Robin gender (1 Viewer)

[ardnasx1]

Hi there, I'm new to the Birdforum and this is my first post. I was just wondering is there any way of telling the gender of a robin. I have a very tame juvenile robin in my garden and would love to know if it's male or female. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[gw4aurora]

hi,
Both sexes of adults look the same as do the youngsters.

chris.

 

[ardnasx1]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I read somewhere once that there was some minor difference on the adult's head markings, have you ever heard that? I wondered too if one sang more than the other or anything like that.

 

[bristolbirder]

Well, the juveniles are speckled brown with no red breast for a start.

There was a theory recently that the red on the crown is slightly more pointed on one gender and slightly more rounded on the other. Can't remember which way round I'm afraid. However, having tried to apply this in the field it is still very difficult to tell them apart.

Steve

 

[Wan2caTanager]

I believe that the female is paler and more gray than the male, especially on the head. The juvenile has spotting on it. HERE is a link to see the differences. I hope this helps! |=)|

 

[crispycreme]

I think they're talking about the European Robin, Wan2caTanager - a distant cousin of the American Robin.

http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Erithacus_rubecula.htm

 

[ardnasx1]

Thanks for your replies. Looks like it's no easy job to tell them apart. The juvenile in my garden is occasionally singing very quietly and I wondered at first if this was an indication that it might be male, but as both male and female sing it probably doesn't tell us anything.

 

[gw4aurora]

Well, the juveniles are speckled brown with no red breast for a start.

Sorry Steve my post was poorly worded, I know there is a difference between adult and juvenile.

Sandra for an interesting read try "The Life of the Robin" by David Lack whose work is still refered to and "Robin Redbreast" by the same author. They may still be in print, I think my copies are dated 1950,1953 which makes me feel old.

Hope this helps,

Chris.

 

[ardnasx1]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for those books.

Sandra

 

[Wan2caTanager]

About an hour after I got of the BF I sudenly relized my mistake. Ooops! Sorry about that! |=)|