Red for Danger

Amongst our Christmas Cards was at least one with a picture of a robin. This seasonal bird is the one that everyone likes to see. The friendly robin that follows me when I’m working in Roundball Woods and who is there when I'm digging the garden. A very friendly bird. Unless that is, you are another Robin!

Robins are amongst the most territorial of all our woodland and garden birds. Defending a territory is initially done by singing to announce a presence and define the boundary of their area. However they will defend their patch with such ferocity that few intruding robins hang around for a fight. Robins will not only attack other robins, but will also have a go at anything red and robin sized. 

In my teens I remember reading David Lack’s book, ‘The Private Life of a Robin’, where after learning about their territorial behavior I carried out an experiment. I got a piece of red cloth, tied it around the top of a bamboo cane, and put it in the garden within site of our local Robin. Within seconds of me moving away our robin came down to the red cloth and proceeded to attack it until it was in pieces. No wonder other robins seldom hang around.

It is because of this fierce territorial behaviour that the only bird you are likely to hear singing throughout the year is the robin. Robins will even carry on singing at night if there are street lights or any other means of lighting their patch.

So... if you hear melodic birdsong after dark, or in the autumn and winter months, you should be able to impress your friends and family by identifying the song as that of a robin. Without even looking!