European Robin

Erithacus rubecula

A beloved garden companion, the Robin redbreast is the UK’s unofficial national bird. These cheerful birds can be seen and heard throughout the year as they forage and nest alongside us.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The European Robin is a small, plump bird with a distinctive orange-red breast and face contrasting with its grey-brown upperparts and white belly. Its round body, large head, and thin legs give it a characteristic 'puffball' appearance.

Male and female Robins are practically impossible to distinguish on looks alone. Both have big black eyes, fine grey bills and pinkish legs.

Juvenile Robins are quite distinct. These young birds are mottled in light and dark brown and do not develop their tell-tale red breast until they are a few months old.

Size

Length

12.5cm to 14cm

Wingspan

20cm to 22cm

Weight

16g to 22g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Orange

Secondary Colour

White Grey

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The European Robin can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The European Robin can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The European Robin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The European Robin is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The European Robin can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The European Robin can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The European Robin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The European Robin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The European Robin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The European Robin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The European Robin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The European Robin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

European Robins are widespread across Europe, from the UK and Ireland to western Siberia. They inhabit various wooded areas, including deciduous and mixed forests, parks, farmland and gardens.

While some northern populations migrate south for winter, many UK Robins are resident year-round. They've adapted well to human presence, frequently seen in urban and suburban areas.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a European Robin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons