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The European robin and its American namesake share the 'robin' name and red breasts, but otherwise have little in common. The American robin is a large thrush; the European robin is a much smaller bird related to old-world flycatchers. The American robin builds a mud-and-stick cup nest in the open; the European robin nests in holes in trees or rocks (two of the birds photographed here were breeding in a crack in a house foundation). Both species produce pleasant songs and are much appreciated by birders in their respective ranges. European robins are colorful, tend to perch low, and are quite fearless at times (one reason I have a lot of pictures of them). For the bird photographer, European robins are rather nice subjects. A major problem is that they favor dark places in the forest understory, but they make up for it by sitting very still, making longish exposures feasible. These birds were photographed in the small town of Bialowieza in eastern Poland. The ones with 'clean' plumage were photographed at the beginning of the breeding season; the ones with mussed-up feathers (and carrying insects) were photographed near the end of it. | |
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