Words and images by Jennifer Carter, @jennifer.l.carter

After a little research, I discovered they had likely migrated here, and that their behaviour may differ from the solitary nature of our resident birds.

I had never thought of robins as migratory birds, maybe due to them being a common, year-round sight in parks and gardens in the UK, and our national bird. But sure enough, like many other species, robins from Scandinavia and other parts of Northern Europe migrate to the UK to avoid harsh winters.

At this time of year, we will not only see robins in our gardens, but also through our letterboxes and in shop window displays. An iconic symbol of the festive season, bright amongst snow and red holly berries, or pictured perched on red post boxes, these images are linked to the workers of the Victorian era postal service, who were named robins or robin redbreasts, in homage to their red uniforms.

Whilst they may be known as tame, loyal companions (many of us referring to an individual as our robin), they are actually highly territorial and sometimes aggressive birds. The winter is a particularly difficult time for them, and weighing around 20 grams, a drop in body weight during a cold winter night could be the difference between life and death. Robins use a territorial call to protect their food supplies from other individuals, and for this reason, their song can be heard all year round.

By February though, our beloved robins will be pairing up ready for spring and the nesting season, and singing their breeding song once again; a reminder that warmer weather is just around the corner.

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