Skip to main content
Woodland Trust Woodland Trust home page Become a member

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Feisty. Iconic. A Christmas-card favourite and a gardener’s best friend. It’s no wonder this fiery little fella is one of Britain’s most-loved birds, frequenting the UK’s gardens in search of worms.

The robin is an iconic British bird.

Credit: Tony Cox / WTML

These birds are famed for their signature red breast.

Credit: Ann Jacobs / WTML

Juveniles have brown feathers flecked with gold.

Credit: Edo Schmidt / Alamy Stock Photo

Robin eggs are creamy white with light brown speckles.

Credit: Robert Read / WTML

Quick facts

Common name: robin

Scientific name: Erithacus rubecula

Family: Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Habitat: gardens, woodland, parks, hedgerows

Diet: worms, fruit, seeds, insects

Predators: birds of prey, domestic cats and dogs

Origin: native

What do robins look like?

With its signature bright-red breast, the robin is immediately recognisable. It has a brown back and white belly, with the orange-red breast stretching up to its throat and face.

Juvenile robins are brown all over with mottled golden flecks.

 

Credit: Tony Cox / WTML

What do robins eat?

Robins enjoy eating fruits, seeds and insects, such as beetles. They also love feasting on earthworms, and can often be seen in gardens on the lookout for juicy worms as they are dug up by gardeners.

Did you know?

Robins have been known to nest in some weird and wonderful places, from post boxes to unused barbeques!

How do robins breed?

The breeding season usually begins in March, although if the winter has been mild it can begin as early as January. The female robin builds a cup-shaped nest using moss, hair, grass and dead leaves, somewhere on or close to the ground. Robins begin laying their eggs between mid-April and mid-August, and a clutch is made up of around 4–6 eggs. Chicks hatch after around 13 days. The chicks fledge approximately two weeks later.

Robins build cup-shaped nests close to the ground.

Credit: Tony Mills / Alamy Stock Photo

Credit: Ernie Janes / Alamy Stock Photo

Where do robins live?

Robins are found across the UK in woodland, gardens, parks and hedgerows. They are fiercely territorial, singing to defend their territory all year round. Their red breast is actually used as a territory defender.

Did you know?

Robins are so territorial they have even been seen attacking stuffed robins – the red breast triggering territorial behaviour!

Signs and spotting tips

It’s not hard to spot this fiery little bird – chances are you won’t have to go far to see one. Simply step out into your garden and you might spot a friendly robin; these birds are usually very tame. Or, enjoy a walk around your local wood and you could see one perched on a branch, perhaps even singing their silvery song.

Robin song

Audio: Andrew Harrop / xeno-canto.org

Credit: Nigel Wedge / WTML

Threats and conservation

Robins are widespread and their population is thought to be stable. They are threatened by harsh winters, however, losing up to 10% of their body weight during just one freezing winter night. You can help robins build up their fat reserves during the winter by putting bird food, such as mealworms, on your garden bird table – they are a favourite for robins.

Did you know?

The reason robins are used so frequently on Christmas cards is because during the Victoria era, when the tradition of sending Christmas cards began, postmen wore red jackets, earning them the nickname ‘robins’.