Bird
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaAlso known as Robin, Robin Redbreast, Redbreast
European robins are fiercely territorial birds whose bell-like song rings out even through crisp winter twilights. In British and Irish gardens they famously trail closely behind spade-wielding gardeners to snatch unearthed earthworms, though continental populations tend to be far more retiring forest dwellers. Both sexes fiercely defend individual territories outside the breeding season, fluffing their vibrant orange-red breast feathers to deter any trespassing rivals.
SongbirdTerritorialGarden Visitor
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyEarthworms, Beetles, Spiders
Predators
- Domestic cat
- Eurasian sparrowhawk
- Tawny owl
ThreatsSevere winter freezes, domestic cat predation, and hedge removal
HabitatsWoodlands, hedgerows, parks, and suburban gardens
Life span1–3 years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMuscicapidae
- GenusErithacus
- SpeciesErithacus rubecula
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Gardening companion: Turn over garden soil or mulch to attract curious individuals seeking unearthed insects.
- Winter feeding: Offer mealworms, pinhead oatmeal, and sunflower hearts on low ground trays during cold spells.
Predator (c) Stanislav Murashkin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Stanislav Murashkin · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Luiz Lapa, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Warrieboy / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Jerzy Strzelecki / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain
The Forest Floor
European Robin is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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