Impossible to confuse the
common robin
with another bird.
This gardener's friend differs from its congeners by its pointed beak and orange-red throat.
To discover
True or false: fight misconceptions about the garden
What is a robin?
The house
robin
(Erithacus rubecula) is a member of the Muscicapidae family.
It once belonged to the family Turdidae.
Muscicapidae are passerines, that is, they belong to the order of small or medium-sized birds.
This small bird is an insectivore and frugivore.
It devours eggs, larvae and parasites throughout the year.
This attitude has earned him the nickname "the gardener's friend".
This bird has been
protected
throughout France since the ministerial decree of April 17, 1981.
Be careful, the familiar robin should not be confused with the American robin, also called the migratory blackbird.
Indeed, they have in common only the color of their throat.
How to recognize a robin?
The robin is a small bird with a rounded body.
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The robin is a small bird with a rounded body and short wings.
It weighs between 16 g and 22 g and measures approximately 14 cm when fully grown.
Its life expectancy is 1 to 3 years.
The robin is characterized by its
orange -
red plumage
on the chest (hence its name).
The rest of its body is light gray and brown.
You can also recognize this bird by its small dark brown pointed beak, its large eyes and its reddish legs.
Unlike adults, the chicks have a different appearance: they are not orange in color but have speckled brown plumage.
The song of the robin is a series of rolled and whistled notes in a high pitch.
There is nothing sweet about it: it is a warning cry intended to discourage intruders who try to enter its territory.
Where does the robin live?
The robin is a regular in our gardens, forests and parks.
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The robin
lives mainly in Europe
.
It is a bird with variable migratory behavior.
Indeed, during winter periods, robins residing in northern Europe migrate.
It can thus be found as far away as North Africa.
On the other hand, the robins of southern Europe are sedentary birds, they do not leave their territory, winter or summer.
The robin is a regular in our gardens, forests and parks.
These places serve as a nesting area.
Its nesting period is from April to July.
During this period, the robin establishes its nest in trees, hedges, shrubs but also in nesting boxes.
The female builds the nest.
She can lay up to 7 eggs there and lay 3 clutches.
Read also5 birds to observe in your garden in winter
How does a robin behave?
The robin is a territorial species, which does not hesitate to fight with its congeners.
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The robin is one of the
least shy
birds with humans.
It is often spotted near feeders, roosts, vegetable gardens and homes.
But unlike many other birds, the robin is a
loner
and not very sociable with its congeners.
We never see him in groups.
It is only during the nesting period that the robin lives in pairs.
It is also a territorial
species
, which does not hesitate to fight with its congeners to defend its space.
It uses its red plumage as a deterrent to keep other birds away.