Love or war?

I watched this little scene unfold as I sat at my breakfast table. The front robin landed on the conifer and fluffed himself up and slowly stretched his neck upwards and swayed back and forth. Then I noticed the second robin and assumed I was watching a courtship ceremony.

However - having posted this photo in a bird group, I now discover that this is in fact two males, and the front one is asserting his territorial rights!

Battles between males can become quite bloody - even fatal - but this confrontation just ran out of steam!

It was mum's 88th birthday today - she overdosed on cake and slept for much of the day!