"Despite being a seemingly friendly bird, the robin is hugely territorial and very defensive of its territory and I presume that reflects us as an island nation that we will stand our ground," said naturalist David Lindo, who organised the ballot. The popular image of the robin is of a bird with a great deal of appeal and charm, that everybody is familiar with from childhood. SHOPPING Are Robins Aggressive Towards Other Birds And Can Flovent Cause Aggression You can order Are Robins Aggressive Towards Other Birds And Can Flovent Caus Robins are very territorial birds and will viciously attack other robins that on their patch. The robin swooped away with 34% of the vote, In pictures: Britain's first 'national bird', Robin crowned as UK's national bird: It's aggressive, vicious, but, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. SHOPPING Are Robins Aggressive To Other Birds And Are They Aggressive Or Socially Awkward Are Robins Aggressive To Other Birds And Are They Aggressive Or Social Millions of people are returning home following the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. Robins are one of only a few bird species that hold their territory all year round - males do not migrate in the winter. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. They're only seen as aggressive because of "the contrast with their reputation as a friendly bird" and their place in folklore and on Christmas cards, say Madge. But they are no more aggressive than most other species, Madge says. That connection has been embellished and stuck and that’s why we tend to get robins on Christmas cards. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. I have just seen my lovely photogenic garden robin being very aggressive towards a dunnock which was innocently picking up little spilt bits from underneath my feeders. But how might this be affected by robins living in the city? .css-po6dm6-ItalicText{font-style:italic;}Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox. A male will seek to stake out enough territory to provide food for it, a female and their young. Using a taxidermy robin and a record robin song, researchers from Southampton University compared how male robins in a city park defended their territories with those more affected by urban light and … Video. Winner: more than 200,000 people opted for the robin in the Vote National Bird ballot, Unmistakeable with their dazzling colours, Known for their heart-shaped faces and pure white underparts, Many still considered to be the property of the crown, Also known as the 'sea parrot' in northern Scotland, Most-persecuted bird in the UK because of their taste for grouse. SHOPPING Are Robins Aggressive To Other Birds And Are They Aggressive Or Socially Awkward Are Robins Aggressive To Other Birds And Are They Aggressive Or Social are robins aggressive to humans. Are the parents pushing it out of the nest or are it's greedy habits making it fall out? Fauci warns of post-Thanksgiving US Covid surge, Coronavirus: How do you vaccinate the world? Robins are notoriously aggressive in defending their nest, challenging all comers, including humans who might wander too close.Chicks leave the nest a couple of weeks after hatching, but will still trail behind their parents looking for food until they are able to fend for themselves. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. "It's something that all birds will do." It's true that they "jealously guard" their patches, says Grahame Madge of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). But much was made of the notion that the species is particularly confrontational. A dispute starts with males singing at each other, trying to get a higher perch in order to show off their breast most effectively. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. When it comes to a confrontation, the losing robin will usually withdraw before the conflict becomes fatal. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. So people might perhaps be surprised to learn that their true nature can be aggressive at times. There are also cultural connections that make them very popular in folklore. This usually ends the challenge, with one individual deferring to the other. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}The robin has been voted the UK's favourite bird - but attention has been drawn to its fiercely territorial reputation. Are robins aggressive? Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Male robins compete very extensively both for territory and females – indeed studies have found that fake robins or dead stuffed robins have been attacked quite viciously by the birds that are already there when placed in their territory. The boy who swapped his piano for a gun. The other birds under the feeder know better than to get too close to them. So just as they guard their territory, robins are unlikely to relinquish their hold on the British public's affections. It's estimated that they live in 85% of British gardens and this, combined with their year-round visibility, has made them a familiar and much-loved sight. Are robins usually aggressive towards other species? A robin is building a nest on top of the fire extinguisher box exactly one foot away (next to) the door to my apartment. .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Fauci warns of post-Thanksgiving US Covid surge. VideoCoronavirus: How do you vaccinate the world? He flew at it, chasing it around the garden and eventually seeing it off altogether. Normally when one male robin intrudes on another’s territory, he skulks around, and flies away when the actual holder of the territory approaches. Male robins are aggressive and very vocal in defending good-quality territory, and in advertising themselves to potential mates. A very familiar bird over most of North America, running and hopping on lawns with upright stance, often nesting on porches and windowsills. Some birds (e.g., robins, mockingbirds, cardinals) can produce two or three broods a season; as a result, their defensive behavior may occur in the spring and again in mid- to late summer. Robins are notoriously aggressive in defending their nest, challenging all comers, including humans who might wander too close.Chicks leave the nest a couple of weeks after hatching, but will still trail behind their parents looking for food until they are able to fend for themselves. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. If a male sees his reflection in the glass, he thinks could be another male on his territory. Coronavirus: How do you vaccinate the world? Video, Australia demands China apologise for posting 'repugnant' fake image, Covid: Fauci warns of 'surge in cases' post Thanksgiving, Diego Maradona: Police raid house and clinic of doctor, Biden announces all-female senior press team, White Island volcano: NZ officials charge 13 parties over tragedy, British mercenaries investigated over Sri Lanka war crimes, Italy's Calabria has two pandemics: Covid and the Mafia, Huawei ban from UK 5G network brought forward, Covid infections in England fall by 30% over lockdown - React study.