National Robin Day

1. Robins are small little birds with brown and white feathers. They have red feathers too over their breast and face. When first born though they don’t have any red feathers and only have these when they become an adult.

2. Robins are very territorial. This means they are very protective of the area in which they live and don’t like it when other robins invade their space. So if you see a robin in your garden it is probably always the same one.

3. Robins are actually quite aggressive to other birds. They don’t like it if they come too close and will make that very clear, attacking the other bird until it flies away and leaves it alone.

4. Robins like to eat worms and insects. They also enjoy eating fruit. In the winter when it is harder for them to find food you can give them seeds, raisins, suet and even mealworms!

5. Robins don’t build their nests high up in trees but instead they build them low to the ground, protected by things such as bushes, log piles or even plant pots.

6. Robins are songbirds and like to sing! They sing pretty much all year round and are probably the first birds you might hear singing in the morning and the last bird you hear at night.

7. Robins sing for all sorts of reasons and will make different sounds depending on what they are trying to communicate. They protect their territory by singing, respond to predators or other threats by making different sounds and use song as a way of communicating with other birds.

8. Many British birds have reduced in numbers over the years but actually robins have increased in numbers and continue to do so.

9. Robins aren’t usually scared of humans and will often let you get quite close if you are quiet and calm enough.

10. Robins have been unofficially named the National Bird of the United Kingdom. They are also very associated with Christmas and you’ll often see them included in Christmassy pictures.