Fishing Lakes at Corkagh

The Robin

The best known and best loved of all our native birds the Robin can be heard singing across Corkagh and Clondalkin from early spring.  

The Robin is by nature a solitary bird and unwilling to share its territory except in the breeding season when he will allow a female to join him.  They are much fiercer than we give them credit for and a male will fight to the death to protect his plot. 

Robins feed on worms, insects and will also take sunflowers seeds and fat mixtures from garden feeders. I have also seen Robins chase butterflies in flight for a quick snack. 

Around late January a female will join him.  At first they pay little attention to one another but once courtship begins you will hear her crying like a nestling to demand her partner brings her food.

Male feeding female

The female builds the nest herself, usually in Ivy or any other hedgerow.  

Eggs are laid as early as April and its about four weeks till the young leave the nest.  They stay on the ground for the first few days, closely guarded by their parents.  This, of course, is a very dangerous time for the juvenile birds and if you see one its tempting to try to move it somewhere safer but don't!!!!  The male continues to feed the young for about three weeks after which time he chases them out of the territory.  Below are some images of recently fledged Robins.

The pair may then start another brood before Autumn sets in. The female will build a new nest for this second family. 

This is a female: notice how her brown crown ends in a V shape

By the time winter arrives the pair will have gone their separate ways.

People often remark at how unafraid of humans Robins can be.  This is really just an adaptation from the wild where Robins might follow large animals to feed on the insects or flies they disturb. 

Male and Females are almost identical so it can be impossible to tell them apart however there is one tip.  Both birds have a brown crown but the males is straight across like a judges wig whereas the females crown is slightly triangular. 

In Ireland it is thought unlucky to have a Robin enter your house. They are associated with winter particularly as one legend told how the Robin got its red breast from fanning the embers of the fire to keep the infant Jesus warm.  Other legends suggest their red breast was gained from blood dropping from the crucified Jesus.