Robin-Soundtrack to the day.

One of the best parts of this beginning of better weather is that the soundtrack of the outdoors changes. It is full of chattering and singing birds.

The Robin , who continues to sing through the winter has definitely upped his game and is a star of this new soundscape.

We are lucky that the tall tree at the corner of the garden seems to be a favourite singing spot for the Robin. This joyful and varied song lifts our mood and spirits without fail.

The Robin (Erithacus rebecula) is a member of the bird family old world flycatchers and chats.

Male and female Robins look identical , young birds have no red breast. They may be pretty birds but they are aggressively territorial. female birds are allowed into male territory at breeding time.They eat worms, insects, invertebrates , seeds and fruits.

Robins build nests in some unusual places , old pots, boots, even peg bags. They lay 5-7 eggs and the chicks are fed by both parents.

Here are some more robin facts.

Robins sometimes sing at night in urban areas, confused by the street lights.
They weigh 16-22g
Pairs of Robins can have 3-5 broods of chicks a year.
Three quarters of Robins in Britain die before they are one year old due to predation.
About 10 percent of older Robins die in territorial disputes.
The first record of a Robin taking good from a human is from the 6th century.
They are one of the first birds to sing in the morning and one of the last to stop at night.
British Robins are friendly with humans and associate often with Gardeners especially when digging and worms are on offer.
Continental Robins are more shy, this may be because of a history of hunting.