ROBIN (ERITHACUS RUBECULA)
There is no British bird beginning with ‘X’ and I dislike the abbreviation of Christmas, but the show must go on. The timing is impeccable for a Christmas special.
The reason robin’s stole the Christmas spotlight is twofold. Firstly, they are one of few birds that sing this time of year*, adding winter cheer to an otherwise frosty atmosphere. Both sexes sing year-round, a complex tune of cheerful notes which reminds me of a blackbird Turdus merula on helium. Perhaps their splash of colour also brightened up the dreary winter woods.
The second reason is from the tradition of mailing Christmas
cards. At the time cards went commercial
in the 1840’s , postmen wore red jackets, so were nicknamed ‘Robins’ for the
similarity of their dress. The robin’s associations with postmen and winter
time melded to inspire picture cards with caricatures of robins carrying letters
through the snow and has made them the traditional Christmas favourite.
Our fondness for the robin in Britain extends beyond the Christmas season. They have been our unofficial national bird since the 1960’s1, and they are seen as a friend above all else. British tradition dictates that it is taboo to capture or harm a robin1,2. To kill one is a scandal, causing a lifetime of bad luck 1,2 and egg-collecting children of past times left robin eggs be for fear of their fingers turning crooked if they stole one2. The famous excerpt from William Blake “A robin redbreast in a cage puts all heaven in a rage” illustrates that though robins were sometimes caged as songbirds, it was generally frowned upon. Christians also adopted the reverence of robins, claiming the bird’s breast was coloured when it plucked the thorns from Jesus’crown and bloodied itself1.
The robin did not enjoy the same respect in mainland Europe, where it was more regularly trapped for food and cagebirds. Perhaps because of these different histories, the British robin is much tamer than its mainland relatives1,2,3. We have our very own race of robin, E. rubicella melophilus (melophilus meaning lover’s song)2,4. Gardeners and growers enjoy a cupboard love with the bird, keen to exploit the insects and worms exposed by turned soil and confiding to the point of taking food from the hand (Something I’ve had the privilege of experiencing thanks to a friend). A robin sat on the handle of a fork or a spade is another iconic image of this bird. Though this isn’t a special relationship since robins will follow other earth movers from moles to wild boar.
Our fondness for the robin in Britain extends beyond the Christmas season. They have been our unofficial national bird since the 1960’s1, and they are seen as a friend above all else. British tradition dictates that it is taboo to capture or harm a robin1,2. To kill one is a scandal, causing a lifetime of bad luck 1,2 and egg-collecting children of past times left robin eggs be for fear of their fingers turning crooked if they stole one2. The famous excerpt from William Blake “A robin redbreast in a cage puts all heaven in a rage” illustrates that though robins were sometimes caged as songbirds, it was generally frowned upon. Christians also adopted the reverence of robins, claiming the bird’s breast was coloured when it plucked the thorns from Jesus’crown and bloodied itself1.
The robin did not enjoy the same respect in mainland Europe, where it was more regularly trapped for food and cagebirds. Perhaps because of these different histories, the British robin is much tamer than its mainland relatives1,2,3. We have our very own race of robin, E. rubicella melophilus (melophilus meaning lover’s song)2,4. Gardeners and growers enjoy a cupboard love with the bird, keen to exploit the insects and worms exposed by turned soil and confiding to the point of taking food from the hand (Something I’ve had the privilege of experiencing thanks to a friend). A robin sat on the handle of a fork or a spade is another iconic image of this bird. Though this isn’t a special relationship since robins will follow other earth movers from moles to wild boar.
We often characterise the robin as red breasted, known as
the ‘redbreast’ in England until recently, the Broindergh or ‘red belly’ in
Gaelic and Yr hobel goc or the ‘red bird’ in Welsh 1 and we often illustrate
it in scarlet or crimson dress. However, look at any real robin and you’ll see
it’s breast is not in fact red, but a rusty orange. The alternative name
“Ruddock” referring to a warm, ‘ruddy’ tone is more descriptive. ‘Robin’ itself
is short for ‘Robert’, following the practice for giving characterful birds
affectionate human names.
The robin uses its colourful breast in display. Whilst humans
see the robin as friendly, they view each other as anything but. Robin’s are
fiercely territorial. Even the different sexes will clash in winter. Research
into the true nature of robins by the devoted expert David Lack revealed that male
robins respond to red feathers like a bull to a flag, even if it’s just a ball of
fluff. After posturing, calling and chasing they may battle ferociously,
sometimes to the death.
Within their territory, robins build a nest of leaves and
moss in a nook or cranny. Aswell as bushes and tree holes, they are famous for using
human objects including plantpots and other garden items and even furniture
inside houses! When the young fledge, they are speckled brown and tan, often
being mistaken for a different species.
So to all readers of EcoGeek, I hope you’ve enjoyed this
celebration of this festive bird and enjoy your own festive celebrations if you
haven’t done so already. And if Christmas dinner gets too much, to paraphrase
one of my classmates, feed the birds, let them know it’s Christmas time!
Thank you and a Merry Christmas from Ecogeek!
Thank you and a Merry Christmas from Ecogeek!
*Apart from the wren Troglodytes troglodytes, lending it the common name ‘winter wren’.
References
1- Mark Cocker and Richard Mabey. (2005) Birds Britannica.
London, Chatto and Windus.
2- Fransesca Greenoak. (1979) All the Birds of the Air. A.
Brown and Sons.
3- Peter Holden and Tim Cleeves. (2010) RSPB Handbook of
British Birds (Third Edition). London, A&C Black.
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