Robin

The Robin is a common breeding and migratory bird in Estonia. Its intensively rusty red face distinguishes it from all other red-breasted birds. Whole upper parts are olive-grey, underparts greyish-white. It has very pleasant musical song that finishes with a silver bell-like sound. Relatively long legs are characteristic of the Robin.

The Robin breeds uniformly all over Estonia, in various forests with luxuriant undergrowth, thickets, scrubs, and wooded meadows as well as in cemeteries and old parks. The Robin is widespread in Europe and in the regions of Asia and Africa close to Europe.

The Robin is an insectivorous bird who feeds mainly on beetles, larvae, bugs and also on spiders and snails.

The Robin arrives at nesting places alone and early. The male bird invades the territory and defends it so aggressively that at first it drives away even female birds. In general, the Robin is very cautious staying on land or in bushes. Although it mainly lives in fir-groves or mixed forests of firs and other trees, it often wanders in the gardens of farms unless these are far from the forest. In general, these migratory birds leave for winter in October.

The Robin sings in a higher and open place in order to be heard by the possible audience. The Robin sings intensively during nesting time and before it, especially at the first minutes after sunrise or sunset.

The Robin builds its nest on land, either under a stump or log, or even into a hollow in land between some larger mounds. The female bird lays 5 - 7 eggs into a clutch. The young hatch in 13 - 14 days and then they need to be fed over 300 times a day. The young stay in the nest for 12 days but parents have to take care of them for another two weeks since they are not able to fly when they leave the nest. Old birds use similar sound "sssssh…!" to warns the young of danger as the Estonians use to ask for silence. The independent young robins are especially curious and they sometimes follow people picking mushrooms for a long time. Hiding way of life of adult birds is set aside when they sing.

The Robin is under protection.