Bird Watching or Twitching in Andalucia Southern Spain

December 2006, Robin - Erithacus rubecula

The robin is a familiar bird to most people, if only from Christmas cards. In the UK these birds are often not shy but in Spain they tend to avoid humans. You will often hear this bird before you see it. From within a shrub its call sounds like tic ic ic. From the top of a tree, unlike its northern cousins, it has a melancholy song but delivered in crystal clear notes. With its plump body and red breast it is unmistakeable if you do see one. They tend to favour broad leaved woodland and there are any number of them in the Alcornocales, which is where this Christmas robin was seen.