<< Previous Next >>

EUROPEAN ROBIN


EUROPEAN ROBIN
Photo Information
Copyright: Marius Secan (marius-secan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2007 W: 0 N: 5412] (29598)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-07-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, NIKON 18-200mm f/3,5-5,6 G ED-IF AF-S DX
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2010-07-17 10:19
Viewed: 3023
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
EUROPEAN ROBIN (ERITHACUS RUBECULA)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), most commonly known in Anglophone Europe simply as the Robin, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family (Turdidae), but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher (Muscicapidae). Around 12.5–14.0 cm (5.0–5.5 in) in length, the male and female are similar in colouration, with an orange breast and face lined with grey, brown upperparts and a whitish belly. It is found across Europe, east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa; it is sedentary in most of its range except the far north.

The term Robin is also applied to some birds in other families with red or orange breasts.

The European Robin was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae, under the name of Motacilla rubecula. Its specific epithet rubecula is a diminutive derived from the Latin ruber 'red'. The genus Erithacus was created by French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1800, giving the bird its current binomial name of E. rubecula.

The distinctive orange breast of both sexes contributed to the European Robin's original name of redbreast (orange as the name of a colour was unknown in English until the sixteenth century, by which time the fruit of that name had been introduced). In the fifteenth century, when it became popular to give human names to familiar species, the bird came to be known as Robin redbreast, which was eventually shortened to Robin. Other older English names for the bird include Ruddock and Robinet. In American literature of the late 19th century, this robin was frequently called the English Robin.

The adult European Robin is 12.5–14.0 cm (5.0–5.5 in) long and weighs 16–22 g (9/16–13/16 oz), with a wingspan of 20–22 cm (8–9 in). The male and female bear similar plumage; an orange breast and face (more strongly coloured in the otherwise similar British subspecies E. r. mesophilus), lined by a bluish grey on the sides of the neck and chest. The upperparts are brownish, or olive-tinged in British birds, and the belly whitish, while the legs and feet are brown. The bill and eyes are black. Juveniles are a spotted brown and white in colouration, with patches of orange gradually appearing.

The Robin occurs in Eurasia east to Western Siberia, south to Algeria and on the Atlantic islands as far west as the Azores and Madeira. It is not found in Iceland. In the south east, it reaches the Caucasus range. British Robins are largely resident but a small minority, usually female, migrate to southern Europe during winter, a few as far as Spain. Scandinavian and Russian Robins migrate to Britain and western Europe to escape the harsher winters. These migrants can be recognised by the greyer tone of the upper parts of their bodies and duller orange breast. The European Robin prefers spruce woods in northern Europe, contrasting with its preference for parks and gardens in the British Isles.

The Robin is diurnal, although has been reported to be active hunting insects on moonlit nights or near artificial light at night.

Robins may choose a wide variety of sites for building a nest, in fact anything which can offer some form of depression or hole may be considered. As well as the usual crevices, or sheltered banks, odder objects include pieces of machinery, barbecues, bicycle handlebars, bristles on upturned brooms, discarded kettles, watering cans, flower pots and even hats. The nest is composed of moss, leaves and grass, with finer grass, hair and feathers for lining.
horias, Dis. Ac., uleko, jlinaresp, boreocypriensis, marianas, siggi, Athila, cloud, MMM has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 837 W: 58 N: 2084] (11033)
  • [2010-07-17 10:22]

Marius
Pasarea de azi se bucura de un dejun copios!Merita,ca e frumusica foc!
Horia

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-07-17 10:30]

Hello Marius,
Very beautiful photo of this Robin with prey. Very nice natural colours with a good contrasting dark BG. Excellent sharpness and details. Great POV, composition and DOF.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Marius,

a very nice image from this Robin.
Good framing in the picture.
Fine colours and exellnt pov.

Gert

Hi Marius,

This is a wonderful picture of this robin with a bug in its mouth. The colours are very good and there is also good detail. I like the composition and the DOF is good. I think that the body of the robin is a bit bright though.
Still a good capture and TFS

Sion

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2010-07-17 11:14]

Hello Marius,
What a wonderful capture of Robin with plenty of food for its young! I like your POV, the sharp details and lovely colours against the dark background. Very well composed too!
Many thanks and best regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2010-07-17 11:22]

Hi Marius . I was able to get a Robin in the garden today. It was looking a little untidy with its new feathers.
You were able to capture a fine side view of this with a mouth full. All with sharp focusing and natural looking colours. Thanks for the interesting notes.
Nick..

Wow, very nice focus, I love how you got it with a bug in it's beak! Great job!

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2010-07-17 16:05]

Hi Mairus,what a timing,what a composition and what a fantastic quality...this pic no need comment,is one of the best robin of the season! Thanks for share,have a nice Sunday,Luciano.

Ciao Marius. Sharp is perfect so like details and impressive focus. Good light's managment on wild environemnt.

Roberto

Hello Marius friend!
Nice bird today!... well POV, good eye contact and this bird look very good eating!... congratulations, this a very eloquent and well managed shot. TFS, Regards, Jesús

Good Morning Marius MF!

Awesome and lovely capture of a cute robin with its meal from nice POV while looking towards to you. She seem very happy indeed:) Colours, details and composition are all wonderful too.
TFS and have a nice sunday MF!
Cheers,

Bayram

Marius
Superba aceasta mica pasare hranindu-se.Acest gen de capturi cu animale sau insecte in modul lor firesc de activitare este superba.
Mariana

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2010-07-17 23:10]

Hello Marius,
Great capture of this robin, superb sharpness, depth of field and details, lovely natural colors, good clarity and fantastic pose, the soft background is beautiful and really helps bring out the details in the plummage, well done.Best regards Siggi

Bonjour Marius

Very good shot with an insect in its mouth. Good sharpness and exposure, bird is centered in composition, but with the fir branches on left and bottom, symmetry is broken and image still look balanced and pleasing. Lovely bohkey in the BG. Great picture and TFS.

Alain

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 497 W: 111 N: 1535] (9539)
  • [2010-07-18 7:24]

Hello Marius,
It's very beautiful scene. Perfectly sharp robin among the green spruce branches in good light look splendidly.
Regards, Pawel

Hi Marius!

O Yes! Great shot of robin captured in interesting pose with feed in its bill. Nice background, amazing quality.

Regards
Jacek

Naturalidad en la luz y los colores; además con su presa. Una toma oportuna.
Saludos Marius.

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1114 W: 0 N: 2546] (11425)
  • [2010-07-20 8:18]

Hi Marius
Excellent closed up.Good POV and sharp image as usual.Perfect timing right in the lunch time.Nice light and nice OOF BG
TFS Michel

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF