This spring robins have been more prevalent than normally and both we and our neighbour have had a robins nest in our gardens. The Robin Redbreast is England’s national bird and figures often on Christmas cards and seasonal postage stamps. English colonialists in N. America in the 1600’s called the red tinted thrush a robin to remind them of the little friend they’d left behind, The europeon robin is only about half the size of the N.Amer. version. This latter, I believe, hops along and I’m not quite sure if our robin hops or walks. As you know some birds hop and some walk and just to confuse the matter some can do both. By the way our baby robins have now fledged and fled!
Re: The Robin
Posted by Francis Kent on April 13, 2014, 1:43 pm, in reply to "The Robin"
So, our Brit is revealed as something of a birder. The robin is not native to these parts (Southern California) but one spring three or four decades ago he turned up here in great numbers, apparently having temporarily lost his sense of direction. He then disappeared and, as far as I know, hasn't been seen here since. I knew him well as a boy in Indiana, but that was a long time ago. My Guide to Birds (Western Region) confirms that he is an alien here and, incidentally, it notes that he hops.
-- Fran
Re: The Robin
Posted by Len Brophy on April 14, 2014, 8:48 am, in reply to "Re: The Robin"
We also here in Ma.have what are called Canadian robins that are larger than the local birds and stay around all winter.We have a lot of holly bushes with red berries and they flock by the dozens to clean out all fruit.Quite a sight.