Witham Birds

Description: The UK’s most well-known bird, it is unmistakable with brown plumage, pale underparts and the famously red breast. They are very territorial and will viciously see off any intruders. They sing all year round. 

Habitat: Robins are commonly found in the countryside and in gardens where they seem to be relatively unafraid of people and will get close to check freshly turned soil for worms and other insects. 

Diet: Robins are omnivorous feeding on worms, insects and other invertebrates as well as seeds and fruits. 

Breeding: When breeding season begins in March the male will allow the female into his territory. She builds a nest using dead leaves, moss and hair, low down in dense shrubbery or ivy. Robins have also been known to build nests in wellington boots, old plant pots and even coat pockets. 

The female will lay 4-6 eggs which she will incubate for 13 days after the final egg has been laid and the male provides food for her. If conditions allow a robin may raise two clutches in a breeding season. 

Interesting Fact: Robins have large eyes and are well adapted to poor light. They are one of the earliest birds in the dawn chorus and last to stop in the evening. In the presence of streetlights robins will continue to sing throughout the night.

Description: A very common, garden songbird with brown plumage on its back and wings, a paler breast with black spots. The song thrush is known for its repetitive song which is split up into verses or phrases of differing sounds. 

Habitat: Commonly found in parks, gardens and woodlands or scrubland. 

Diet: Berries, worms and other invertebrates including snails. They hold the edge of the snail shell in their beak and smash it against a stone to get to the juicy body inside. Snails are particularly important in the summer when the ground is hard and worms less accessible. 

Breeding: The female builds a cup-shaped nest of twigs, grasses and moss which is lined and reinforced with thick mud. Nests are usually positioned low down in dense vegetation where 3-5 eggs are laid and incubated for up to 18 days after the final egg is laid. The female will commonly have two or three broods in a year if conditions are favourable. Fledglings are often fed by the male whilst the females begin the next clutch of eggs. 

Interesting Fact: Many poems have been written about song thrushes including Robert Browning who wrote of the thrush’s repetitive song: 

‘That’s the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over, 

Lest you should think he never could recapture 

The first fine careless rapture!’

Description: The wren is a tiny, chestnut brown bird with a distinctive short, cocked tail. It is quite difficult to spot but its remarkably song will alert you to its presence. 

Habitat: Wrens can be found across the UK in most habitats, including gardens, woodlands and farmland. 

Diet: The wren’s diet mainly consists of insects and spiders. 

Breeding: The wren is the most common breeding bird in the UK. The males build several dome-shaped nests from moss and twigs for the females to choose from, the female then chooses her male by selecting her preferred nest. The female will lay a clutch of 5-7 eggs which she incubates for about 2 weeks, once hatched the chicks are fed by both parents. They will often have second broods but not always with the same partners. 

Interesting Fact: According to Greek legend, the wren became the king of birds by hiding on the eagle’s back, where he was able to fly the highest in the sky and therefore claim his crown.