Why are robins so aggressive? | Surprising Science

[@JayBugi90]

When you’re on the cover of 90% of Christmas cards you can do what you want 😂

[@IntrinsicPalomides]

Robin's are great friends to fisherman on the bank, other birds just aren't interested in us and shy away or just ignore us. Several Robins where i fish will come and perch near you, one i've even had sitting on my shoe and another even enter's my bivvy (tent) scrounging for food :D i do love having them there. One thing i've noticed is they do seem pretty territorial and will go after another Robin if they get close. You'll also only get the same Robin in the same area around the lake. i.e. you won't see the same one at the top end as you will at the bottom. I wish they'd improve their toilet habits though, they will just poop on any of my stuff whenever they want :D Black Birds are sometimes good with us humans also, my Nan used to have one that would come down and perch next to her every morning when she'd go and sit in the garden or outside for a cigarette. I do wish more creatures were friendly with humans, but sadly i can understand why most avoid us we haven't been the nicest to them overall. We do have a fairly regular deer visit our garden though, always alone and we know it's a female. Sometimes she's stayed out there near the back for a few days early spring time sitting by the apple trees.

[@suegermaine5730]

I see many Robins fighting with one another and other birds.

[@corbeau-_-]

I came because the ones in my garden are very skittish. Other small birds have bigger numbers here, perhaps it's just a local territory thing.

[@suegermaine5730]

They are very territorial.

[@IntrinsicPalomides]

Same here, i posted above about this as they always come and be near me when i'm out fishing. They'll chase other Robins away.

[@corbeau-_-]

@@IntrinsicPalomides well this much is true for me, the robin is a rare sight but its always just the one, surrounded by (tree) sparrow, blue/great tit, blackbird and the occassional wren - which all come in groups. Robin has its own little corner, but I rarely see any of them fight. There's plenty of food for them to find in my garden, perhaps this plays a role as well.

[@corbeau-_-]

blackbird is often a pair*

[@valentinfejes]

0:10 You know, I'm something of a museum scientist myself.

[@motherlandbot6837]

As a very loose generalization, the better males of a species of song bird are as singers, the more aggressively territorial they are. A crucial difference not pointed out here; these very territorial birds defend a relatively large multipurpose territory that provides most or all of the food resources for themselves and their dependent offspring, along with nesting sites, nesting materials, shelter from predators and the elements, and roosting places. Territory holding individuals are confined to their own territories by belligerent neighbors with whom they fight to establish or reaffirm boundaries or to annex more territorial space. Birds that defend a small territory defend nesting sites and sometimes roosting territories and display territories. Colonially nesting birds defend relatively small areas that may be no larger than the pecking distance between them. Away from these nesting territories, their position within the dominance hierarchy often determines who has best access to food, and individuals still defend a personal space around themselves. Extremely territorial birds such as European Robins, White Rumped Shamas, and Northern Mockingbirds form weak pair bonds that last only during the breeding season at most. Males are usually intolerate of the partners for the rest of the year, and commonly fight with them for food resources and territory outside the nesting season.