Robin: The National Bird of England (UK)

Robin or Red Breast Robin is the national bird of England. Its scientific name is Erithacus rubecula. It belongs to the class of Aves, phylum of Chordata, Family of Muscicapidae and kingdom of Animalia. It was properly classed as a songbird family (chat and thrush) commonly known as thrush family (characteristic songbirds having brown color in upper fur with red breast).

A long time ago it was categorized as a small passerine bird ( perching birds mostly small and living near the ground with feet having 4 toes arranged to allow for gripping the perch; most are songbirds hatchlings are helpless). However, in recent times its old history limited.

It is known as old world flycatcher (any of a large group of small songbirds that feed on insects taken on the wing).

• Read also: Magpie Robin

The England national bird is unique brown and red breast with the little amount of whitish belly. It has long tail that is held upright as they feed on the ground or land plainly. Mostly found across Europe, south to North Africa and east to Western Siberia.

Except the remote North America and parts of Southeast Asia it is inactive in most of its range. It stays in urban garden and forests. British bird famous for songs and historically as cage birds.

The robin bird is 12.5–14.0 cm (5.0–5.5 in) centimeters long. The weight of adult species of British robin is 16–22 g (9/16–13/16 oz.). its wingspan is 20–22 cm (8–9 in).

The plumage (fur) male and female have similar color an orange breast and face. Its tail also long usually raised vertically. Its shape and structure are similar to the smaller robin. But comparatively, it has long tail. Male and female species of this bird has same in color.

10 Facts about Robin

• Robin is the native and most popular bird of England (UK) country.
• In Norse mythology (tradition) (the mythology of North Germanic people )It was believed to be a storm-cloud bird and sacred to Thor, the god of thunder.
• Babes in the Wood is a traditional children’s story use Robins as characteristic eyes,mouth,ear,chin .robin birds shield the dead bodies of the children .
• Since the mid-19th century, it has become the key feature in many traditions recently it is starring character many Christmas cards.
• It has also appeared on many Christmas postage stamps.
• When it get injury the blood from his wounds marked the robin’s breast. After this information, all robins got the mark of Christ’s blood upon them.
• Its familiarity for Christmas card and postage stamp arise from the fact that postmen in Victorian Britain wore red jackets and were nicknamed “Robins“.
• The England professional football clubs like Bristol City, Crewe Alexandra, Swindon Town, Cheltenham Town (having local colors of red) is nicknamed by robin.
• The nickname of English rugby league team Hull Kingston Rovers (having local colors of white with a red band) is also robin.
• It sings probably throughout the year.
• They are attractive, charming and cute appearance. Violently it is regional or territorial but also they are quick to drive away intruders (interloper) interference without permission.
• This British bird sings at night next to street lights.
• It is found usually in UK woodland, hedgerows, parks, and gardens.
• Its rotin food is seeds, Worms, fruits and insects.
• In the UK the breeding season of robins is the number of pairs breeding annually.
• Its similar bird is a nightingale.
• The England national bird Robin tops poll to find UK’s national bird .Approximately 200,000 people choose the UK’s first national bird.
• It has average life expectancy of 1.1 years.
• it is human-friendly don’t afraid of people .that’s why drawn to human activities involving the digging of soil, in order to look out for earthworms and other food freshly turned up.
• As a result of polling the red-breasted bird received 34% of highest votes as compared to barn owl which received 12%, and the blackbird which received 11%.

History of Robin

In 1758 Carl Linnaeus described the European robin in his book Systema Naturae 10th edition. As a result gives its binomial name Motacilla rubecula. Its specific nickname rubecula is a little or mini scale derived from the Latin ruber ‘red’.

The second part of his scientific name genus Erithacus was introduced by French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1800. As a result, the bird old binomial changed by a current binomial name of Erithacus rubecula. The new derived genus Erithacus is actually from Ancient Greek and refers to an unknown bird, now usually identified with the robin.

Why is Robin the national bird of England ?

Every country has unique emblems which range anthem, uniform, tree, Flower, animal and a flag alongside this country also have a national bird to represent its gardens, trade and forest habitation. All the national bird signifies certain principles that a nation stands for. Let’s know the national bird of England.

Robin is an attractive, charming and cute bird. BBC Spring watch presenter Mr. Lindo thought to that Britain should have a national bird like many other countries. And for this purpose, he started the project to run a campaign and find out the public opinions.

As a result of this project, More than 224,000 people voted online, at ballot boxes in schools and by post. The red-breasted bird received 34% of highest votes as compared to barn owl which received 12%, and the blackbird which received 11%.

Getting great achievement after public voting Mr.lindo request the government to officially declared robin as the national bird. Due to all these facts, red breast robin becomes the official and national bird of England (UK). This was a detailed guide about Red Robin bird. kindly do let us know your thoughts about it.

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