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| Robin in song (c. Liam Kane) |
I have discovered a new alarm clock: pleasant on the ear and reliable to go off each morning, currently at about 6.00 am.
The Robin is one of the few birds that sings nearly all year round. We have just come out of the moult period when even Robins have to remain silent and inconspicuous. This is in order to avoid detection when they might be flightless or partially so, and thus vulnerable.
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| A juvenile Robin: now all moulted into adult plumage (c. Liam Kane) |
Because Robins hold winter territories, they resume song in Autumn. Both sexes sing, though audible, they usually remain in cover while singing to lessen the threat from passing predators.
The song at this time of the year is different from the early spring version: more melancholy and understated, aimed at forming and holding a territory as distinct from attracting a mate. Both sexes sing but in spring it is the male that delivers the strongest performance.
Because Robins can sing and forage in very low light conditions, they are usually last to finish and first up in the morning, and if there is an artificial light source, will sometimes sing through the night.
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| C. (Liam Kane) |
