The Robin Redbreast is truly one of the prettiest birds. When I was growing up they used to be everywhere, from the countryside to well built-up towns. But these days there are less and less sightings, particularly in towns and cities. It’s a pity as they have a charming song.

The nursery rhyme dedicated to this sweet bird is:

• “Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree/Up went pussycat and down went he/ Down came pussycat/ away Robin ran/Says little Robin Redbreast, 'Catch me if you can.'/Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall/Pussycat jumped after him/and almost had a fall./Little Robin chirped and sang and what did pussy say?/Pussycat said 'Meow'/ and Robin flew away.”

If you do want to see one then winter is the best time, as during summer they retreat to the forests and woods to take care of their young. Robins, like the parrots known as lovebirds, tend to pairbond very strongly, and you will find the male next to the female singing throughout a summer of childcare.

The fact that the Robin is with us during the winter probably makes him seem all the more special as many birds retreat to warmer climates at that time. It is the Robin who stays around with his charming song.

Over the centuries Robins have become very tame, and have welcomed the breadcrumbs that people leave out for them on doorsteps and bird tables. Of course breadcrumbs are just a supplement for a robin’s preferred food of worms which they eat in a rather unusual manner. Rather than eat a worm whole like most birds, the Robin strips its skin while alive and pulls out just the juicy innards. To do this Robins take the worm and smash it repeatedly on hard rock to burst the skin.

As charming as Robins seem, there is nothing they like better than a good fight. Robin’s are solitary birds (other than mating pairs) and they will not share roosting areas, and will fight until, they are left alone.

The Robin’s precise scientific classification is:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Passeriformes
• Family: Muscicapidae
• Genus: Erithacus
• Species: E. rubecula

The European Robin’s scientific name is Erithacus rubecula. It used to be considered a member of the thrush family (Turdidae), but is now classified as an old world flycatcher (Muscicapidae).