The Robin (or Robin Redbreast, as it was once widely known) is an exceedingly common bird. It might seem surprising, therefore, that it is among the most (if not the most) popular bird in Great Britain. It has earned this position through a combination of its appearance, its habits, and the vast amount of folklore attached to this charming little songbird.

It is a small bird, about 5 inches in length, and both males and females are similar in colouration, although their breast is not red, it is orange. They have a face lined with grey, brown upper parts, and a whitish belly. The distinctive orange breast of both sexes contributed to the European robin's original name of "redbreast", as orange, the name for a colour, was unknown in English until the fruit of the same name was introduced during the 16th century. Earlier, in the 15th century, it became popular to give human names to familiar species, and the bird came to be known as "robin redbreast", later shortened to robin (with Robin being a diminutive form of the name Robert). Our robins are largely resident all year round, but a small minority, usually females, migrate to southern Europe during winter, with a few going as far as Spain. At the same time, Scandinavian and Russian robins migrate to Britain and western Europe to escape harsher winters. These migrants can be recognised by the greyer tone of their upper parts and their duller orange breast.

The robin is diurnal (it moves about and feeds during the daytime), although it has been known to hunt insects on moonlit nights or near artificial light. The robin in Britain is a gardener's friend, and here, British robins readily associate with gardeners, while elsewhere in Europe they are shy and retiring birds found in thick woodland cover. This may be because continental robins (the migratory northern populations of which winter around the Mediterranean) have long been exposed to hunting in the southern part of their range, making them more secretive. In Britain, we do not share the tradition of trapping and shooting small birds, which may explain why British robins are more confiding. Their feeding behaviour also plays a role, as they take most of their food from the ground, including invertebrates disturbed by larger animals. Perhaps they view us in a similar way, as they scavenge the worms unearthed by the gardener's spade, and their behaviour persists because they have nothing to fear.

Male robins are known for their extremely aggressive territorial behaviour. They will fiercely attack other males and competitors that stray into their territories. They have even been seen attacking other small birds without apparent provocation, and there are instances of robins attacking their own reflection! Territorial disputes can sometimes lead to fatalities, accounting for up to 10% of adult robin deaths in some areas. Due to high mortality in the first year of life, a robin's average life expectancy is about 13 months. However, once past its first year, it can expect to live longer, with one robin recorded as reaching 19 years of age. They are a very small bird, and a spell of very low temperatures in winter can result in significant mortality, but they are adaptable and will find shelter during the coldest snaps if they can.

Robins may choose a wide variety of sites for building a nest. In fact, anything that offers some shelter – such as a depression or hole – may be considered. In addition to the usual crevices or sheltered banks, other places might include pieces of machinery, barbecues, bicycle handlebars, bristles on upturned brooms, discarded kettles, watering cans, flowerpots, and hats. Robins will also nest in man-made nest boxes, favouring a design with an open front, placed in a sheltered position up to 2 metres from the ground. The nest is composed of moss, leaves, and grass, with fine grass, hair, and feathers for lining.

During the breeding season (which begins in March in Britain), two or three clutches of five or six eggs are laid. The eggs are cream, buff, or white, speckled or blotched with reddish-brown, often more heavily so at the larger end. When juvenile birds fly from the nest, they are mottled brown all over, but after two to three months out of the nest, the juvenile grows some orange feathers under its chin, and over a similar period, this patch gradually extends to complete the adult appearance.

The robin features prominently in British folklore. It was originally considered a storm-cloud bird and sacred to Thor, the god of thunder, in Norse mythology. Robins feature in the traditional children's tale, *The Babes in the Wood*, where the birds cover the dead bodies of the children. An old British folk tale explains the robin's distinctive breast. Legend has it that when Jesus was dying on the cross, the robin, then simply brown in colour, flew to his side and sang to comfort him in his pain. The blood from Christ's wounds stained the robin's breast, and thereafter, all robins carry the mark of Christ's blood. An alternative legend has it that the robin's breast was scorched while fetching water for souls in Purgatory.

Since the mid-19th century, the robin has become strongly associated with Christmas, featuring prominently on many Christmas cards and decorations. The robin has also appeared on Christmas postage stamps. This association with Christmas most likely arises from the fact that postmen in Victorian Britain wore red jackets and were nicknamed "Robin Redbreasts" or just "Robins". The robin on the Christmas card was there as an emblem of the hardy postman who was delivering the card!