Sing

There are lots of things to like about robins. They sing through the year (at least the males do, the females are more autumnal/winter singers). They are very confiding (in the UK at least, continental birds are shyer. The stock image is of a robin sitting on top of a spade handle, with a nest built in an old teapot). And they are common garden birds, so everyone knows them.

They used to be called redbreasts or robin redbreasts. They should really be called orangebreasts. But oranges were not known in Britain until the 14th century, and the first record of the word “orange” being used for a colour was the 16th century, by which time redbreast had long been the bird’s name.

And of course it has to be said that the colour is more of a face/chest thing.

But why be pedantic about one of our most popular birds.