UK in woodland, gardens, parks and hedgerows. They are fiercely
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QUICK FACTS
Common name: robin
Scientific name: Erithacus rubecula
Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers) Habitat: gardens, woodland, parks, hedgerows Diet: worms, fruit, seeds, insects
Predators: birds of prey, domestic cats, and dogs Origin: native