ROBINS ARE FLYCATCHERS

There can be almost no-one in Britain who is unfamiliar with the robin – that chirpy-cheeky denizen of our gardens and open spaces so familiar on our bird tables and Christmas cards. Robins have always had a place in our hearts and William Blake’s lines “A robin redbreast in a cage Puts all heaven in a rage” remind us to protect and celebrate their liberty. Their delightful song is recognised by many of us and they will even sing at night in more urban areas where there are street lights! 

Robins are feisty little birds, aggressively defending their territories. They weigh around 18g and have a wingspan of about 20cm but, although some have been known to live for a decade or more, their average lifespan is only a couple of years. The RSPB currently allocates them a “green” status and their population, which has seen a 45% increase since 1970, numbers several million. They are very productive and follow a somewhat r-selected strategy ecologically (i.e. two or even three broods of up to six young a year, short-lived, populations able to recover quickly from adverse environmental impacts). They eat fruits, seeds and various invertebrates – I have had ones in the garden over the years that will take mealworms from my hand and, whenever I go out with a spade or a fork, a robin appears as if from nowhere in case my digging unearths tasty prey.