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19

European Robin

(Erithacus rubecula)
Alternate name(s): "Robin", "Robin Redbreast"
German name(s): "Rotkehlchen"

Size: 12.5-14 cm
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See European Robin at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "melophilus"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male(?) European Robin calling from a high perch (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-frontal view of an adult European Robin - this bird was observed issuing territorial calls from a high perch; it is probably a male (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Lateral/ventral view of a male(?) European Robin singing from a high perch (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) European Robin issuing its call from a high perch (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, April 2021]

Sex unknown

Full-frontal view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2021]

Close-up frontal view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Saint Minver, near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Frontal view of an adult European Robin in winter; after pecking in the snow for food, some snow can be stuck to the bill
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Frontal view of a European Robin looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2017]

Frontal view of a European Robin looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-frontal view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Saint Minver, near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2017]

Near-lateral view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Saint Minver, near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a European Robin in typical robin pose, with drooping wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2018]

Lateral view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Lateral view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]

Lateral view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Parque Ecologico do Gameiro, Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a European Robin issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Vlasina Lake, Serbia, October 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a European Robin looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira do Azibo, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Braganca, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Saint Minver, near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Dorsal view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of an immature European Robin; note the yellow gape - this bird was seen still being fed by its parents
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2020]

Near-lateral view of an immature European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2020]

Lateral view of an immature European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2020]

Lateral view of an immature European Robin (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2020]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]

Race "microrhynchos"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a European Robin (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Food, Diet

Frontal view of a European Robin carrying food for one of its young (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2020]

Frontal view of an adult European Robin in winter; after pecking in the snow for food, some snow can be stuck to the bill
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

eurobin_dw_20190407.m4a melophilus
(Poland)
Territorial calls (male) © DW
eurobin_jp_20190608.m4a melophilus
(Portugal)
Territorial calls (male) © JP
eurobin_jp_20200422.m4a melophilus
(Portugal)
Territorial calls © JP
eurobin_dw_20160505.m4a melophilus
(Poland)
Territorial calls (Q&A) © DW
eurobin_jp_20190606.m4a melophilus
(Portugal)
Territorial calls (Q&A) © JP
eurobin_jp_20200418.m4a melophilus
(Portugal)
Territorial call? © JP

More European Robin sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.