Plenty of Robins

Our nature photographer, Jessica Moses, has been to Askham Bog, at Copmanthorpe, York, to capture the robin.

The European robin, known simply as the robin or robin redbreast in Great Britain and Ireland, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that belongs to the chat subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family. It is found across Europe, east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa.

The robin's bright red/orange chest is familiar throughout the year and especially at Christmas. Males and females look identical, young birds have no red breast and are spotted with golden brown. 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 nest somewhere on or close to the ground.

Robins are widespread and their population is thought to be stable. They are threatened by harsh winters, losing up to 10% of their body weight during just one freezing night. You can help robins build up their fat during the winter by putting bird food, such as mealworms, out on garden tables or sheltered bird boxes.