Robin

The robin is England's favourite bird!

In 1960 it took a landslide victory in a national poll in which millions of people voted, and it was officially adopted as Britain's National Bird. Unlike most other woodland and garden birds, the robin rarely migrates abroad. It is for this reason that we associate them with Christmas - and the fact that their distinctive red breasts show up so distinctly against snow. The robin's red breast is often assumed to play a role in courtship - in fact it is purely used in defence. Despite their cute appearance robins are territorial and will defend their territory to the death.

A more endearing characteristic is the robin's commitment to bringing up its young. The parent robins will tend to the young up to three weeks after hatching, until they are able to fly.

The robin is our most celebrated bird and has been the subject of many poets, including Keats and Blake, and is an iconic figure on English Christmas cards. Their year round song almost implies that they know they are our favourite birds.

This stamp was issued back in August 1966 as part of the British Birds stamps issue.

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