Robins ~ an ocean apart

 Photo by Amando Babini / EPA

European Robin

(Erithacus rubecula)

The European Robin (pictured above) is known simply as the Robin or Robin Redbreast in the British Isles.   It is a small insectivorus passerine...specifically a chat.   It was once classified as a thrush, but is now known as an Old World flycatcher.

The American Robin (pictured below) is a migratory thrush, named after the European Robin because of it reddish-orange breast.   Despite the similarity of some colour markings, the two species are not closely related.
The name Robin, in both English and German, dates from medieval times, when babies were given the name, meaning 'famed, bright and shining'. 

  

Photo by BarrytheBirder

American Robin

(Turdus migratorius)

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BarrytheBirder