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The UK's plump garden favourite — an orange-red face and breast, and a sweet song even in winter.

How to spot it

A small, plump bird about 14 cm, with an orange-red face and breast bordered by soft blue-grey, a brown back and thin dark legs. The sexes look alike, and young birds are speckly brown with no red.

Where it lives

Common across Britain, Ireland and much of Europe in gardens, hedgerows and woodland. British robins are famously tame and follow gardeners for turned-up worms.

What it eats

Insects, worms and spiders, plus seeds and berries in winter. It often waits beside a digging fork for what it turns up.

Song & behaviour

A wistful, silvery warble delivered nearly all year, and one of the few birds heard singing at night near street lights. It is strongly territorial and both sexes hold winter territories.

Nesting

It nests low and hidden — in ivy, a bank, or a shed, kettle or boot — building a cup of moss and leaves lined with hair.

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