European Robin

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European Robin
Photo Information
Copyright: Hilary Wilkinson (Hil) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 757 W: 11 N: 1321] (4297)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Robins of the World [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-04-17 15:06
Viewed: 513
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this shot in my local park, it was quite a sunny Day but I was in the shade here so its a bit dark.

The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) or, in Europe, simply Robin is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, but is now considered to belong to the Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae). European Robins and similar small European species are often called chats.

It occurs all over Europe to Western Siberia, south to Algeria and on the Atlantic Ocean as far as the Azores and Madeira. In the south east, it reaches the Caucasus range.

The European Robin is a common European songbird. It is 12.5 – 14.0 cm (5.0 – 5.5 inches) long and it is known for its pugnacious behaviour despite its small size. The distinctive red patch on the chest of both sexes led to its original name of redbreast. In the fifteenth century, when it became popular to give human names to familiar species, the bird came to be known as Robin redbreast, which was eventually shortened to robin.

Robins have a fluting, warbling song in the breeding season. Robins often sing into the evening, and sometimes into the night, leading some to confuse them with the Nightingale. Both males and females sing during the winter, when they hold separate territories, the song then sounding more plaintive than the summer version. The female Robins move a short distance from the summer nesting territory to a nearby territory that is more suitable for winter feeding. Male Robins keep the same territory throughout the year.


Juvenile RobinRobins build a neat cup nest in crevices, holes or artificial sites such as discarded kettles. When juvenile birds fly from the nests they are mottled brown in colour all over and do not have a red breast. After 2 to 3 months out of the nest, the juvenile birds grow some reddish feathers under their chins and over a further 2 to 3 months this patch gradually extends to complete the adult appearance.

The Robin is well known to British and Irish gardeners: it is relatively unafraid of humans and likes to come close when anyone is digging the soil, in order to look out for earthworms and other food freshly turned up; when the gardener stops for a break the robin might use the handle of the spade as a lookout point. Robins in continental Europe are more wary. Robins also approach large wild animals, such as wild boar and other animals which disturb the ground, to look for any food that might be brought to the surface.

Male Robins are noted for their highly aggressive territorial behaviour. They will ruthlessly attack other males that stray into their territories, and have been observed attacking other small birds without apparent provocation. Such attacks sometimes lead to fatalities, an aspect of the birds' behaviour which is inconsistent with its wholesome, gentle public image.

British Robins are largely resident but a small minority, usually female, migrate to southern Europe during winter and a few of these migrate as far as Spain.

Scandinavian and Russian Robins migrate to Britain and western Europe to escape the harsher winters. These migrants can be recognised by the greyer tone of the upper parts of their bodies and duller orange breast.

Because of high mortality in the first year of life, a Robin has an average life expectancy of 1.1 years; however, once past its first year it can expect to live longer and one Robin has been recorded as reaching the age of 12 years

Notes from Wilkipedia.com
Necipp, joey, fiyo, MommaMiaX3, arfer, claudine, ellis49, jaycee, Alex99, lee, uleko, Dan, Janice, peter_stoeckl, Debz, ianemarshall has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1347 W: 239 N: 4229] (14906)
  • [2007-04-17 15:49]

Hi Hillary,
a superb shot of this Robin that is singing its heart out.
Very good quality and nice composition.
Well done,
Joey

  • Great 
  • carmia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 220 W: 2 N: 122] (1843)
  • [2007-04-17 16:16]

Beautiful colors and a great composition.Excelent shot!
Greetings .Carme.

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 965 W: 5 N: 2177] (7906)
  • [2007-04-17 16:27]

Hello Hilary,
Nice shot.
Lovely detail and colours,nice composition.
Nice work,very well done.

Hello Hilary, :)

Beautiful capture of this little singing Robin! Great composition and detail, with a nice POV. Very well composed, and you did a great job on the exposure. Thank you for sharing!

Ange

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2518 W: 67 N: 8345] (26379)
  • [2007-04-17 22:37]

Hello Hil

A happy chirping fellow you have posted.Very good POV and DOF.The image is sharp with lovely colour saturation.Excellent eye contact,with great catch light.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2044 W: 222 N: 3470] (11342)
  • [2007-04-18 8:01]

Hi Hilary

What a charming capture! The pose and timing here are terrific and seeing him with its beak wide opened and singing loudly is just great!
The details and colors are very nice, too and the exopsure )although pretty difficul with such a bright BG) was well managed.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hello Hill,
This is a magnificent capture of this sweet bird. I love this action you caught while singing, great POV, details, exposure, composition and lightning. This is a very good shot with nice catch light. Well done and TFS,
Claudine

Hi Hilary,
a nice picture of a singing bird, maybe it's a spring serenade for you.
You captured a very nice action wiht good details.
It look a bit dull but this is the nature light where you find this lovely bird. Nice colours and well composed.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1470 W: 7 N: 3433] (11174)
  • [2007-04-18 10:45]

Hi Hillary,

Marvelous capture of the robin mid-song. Beautiful colors and details in a lovely setting.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2801 W: 149 N: 4029] (13003)
  • [2007-04-18 12:28]

Hi Hilary.
Very nice pictured scene and quality of the shot. I like it so much. Inclined branch with cute bird on it create a very impressive composition. Perfect DOF, sharpness of the main subject and a bit blurred BG strengthen the pleasant impression. Note is excellent as usual. Perfect done and TFS. Best regards.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Necipp Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1140 W: 15 N: 2045] (12106)
  • [2007-04-18 13:18]

Excellent catch while singing :-) nice detail and focus on the eye which has a nice catchlight. Light was nice tfs rgds Necip

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1461 W: 18 N: 2793] (10000)
  • [2007-04-18 14:12]

Hi Hilary

I wish we had the sound to go with this shot. The robins song is so sweet. Lovely shot to see him in mid-song, nice timing on your part. It doesn't seem too dark to me, the exposure is great. Lovely shar[ details and a nice catchlight in the eye

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • lee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 67 W: 0 N: 24] (84)
  • [2007-04-18 14:50]

Hi Hilary, nice capture of the robin. Looks like he's singing to you, maybe pleased you are taking a photo of him:-). Nice colors and saturation. Good composition and like the natural surroundings. Thanks.

Lee

Hi Hillary
Magnifiques couleurs! Le détail de son plumage et la position du rouge-gorge font une très belle image.
Merci beaucoup et au revoir...JP

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2073 W: 168 N: 5707] (18098)
  • [2007-04-19 1:30]

Hello Hilary,
Lovely capture of little Robin singing away. I hear him around our garden every day but to see him is a different matter! I like his pose and fluffed-up breast feathers. Very sharp details and nice colours.
TFS and all the best, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Dan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 102 W: 0 N: 263] (1359)
  • [2007-04-19 1:52]

Hi Hil, excellent capture of this little bird. Beautiful colors and attitude of birdy.
Congratulation, Dan

Nice catchlight and good to see the it singing it's little heart out.

Hi Hilary,
he is singing such a nice song, I love this moment, excellent work, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3249 W: 138 N: 5390] (16019)
  • [2007-04-19 22:58]

Hil, this is lovely! The Robin always looks good, but I do like your POV here. He looks good on his pearch with the sky behind, well done.
Janice

Hello Hil,
a very lively, charming and powerful shot!
Very good details, and pleasantly natural colours.
Looks very refreshing. Thank you!
With best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 606 W: 0 N: 880] (3277)
  • [2007-04-28 17:34]

This is a beautiful shot of the Robin Hilary. So refreshing to see him in song. Lovely beak and shiny eyes. Great light and shadow. Wonderful pov and pose. Nice and sharp. Great one.
tfs
debz

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