The call of a robin is a familiar sound. It bounces around British gardens, offering a peaceful backing to our garden activities. However, for robins, this song isn’t as cute as it might sound.
The sound you hear robins making is actually a warning. It is their way of letting other nearby robins know that they are claiming a territory, warning them not to compete with them for your garden.
Robins are surprisingly very territorial. They occupy gardens, woodlands and hedgerows, warning other competitors not to enter. If another robin was to ignore the warning, things could turn physical.
Two robins can approach one another, displaying their red breasts and posturing aggressively. If neither backs down, they may end up fighting, looking to take the territory for themselves.
This might seem surprising for such small and rather sweet looking birds, but territory is crucial for robins. They use their territory for finding food, water and shelter, especially in colder months.
Why are robins more territorial in autumn?
You’ll likely hear the robin song more right now. This is for a few distinct reasons. Quite often, these are young robins you’ll hear. After leaving their parents and heading out into the world alone, they’ll be keen to establish their own territory.
During the autumn months, a lot of them will be competing for places to feed and shelter during the colder months. Equally, robins of all ages will be more in need of resources at this time of year, meaning moves on territories become more common.
There is also just more competition for these spaces. Robins live in Britain all year round, but others arrive from northern and eastern Europe for winter. These newcomers add to the fierce competition, giving resident birds more opponents to battle with.
Is the song always a warning?
During the autumn months, the robin song is most often seen as a warning for territory. However, that doesn’t mean this is always why they are singing.
When robins enter breeding season, the song switches to become a way to attract a mate. It can also be used to maintain a bond with a partner, helping with communication and maintaining their association with each other.
