©Julie Larsen and Megan Maher
March 22, 2025
Spirited Songbird
- as seen by -
Julie Larsen
With its brilliant orangey breast and lively song, a European robin (Erithacus rubecula) tweets an autumnal tune from its perch on a fence. The little round robin is a resident of the United Kingdom, and I met this one in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Similar in size and charisma to our own black-capped chickadee, the spirited songbird continues its trills. As sweet as the robin sounds, he is likely telling me and other birds in the area, that this is his turf. Both sexes are very territorial, maintaining space during and after breeding season according to Cornell Lab’s All About Birds.
Found year-round in the UK and seasonally throughout Europe, the European robin is a common sight in gardens, parks, farmlands, and woodlands where it seeks out favorite foods like bugs and berries.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the European robin as “Least Concern”, although it has potential threats including habitat change and loss.
Now that I know its identity and behavior, the plump little bird with a big personality is one of my favorites to watch.
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-500mm lens
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