I know all this because I found a page on Internet that allowed me learn this. The site is incredibly useful and you are even able to click on a link that allows you to hear their calls. Angling computer speakers by open window, clicking on one of calls brings a whole new element to proceedings. To see a Blue Tit hear a Curlew call over is to see a very confused garden bird indeed.

Now then, we have a Robin that has been getting friendly and I decided to look up details on this most common of British birds and really, was quite staggered by description given.

Apparently, Robin is joined in colder months by, and I quote, “immigrants from continent.” So far, so good, nothing wrong with that. But it was words that followed that had me wondering, for perhaps first time in my life, about whether racism exists within ornithology.

These immigrants are “paler than ours, [and] have a duller red breast.” Now then, things are getting a bit personal, but not overly so.

What took my breath away was fact that I am unlikely to see one of these Europeans because you see, they’re not friendly; they “skulk in woodlands.” Skulk?? I’ve never known a bird to skulk, personally.

Lordy, at any juncture, I expected berries and berets to become a deliberate typo. I’m not sure if person who wrote this description is a Daily Mail reader, but a relaxing read about Britain’s national bird left me feeling uncomfortable, a little hot under collar. They state in final paragraph that “Robins are territorial all year round.”

It would appear they’re not only ones…

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