These friendly visitors to our gardens are such a welcome sight in winter. With their orange-red breasts and joyful song, they really lighten the darker days. Long associated with Christmas, it's the perfect time to take a closer look at these birds and how they have featured in Manx culture over the years.
The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) is a year-round resident in the British Isles, although numbers can increase in winter as birds move from colder areas in Europe to overwinter here. They can be found in a variety of habitats, from gardens and parks to woodlands and hedgerows. Their charming appearance and almost tame behavior have earned them a special place in British folklore and culture, symbolising cheer and companionship. Unlike many birds, robins are comfortable around humans and are often seen hopping close to gardeners, eagerly searching for insects turned up by the spade. When I had an allotment, I would often be working there alone and the robin hopping around my spade certainly cheered me up!
Despite their friendly demeanor, robins are highly territorial, with both males and females fiercely defending their chosen areas. Their territorial song, a flute-like melody, is used to ward off rivals and attract mates. Despite their feisty nature, robins form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, raising up to three broods of chicks each year in carefully concealed nests built in shrubs, walls, or even household objects left outdoors. The eggs of the European Robin are buff-coloured with reddish speckles, unlike the striking blue colour of the eggs from the American Robin (Turdus migratorius). The American Robin is actually a thrush, rather than a flycatcher like our European robin.
The association of robins with Christmas dates back to Victorian times, when postmen, who wore red uniforms, were nicknamed "robins." Illustrators of the time depicted the bird delivering festive mail on Christmas cards, and so its link to the holiday season was formed.
There are also fables and myths that associate the robin with winter, as described on the Scottish Wildlife Trust website. These include the Celtic tale of a feud between the Holly King of Winter (the wren) and the Oak King of Summer (the robin) in which the robin drives away the wren on the winter solstice. There's also the tale of a robin being present at the birth of Jesus. The robin was all brown, but it shielded the baby from the heat of the fine and in doing so scorched its breast feathers and they remained red from that day on.
Robins have appeared in the stories and songs of many European cultures, including the Manx. There's a lovely Manx lullaby called 'Ushag Veg Ruy' (Little Red Bird) that can be found along with the score on the Manx Music website. There are lots of videos of various musicians and children's choirs performing this song on YouTube including a lovely animation by Anna Soloveva and a rendition by children at Michael Primary School.
Robins have also featured on several Isle of Man Stamp issues over the years. My favourites are the 2004 'Robins - Winter's Friends' stamps by Dr Jeremy Paul and The Manx Bird Atlas Group and the very charming 1980 'Wildlife Conservation' robin stamp with artwork by J. H. Nicholson.
Robins, like all birds, can find it difficult to make it through the colder months and so putting appropriate food out for them, along with fresh water, can really help them to survive. Robins are ground-feeding birds and so prefer a ground feeding tray or bird table. They love mealworms and if they're soaked in water beforehand, it gives the birds extra hydration. Fat balls and sunflower hearts are also eaten by these birds and are great sources of energy. It's important to keep bird feeders and bird baths clean though, so don't forget to wash and dry them regularly.
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