Things you need to know about ROBINS!

Robins have long been considered as the UKs favourite bird so it is only fitting that they are also the unofficial national bird of the Country. There is some great news for fans of them too as their numbers seem to be on the rise. They are currently the seventh most common garden bird and it is estimated that there are almost seven and a half million of them in the UK.
Robins are quite a small bird, with a 21 cm wingspan and weighing just 14-21 grams. Their most notable feature is their bright red or orange breast and face. They also have brown wings, tails and heads and the feathers on the undersides are white or cream. Despite various suggested ways to tell the males from the females, such as the vibrancy of the red on their breasts, or the darkness of their wing feathers, the truth is that from a distance it is almost impossible to be certain if a robin is male or female. Even their behaviour is not a guarantee as there have been reporting’s of females mounting males during copulation.
Throughout the summer a robins diet mainly consists of invertebrates such as spiders, insects and worms, but during the colder months they will also eat fruit, berries and seed and suet from bird feeding stations. Although they are most common in gardens, parks and deciduous woodlands, they are found in pretty much every habitat.
Despite the difficulties that people may have in separating male and female robins, they don’t seem to have this problem themselves. They spend the late winter roaming outside of their usual territories trying to find a mate and once they do nest building can begin. This usually starts in early march and the nest, a cup of moss and dead leaves lined with hair can be built in the most unusual of places, including empty shoes, under car bonnets, and even in water cans. Naturally they will try to nest close to or on the ground amongst dense vegetation. Each female will lay between 4 and six spotted cream coloured eggs which only the she will incubate alone for 14 days until they hatch. When they do, both parents feed the chicks, who take a further 14 days to leave the nest. It can take more than 14 days for a robin chick to fully grow its flight feathers so sometimes they leave the nest without being able to fly. Young robins are a similar shape and size to their parents but completely lack the red breast. Robins will have 2 or sometimes 3 nests within a season but their nests are very susceptible to predation, only around 57% of the eggs they lay will survive to the point of fledging the nest.
After fledging the nest Robins don’t have a very long life expectancy. The average in the wild is around 2 years but one bird that was ringed in 1969 was found dead 8 years later in 1977. With their close relationship to humans and their adaptability to live in an urban environment, there are currently no threats to Robin populations in the UK.
Some of the footage and images in this video were obtained using creative commons licences. The originals and their licences can be found at:
• Robin chicks in the ga...
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#britishwildlife
#gardenbirds
#nature

[@suzannebouse8747]

A robin once flew into my bedroom I held out my hand and to my amazement it hopped on I slowly lifted my hand up to the open hopper window and it flew out I couldn’t believe what big feet it had for such a small bird One of the best experiences of my life

[@wildlifenet]

What an Amazing experience Suzanne! Thanks for making a difference for that Robin and ensuring they were able to fly out - Stewart

[@combatduckie]

yes, most of them are not afraid of humans, i had one, yeaers ago,, who used to fly over to my garden swing and sat on the armrest and stared me right in the eye....i feed them all year round with dried mealworms.

[@SEANPOL203]

Robins often stop & make eye contact with humans for some reason

[@vickyingramnymann8543]

It's just lovely when they hop onto your hand. My resident always came into the kitchen and sat on the rim of a plate I kept on the table so I started putting food into it. In the morning as I opened the kitchen door it would fly past me en route to the plate. Once I made a mistake of leaving a cake to cool.... I never did tell my guests what the little peck marks were 😮

[@kid--presentable]

That's lovely

[@dapperdanman4870]

Forget money, material things ,smartphones, Facebook and ticktock, and paying to watch things , the best show on this earth Is amazing and it's free, and that's nature it's self , some people go through their while lives without even looking at what amazing creatures and plants are around them .I have a Robin that eats worms from my hand and comes inside the house , that's what life's about ,that's what makes me happy .

[@doublemarvellous5525]

Yes. Nature shows us the way to go. Any tips on befriending the robins?

[@LowleyUK]

100% agree! I have a robin in my garden that I feed too. It's an amazing experience. A few days ago a cat was lurking in my garden and I shooed it away, and the robin came flying towards me immediately afterwards and was chirping and bouncing like he was thanking me. He had never chirped at me before! Or since!

[@musicloverlondon6070]

There's something magical about robins. There are plenty of beautiful garden birds about in the UK but robins are special. ♥️

[@Pythonaria]

Perhaps it's because they are bold and friendly birds. If you're working in the garden, a Robin will be watching you. Throw him a juicy worm or grub and he'll soon be your gardening friend.

[@musicloverlondon6070]

@@Pythonaria Yes, I agree; I think the boldness is definitely very endearing! 😊

[@wildlifenet]

They are magical and recognised all around the world, especially featuring at Christmas time - Stewart

[@OggyGTA]

They have evolved as creatures that have an affinity with animals that disturb the earth. Wild pigs, horses, human etc.

[@ethanhayes9989]

@@Pythonaria I ended up befriending a robin like that. It eventually became so bold it would hang around the greenhouse with me and take mealworms from my hands while perched on my fingers. He would literally sit on my fingers for minutes at a time just being walked around the garden, only leaving to fight away other birds lol Come rain or shine, the robin would be singing at me demanding snacks within 5 minutes of going outside. I miss that little bird

[@philburr4075]

I love Robins someone once told me that they represent a visitor from the afterlife, everytime I see one I think of my mum who passed 21yrs ago when I was 17

[@philburr4075]

@Jazzmaster Jay we both know it's bollocks but it's nice I guess

[@pigeonlove]

@@philburr4075 who knows. They would have said the idea of the internet was bollocks before it happened.

[@barbaraaimson2100]

Since i lost my husband, when i get anxious a robin will appear and i know itll all be ok. Today my grandson went for an induction day at the hi school. We were all concerned, stupidly, but along came my little friend to reassure me. Who knows ,you get your peace where you can

[@barbaraharris7004]

''When the birds sing in the trees I am their song.'' A line from the song ''Beyond The Rainbows End .''by Daniel O'Donnell saying just that.

[@gerrypippin2263]

Yes x

[@Jones607]

Our Robins are a national treasure. They’re cheeky little critters, very territorial. If you’re on their patch, they claim you for their own property, which is probably why they’re so tame. May there numbers continue to rise.❤

[@fireblade2681]

Robins are tame because they have been following humans around for millennia waiting for them to dig up the earth so they can eat all the things that come out of the ground, so they have built up an evolutionary relationship a bit like the birds in Africa that tribes use for hunting. There's a robin in my back garden that comes right up to me without fear, he's much more tame than the squirrel.

[@Jones607]

@@fireblade2681 Robins are very territorial birds. Anything in their territory they deem as belonging to them, including humans! Your not in “your garden,” your in your local Robins territory. Which is why they dare to come close to humans. And if you have food to offer them, all the better.

[@fireblade2681]

@@Jones607 You think Robins are trying to scare humans off their territory? I don't think so. Get the local cat along and see how territorial the robins are. They are territorial with their own species but they don't compete with humans for territory. There must be an ancestral link between humans and robins which goes back millennia.

[@Jones607]

@@fireblade2681 No, you’re putting words in my mouth. Regarding Robins, I’m stating a behavioural fact. And right now, you’re behaving like a troll.

[@fireblade2681]

haha, good one😄

[@annoakley3755]

I had Robins at my horses stable. We fed them everyday and if we forgot or were late Robin gave us an earful. One morning Robin came with 3 babies what a noise they made. It used to follow us all around the stable block. Incredible little things, love them.

[@wildlifenet]

That is Amazing Ann! How wonderful to have Robins giving you an earful! That's great - Stewart

[@cobwebtheorem7538]

100th like!

[@carolwalmsley3362]

Awe how lovely ❤

[@noradinneen1]

How adorable. Lucky you

[@connarthewuff8417]

We feed our birds all year round and have lots of them visit us daily, Robins are around us all day and day of the year. One winter`s day a couple of years ago we managed to count 13 of them! At this time of year a few of our Robins become quite brave and we have had the occasional one that will take a live mealworm from our hands. About 5 years ago we noticed one was becoming very tame, he was quite distinctive as he had white feathers on his flanks, so we called him “whitesides”. In a morning when I went out to give the birds their breakfast before going to work he would be the first to find me, and would land on my hand, take a mealworm and fly off to the nearest bush to eat it. Then he would come back for more, sometimes he would take 5 or 6 before flying off. It wasn`t long before he started eating 3 or 4 of them whilst staying on my hand, though if another Robin came too near he would chase it off. Soon he began staying longer on my hand to eat 7 and 8 at a time before flying off. One day after eating his fill off my hand, just as I was expecting him to fly off, he turned around and with his back to me, he began singing away at the top of his voice. I could have easily grabbed him with my other hand of course, but such was his confidence in me, he wanted to use me as his songpost! He soon realized that quite often when he heard our front or back door open, one of us would appear so we had to make sure we had a small tub of mealworms with us! It wasn`t long before he figured out that we lived behind the “big glass windows” so he would land on the window ledge to see if he could see us. If he couldn`t initially find us he would then go round the house and peep in from every window ledge until he found one of us! So when we saw each other we would go out and after watching which way we were going, he would be waiting on the front or back porch step for his mealworms! He also soon realized that if he heard and saw us any time we were out in the garden we had to be very careful not to step on him as he would come round our feet to see if we had dug any worms up for him! When we returned from work at teatime, he would hear our car approaching and would fly up onto the fence and wait for us to get out. Then he would hop along the fence in front of us, whilst watching that we were following him to the back door, where he would wait until we went in and them back out again with more mealworms! One day when we came back from work, he waiting as normal on the fence, once I had we parked up but before I could open my door he flew over and perched on the wing mirror! We looked at each other for a few seconds so I thought I would wait until he hopped off before I got out. But he didn`t move so I had to open my door very slowly with a Robin swinging away on the mirror…….! One morning I was sat on the back porch step feeding him, when suddenly all the other birds scattered and a split second later a Sparrowhawk flashed into the garden. In an instant, rather than fly off in panic, Whitesides just dashed quickly behind my back, and stayed there for about 3 or 4 minutes until he realized the coast was clear, then he just hopped out and looked up at me as if to say, “alright can you carry on with the mealies please!” In warmer weather if we had either of our outside doors open he would occasionally even come on the door ledges or even onto the inside mats to see if he could find us! On another occasion a friend was helping me carry our old bath out of the bathroom. As we were slowing walking down the hallway to the front door, I looked down and there was Whitesides hopping along the carpet towards me as I had left the door open to make it easy to get the bath out! My friend thought it quite amusing when I told him that we needed to put the bath down so I could get some mealworms to tempt Whitesides back outside! One year when spring came he found a mate, who also soon realized that mealworms were “on tap” so she would fly over with him, but would not come to my hand though she would land quite closeby. Whitesides would then land on my hand, take a few mealworms one at a time and fly over to her and feed her! He was with us for the best part of 4 years, but suddenly he stopped coming and after a few days we realized that he was no longer around. We didn`t have a dog at the time so it felt like we had lost a family friend. I have to confess we both shed a few tears for him…….. Some weeks later though whilst feeding the birds, we noticed a Robin that had quite white flanks just like Whitesides had. For a brief moment we thought he was back, but we soon realized it wasn`t as this Robin was a bit shy and wouldn`t come to my hand when I tried to tempt him with mealworms. However it wasn`t long before he did, and in due course he started coming onto my hand every time he saw us for his mealworms. Though he never got as tame as Whitesides, he was always around when we were about. So we were sure he was the offspring of Whitesides as he displayed quite a few of the same characteristics like looking for us on the window ledges. Unfortunately he only lasted a couple of years before he too disappeared. Since then we have had the odd Robin happy to land on our hands, and for a few weeks I had a male Great Tit do the same, after he had watched another Robin do it! We currently have 3 quite tame Blackbirds who are frantically stuffing as many mealworms into their beaks as they can, as they are feeding their young. We also have 4 or 5 Robins around, a couple of them are also quite tame and one in particular will come very close, but I doubt if we will ever have another ”Whitesides”

[@suzannemoran7281]

Thank you for telling me all about your lovely little Robin. He had a super little life. Well done

[@gilliangriggs6526]

What a lovely read. Thank you for sharing

[@galboy7899]

Lovely story, much enjoyed, we had a blackbird "whitespot" marking over left eye, so friendly but not too friendly, we always fed and watched his great antics, a hawk got him and there was nothing I could do, upset wasn't the word is could use .

[@lucydaly4718]

When my auntie passed away and my uncle 5yrs later when wee had there caskets home a Robin flew into house and sat on curtain pole this happened twice 5yrs apart

[@natureschild.5380]

Fantastic story mate. Cheers 🍻

[@CZ350tuner]

Back in the late 1990's, we had a tame Robin that used to frequently come into the kitchen to be fed and taught his hen to do the same. They tried to build a nest in the kitchen, one year, but we prevented them, for their own safety. Much later, at the end of her life, the hen came into the house, settled down in the living room with us and passed peacefully away.

[@dnorfed]

❤️❤️

[@jandavison7288]

😭

[@Jannie-]

Aw that’s such a sweet story. You were so lucky to have had that magical experience 🥰.

[@djdoolittle1315]

Beautiful

[@ladythalia227]

❤️ 😭

[@davevoce]

One interesting fact about Robins is that before humans came along they followed boars around as the boars would dig the ground then they'd go in to get the bugs, so they just copy that behaviour with us. As a gardener Robins are a constant companion and the fact that they tough the winter out with us I find comforting, they are without doubt the best bird.

[@hectorheath9742]

If humans weren't around, how do we know? Or are you just saying that they follow animals that forage and have probably always done so?

[@davevoce]

@@hectorheath9742 They do it today in areas with boars, and it makes sense that this would have been a behaviour for quite a while, most likely predating the behaviour of humans doinig the gardening in areas that are no longer inhabited with boars.

[@wildlifenet]

That is interesting, we didn't know that fact Dave, they did also get their Robin Red Breast name when there was no word in the English language for Orange, it was just a shade of Red. They really are a gardener's best friend. Thanks for sharing - Stewart.

[@alienfish8521]

Yep. Every time I'm out doing some gardening, there's 1 or 2 robins hanging around.

[@arabellacox]

If this was before humans came along, how do you know they did this??!!

[@sheilamackridge9659]

Love the Robin in my garden… now feeds from my hand. 💕

[@AShotOfWildlife]

They're great garden companions!

[@barrywalls7175]

I have a Robin buddy too for the last 21 months, he comes into the kitchen daily and chirps at me for some cheese! Beautiful

[@CarolinaOats]

@@barrywalls7175 wow they eat cheese? How’d you tame it?

[@barrywalls7175]

@@CarolinaOats He( I think he because he recently was feeding a fledgling which is apparently the males role) lives in the back garden. I just started putting out little bits of cheese for him and he got closer and closer. He eats out of my hand now. I highly recommend it. Bit of patience and regularity, and calm movements and they relax :) Oh and yea, they love cheese...his name's cheddar now!

[@eileenpritchard9154]

@@CarolinaOats Our Robins love sun flower hearts.😊🤗😊

[@mrmash3085]

A couple of Robin's flew into the conservatory once fighting, all hell broke loose. On walking in one then flew out but the other dropped behind a vase . I picked him up, offered him a helping hand outside and off he went . He was easily identified by the several spots of white feathers in amongst his red ones. For several years after he would feed from my hand, even fly in the house, sit on the tv and keep the dog company . Wonderful to see, Then one day he wasn't to be seen again..... Anyhow suppose he must have trusted me , kinda miss my little friend. Good memories. R.I.P little bird. 🙏

[@wildlifenet]

That is remarkable Mr Mash! Love the fact that the Robin would keep the dog company - Thanks for sharing - Stewart

[@mrmash3085]

@@wildlifenet he was amazing little bird. Great to see at the time. Not to sure what the dog thought of it tbh.

[@mrmash3085]

@@wildlifenet miss that little bird to yea😪

[@daveandlouise123]

That's beautiful

[@mrmash3085]

@@daveandlouise123 yes it was a beautiful thing to experience, to see and to be part of to.

[@TheWESTSIDE1967]

They always appear when you lose somebody & one sat on my brothers grave & appeared when i lost my Son recently, beautiful little birds, when i walk my dog through a wooded area one appeared too & i just stopped & whistled to it, now everytime i walk through the same path i give the same whistle & it always pops up, it does make me smile 😊

[@Groundwater24]

I strongly believe there are human souls in these inquisitive birds. Recently had one follow me everywhere around the garden and like clockwork it would be virtually in my lap half the time looking at me. I also believe that they can sense the true intentions of humans or rather, who they can trust.

[@RHR-221b]

💚

[@marleyb6506]

I agree with that ☝️

[@user-ou8rv5tk7m]

I have believed that for a long time 🙂

[@wildlifenet]

Agree with you Sunny! They are very inquisitive but seem to know who to trust too, thank you for sharing this important point - Stewart

[@johndonovan8062]

Yes its a common belief here in lreland that robins represent the soul of a recently departed loved one who has come to watch/ keep company of those who were close to that soul in life. Also there is an old story on why the robin has a red breast. When our Lord was up on the Cross and the Roman guard pierced his chest with the spear a small brown bird was on the ground and some of our Lord's blood fell on the small bird marking its breast and since that day Robin's have had red breasts. Its a nice story anyway.

[@AL-PAKA]

robins are cool my grandma who was really sweet would always say ooh look a robin i love them, bless her lol

[@myrtleesther8855]

A Robin visited us when My dad was killed in a traffic accident, it flew into the house through the door went upstairs into my parents room and sat on top of my dad's wardrobe, looked at me for a while then flew out of the open window. I took it to be a message that all is well and my Dad is with Jesus.

[@stevegriffiths5364]

I remember when I was very very young and talking to my mum about Robins. I asked her where do Robins come from..or something along those lines. I'll never forget what she said..A bird was sitting at the foot of Christ's Cross and a drop of Christ's blood landed on a bird..and that's where Robins come from...miss you mum..xo

[@marymahon1878]

That reminds me of a story I heard that the robin has a read breast because they were trying to remove the thorns from Christ's crown of thorns.

[@ohmickey6774]

A beautiful Robin comes to visit me in my garden but mainly seems to come when I'm playing my guitar it just sits on the fence opposite and watches me I'm convinced it likes Music.

[@tomredaintdead9575]

Very friendly birds. They will come and say hello regularly

[@extradimensional8818]

My dad's favourite bird was the robin and the strange thing is after he died a robin would always come to my name house and sit on the fence or on the window ledge or tree staring into he window and doing little hopping dances in the garden' we all took its visits as a sign from me dad that he was still around and his spirit was happy in another realm..✌️🧐🇬🇧

[@SuperCazmac]

I had similar experience 💕

[@lcfc2016]

Nice to hear that..

[@marleyb6506]

Nice 👌

[@marzipom5630]

❤️

[@OggyGTA]

There's a common English expression or saying "When Robins are here, loved ones are near"

[@waltraudgoslowsky7534]

I’m a German living in Ireland and there’s always been a robin in my garden. Thought it had gone or died as I hadn’t seen him for several months. Last week when removing some weeds and ivy under the fuchsia bush a small bird appeared looking for worms and the like and I thought: What? This is what a robin would do but you don’t look like a robin. So I asked Google and was really surprised to find that the young ones look completely different as you also show on your video. You learn something new every day…

[@AShotOfWildlife]

That's great. It's surprising how quick they become used to people, even as youngsters. I hope it sticks around.

[@jshaw4757]

Just be careful you don't upset one you don't want batman darkening your doorstep...😂

[@rammingspeed5217]

​@@AShotOfWildlifewhy they are not really afraid of huuumans?

[@DaGleese]

I'm Irish living in Germany, and I really miss red breasted Robins. Does Germany have any of them? I think I spotted brown ones, but they seem to fear humans more than the ones in Ireland.

[@waltraudgoslowsky7534]

@DaGleese: Good question. The first robin I saw was in London in Holland Park decades ago, never saw them in Germany. Loads of birds in our garden in Munich or in my relatives‘ gardens in Berlin or in the garden of an old schoolfriend in a tiny village but never a robin…

[@caroline24764]

Glad their numbers are increasing, I really love robins

[@aladinfox4098]

Bit late coming to this but time is an asterix ! I had a robin in my shed recently that made a nest in a box of screws, I went in to get some of them only to be surprised by a half built nest so I immediately retreated to leave the robin to it fearing I may have frightened It away. I frequently forgot to not enter my shed as there were always things I needed, but the robin was never fazed and stuck with it. Four eggs later and lots of tweeting at me for disturbing them they all hatched out happily. I'm hoping they'll be back next year. I feel a poem coming on 😁

[@missapippin9020]

Good to hear they are thriving well in England

[@51WCDodge]

The Robin at my yard is The Contoller- He sits and watches everything we do, and gets very vocal if not satisfied. Probbaly one of the best fed Robins in England.

[@wildlifenet]

Thank you for caring for your Robin Dodge! The fact the Robin feels in charge of your yard shows how much it trusts you! - Stewart.

[@robthomas3968]

Robin’s always bring a smile to your faces when you see one

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

We have a pair nesting in the ivy that grows over the wall in our back yard. 😊 While visiting the walled garden in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, a robin came and landed on the back of a chair at our table as we had lunch. It was very clearly eyeing my scone and wanting a share of it, so I broke off a peice and put it on the edge of the table. The robin then landed right on the table and started pecking at the crumb, less than an arm's length from myself and my wife. Wonderful. 😀

[@wildlifenet]

That is a remarkable encounter Kevin, Robins are so inquisitive but that didn't take the Robin long to trust you, Amazing - Stewart.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

@@wildlifenet It's actually quite normal there. The local bird population have learned that the walled garden's outdoor dining area is a ready source of food and that no-one wants to harm them, so they hop around right under the tables finding crumbs. Even normally wary birds such as blackbirds will come very close, and you have to be careful when you move your feet in case there's a bird near them. The robin was just exhibiting typical robin behaviour and being braver than most, but it was lovely to have a one-to-one interaction with it. 😄

[@gretchent7750]

Robins are my state’s bird (Wisconsin), and their eggs are blue. I love their songs!

[@AShotOfWildlife]

That's the American Robin. Much larger and quite a bit different from the European Robin featured in this video :)

[@jsmith3980]

A robin came very close to me in the garden today, less than a metre away .It was just watching us clearing out a shed.Thanks for posting such interesting facts.

[@hni7458]

Great to learn that you Britons see the Robin as your national bird. We Swedes have voted the Blackbird as ours, at several occasions at that - it mirroring our self-appointed serenity it was said. No harm in that if you ask me, but my favourite is the Robin, whispering out its song to highlight spring. We call it Redchin (Rödhake).

[@angeliquecaroartt7542]

Excellent information. But one thing I would like to add. It is possible to have a close relationship with Robins. They are very friendly - especially if you feed them - as I have. I used to work on a Farm so I was in fields all day. A nest had been raided in the hedge where I was and only one chick survived. I fed him constantly for the rest of his juvenile life. And when he was full grown he found a mate whom he proudly brought onto the field to show me. You can tell them apart - the female is slimmer than the male and - yes the red is less pronounced. I loved my Robin and I hope he is still alive.

[@Aragorn62]

Living in a city I never get to see Robins that often. Just after my mother passed a Robin was sitting on my fence. Out of all the houses in the street it makes ya wonder. I smile anytime I see one.

[@bobs6280]

Had a pair of robins nesting in my garage for 3 years on the trot 🙂🙂🙂 even had to leave the back door open while they took over the garage 😉👍👌

[@freddyeverready]

One of my favourite birds.

[@rosemarywatkins4121]

Such an iconic little bird. Very comforting to contemplate.

[@wildlifenet]

Truly iconic and an inspiring little bird, especially to anyone with a garden! - Stewart.

[@chuckynickolodean8420]

My favourite birds. Robins are BEAUTIFUL XXXX

[@drjthornley]

We get really excited when Fred the robin shows up in the garden. Seem to like meal worms. Beautiful little guys and yes they are magical!

[@Pythonaria]

Where I live our house backs onto a protected woodland area. We are blessed with all manner of birds and wildlife. We have Robins (one drives our indoor cats crazy - I'm sure he knows the cats can't get at him and teases them), Bluetits, various Finches, Tawny Owls (hear them most nights) and two species of Woodpeckers. We also have Wood Pigeons, Sparrows, Crows and Magpies although I notice this year there are less Magpies than normal which will give the small birds space to flourish. Of the furry animals we have foxes, squirrels and badgers. We also have Slow Worms, Newts, frogs and toads. Also been blessed to have Bumblebee nests for 4 years in a row now. Very lucky to live where I do.

[@pigeonlove]

Thank you for keeping indoor cats, I wish others would do the same.

[@Pythonaria]

@@pigeonlove It's safer for my cats too. They don't get into fights with other cats, don't run the risk of cruel humans and in general live longer. We lost our oldest cat a few weeks ago. He was the grand age of 22. I had another indoor only cat a few years ago who lived to an even greater age of 23.

[@hugebartlett1884]

I eat regularly at an open cafe and have quickly spotted the regular birds who come around,some of which are getting to know me as a handy source of food, especially as they are feeding young. I put out a lot of seeds every day,and enjoy watching the two blackbirds helping themselves to the pellets.

[@ethanschenck9714]

I'm visiting Britain for the first time, and when going to Formsby yesterday i heard plenty of them, but couldnt see one. Then today we went all the way to RSPB Conwy and one of the guides said that they would actually eat out of folks hands, and i decided to try my luck. Even before i took out some seeds, they started popping up and approaching us, and when I ended up managing to get one to dip in and take a few. It's amazing that my first proper meeting with these little guys was so exceptional.

[@jhunter1573]

The gardener's friend. It's said if a robin visit's you after you lose someone close to you it's a sign that they are a peace. I do believe that it could be true has on the day I lost my dad a robin did visit me. R.i.p. dad we miss you.❤️💕

[@helenflynn96]

I had a very similar experience. I was at the graveyard when my dad was being buried. I couldn't bear to see his coffin being lowered so I stood slightly apart from the rest of my family. I heard a bird singing so I looked down to see a robin standing to my left. He/she made direct eye contact with me.💙

[@peterslevin416]

And what a great song bird I have heard them sing in the the middle of the night, sun or no sun they sing their heart out.

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Yeah, it a beautiful song :)

[@porrohman100]

You often hear them late at night too and I've heard them as early as 2 or 3 in the morning sometimes. They also use the earths magnetic field to navigate too, truly amazing ,beautiful creatures ,I've been feeding them from my hand for about 10 years at a picnic spot near a canal where i live , such a lovely experience getting so close to nature I've had one on each hand on many occasion feeding them fatballs usually, I mimic their calls and they seem to respond and helps gain their trust , I try to make sure no ones around when i mimic them some people might think your 're strange lol, when trying to train them to feed from your hand feed them on the ground first, I use broken up bits of fatballs and try to copy the pitch of their call and gradually feed them closer and closer. Sounds silly but I kind of whistle who's a good boy at the same pitch as their call, I've got quite a good ear as I'm a musician. it seems to work anyway I 've fed a few over the years, feeding the same one everyday for few years until it moves territory and another just appears and been lucky to always have one to feed they are less territorial during winter and the place I feed then there is usually at least 2 robins near this wooden bench and if one sees another feeding from your hand it will feel free to do the same but they 're all different and some are so friendly they 'll sit on your hand and sing if you mimic them. Check out this robin i filmed a while ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYK5oJKAe5WhaMk

[@Leo-gt1bx]

Interesting. When ever I have fed them they always seem to disappear when it got dark.

[@arabellacox]

When I had to wait 7 weeks by myself to find out if I had cancer or not, everywhere I sat when out and about, I was joined by a Robin! Even outside the busy entrance to Home Bargains! I was visited in places where they were never seen ordinarily and each Robin would sit for a good 15, 20 minutes. One woman who saw a Robin with me believed they were protecting me. It really was incredible and brought me so much comfort. Each time I'd take a picture or a video to send to my kids.

[@gailknight3128]

Nothing better than hearing a Robin singing. One sits in a tree near me and as its getting dark he sits there singing his little heart. Lovely little birds, very territorial though.

[@MarvinofMars]

I volunteered as trail repair builder in my local forest for years, often had Robins keep me company looking for any worms grubs from cleared paths, on tea breaks they would sit beside you inches away always interested in what you were and what you were doing.. fearless and friendly.

[@doeharris5363]

I have a wonderful little Robin in my garden, it sits on the anvil waiting for it's breakfast then it's lunch hahaha. Such a sweet little bird. Thank you for sharing your video. 🙋🙋🙋🙋🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@strangevision99]

Robins are such cute, silly looking bundles of fluff. Can't help love them.

[@pinkyandrexa]

I think robins have a body language to greet humans and encourage us to feed them. If I say "Hello darling" to my little female frobin friend, she bobs her tail and looks at me with her head on the left, then on the right. She might sing a bit, almost certainly asking me to put down some mealworms. I think the tail bobbing gesture is a greeting, as in the way cats raise their tails, or dogs wag their tails to greet us. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@Anne-ku3lj]

When my neighbour went on holiday, the robin from her garden stared me down until I fed it lol

[@anthonyheath7549]

Robins are very friendly especially when you are working the soil when they may find something to eat.

[@ZaphodBeeb1]

You often hear robins singing in the winter and also Dunnocks (Hedge sparrows). That always cheers me up when I hear them.

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Yes, Dunnocks have such a beautiful song for a rather plain looking bird.

[@user-jb7uz4hs2i]

A great little video which made me smile! I love robins and of course all other birds. They all visit my garden as I regularly put out food for them and they use my bird bath. Lovely to sit quietly in my garden and watch them as they come and go. Birds bring so much beauty into the world. I am in the Scottish Borders .

[@rosemarydudley9954]

When I was (daily) having my lunch in my tack room a robin used to hop around outside. I threw a tiny piece of bread and he/she hopped in to take it. It was there every day at the same time and eventually sat on my boot to eat from my hand. Occasionally it had a piece of fruit cake as a treat. No longer having my horse, I miss little Robin.

[@Jkk55]

Robins are my favourite bird they were also my late mother's, the day she died a robin came right up to me and sat there for ages I see them a lot. ❤

[@kenfalloon3186]

Robins are the only songbirds that sing throughout the winter. It's such a beautiful song too, subtle and varied with an almost plaintive melancholic quality.

[@crystalball6358]

Robin's are my most favorite birds. They're so pretty and polite and dainty!

[@patriciadavey6895]

When we arrived in france the first thing my husband needed to do was to create a path to the door. There was grass only. As he worked a robin came and sat on the gate. He had no fear of us and was foraging on the ground near us. We sat outside for coffee and biscuits and over a number of weeks he gradually came nearer as we called to him. Finally he ate crumbs off the plate, then out of our hands. He even came into the house on one occasion, flitting around the room and exploring it all. He was with us for a couple of years, and then one January I found him sitting in the doorway. His breastbone looked very odd as if it was broken. I tried to pick him up but he hopped into the undergrowth by the door. He returned again, and then disappeared, and we never saw him again. We have seen other robins around the garden, but they never came anywhere near us.

[@catrionamacfarlane4949]

Love robins, so friendly...visited us in winter.

[@extradimensional8818]

A truly beautiful bird to behold 😳🇬🇧

[@BlackRose22998]

My daughter died very young, I see lots of robins and I know it's my girl coming too say hello.. it's comforting and I adore them 💕🦋

[@jakis5705]

I love seeing a Robin, for some reason I always feel happy when I see a Robin x

[@TheRowlandstone73]

I've always liked the opening scene in one of my favourite films, Gladiator, where a tired and unhappy looking Maximus, standing on the battlefield, dreaming of home, notices a Robin, which then flies off, bringing a brief but contented smile to his face. That one small moment instantly tells us a lot about the character of Maximus.

[@mirrlamp]

I love the gorgeous little things. We have a feeder and birdbath in the garden and it's a pleasure seeing them go about their business. Out of all the birds who visit us, Robins are definitely the boldest and stick around watching and even following as you work in the garden.

[@mariatimmins8846]

Just noticed the young robins in my garden, we feed the live mealworm during spring season and always put out suet, kibble and sunflower hearts all year round... , of course squirrells are a pain but i put out food for those too on a seperate feeding table... crow, magpie, collard doves and pidgeons all feed too, cant leave anything out, foxes and hedgogs visit the garden... its great to watch them all...👍

[@tommo4428]

Brilliant video, such a beautiful creature, my grandad used to have a robin that used to sit on a beam in his garage and watch him whilst he was working no matter how noisy it was the little robin would just sit and watch. Nature is beautiful

[@thebuttonsblog]

I had no idea they had such a short life expectancy. I imagined it was the same robin returning to my garden every winter - year after year after year... Everyday is a school day 😎

[@JaneDoe-rj4jn]

Your robins are very different than ours in North America. Ours are large thrushes with bright orange-red abdomens. I know our long hard winter is over when I spot the first Robin of spring.. such a welcome sight. They also have beautiful bright blue eggs!

[@shirleylaws1358]

Our Robins in jamaica has bright blood red breast feathers..havent seen one in years

[@alki3443]

That's because American robins aren't actually related to European robins other than the fact that they are birds, I think the Amercian robin is a type of thrush.

[@rosiefay7283]

@@alki3443 Indeed. The robin is this bird of Europe and N. Asia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_robin When English-speakers in America came across that type of thrush, they (confusingly) applied the same name robin to those, too.

[@county8815]

Lovely little birds , they me happy just to see them in the garden

[@cayad2591]

i'm in the USA but i love Robins. This may sound crazy but the week before my father passes away when he had lost the ability to speak there appeared a Robin right under his window where his bed was. That Robin was there day and evening until he passed away. Now when i am sad and really needing my father I will call out for him and within a few minutes a Robin will cross my path. Today is Father's Day here in the US. I miss you so much Papa, love you forever. 😥💔

[@GosWardHen98]

Seen a Robin visit our gareen frequently this summer, and the saying is: If you get a visit by a single Robin, its a past relative coming to say hello or check you're okay! They have a lovely song & always sing from the tops of branches. Clear as day.

[@Meltdown300]

Just found your channel and subscribed. Birds and wildlife are so intriguing. I love to find out more about them. Had two robins come right up to me the other day while I was gardening. Was so amazing.

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Thank you, welcome to the channel. I hope you have found lots of videos that you enjoy here.

[@stephenchecksfield632]

They are just absolutely adorable beautiful little birds

[@lauradavison4044]

They are so bold I love the ones in my garden.

[@MC-in8mc]

Thank you so much for these wonderful lessons and discussions, they're so joyful instead of wars and strife. 😊😍😘

[@thefurrybastard1964]

Robins are the Hard Men of the bird kingdom! I've encountered many Robins in my time, and none of them ever seemed aftaid of humans.

[@christinemo9622]

As I have remarked above, robins can indeed be wary of humans. I agree they are little toughies!

[@finncullen]

Well played, sir.

[@jean2740]

I get a pair of them in my yard most day's. I love them . I always feed em , I feed them in warm weather aswell as winter ❤

[@giuglianacamelia217]

I have 2 regulars in my garden, one will come close to me when I put feed out,but the other one stays mostly in the tress watching & waiting for the other one to bring back food for him . They are always nearby and have great eyesight as soon as I dig the ground or cut the grass they are watching for worms/insects. Such sweet little birds 💕

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

Thank you for this cheerful and informative video. So encouraging to hear of wildlife flourishing and not becoming extinct. ❤️❤️❤️

[@walther7147]

Every Winter is one of them at my feeding place. I take it as a greeting from Britain.

[@annec988]

Love beautiful Robins and their beautiful bird song.

[@garylivesey7571]

Thanks for that Robins are my absolute favourite British garden bird👍

[@colinmiles1052]

Short and sweet! Robins are deffo my favourite garden bird!

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Cheers.

[@hectorskmetija3015]

My first recollection of Robins (many many years ago😂) was them nesting in a rusty metal watering at the back of my dad's garden shed 🥰

[@ladyjessiecoyne2617]

You never said How very aggressive those wee beautiful birds are, so cute and look innocent but they can stand up for themselves...❤

[@marttimattila9561]

We love our Robins in our yard in Finland too. One Winter one stayed here a whole Winter and we worry our self to death how she will mange til Spring.

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Are they just as friendly over there? I have heard that they do not approach people in mainland Europe the same way they do in the UK.

[@shingerz]

Love to see them in the garden good video 👍

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Thank you!

[@eliz_scubavn]

We’ve got two pairs in the garden. They think they’re the size of eagles and twice as hard and it’s adorable. One of the ones we’ve had was tame enough to follow you around the garden and even fly into the house. He’d get upset if you didn’t feed him.

[@ethelmini]

That would be my addition. They're pugnacious little buggers, you have to be good at defending your patch if you over winter on our cold, dark, soggy island.

[@eliz_scubavn]

@@ethelmini the ones we have in the garden has tried to fight our dog (a fairly good sized Shih Tzu) and has a regular habit of chasing wood pigeons away from feeders.

[@coletteoneill8187]

I love robins when u see one in Ur garden they say that is some one looking out for u from the other side I have one most of the year sometimes 2 that is my mum &dad looking over me I just adore them

[@StewartEvans52]

Love Robins,get them around my feeders every winter and always a joy to watch with my morning coffee out the kitchen window

[@flybobbie1449]

Saw one today. Whenever i work on my car or bike, there is always one hopping around next to me. They seem a bird not frightened of humans, reason why they are popular.

[@HelenaMikas]

Lovely .I live in Berlin now where we rarely see them but wow do we hear them :) 👍

[@sporkfindus4777]

I love digging in the garden, then spotting a robin standing by watching for worms

[@mothmagic1]

They are aggressively territorial. Considering their small size they are feisty little birds. They are also bold to the point of cheekiness. The gardener's friend. I've often had one perched on the handle of the fork right beside me when pulling weeds in the garden.

[@marylynch951]

Thank Liam I love the little Robin I love all birds 🐦 But I don't like birds been kept in cage I find it so cruel I love seeing them flying freely and singing out loud sitting on the trees As the saying goes free As a 🐦 🦜

[@spatz3081]

This bird always reminds me of a beautiful story about the secret garden.

[@gaynorspiers9939]

Lovely clip, there’s something very special about Robins, Thank. You for sharing this lovely clip

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Thank you.

[@alexrafe2590]

I’m delighted to hear that Robins do well in the environment created by people, as so many other species struggle to adapt. In America, settlers from Britain so missed their beloved robins that they named the native orange/red breasted brown birds they found there robins. But they’re somewhat larger birds and actually belong to the true thrush family, of which another species, the blackbird, they’re actually quite closely related to. The American bird European robins are closely related to are our bluebirds. These birds have bodies and shapes similar to European robins but they’re slightly larger and while having the redbreast and white feathers further down their bodies, their backs, wings, tails and heads are covered in pastel blue feathers. Like their robin cousins, males and females have the same colouring. They’re beautiful birds but not so widely seen as robins in Europe. One bird I miss seeing much of these days in the cities are sparrows. They used to be so commonplace when I was a child. Now I hardly ever see them.

[@musicloverlondon6070]

What you said about the disappearance of sparrows is so very true. We used to see them all the time in London but over the last 30 years or so they have declined to such an extent that they have almost disappeared. The same can be said for starlings. I think the conversion of so many gardens into driveways and patios has played a part in it sadly.

[@alexrafe2590]

@@musicloverlondon6070 I recently moved to Dublin and I saw a sparrow the other day, and I realised I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen one before that. I lived in London for nearly 24 years and I think I must have seen a sparrow there at some point, even several times, but I can’t think of when that might have been, even once.

[@musicloverlondon6070]

@@alexrafe2590 Exactly. It's like a slow, silent vanishing of the wildlife that was once a common part of childhood, even in cities, and not that long ago really. Modern children will quite probably have never seen sparrows or clouds of starlings. For such a dramatic change to occur within a relatively short time is not a good portent for the future and sadly, it's almost certainly driven by the impact of human activity. No easy answers either so things are unlikely to improve any time soon. I'm grateful to have had those memories at least.

[@kid--presentable]

This is one of the best channels on the net

[@AShotOfWildlife]

Thank you, that's very kind of you to say.

[@jackiedowling4808]

Really loved this video and you what a great friendly person you are and really enthusiastic...keep them coming.🙈🙉🐵🦉🦆🕷🦗🦟🐣🐦🐧🐔

[@gazza2933]

According to folklore, the redbreast is 'The Blood of Christ'. Great videos! Thank you. 👍

[@fairycherub1]

Such a special bird.I have a breeding pair visiting my garden at the moment. Every year I watch them feeding their young..