Erithacus rubecula - European Robin
Feather characters. Barbules are extremely short (0.50-0.57 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (44-48 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 14 cm. Weight 18.2 g (14.2-22.5) (Dunning, 1993). Easily identified by earth-brown upperparts, white belly and undertail, and orange face and breast, separated from upperparts by grey band. Eye large and dark, standing out clearly. Sexes similar, juvenile spotted and scaled with golden edges, like juvenile thrush or nightingale. Stance upright. Usually tame and easily approached. Pair holds territory in summer and individuals hold territory in winter, which is aggressively defended and advertised by loud song, also in winter.
Voice. Call sharp metallic 'tic tic', sometimes rattling. Song, heard throughout the year, loud and melodious, given from elevated rarely exposed songpost.
Distribution. Common resident in west and south, summer visitor in north and east. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Deciduous moist forest with undergrowth, parks and gardens. Avoids very dense woodland, dense dry pine forest and open areas. On migration also found near isolated bushes and hedgerows in open country.
Food. Invertebrates, seeds and fruits. Mainly feeds on ground with short sallies from low perch, sometimes by probing and scraping in humus layer.